Sloths and Canoe Ride in Costa Rica

Our excursion to the Sloth Sanctuary included meeting the sloths and a canoe ride on the Estrella River.  Can you believe the sloths fall in the same order as the armadillos and anteaters? It was interesting to learn about the sloths at this sanctuary.

We discovered that sloths are not lazy but are energy-saving mammals taking life at a slow pace to avoid the rush and tumble or food, while subscribing the movement patterns that help them avoid being identified as prey.

This was our first experience in a rain forest.  Here is a skyward view from our canoe ride. We were there during Costa Rica's dry season as their wet season starts in April.  The pretty leaves from the orange tree in the picture were constantly falling.  One ended up landing right in my shirt pocket!

There were 24 of us on this canoe ride so 6 each fit into 4 canoes along with our experienced boatman.

Though they are somewhat hidden by the leaves, there are at least five monkeys in this image.

This was also a first--seeing a banana tree!

This is a second--a coconut tree, as I saw plenty of coconut trees during a cruise to Mexico.

My, what long legs and tail this striped lizard has!

And last but not least two turtles basking in the Costa Rican sun during our canoe trip on the Estrella River.  I couldn't help but ask our tour guide if anyone had ever fallen off the canoe and he said, no one ever had!