I have about six hours left in the country. But there’s one unfulfilled Costa Rica bucket list item: sloths.
The Toucan Rescue Ranch is the last spot on my list, just 20 minutes from downtown San Jose. It’s one-stop shopping. I can meet animals I haven’t yet seen in the wild.
The rehabilitation and rescue animal sanctuary cares for confiscated, sick and injured wildlife. They have at least 185 animals and 50 species. It’s a $35 donation to get in on a 2-hour tour.
The animals are stunning, even as they recover from injuries. It’s the perfect last stop for my solo traveling adventures because most of these animals I’ve only seen videos and photos of, but never this close and in real life.
I like how the organization helps endangered animals while using it as an opportunity to educate the public. I learn a lot here as I quietly tie a bow on the last morning of my trip.
I spot the main attraction during the tour: the two-toed sloth and three-toed sloth.
What some people don’t know is sloths are not as cuddly as Instagram would have you believe.
Since they’re rehabilitating with the goal of being released back into the wild, we’re told to keep our distance so the sloths don’t get too used to humans. But they sure are adorable.
Here’s another misconception: if a sloth needs to travel fast, it can. But not on land. Surprisingly, they’re agile swimmers. But when they’re on land, it’s living the no-rush life for these creatures high in the canopy.
You may not spot them until they climb down once a week to “take care of business.”
Truthfully, in person, they looked like baby aliens. Odd, thick unruly hair. Eyes that seem a touch evil. Yet they’re oddly fascinating and captivating. The baby sloths snuggling in this photo is one of my favorite intimate moments.
There are a few more animals I photograph.
The scarlet macaw’s vibrant colors catch my eyes.
“Charley” is a quirky macaw. Its eyes dilate when looking at some of us in the small tour group. Our guide says it’s its way of flirting when it sees something — or someone — it likes.
Hilarious.
Charley has also “dated” different macaws at the ranch, and she pits the boys against each other to pick which one she wants at whim. All these personalities in one place.
Macaws are endangered and otherwise only found in two isolated regions on the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica; the Carara National Park and Peninsula de Osa.
I feel lucky to see some of these magical creatures up close, and love the ranch’s mission to preserve wildlife for future generations to experience.
Some other popular wildlife we see: the chestnut mandibled toucan, the largest of its species. They’re difficult to study because each one has a different call, without any sound pattern that’s detectable.
The keel billed toucan, is another species recovering here. This one has a difficult time flying so the branches are kept low.
The non-profit is creating breeding programs for endangered birds native to Costa Rica.
The tour goes by quickly and it’s now time to go. My heart feels heavy knowing its time for goodbye and that I may never be back.
Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? — Mary Oliver
On the plane, I’m squished into the middle seat, between two chatty guys at the far back.
The afternoon flight back to the states is pretty chatty and energetic. Everyone seems to be sharing photos with each other, comparing destinations and talking about where they want to go next. We’re strangers, but temporarily travel exchangers with a unique bond on this flight.
I told you, traveling solo doesn’t mean you’re alone all the time.
And we’re just as social in the back of the plane.
Reminiscing about the trip with my seat buddies somehow brings closure to my adventure. It seems the men traveling alone — I wish I remember their names — found the trip as fulfilling as I did.
The guy to my left helped build a yoga retreat high up in the mountains. He slept in a wooden lean-to his whole trip.
I wonder about bugs, but he’s rugged and one of those introspective, existential types so he talks about how he’s ready to quit his job and go back. He doesn’t take a lot of photos, but the ones he took have a different feel and tone than mine do. A different perspective to the country.
The guy to my right also went off-the-grid in Costa Rica.
He talks about riding with some motorcycle pack of men. It sounds fun, and reaffirms how traveling is truly for everyone — no matter your taste or preference.
It’s a “choose your own adventure,” and it seems we each chose a good one.
As the plane lands, the guy on the left tells me this was a nice 6-hour “mini friendship.”
I couldn’t have come up with a better name for the serendipity.
After checking back into the United States, we wave goodbye and wish each other luck on our travels.
And that’s it. For now.
The adventure continues.
