Information to contact the Tirimbina offices

Tirimbina Biological Reserve
La Virgen de Sarapiquí, Heredia

(506) 2761-0333 - Phone
(506) 2761-0055 - Phone
(506) 2761-1576 - Fax - extention:204



Awakening the senses

By: Wendy Brosse.

When we think of a tropical rain forest immediately come to mind images such as tall trees and lush plants, large leaves, fruit, vines, streams running through the forest and many animals, this is because many people have had the opportunity to meet some of these forests, or because we have seen in documentaries and photos.

The truth is that the forest offers much more than unforgettable scenery, if we pay a little more attention in Tirimbina´s forest, for example, in addition to the view we can use senses such as hearing, smell, and even with a little care of insects like the bullet ant (Paraponera clavata) and snakes, touch, this allows us a greater connection with the forest.

Just past the garden before entering the forest you must cross a suspension bridge over the Sarapiqui River, which offers a concert of emotions, just close your eyes and hear the water flowing to begin to relax and forget the outside world.

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Once inside the forest in any of the trails of the biological reserve Tirimbina you can live these experiences and hear the shrill sound of cicadas, less frequent but still very common to hear the orioles (Psarocolius montezuma) with a unique sound that reminds me of a plastic bag, toucans communicating over bridge or in the forest, howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) imposing its howl (that if we follow we can get where the herd is), the red frog (Oophaga pumilio), which despite being surprisingly small for most visitors, his singing is not lost. If we pay more attention you can even hear the leaves moving, if it is a sound of something big that can be a medium size mammal like an armadillo or agouti, if the sound is rather something small can be a reptile like a lizard, if is fast and breaks, or a snake moving if it is more subtle. 

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Likewise the odors cause that we get a thousand questions about the forest: ¿ for what this seed canfincillo (Protium) smells so strong and so oily? ¿ why this flower ylang ylang perfume with so nice smell the trails or the entrance to the bridge?

These questions our imagination for answers and makes us think about the different strategies of pollination, dispersion and warning that the flora has. We also can warn the nearby presence of an animal, as peccary (Tayassu tajacu) that in spanish is called saíno, or a plant that is also called saíno and smells like or simply the happiness that leads to stop in the middle of a trail to try to separate each of the sources from which the set of odors (soil, leaves, flowers, fruits, animals) allows us to immerse ourselves in a less superficial world

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As to the touch in the woods there are lots of different textures, soft and furry leaves, some are more like sandpaper, some are always cold, like the trunks with moss, they feel wet and cold. In some trunks and roots can be seen a kind of gelatin may be from resin to very watery. The seeds can also be sticky to adhere to animals and thus be dispersed or be winged to be the wind which is responsible for the dispersal

I could tell much more about the forest of Tirimbina, but better come and discover all its secrets and mysteries for yourself, in the end everyone has their own way of classifying smells, textures and sounds, will never be the same that someone tells how is like that if you live it.

So remember, more than opening your eyes, awake your senses...

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