We were looking forward to our trip to La Paz Waterfall Gardens (no relation to the school) and it did not disappoint. We arrived at 9am and didn’t leave until closing time at 5pm!

It is a sanctuary housing animals rescued mostly from the illegal pet trade that cannot be released back into the wild for various reasons.

Blue Morpho butterflies are the coolest. The differing patterns on the top and underside of their wings are quite something to behold.

Chrysalis displays are my favorite, so alien and beautiful!

Can you spot the little iridescent black hummingbird?

It felt like a rainy day at an amusement park in the best possible way. We think the weather kept the crowds away (we’ve heard this is a popular place and it isn’t too far from San Jose) and we got the place mostly to ourselves.

This is a Violet Sabrewing. 🙃 💕

I let Lydia loose in the snake house with my camera.

Bird Snake. A non-venomous snake found in Costa Rica.

The yellow eyelash viper. We saw its cousin the brown eyelash viper in the wild on our hike in Tenorio National Park.

The big baddie, the Fer de Lance. This is one of the most most venomous snakes in Costa Rica and it is the most aggressive. It also likes to hang out near fallen logs, trees, and other common places people might step in the forest. I hope never to see one of these in the wild. The bushmaster is actually more venomous (because it has a neurotoxin and a hemotoxin in its venom) but it is shy and likes to hang out deep in the forest and is rarely seen. I liked the old school looking cages here that locked from the outside.

Some interesting facts.

The big cats are always something to behold. The pumas knew it was almost dinner time!

Majestic.

Stunning.

Playful white-faced capuchin monkeys.

Beautiful spot for some lunch.

The sad face on this orchid. I couldn’t get enough.

The frog exhibit here was very cool because the frogs were free range, just hanging out on the leaves of big plants in pots. The is the famous red-eyed tree frog. During the day they look a little different because their eyes are closed and they are resting. The glamor shots happen at night. This picture is interesting because it shows a male and female in amplexus or the mating position.

It is called La Paz Waterfall Gardens and this part didn’t disappoint either, five waterfalls in a row!

Three in one shot!

Sleepy two-toed sloth to end the day!