February 07, 2026 - Carerra (Macaw Lodge)
Wow. Quite the swing in temperatures. It was 21 C when we awoke in San Jose but then warmed up during the day as we drove to the coast, reaching 36 C in Tarcoles. However as we drove inland up the mountain the temperatures dropped to 30 C by the time we reached Macaw Lodge. Perhaps somewhat surprising the highest point in Costa Rica is Cerro Chirripo at 12,536 ft. Then during the night it really cooled off, so much so that in addition to the Guatemalan bedspreads we both used the blankets provided.
Today was a very chilled, relaxing day. After a long sleep (for Norm from 8:00 pm to 7:00 am) and a count of the bats, who had multiplied from two to eight over night, we wandered down for breakfast at 8:30 am (the latest option). Fresh juice (papaya), chocolate filled crepes, yoghurt with nuts, fruit, eggs, cheese and toast filled us up quite nicely.
Most of the rest of the day was spent searching out / admiring the birds and flowers, as did the other guests, many with gigantic cameras. While I have a 300 mm telephoto lens that does a decent job I am a beginner vis-a-vis a number of these other photographers. I can only imagine some of the images they are able to capture.
We enjoyed a nice long chat with Raquel, who returns to her home on weekends to give other workers here at the lodge a break. In part it is due to her English skills (she is studying to be a civil engineer in San Jose) but it is also clear she has a special connection to this place. We asked her about school here in the area. She told us she was one of seven students in her youth, but now there are only three. Of course we provided beanies / buddies for her to give the children (photos to follow in a few days / next weekend after delivered).
Other guests are from a variety of places - two sets of couples from England, a couple from France (Paris), a French fellow from the Grand Caymens among others. There were six couples for dinner tonight that again started with a soup - this time a tasty apple-carrot, with the excellent herb bread. Most guests had chicken with tamarind sauce but Gayle being a vegetarian she had a lentil broth with spinach. Norm too had the lentils (very good) but with chicken, accompanied by yellow rice and a mix of yellow squash, zucchini and cucumber. Dessert was a piece of corn bread with blackberry jam. Both tasty and just the right amount of food,
Dinner finished 7:15 pm ish after which we again headed back up the hill to our cabina, bringing the day to a close.
Lizbeth, Macaw Lodge's chief chef.
flycather.
Chachalaca.
Feb 06, 2026 - Toronto to San Jose, Costa Rica (Alameda Cariari)
The good news was that there was no further delay with us being boarded by 9:00 pm. From that point the flight was non-eventful with landing at the revised time of 1:35 am. Seeing a passenger being wheeled to the 'disabled' line at the end I followed with my walking stick. As a result we passed through quickly with no extended standing in a lengthy line. However, in spite of Priority luggage tags, our bags were part of the very last to be delivered.
Upon exiting from the scan for fruits and vegetables we found an official taxi stand where we were advised the price to Alameda Cariairi would be $20 US which seemed reasonable (subsequently confirmed by German, the owner of Alamda Cariari). The 10 minute drive was quick given the absence of traffic at 3:00 am. We had arranged for German to meet us to let us in (quite impressed he did so at 3:00 am). He did and we immediately fell asleep.
We were up shortly after 7:00 am as breakfast is only served until 9:00 am. Everything is earlier here in Costa Rica given the early sunrise. We had a choice of three breakfasts - an American, a version with pancakes and the 'Tipico' that includes our favourite Gallo Pinta - rice and beans, along with eggs, cheese (the Costa Rican squeaky version) and plantains, along with juice and a fruit plate. Of course we both had the Tipico.
After breakfast we had a quick nap, packed and headed off to our car rental company where we completed the paperwork and were finally off near noon.
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All was good until we got to Bijagual. With no signage to Macaw Lodge we stayed on the main road that soon turned to gravel. True it was a pretty drive but after six kms or so we encountered a large sign that indicated Macaw Lodge was behind us 12 plus kms. So turn around and back to Bijagual where we found the right (still gravel of course) road for another six plus kms. The road was not awful but one always had to be aware of pot-holes and raised rocks. Eventually we were successful in finding the lodge with first impressions being excellent given the gardens, ponds, and sounds of the insects and birds. We were greeted by Michael who advised our room was somewhat away from the lodge up a bit of a hill. He gave us an option of a room in the lodge, which while very nice was not as isolated as the cabina. Gayle left the decision up to me ... and I decided to take the cabina. I will walk slowly and carefully but it is a nice spot with traditonal Guatemalan bed coverings and beautiful wood everywhere. The deck, with traditional Costa Rican rocking chairs sealed the deal. Sure the walk is a bit of a struggle but so far I have managed.
After settling in we made our way to the lodge where we enjoyed a tasty dinner. It was not particularly busy with only two other couples. The food was simple but very good, well prepared and tasty. We started with a vegetable soup and some excellent lodge-made herb bread. I then had a piece of sea bass (actually surprisingly good as historically I have not particularly liked sea bass) with Gayle having stuffed eggplant, along with smashed potatoes and a nice selection of vegetables. Dessert was a piece of creme caramel flan.
As soon as we were finished it was up to our cabina where I fell asleep at 8:00 pm, and Gayle an hour or so later.
Passports out - finally ready to board an hour and a half delayed.
Our cabin (#9) is also constructed entirely of wood, with quilts are made by the Maya Indians of the Guatemala Atitlan area.
Technically we enjoyed a candlight dinner,.
Wonderful vegetable soup with pieces of delicious herb bread (not shown).
Fresh piineapple juice.
February 05, 2026 - Halifax to Toronto
After the snowstorms the past 10 days we were very grateful the weather has been good the past few and we left Halifax, even after a de-icing, pretty much on time. The flight to Toronto was smooth after which we spent over three hours in the Air Canada lounge, always a nice way to start a trip.
Our flight to San Jose was indicated as 'on-time' until it wasn't. Just as boarding was supposed to start at 6:45 pm for our 7:30 pm flight it was announced that due to a maintenance isssue the flight would be delayed until 9:00 pm, pushing back our scheduled arrival time from 5 minutes after midnight to 1:26 am. As a result, after de-planing, clearing immigration, collecting our luggage and finding transportation to our hotel we now expect not to arrive until 3:00 am ish. It is going to be a long night / early morning.
Again back to Costa Rica - February 05, 2026 to March 04, 2026
We will be staying at a number of new lodgings, along with a couple of old stand-bys (Pacific Edge Eco Lodge ad Jardin de Los Monos):
- 1 night at Alameda Cariari upon arrival in San Jose
- 4 nights at Macaw Lodge, inland from Tarcoles
- 1 night at Villas Rio Mar in Dominical due to a booking issue at Macaw Lodge
- 5 nights at Pacific Edge Eco Lodge near Dominicalito
- 4 nights at Vayu just past Ojochal
- 4 nights at Tiskita Lodge, near the Panama border
- 6 nights at Jardin de Los Monos, Matapalo Beach, and finally
- 2 nights back at Alameda Cariari
