Community minded veterinarian hosts free spay/neuter clinic in Chirripó region.

Carla Crocker loves animals and for years she has rescued dogs off San Jose’s streets and given them food and shelter. Right now she has seven dogs at her place, and a rabbit! In order to save the many cats and dogs let loose in La Sabana Park Carla has teamed up with ANPA: Asociacion Protectora de Animales (www.anpacostarica.org) and last Sunday, October 24th, organized an all-day spay and neuter clinic by donation in nearby Herradura for all the Chirripó communities.

Carla arrived with Dr. Alex Jimenez, a practicing veterinarian who calmly handled about 30 cats and dogs within his six hour stint.

Years ago spaying or neutering your pet wasn’t considered important – unwanted offspring were abandoned in the streets and the populations were out of control. Cloudbridge Reserve has done much to educate the community and facilitate spay/neuter clinics so that on Sunday the home of Oswaldo and Jeti was packed full with folks from Herradura, San Gerardo, Los Angeles and all the way to Chimirrol. Some people brought a cat or a dog; others brought two, three or more and waited patiently for long hours while Dr Jimenez performed the operations that took about 15 minutes each.

Everyone helped out: Ellen came from Los Angeles to manage the line-up, others helped with shaving the pets or keeping the animals warm and quiet in the recuperation room. And after all that Dr Jimenez and Carla managed the 3.5 drive to San Jose and back to work the next day.

The day made a real difference in the protection of animals in this region. If you would like to help out please contact ANPA or Carla at carlacrocker@gmail.com.

San Gerardo has a new sports facility – a wonderful day had by all at the opening.

You can hear the cheers of volleyball enthusiasts every evening now!

After two years of planning and building the Asociacion de Dessarolla de San Gerardo de Rivas, along with supporting local deputados (Government representatives at all levels) and funders from Dirección Nacional de Desarrollo de la Comunidad (DINADECO) officially opened our new multi-use sports facility on Saturday October 16th. Everyone agreed that the provision of a sports hall will go a long way in providing healthy recreational opportunities for youth and adults alike in San Gerardo.

Planned uses include volleyball – a favourite sport for the wet wintry months, indoor soccer, dance classes and non sport activities such as social events, graduations, events surrounding the Carrera Chirripó and much more. The increased space, with outside car park and a beautifully updated kitchen has modernized and drastically improved facilities available.

The event, emceed by Kattia Padilla, included greetings from all levels of government and words of support for future funding (a planned second floor for offices, classrooms and workshops) from DINADECO. Interspersed were traditional dances performed by the elementary school dance troupe as well as local youth and a newly formed women’s dance group, whose member Sonia Padilla sewed all the costumes. The Asociacion provided delicious refreshments all day long and the day ended with a dance and disco.

So, Mt Chirripó may have been closed for October but there was plenty going on here!

Consiste en un recorrido en bicicleta cerca de la montaña más alta de Costa Rica, El Chirripó.

Es una total aventura para el deportista que enfrentará un terreno difícil, donde la mayor satisfacción será convencerse de todo el potencial que tiene dentro de sí mismo. Sumado al privilegio de disfrutar de hermosos paisajes y riqueza natural, en un ambiente rural y acogedor.

La aventura empezará el 22 de enero, los participantes y sus acompañantes podrán acampar el día antes o bien hospedarse en alguno de los hoteles de la zona. En Herradura podrán disfrutar un rato del ambiente nocturno, con música, baile y venta de comidas.

Para el domingo 23 de enero, está el desayuno a las 6:00am y la salida de esta aventura será a las 08:00am con un reto de más de 50 kilómetros, de caminos rurales, montañas, ríos y paisaje.
Aparta esta fecha en tu agenda de vacaciones, espera más información.
Estamos afinando algunos detalles, para que tengas una gran experiencia. Encuentra más información en español en www.vistasalchirripo.blogspot.com

Organiza: Asociación de Desarrollo Integral de Herradura de Rivas

Mountain bike adventure: “VISTAS AL CHIRRIPO”

A bike ride near the highest mountain in Costa Rica: Mt.Chirripó!

