Costa Rica
When Columbus arrived in 1502, he hoped to find gold and called it 'Costa Rica' (Rich Coast) but, for most of us crossing the Atlantic today, its unique wealth lies in its wildlife.
The sheer variety of birds is amazing. From the exquisite colours of the hummingbirds...
to this massive Turkey Vulture, circling on a thermal...
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or the massed birds circling to feed on the fish that are trapped as they find themselves entering the freshwater of a river and unable to swim back out into the Pacific.
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and the astonishing colours of the Toucans...
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or the yellow-breasted flycatchers.
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Wildlife abounds along the chanels of the Tortuguero National Park on the Caribbean coast: caiman, white-faced Capucins, and the old-looking, wrinkly Green Ibis...
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But in Costa Rica you need to be prepared for all weathers. It may be 30 degrees and steamy on the Caribbean coast, but travel up into the mountains and an hour later you are in need of full waterproofs and warm layers to keep out the damp chill.
Some of the locals are best avoided. I wouldn't want to go swimming here, in a river near the Pacific coast, nor get anywhere near this extremely venomous Yellow Viper in the rainforest - and am happy to have used a telephoto lens for both these shots!
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But the coastal scenery on the Pacific is stunning...
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