Discovering the 1st waterfall on the PuraVidaEcolodge Reserve

Having recently returned from Costa Rica and our retreat, I wanted to share a couple of photographs of one of the waterfalls on the PuraVidaEcolodge Reserve. 

...When the construction of the Jungle Villa begun last December (can't believe almost a year has gone by already) a couple of local 'ticos' and I started to 'carve out' some nature trials around the reserve. With the Jungle Villa literally hanging over the jungle canopy itself, right from Day 1 of construction we could clearly hear fresh flowing water in the distance.

All those months ago, machetes in hand, we started to cut our way through the rain forest, roughly planning where the first 'nature trail' was going to lead. After a few minutes of winding through the jungle, ducking under heavy branches and hopping over ravines, the sound of water begun to get stronger. We were near... Fluorescent frogs hopping around our ankles, colourful butterflies floating around the surprisingly cool air (its probably a very pleasant 10 degrees cooler in the shade of the rain forest) and then the howler monkeys singing in the background, this is what jungle living was all about. We continued forward, turning one last corner...we had arrived.

The first waterfall on the PuraVidaEcolodge Reserve is like a split level 'catarata' with two small plunge pools. This particular photo was taken as the rainy season was about to really get underway.

In those first few weeks at the end of last year, we spent many days carving out the first nature trail. Because of the gradient of the terrain, it was necessary to put in quite a few steps, therefore making access really easy, whatever your age ;) We even put in a couple of 'puentecitos' (bridges) so you can either hop across the ravines or take the slightly more sensible 'engineered option'. Once at the waterfall, while just 3-5 minutes away from the Jungle Villa (depending on how many times you have stopped just to look at the plethora of colourful creatures you're bound to find 'en el camino' (en route) you'll see that you are really in the depths of the reserve...all that 'urban madness' and stress a long long way away...

Hopefully you can get a sense of the scale of the reserves first waterfall. I'd say its around 5 metres high, perfect for showering under! And if you're keen to continue the adventure, you can head 'upstream' to find the next one...

The water is both cold and extremely fresh, and  we think you;ll find that the nature trail with its intense 'Jungle Experience' really compliments the 'Eco-Luxury' of PuraVidaEcolodge's Jungle Villa. In fact, it's a larger waterfall about  2km's upstream where PuraVidaEcolodge's water supply comes from...Que rico!

Back from the waterfall, just one more short 'hike' up the hill and back to that book in the hammock, sun-bathing on one of the terrace's bean-bags or perhaps another dip in the infinity plunge pool...This is the life...Pura Vida!

My special thanks to all of you that helped make this dream and vision come true...