We arrived in San Jose a little late due to the usual airline delays and were met by guide Manfred and driver Roberto. Headed off in the van to Selva Verde on the Sarapiqui River, stopping at the Mega Super on the way for some supplies. Selva Verde Lodge is on a private preserve along the river. We were greeted there by a cockroach the size of Nebraska! The following morning we took a rafting trip down the Sarapiqui (with guide Jose). The river was low, so no huge rapids, just enough to be good fun. We had a break for a swim and fruit, then ended back at the lodge for lunch. After lunch a nature walk with guide Michael where we saw poison dart frogs, a glass frog, howler monkeys, and many bugs and spiders. In the late afternoon back to another part of the river for a boat ride, from which we saw plenty of wildlife including toucans, sloth, bats, and plenty of birds. At breakfast the following morning we saw aracaris (a kind of toucan) and oropendolas at the feeders, among lots of other birds.