Port 03 Puntarenas, Costa Rica

by Ed · Published January 2, 2022 · Updated January 10, 2022

On December 28th we arrived at the dock at Puntarenas, Cost Rica. Puntarenas means “sandy point”.

Docked at Puntarenas

There were some interesting structures visible on shore, but we never had a chance to explore them.

I have an excursion to do a “skywalk in the forest” while Joy has a very important appointment with a massage table.

Our tourbus for the next 5 hours

Andrea, the tour guide, talked to us about Costa Rica for the next hour while we drove to the skywalk loction. She told us some interesting things about Costa Rica that we knew before but totally forgot. Such as:

Costa Rica has no army – they disbanded it decades ago.
The phrase “pura vida” (the pure life) is used in many cases as a greeting, acknowledgement, a thank you, for any time you don’t know what else to say!
Technology is the #1 export – mostly computer chips and medical equipment. Bananas, Pineapples, and Coffee are 2, 3, and 4, respectively
November to April is the dry season – they haven’t had rain in weeks and typically trees lose their leaves during the dry season so the roots can survive the drought. Fifteen minutes after she said this it began pouring! It rained during our entire skywalk… so much for a dry season…

We arrived at the Skywalk in the Forest site – “The Sky Way Tour,” only to find the front gate locked. Andrea had to call the owner to come open the gate.

Skywalk tour location – gate was locked on arrival

As the rain renewed its strength, we stumbled off the bus and into the trees. I was the only person who brought an umbrella, and Andrea was the only person with a poncho. Fortunately, once we got into the forest the treetops deflected most of the rain. Once off the bus we immediately began climbing toward the first “skyway.”

The initial path into the forest

The journey was a series of paths leading to four separate “skyways” traversing deep valleys. Since I was carrying an umbrella at the start I chose to be the last in the group.

The clouds were low and beautiful!

Occasionally the sun would pop out, and the trees would light up magnificently! But we could still hear the rain falling!

At times the sun broke through

We stopped for a moment to examine a leafcutter ant trail and hole. The ants wear a trail through the grass, and enter a hole large enough for a golf ball! The ants do not eat the leaves they carry. They use the leaves as food to grow fungus, then they eat the fungus. Fun fact! Later we saw a grand leafcutter ant parade!

Leafcutter Ant Trail Trhough the Grass Leading to a Large Entrance Hole

And we reached our first skyway. We first saw the yellow support structure before the bridge itself was visible in the trees. These were suspension bridges across the valleys. It appeared the valley bottoms were roughly 100 to 150 feet below.

Skyway #1 Entrance

Skyway #1 disappears into the trees

The second skyway was more spectacular to see as it stretched below and disappeared into the trees. The skyway bounced up and down and rolled left and right – surprisingly, the engineer in me determined a slow cross-step runway walk proved the best for minimum bounce and rolling!

The first skyway appears between the trees

The couple who chose to be almost last, and immediately ahead of me, are from the Netherlands. He was trying to vidieotape most of the walk, but kept getting thwarted by refreshing rain, so he left his camera in the bag most of the time.

The gentleman in front of me is from the Netherlands

I tried making a video of a crossing, but everytime I tried to pan up a huge tree or down into the valley, my leaning would make the bridge sway and I would lose my balance – not a good video result…

The screened floor allowed a view below – it has clearly been patched many times!

The terrain went up and down, mostly down, between the skyways. The path was covered in some areas by pavers, by large stone slabs, by poured aggregate, or just dirt (now mud). Most of the stones were partially covered with mosses or molds that made them slick and footing troublesome. We all slipped and slid a bit, but thankfully no one fell.

Steep, slick paths were made more treacherous by the rain

The rains began to subside as we entered the third skyway. The drops coming down through the trees still create a steady hiss. We could see or hear no birds or any other animals. I had really hoped to see a monkey, or better yet, a sloth! No luck on anything.

Entering the third skyway

I will admit most of my time on the skyway was spent minding my step and keeping my balance, and less looking around and up (or down) into the trees as I had hoped. Maybe the sloths were watching and laughing at us!

Traversing the third skyway

Andrea announced we would cross the fourth skyway twice, because the park exit was at the entrance to #4. It seemed to be the longest, and I felt like I walked it alone – the group had gotten so far ahead of me. But once I got to the other end it was clear I wasn’t holding anyone up – I just missed the stories Andrea told. As I arrived Andrea said, “OK, time to go back. Who wants to go first?” Since I was just stepping off I volunteered to lead the group back, pirouetted, and headed back across.

Fourth skyway all to myself!

When I reached the other end I turned around to photograph the group behind me. We’re done with the skyways! Now to the exit!

People behind me at the end of the 2nd fourth skyway crossing

I was humored at the exit sign and decided a selfie was in order!

“Emergency Exit”

Our bus was waiting to pick us up near the emergency exit. OK, I promise, no more bus photos unless there is a really remarkable reason!

On the journey back to the ship the bus stopped at a souvenier shop, along with four other buses from our ship. While there we had a visit from a wild macaw! Then 2, then 3! They are much more beautiful in the wild than in the parks, maybe simply because they are free to fly, and open their wings more often!