This is pure adventure for the athlete who likes to face difficult terrain, and enjoys a challenge to fulfill both physical and mental potential. In addition, enjoy the beautiful landscapes and natural wealth, as well as a friendly rural community.

The adventure begins January 22, participants and guests may camp the day before or stay in one of the hotels in the area. In Herradura there will be music, dancing and refreshments for sale.

The bike ride is on Sunday January 23rd, with breakfast at 6:00 am and the start at 8:00 am with a challenge of more than 50 kilometers of rural roads, mountains, rivers and natural landscape.

Set aside this date on your vacation agenda and look forward to more information.

Find more information in Spanish on www.vistasalchirripo.blogspot.com

Organizers: Development Association of Herradura de Rivas.

*Proyecto San Gerardo is very pleased to announce that Karol Fernandez is the first San Gerardo student to receive a scholarship through the new Proyecto San Gerardo Fund.

Karol has been studying computer skills with Proyecto San Gerardo since January 2009 and English since September of the same year. She passed her high school diplomas this year through studying at home, proving she has very good study skills and motivation to succeed at university.

Karol will study English and plans to be a high school teacher. She will be attending Universidad Latina starting in September. Without assistance from the Proyecto San Gerardo scholarship fund Karol would not have been able to consider going to university, so this new fund has made a world of difference in her life.

The new scholarship fund, brainchild of a former English volunteer teacher, started this year through various donations from Friends of Proyecto San Gerardo and fundraising events locally and around the world where the volunteers live. The plan is to offer assistance so that high school students don’t need to drop out of school for financial reasons or so young people with the capacity to study at university, but without the resources to pay for it, can apply for a scholarship (becca) as part of their financial planning. About 20 years ago it was highly unusual for children to go to high school, or even complete primary education. There wasn’t a high school nearby and the pressure for youngsters to help out at home or on the farm was intense. Typically children went to school for three – five years, but by the time they were ten they were working, contributing members of the family.

Nowadays nearly everyone completes primary school and about 80% start high school at the nearby colegio in Canaan – a mere 20 minute walk for most. The curriculum is demanding though – all Costa Rican students must graduate with a full slate of 13 materias (subjects), and the school day is long – from 7a.m. to 4p.m. So many of the students drop out: to work, to start a family or to stay home. Of young people between the ages of 14 and 25 in San Gerardo more than half fail to graduate. And their prospects for finding decent jobs beyond farm labourer or cleaning houses for gringos are few. It is for this reason Proyecto San Gerardo has set up the scholarship fund, and we hope in a small way to make a bit of difference for some of these smart, self-sufficient young people who deserve a better opportunity in life.

*Proyecto San Gerardo exists to provide opportunities for the local community to acquire skills to access secure and better paying jobs within the region. By teaching computer skills and English Proyecto San Gerardo ensures students are in a better position to compete for jobs in hotels, as guides to Cerro Chirripó, or with other attractions in the tourist sector. This website, developed by Proyecto San Gerardo, also ensures more people get to know about San Gerardo and helps visitors plan their stay here. The Information and Services page promotes small micro-enterprises and Proyecto San Gerardo volunteers all stay with local families, a wonderful experience for them and also a financial boost for the local community. For more in formation about Proyecto San Gerardo, or if you would like to make a donation to assist us with the classes or towards the scholarship fund, please visit the Get Involved page on this website.

Other news:

On Saturday 21st August we enjoyed a wonderful day celebrating the 35th anniversary of the commemoration of Cerro Chirripó as a National Park (Parque Nacional Chirripó). Communities bordering on the mountain: San Gerardo de Rivas, Herradura, San Pedro, San Geronimo and Cedral met with representatives of the UNESCO since Chirripo is located within the world heritage site: Parque de la Amistad, here in the Talamanca Mountain Range. Representatives from MINAE and the Asociacion de Arieros, Guias y Porteadores hosted the event. Dancing, traditional games, football, clowns and of course lots of wonderful comida tipico made this a great day to remember. Enjoy the photos!

