The view from the butterfly garden at Sky Trek, El Castillo, Arenal area, Costa Rica.

The view from the butterfly garden at Sky Trek, El Castillo, Arenal area, Costa Rica.

We don’t have much time to talk today. We have to hit the pool and then hit the road. But here are some photos from our very cool jungle hike at the Sky Trek place near El Castillo, Arenal. It was totally worth the $22USD price of admission. The trails were very well maintained, and we saw howler monkeys in the wild!

– Chris and Laura

We have not had a bad meal here yet. This was our energy-boosting lunch before our three hour trek in the jungle.

We have not had a bad meal here yet. This was our energy-boosting lunch before our three hour trek in the jungle.

Mmmmmmm. Yummy.

Mmmmmmm. Yummy.

We're pretty badass.

We’re pretty badass.

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That's Lake Arenal in the background. It's man made, due to a hydroelectric dam that powers 70% of the country.

That’s Lake Arenal in the background. It’s man made, due to a hydroelectric dam that powers 70% of the country.

Bridges! In the jungle!

Bridges! In the jungle!

It was hot, muggy, humid, and sweaty. But also awesome.

It was hot, muggy, humid, and sweaty. But also awesome.

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Monkey balls! We heard a big crashing in the trees above, and then figured out it was a bunch of monkeys! We saw (and heard) two groups of 5-6 go by and were able to take a few shots. Lots of blurry ones. We never claimed to be wildlife photographers, and when your longest lenses are 135mm and 85mm, you start to regret not borrowing from Rob Wiebe's collection. :P.

We heard a big crashing int eh trees above, and then figured out it was a bunch of monkeys! We saw (and heard) two groups of 5-6 go by and were able to take a few shots. Lots of blurry ones. We never claimed to be wildlife photographers, and when your longest lenses are 135mm and 85mm, you start to regret not borrowing from Rob Wiebe’s collection. :P.

Howlers!

Howlers!

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Laura, looking dapper.

Laura, looking dapper.

Is that Indiana Jones?

Is that Indiana Jones?

Laura shot these butterfly shots. Not too shabby.

Laura shot these butterfly shots. Not too shabby.

But this guy's pretty shabby.

But this guy’s pretty shabby.

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Nice views.

Nice views.