We are in Limon Province on the northeast coast of Costa Rica. The area is one of the largest (if not the largest) continuous tract of lowland tropical rainforest habitat in Central America. Few people inhabit this area and it is not as attractive to developers as the Pacific coast because of the precipitation. Annual rainfall can be as much as 500 cm (5 metres - that's 16 1/2 feet of rain!). Wow that's a lot of rain. What are we doing settling here? Not sure if this will be better than dealing with several feet of Canadian snow but we'll let you know! [view map]

Most of our time will be spent at Cano Palma Biological Research Station. A research centre operated by the Canadian Organization for Tropical Education and Rainforest Conservation (COTERC is easier to remember!). This facility provides a base for researchers and students to use while studying the area's flora and fauna. Currently, COTERC is involved with several ongoing projects including monitoring migratory birds and sea turtle nesting, surveying reptile and amphibian biodiversity, and developing partnerships with the local community.

We will also spend time in San Francisco. No, not San Francisco, the modern developed city in California:  San Francisco, the small squatter’s village along the Rio Penetencia in the Barras de Colorado wildlife reserve near Tortuguero, Costa Rica. The village is home to approximately 300 people primarily of Costa Rican and Nicaraguan heritage.

Video Clip: The Station (6:00 min., 39.2 MB - this one is worth the wait) - Estacíon Biológica Caño Palma is located in the largest tract of continuous Atlantic lowland wet rainforest in Central America. The environment is wet, lush, and teaming with life.