IMPORTANT: Mt Chirripó is closed for annual maintenance from October 1st – 31st. Please make your visiting plans with this in mind if you have set your sites on the peak!

I’ve been here a year and a half now and I realize I’ve joined the local ranks of “small ventures with big hearts” – an irresistible state of being for those of us scratching a living in rural Costa Rica.

In my case it went like this: last year we had this brilliant idea of selling products (well, yes candy!) made out of dulce to promote our family trapiche (sugar mill). I made peanut brittle and coconut ice and took them out to ‘test drive’ on the community at a local event hosted by Bandera Azul. Both were successes but the peanut brittle (a.k.a. mani y dulce) was really unique. So we started selling it at other events and finally at the village store. From there on we won two contracts to sell at hotels and of course in our little soda.

So now I find myself with a peanut brittle cooking date every week and a bustling, but very tiny, business concern!
So much for ‘small venture – where does the ‘big hearts’ bit come in? Well, it’s the fact that for every package of dulce we sell we probably give away half again to events as fundraisers, or to friends or family popping by at cooking time. We’re just not full bloodied entrepreneurs!

San Gerardo is full of other such small ventures. Here’s a short list: fresh bread baked weekly, fresh cut flowers, sign-making, and all the wonderful artesania made by MUCACHI – the women’s crafts group who not only produce great gifts to take home after your holidays but use a lot of recycled products. There’s the egg-seller on Wednesdays, the fruit and vegetable van Fridays, Swiss cheese down in Canaan and for the many carnivores fresh pork anytime you can lay down enough colones to have someone butcher you a pig. There’s Jose who cuts men’s hair, Mr. Fix-It’s for anything and everything that can go wrong, the man in Herradura who still shoes horses from door to door, and horror of all horrors – the man who sells potions to rid your house of spiders or mice or whatever you want vanished. Women selling ‘Avon’, women with catalogues for clothes shoppers, and women with all sorts of items to sell in their houses for less than a dollar. Seamstresses, portrait painters and photographers. the hostel that is a home away from home. The list goes on…You can get your pants hemmed for $2, buy 50 oranges for less than that, and pay anyone with a car the gas to go into town.

Of course in a remote village where full time salaried work is hard to come by, and coffee prices drop annually because of international competition, everyone does ‘a bit of everything’. And how wonderful it is to find that almost all your needs can be met by someone in the community, and usually for a song. Who knows how long this will last – most of the youth now complete their high school education and their dreams are of university and city-bound jobs, not eking out a small living with humble trades and helping out their neighbours. But I hope some of this will survive, or at least we can capture this in memoirs of a very precious time when communities were self-sufficient out of individual necessity and communal regard.

Now for the next venture – our crop of miniature sweet peppers have mysteriously crossed with fiery jalapenos to produce a mixed harvest of unpredictable results! But the piquantes are superb for making salsa – I’ve already given away half the crop but there must be a way to turn this into a business??
Salsa San Gerardo anyone?

Here we are in May – so close to winter though you would never know it as we are experiencing beautiful sunny, dry days and clear, starry nights. Fledgling birds have been around a while and everything is bursting with the promise of the growing season soon upon us. To celebrate we acquired 3 new piglets, about 6 weeks old and black with pink snouts. Of course, contrary to all farming wisdom we named them: Clara, SiSi and Wilbur – so how we are ever going to take them to market I don’t know! They have just left their mom but they were already accustomed to pig swill and didn’t say no to bananas and shredded sugar cane as well! Today I get to learn how to muck out the pens – I don’t mind learning while they are little and don’t seem too fierce.

