Night Tour Wildlife Refuge Monteverde

This was once an agrian farm but is now a protected area of 30 hectares situated less than a mile above sea level. Located between the Pacific dry forest and Monteverde’s cloud forest, it provides an extensive diversity of flora and fauna.

Roy our guide armed with scope (telescope), laser pointer and really bright torch led us into the reserve. How he could see the animals in the dark and some so high I simply do not know.

We saw amongst other animals lizards, walking stick, spider, moths, crickets whose sound goes up and down to confuse the bats where they are and therefore not eating them, snake, 2 toe sloth, bat, and at the end of the walk a grey fox and its mate - a skunk. That plus a strangling fig tree which had already completely killed the host tree.

However the three highlights were:

A keel-billed Toucan sitting high up in the tree. This picture was taken by Roy with my i phone through his powerful scope. Marvellous mobile phone technology now.

The tarantula was still in its hole but did walk back in after we all had a chance to see and take photos of it. We had to be very quiet approaching its hole as any vibration would scare it off.

However the grand highlight was seeing a Spectacled Owl with its Brown Jay catch. Our guide heard a sound a few metres from where we were and on investigation saw the owl sitting high up in the tree with its catch still in its feet. The guides do radio each other with news of significance and soon it was like Grand Central Station. Several guides told their groups that this would be the highlight of their night’s walk. I overheard them saying that it is a rare sight for them as well to see this owl let alone with a kill. Yes, they were really excited. Again the photo within the circle was taken through Roy’s scope. My own photos are not as clear nor good but still gives an idea of the scene that we were fortunate to have witnessed.

The toucan that we had just seen apparently flew away with all the commotion around him / her.

Soon our 2 hour night tour was up. That was a worthwhile US $ 23 experience.

By now it was after 8 pm when the van dropped us off at the El Marquez Restaurant where the others were waiting for us. While it was a seafood restaurant, I decided to choose a steak and it was one of the best on the trip. I wasn’t asked nor told the owner how I wanted it cooked but it was just right. Banana Smoothie or Batidos en leche C$ 1,300 / NZ $ 3.20 / US $ 2.60 with the Lomito del Chef - chef tenderloin with mussels on the half shell served with a coffee sauce C$ 6,500 / NZ $ 15.90 / US $ 13.10.