How we discovered Costa Rica – and visited three special Tropica Verde rainforest projects

On the road with Tropica Verde 2025: Our visits to protected areas of the tropical rainforest in Costa Rica

from the Kosmann family

In February and March 2025, we went on a round trip through Costa Rica. During our travel preparations, we came across the Tropica Verde association by chance and read the information and reports about their projects and activities with great interest. On previous visits to Costa Rica, we were always impressed by the nature in protected areas and wondered whether it would be possible to visit some of Tropica Verde’s projects. So we got in touch with Tropica Verde in Frankfurt. From our very first call to the Frankfurt office, we received a lot of information and thanks to the patient and friendly support of Ms. Tilly, we were very lucky to be able to visit 3 of Tropica Verde’s projects: Reserva Monte Alto, Reserva Finca Curré and Reserva Kinkajou.

Reserva Monte Alto: Unique wildlife and quiet nights in the rainforest

Our first destination was the Reserva Natural Monte Alto, where we spent 2 nights in a small cottage (self-catering; see photo) and hiked through the diverse forest area. It was an experience to be alone in the rainforest without a hotel and we saw and admired many birds, insects and plants during our excursions. On a short walk in the dark, we saw, among other things, the largest grasshopper we have ever seen and even an armadillo walked past us. Despite everything, it was nice to know that a member of staff was staying overnight in the office.

Between mass tourism and species conservation: impressions from Cahuita and the macaw conservation project in Manzanillo

We then drove to the Cahuita area on the Caribbean for the first time in around 10 years. We were amazed, almost shocked, at how much this region has changed in recent years. We could no longer find our former accommodation, which was in a secluded location just outside Puerto de Viejo, because everything there is now built up with restaurants, stores, hotels and residential buildings. And there are lots of plots of land with tall, old trees for sale. We hadn’t expected such a change. Even the Refugio Nacional Gandoca-Manzanillo nature reserve is no longer anything like what it was back then.

Despite these changes, there are also valuable initiatives to protect nature in the Caribbean. In Manzanillo, for example, there is a macaw project for breeding and releasing great green macaws into the wild. We were lucky enough to get an appointment to visit the project and met Susanne Löw, who had taken the time to talk to us. We had already been in contact with Susanne by email before our trip and she gave us tips for our stay in the Caribbean and put us in touch with Thierry before he had his own cell phone, because until then he could only be reached via Susanne Löw.

Finca Curré: Impressive biodiversity and endangered rainforest areas

The hike with Thierry through Finca Curré was very impressive for us. As my husband still had to use crutches when hiking after a fall in winter, Thierry drove with us to the entrance of Finca Curré. This is quite possible on a gravel road that didn’t exist a few years ago, as a few houses have now been built here too and of course they need an access road. A few meters from the entrance to Finca Curré, Thierry discovered a freshly cleared area where the excavators were still standing.
It was like entering another world when we entered the reserve. Despite our handicap of crutches, Thierry took us on a very impressive and interesting hike through the rainforest, where he showed us and explained the unique flora. We “had” to stop again and again to admire and photograph the large, old trees, the migrating trees, other plants or insects. A big thank you to Thierry for his patience.
And the changes we saw in the Caribbean show, in our opinion, how important it is to establish and maintain such protected areas. Thierry told us that people keep entering the finca to hunt and that regular inspections are important.

Yatama Lodge & Reserva Kinkajou: Experience and understand biodiversity

Our third stop, the Yatama Lodge at the Reserva Kinkajou and the hikes with Pedro were further highlights of our trip. We felt very much at home at the beautifully designed Yatama Lodge with its attractive little houses and hiking trails. We wouldn’t have wanted to miss the night hike or the hike through the adjacent Reserva Kinkajou. We saw so many insects, frogs, snakes and much more there, and even a sleeping hummingbird on the night hike! And here, too, we realized that some, but by no means all, of the inhabitants really understand the establishment and preservation of the protected areas. Sometimes even a new neighbor can bring about change. This makes Tropica Verde’s concept of involving the local population in its projects and developing many things together on site all the more important.

Why we became a member of Tropica Verde – and would love to come back

We could have stayed longer at all three stations we visited via Tropica Verde and would plan more time for them next time.

We are delighted to have discovered the Tropica Verde association and are happy to have become members. It’s always nice to read about new activities and events in the newsletters and announcements. It’s a pity that we don’t live closer to Frankfurt, otherwise we would certainly have attended an event in the Palmengarten.

Your Kosmann family

Be active as a volunteer!