Other May news – of course for travelers the important fact is that Mt Chirripó will be closed May 15th – May 31st for its semi-annual maintenance. This means that you can’t book a hike for this time period, so if you’re in San Gerardo anyway check out this website for other things to do. Cloudbridge Reserva is a wonderful alternative and you can easily spend a day hiking the trails there – and spotting wildlife if you get up early!

Hotel Roca Dura has a new email: hotelrocadura@hotmail.com – be sure to send your inquiries here. The Roca Dura (Hard Rock!) is in the centre of the village with a wonderful view from the popular bar over the plaza. The quaint stone-faced bedrooms with original artwork are all lovely and the garden slopes to the nearby Rio Chirripo with benches to relax by. Definitely worth checking out!

May 6th saw the inauguration of the new flag for Bandera Azul for 2010 with 3 stars (see Bandera Azul under Community pages) For eight consecutive years San Gerardo has proudly claimed this symbol of a healthy, clean and protected environment that the bandera signifies in this national program. To qualify at this level communities must actively participate in recycling, be litter-free, minimize water pollution and wastage and conserve energy. The program is shared with the elementary school too so that children learn about their role in environmental conservation for the future. Hotels and businesses try and help out too with conservation and recycling programs for clients such as limiting the use of plastics and promoting earth-friendly tourism.

We are very proud of our new bandera and how the community works together to keep San Gerardo a pristine and beautiful place. Please do your part when you visit here to protect the fragile tropical ecosystem while enjoying everything Mt Chirripó and San Gerardo has to offer.

New happenings in San Gerardo!

In March El Bosque Cabinas changed management and has reopened with refreshingly appealing rooms, a restaurant and tranquil spots for relaxing. Jeffry Padilla, new proprietor, has brought his experience from working in the Talamanca hotel to provide a level of service as well as a menu travelers are sure to find appealing.

Extra touches include a cocktail on arrival and a free breakfast with your lodging. Furnishings have been upgraded and new local tours are offered to some sites not before included in San Gerardo tours – check out the webpage here under ACCOMMODATION for more details.

Over Semana Santa (Easter week) the Parqueo las Rosas opened San Gerardo’s very first Internet Café in the Soda of the same name. For those of you who haven’t been to the Aguas Termales the Parqueo las Rosas offers secure parking to visitors to the hot springs who don’t drive 4X4 vehicles, or don’t want to attempt the steep 1km entrance. The Soda had been closed for two years, but reopened with a fresh splash of yellow and blue paint and now offers high speed internet and Skype, arts and souvenirs, tourist information and maps, snacks, homemade breads and cakes, hot and cold drinks and even horseback rides for children!

The parqueo and soda are open every day through the holidays (Christmas until mid February, Semana Santa and the July holidays) and at weekends throughout the rest of the year. Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
For more information call 2742-5356

The annual race 17km up Mount Chirripó this year was a wet one. Rain fell heavily two days before the event – on the event day and after. Trails turned into muddy traps and rocks were slippery and perilous. Normally I would think ‘Too bad – but those athletes are so experienced, they’ll do fine’; except that this year my daughter Liz was running. And of course when blood is involved then the weather becomes a subject of intense interest. She was alternatively pessimistic and terrified of running the race, or confident she could do as well as many of the others there, all suffering the same conditions. She had trained hard in Vancouver: up mountains and along roads, though always at sea level or a bit above – never starting at 3,000 feet and coping with thin air as well as the heat.

She was up at 5:30 a.m. to eat her granola bar and down her ginseng. Looking like the all-time athlete she set off for the start line while we followed at a snail’s pace to join the festive hundreds in the village plaza for the 7a.m. send-off. At the start line she met up with her running buddy and they and the 223 others hopped up and down nervously waiting for the speeches to end, the benedictions and the national anthem – then they were off!

As Liz disappeared round the bend we all turned to other attractions at the fiesta – it was going to be at least 3 hours before the winners showed up and Liz was going to be a bit behind the trail blazers. I had local recipe books to sell as a fundraiser for Proyecto San Gerardo, our family and guests wandered around to sample the freebies and chat with friends.

