Monday, July 22, 2013

Isla Contadora, Panama

Isla Contadora is a Panamanian island on the Pearl Islands archipelago in the Gulf of Panama. Contadora was the island where the Spanish counted the pearls that were harvested from the other islands in the archipelago, hence the name of the island, which means "the one that counts" in Spanish.

Wikipedia

Sunrise over Panama City while waiting for our ferry to the island

Transportation on the island

Gorgeous beaches

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Rincón de la Vieja National Park

This 34,800 acre (14,084 ha) national park in the Guanacaste Region of Costa Rica is home to an intriguing combination of volcanic geological wonders and pristine tropical forests. The main attraction is the smooth cinder cone volcano, Rincón de la Vieja (6217 ft., 1895 m), comprised of nine contiguous craters that dot the volcanic national park. This collection of volcanic peaks are the most active in the Guanacaste Mountains (Cordillera de Guanacaste), where major volcanic activity occurred during the latter half of the 1960's. The Von Seebach crater is still currently active, continually venting steam and the occasional volcanic hiccup.

Traffic en route to Rincón de la Vieja

Geothermal hot springs

Volcanic mud

Butterflies

Woodpeckers

Hummingbirds

A naturally occurring blue-tinted river