Male howler monkeys are considered the loudest land animal, defending their group of 18 or so individuals with a loud roar, not a howl.

Howler monkeys, at 22-36 inches tall excluding the tail, are large, slow and seldom leave the trees

Squirrel monkey, only 9 -13 inches tall excluding tail, have the largest brain, proportionately, of all the primates at 1:17. Human have a 1:35 ratio

Spider monkey at 1 yr weighs only ~17 oz. Since mothers produce only 1 young & births are 2-3 yrs apart, populations in the wild are slow to recover.

Waterfalls are part of the dramatic Costa Rican landscape.

Lorikeets, this beautiful pair, are one of 30+ brightly colored types found in Costa Rica.

One of the 51 Hummingbird species found in Costa Rica, on a hillside near Arenal volcano.

Blue and Yellow Macaw, or Ara ararauna, actually belong to the parrot family.

Olive Ridley and other sea turtles come ashore by the hundreds of thousands during the "Arribada" (the arrival) to lay their eggs.

With conservation measures in Costa Rica, we're likely to see real turtles, not sand sculptures.

Voluntary catch-and-release practices in Costa Rica mean great sportfishing adventures.

Local fishermen beach their boats in the heat of the day and offer their fresh catch at day's end.

Tamarindo, 10-15 minutes from Playa Potrero, offers world class surf conditions and competition.

Pacific coast beaches are wide, uncrowded open invitations to relaxation and recreation for all.

View from Arenal Volcano toward Arenal Lake, a favorite with visitors and locals alike.

Costa Rica's most active volcano, Arenal, has been constantly active since 1968.

The Blue Morpho is one of Costa Rica's most beautiful, with an adult wing span of about 6".

Another beautiful waterfall in the unspoiled landscape that is Costa Rica.

A woman relaxes in one of the many river falls, this photo is titled "Water Angel."

Flowers in Costa Rica are as diverse as they are beautiful; there are 800 orchid species.

When watching for birds, butterflies or local flora, you may encounter a swinging jungle bridge.

The recently completed Tempisque Bridge, a $26.1MM gift from the Taiwanese government,

shortens the travel time to/from San Jose by 2 hrs.

Take the time to relax by the pool, read a book, doze in the warm sun. You won't want to leave.

When in Costa Rica, take time to relax by the pool, read a book, doze in the warm sun.

This photo of a boy's face painted with the Costa Rican red, white and blue flag is stunning.

Everyone watches the Sunset at Playa Potrero looking toward Flamingo.