The winners started to come in just after 10 a.m. – in record time no less and the winner for the second year in a row. The excitement was palpable and together with the band and the cheerleaders everyone gave the athletes a huge welcome back. They were rubbed down, checked for vital signs and given lots of fruit and water. No Liz yet – we continued to wait.

Rain started again. Everyone ran to take cover (Ticos hate to get wet!) – we could hardly imagine what the trail was like! Runners were coming in every few minutes – solo or in groups, all supporting one another. Children ran to greet their fathers and mothers – brave mud and rain streaked athletes with smiles of gratitude for the end of the hellish race and for their families. We waited and waited – cameras in hand; towels, water, dry clothes – but no Liz.

At 1:30 p.m. she came round the bend. She looked white as a sheet but ran strong and with determination. At the finish line she looked like she would faint but revived at the sight of her finisher’s medal and the family and friends there to help her onto the massage table for a quick check up. Her legs were battered and bruised – she looked like she had run through brambles and gashed her knees on boulders though she said she only fell twice.
More runners came in after her, including the brave and determined Gerhard Krolow, who had established the veteran’s section and at 74 still licks his age group! Other women had set great records and hopefully will attract more female competitors in the future. The Cabecar racers (indigenous peoples) who had traveled days just to get to San Gerardo, looked as though they could run the mountain all over again, and certain locals did play a decent game of football in the Chirripó cup finals the next day!

But Liz had run and finished the race – she had conquered the mountain! What more can a proud mom want!

Till next year – see you there!

It was about a month ago, when the winter rains finally dwindled to a halt and people started saying “It smells like Christmas” that I realized I had a problem. Born in England and having spent 30 years in Vancouver Canada, I was accustomed to short dark days, bright lights and everything indoors; not this feeling that summer holidays were about to begin! I mumbled “Nonsense, there’s no snow!” and left my friends dumbfounded.

I began to wonder how I would survive a holiday season far from home and family, where tamales rule as ‘haute cuisine’ and turkey doesn’t exist. I downloaded a “Survive the Season” guide for those far from home and bought all my gifts for family online.

Luckily there was no time to lament the differences! Everyone began cooking up a storm and preparing for the annual Fiesta de la Patronata on December 18th /19th. Our women’s group – MUCACHI accumulated handcrafts to sell including purses, scarves, bags, cushion covers as well as jewelry, garden plants and my peanut brittle (dulce y mani). At the same time people were feverishly preparing the ingredients for tamales – banana leaves, pork and the seasoned masa, and enjoying fiestas in neighboring villages.

We attended a Serenata de la Virgine in neighboring Rivas, but musically speaking I wasn’t touched until we arranged a serenata in our house and invited family and neighbors. Three local guitarists and singers shared their repertoire of traditional songs ranging from flamenco to ranchero. We had some great voices in the audience so the performance couldn’t have been better and we had an evening that stands to be repeated.

So for Christmas Day itself I had pulled a cultural bluff. Whilst having closer to 50 tamales in the fridge I had also bought a turkey and trimmings – turned out to be the most expensive turkey I’ve ever cooked! We had stockings to unpack and mimosas to sip with desayuno. To counter the alcohol we packed up some supplies and hiked high into the hills above our properties to enjoy the fresh mountain breezes on this Christmas Day of 25 degrees! Later we sat down with seven others and ate our fill of traditional Canadian fare and English sherry trifle – a real pot pori of a Christmas!

People keep popping in with more tamales as gifts, we share our Christmas cookies and turkey. I learn that Christmas is yet again far more about how you share your time and gifts with others than it is about what exactly are the ingredients. Sure, I missed out on Christmas crackers, mulled wine and snow filled days, but I did not miss the shopping frenzy, crazy car parks and general stress. Our 3-branch “Christmas Tree” looks fine to me, and though the butterflies look out of place while I listen to carols from Kings College Cambridge – what the hell. It’s Christmas with (some of) those you love that counts.

