Gringos in paradise - US forest conservationists in Costa Rica - Programs

American Forests, July-August, 1993 by Bill Tikkala

Our trip was filled with unexpected bonuses: watching a baselisk lizard tiptoeing across the water, having a barn owl's distinctive face appear in a hole in a bank on the Bebedero River, seeing fledgling owls scurrying to hide, or getting a 5 a.m. "wakeup call" when a howler monkey dispute caused the neighborhood dogs and goats to join in the chorus.

Costa Rica saved the biggest surprise for last. Just after retiring on our final night there, we experienced a minor earthquake and an aftershock. When we asked our guides and drivers about it the next morning, they called it a common occurrence and said the "ticos" prefer to call them only "tremors."

We weren't sure what message, if any, the "gods" were trying to send us. Possibly they were suggesting we not return or, on a more positive note, saying, "Come back again soon and experience it all again." The group preferred to think it was the latter, and so AMERICAN FORESTS will sponsor another Costa Rican tour January 22 through February 2, 1994. If you're interested in joining us in one of the most diverse and beautiful countries in the Americas, please write: AMERICAN FORESTS, P.O. Box 2000, Washington, DC 20013 or call 202/667-3300 for further information.