May 29, 2023- Embarking on a hiking day trip, my spirits soared as we slowly entered the hectares Biosur Foundation. Equipped with my trusty camera, I eagerly sought to capture the essence of Costa Rica’s wildlife, even if it meant photographing parrots without their consent, of course.
As we began the journey, we encountered a minor hurdle—the car couldn’t traverse the four rivers that lay ahead. Unfortunately, we had to walk through the water, and it felt dirty. Yet, this was my reminder about immersing myself into the wild. Nature, in all its magnificence, revealed itself to us as we ventured forward. A wood stork was wading in the wetland searching for little fish. Parrots, vibrant and colorful, painted the air with their presence, and I was able to capture their beauty.
Further along the trail, we stumbled upon cows grazing peacefully in the fields, while a turkey vulture sat on the fence viewing the landscape. Suddenly, a familiar sound honked and there it was—a toucan perched on a branch, its unmistakable beak that looks like a banana. Our journey continued, and our patience was rewarded with the sighting of trogons, a couple, with feathers shimmering bright red in the shades of the trees.
As we entered the biosur reserve, we encountered many leaf cutter ants, marching through the trail, with leaves in the mouth. As I stepped away from hundreds of ants and ventured up the hill, we encountered a green and black poison dart frog, its vibrant markings serving as a warning to would-be predators. Although it may look large on TV, it is only a few centimeters wide. A small, yet rare amphibian.
The enchantment of the hike continued to unfold, revealing a helmet lizard on the tree. It was a rare sighting, according to my guide, and the lizard was such a gem to stay and pose for the picture. We took a water break at the viewpoint, and I heard a lot of buzzing. I looked to the corner of my eye, and I discovered a native honeybee nest, a scary yet beautiful sighting. Thank gods the bees don’t sting.
Exhausted yet eager to look for more wildlife, we made it to the top and found nothing. We made our way back, eager to kill of our thirst with cold coconut water or “pipa.” The refreshing sweetness of the pipa fría proved to be the perfect antidote to our weariness, offering a moment of satisfaction.
Having skipped lunch in search of animals, our energy reserves were depleted once more. I was grateful for dinner, even though my choice of curry chicken fell short of expectations, earning a mid-rating of 3/10. Fatigue settled in as the day ended. The comfort of sleep embraced me, providing a much-needed charge back to 100%.
Vasundhra Arulazi 
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