Happy New Year everyone! Keep reading!

We’ve just had to say good-bye to two terrific volunteers at Proyecto San Gerardo – and our reflections on their time here made me think it was about time I wrote a piece on volunteering in San Gerardo.

Before living here I thought I knew all about volunteering and committees; but I had never lived in a small community that is moreorless self-sufficient when it comes to running itself. I was used to government departments responsible for roads, security, recreation, events, and maintenance. When I arrived here I noticed the plethora of meetings, groups and the activities that flowed from this communal effort. It’s true! Without local volunteers San Gerardo could not function – so everyone does their part and volunteers on committees large and small to make San Gerardo the beautiful place it is. It’s very social too – a wonderful way to meet your neighbours and make new friends, and for me a new way of practicing my Spanish!

On our Get Involved page we focus on four opportunities for volunteering in San Gerardo, but truth be told there are many more. Coming up soon (February 27th) is the Carrera Chirripó (fiesta time!) and many, many volunteers are needed to help with preparing food, selling food and drink, cleaning up and generally ensuring the 4 day event goes on without hassles and without the load on too few shoulders. If you give just a four hour shift you will experience a slice of the real Pura Vida! Working alongside local community members, joking and laughing, your vacation here will be something to remember forever as you make new friends. If you would like to sign up to help out in anyway visit the Get Involved/Carrera Chirripó page and contact us.

Volunteers on projects such as reforestation at Cloudbridge Reserve or teaching with Proyecto San Gerardo are here for longer periods of time, and some of them elect to stay with local families and really experience rural Costa Rica. Rising early and sharing the first cup of coffee, helping out with harvests, picking coffee or playing with the children who inevitably visit: this is a chance to share intimately in the lives of rural ticos. Our volunteers have repeatedly mentioned this as a highlight: “The family was absolutely wonderful and did everything they could to make sure I felt at home” – Amber, 2009

Back to our volunteers who just said good-bye! They were here to teach English at various levels mainly to adults in the community who would like to enter the tourism business but lack language skills. The classes focus on conversation rather than reading and writing, and for many it is their first time back in the classroom for many years as high school education is a comparatively recent acquisition here. Typically shy and nervous about speaking aloud in the eight week course most of the students learned to initiate conversations in English or at least make themselves understood. Says Kevin: “A lot of the students didn’t have the opportunity to go to high school, as they were working from a young age. This made me realize how I had taken my education for granted. All my students were genuinely interested in learning, they were there because they wanted to be there. There is nothing more gratifying for a teacher than to have students who are eager to learn as I was to teach.”

We finished the session that also included computer skills classes, with a graduating party for everyone. Over 80 people turned out: students and their parents, homestay families, teachers and community supporters. It was great to see the pride with which each student received their certificates and hear how 100% want to come back again in the new year when we resume classes.

Volunteering is always a two-way streak. People, communities, the environment benefit when others donate their skills, creativity and time. But those same volunteers benefit immeasurably from the welcome they receive here in San Gerardo and the lessons for life than can be drawn from living in the community. Soon we will be expanding our volunteer recruitment to include arts and crafts teachers for a new women’s group, and we are always on the lookout for First Aid instructors, as well as our core ESL and computer skills teachers.

So ‘Gracias’ to all our volunteers and host families of the past three years, as well as the community for supporting volunteers here in San Gerardo. Last word to one of our volunteers:

“The two months that I stayed in San Gerardo was a once in a lifetime chance to experience a culture from the inside rather than viewing it from the outside in the traditional tourist sense …I am sure I will stay in touch with my family and the friends I have made in San Gerardo, and I thank Proyecto San Gerardo for giving me the opportunity to volunteer” – Jed, 2009

So here we are in the dead of winter: doesn’t look too bad to me if you can handle brilliant sunshine every morning, same old boring warm temperatures and bananas, oranges and anones literally dropping off the trees! True, there’s more rain, but only after a daily Vitamin D dose that makes hiking and visiting still pleasurable.

