Hiking through the forests of Monteverde, Costa Rica at night was like stepping into a scene from Tarzan – towering trees, dense vegetation and air thick with the scent of damp earth. It was an adventure straight off the screen!
Our guide laid down the law from the start: stick together, keep a low profile, and most importantly, don’t stray from the path. As if the physical desperation of the woods wasn’t enough, signing a waiver certainly upped the thrill factor. For safety’s sake, I armored myself in the most flattering yet essential creepy gear – leggings tucked into socks, hood pulled tight, wrists wrapped securely. Fashionable? Barely. Necessary? Absolutely.
Guided only by the beam of a flashlight, we plunged into the depths of the forest. I mean Bear Grylls would have a hard time with this thing! Forget a gentle introduction to nocturnal wildlife (maybe a sleeping Toucan?). Oh no, that would be too easy! First, a scorpion hung menacingly close at arm’s length, followed by a hairy tarantula and the sinister hiss of a green viper. The driver’s casual comment about the fatal snake bite did little to ease the tension, especially when the nearest hospital is a 4-hour drive away.
Just when I thought my nerves could take no more, Tracy, my ever so helpful roommate, decided to startle me with a playful tickle. My heart jumped into my throat, but luckily sheer fear kept me from waking the jungle with my scream! My dog slap, followed by girlish giggles, earned us a stern look from our guide. Hahaha
Emerging from the forest was an exhilarating rush. With heart rates finally back to normal and clothes well and truly shaken out and layers removed. As a group we headed out for a well earned dinner in a nearby perfectly safe and beautiful town.
The path was dimly lit, prompting the younger ones in our group to lead the way with their torch. In the dim glow, my roomy almost stepped on a scorpion right in our path, her sandals coming dangerously close! The sight made me shudder, especially with the thought of upcoming stays in hostels with outdoor showers and toilets.
This G wilderness adventure tour offered thrilling heights deep in the forests of Costa Rica, but I can’t say it’s an experience I’ll be repeating anytime soon. I’ve well and truly marked the creepy crawlies as over and off the list. Hahaha
Wildlife Encounters: Scorpion, Kinkajou (aka the honey bear), Porcupine, Toucan, Sloth (2 fingers), Tarantula, Green Viper, Motmot bird (yes, it’s actually a thing and I haven’t made it up LOL).
For a deeper dive into my G Adventures trip, check out “G Adventures Solo Holidays: A Costa Rican Escapade Unveiled.” Join me as I narrate Day 2, featuring the enchanting Mi Cafecito Coffee Tour in Alajuela and the relaxing Hot Springs in La Fortuna. Plus, discover the joys and revelations of solo travel in my piece “Discovering the Beauty of Solo Holidays in Costa Rica.”