October – Cerro Chirripó is closed for maintenance so the tourists here need to find something g else to do. Here’s my favourite list to help you decide to visit San Gerardo:

1. Cloudbridge Reserve – is open all year round and requires no reservations but likewise offers incredible vistas and trails including spectacular waterfalls and the chance to see monkeys, quetzals, motmots and peccaries if you are up early and have keen eyes. The Reserve was created to preserve the cloud forest and protect the flora and fauna as well as offer opportunities for scientists to study rare species, including I just learned the quinine tree! To reach Cloudbridge hike about 2 km up the hill from the centre of San Gerardo (the Chuma), past the Uran Hotel and Casa Mariposa. Alternatively you can leave your vehicle c lose to the Uran Hotel and just hike the last part to the entrance.
Cost: Entrance is free but please leave a donation to assist with upkeep.
Time needed: allow minimum of 2 hours to enjoy your hike.
Difficulty: easier than Chirripó but realize that there are lots of inclines!

2. Aguas Termales – the hot springs are located on the other side of San Gerardo, on the road to Herradura. What a great way to relax after your Cloudbridge hike! There are 2 pools open from 7am – 5:30p.m. daily at a cost of $5.00 per person ($3.00 for nationals) The resort also provides a restaurant, snacks, and cabins should you wish to sleep over. To reach the hot springs park your car (unless it’s 4-wheel drive) at the Parqueo de Rosas on the left hand side of the road to Herradura, just 200m before the road up to the hot springs. Hike up the new road to the hot springs is about 10 – 15 minutes depending on fitness – but you will sure love those springs when you get there!

3. Horseback Riding – one of the very best ways to explore this mountainous terrain is on horseback. Even if you don’t really know how to ride the local ponies are docile enough for anyone and you can arrange for a guide to take you to view Cloudbridge, the coffee plantations or circle the neighboring villages. Various locals rent out ponies but you can try Don Luis at the Roca Dura, or the Chavez family. For more information drop me a line via the Contact Form.

4. Jardines Secretos – on the corner of the road to Herradura and beside the bridge over the Rio Blanco these gardens have become famous to plant experts and plant lovers alike. Don Klaus planted the garden and when he is in town his knowledge and obvious love for his garden is worth the walk around the garden alone. At other times Don Blanco can walk you around, or you can do the self-guided tour. There are waterways and small lagoons with fish and water birds, a mirador to look out over the garden and the valley and virtually thousands of tropical species.
Open: Mon to Sat, 8am–4pm
Cost: $3 per person
Difficulty: low

5. Bird watching – no cost, just bring your glasses and bird book. San Gerardo is famed for bird lovers and at anytime you can be sure to spot some of the most exotic: scarlet tanagers, siete colores, mot mots, emerald toucan and the red breasted aracaris, the occasional hawk and woodpeckers. October is a great month to bird watch since the fruit trees in everyone’s gardens attract them feeding so a wander around the village is often enough! For other good viewing points try the Talamanca Reserve, along the Rio Blanco and the Hotel Pelicano.

6. And if it’s wet…
…there’s always the Swiss Cheese Factory in Canaan (just 2 km back down the road from San Gerardo) where mature cheeses like Emmental and Gruyere are lovingly made from local sweet milk.
… savour a beer at the Pelicano Hotel and take in the odd but fascinating wood carvings in the dining room or check your email on Wi-Fi
…organic coffee for sale just west of Chimirrol on the main road to San Isidro. Ask to take a tour and find out exactly what it takes to claim your coffee is organically grown.

That’s it! Of course on weekends the library is open and football matches playing on most Sundays, or try your hand at trout fishing set amongst a wonderful orchid collection at Los Cocolisos (on the road to the Chespa) Saturdays and Sundays. Or play pool at the pulperia with local youth.

Chirripó closed? No problem! There’s so much to do!