We left the Firestone Center and drove much of the way across Costa Rica to more or less the northeast from the southwest. We ended up near the town of Aguas Zarcas on the Caribbean slope. The name Aguas Zarcas is a bit hard to translate, but it is the type of water that comes out of mineral-laden hills and turns the river rocks an orangish color. In coal mining country in the US this can be caused by acid mine drainage and is called red dog.
Aguas zarcas at the Recreo Verde hot springs
In this general area there are some significant travertine deposits. Travertine is just another form of calcium carbonate (see limestone) and more or less looks like cave formations but right out there on the surface. However, some of these deposits are quite thick, and here there is even a quarry mining the deposit to make fertilizer.
Highwall in a travertine quarry
In the photo above, what caught our attention was the soil layer in the stratigraphy. Making a guess, and it is only a guess, the travertine was being deposited layer by layer, then a land slip covered it in soil, and then the travertine set about putting down more layers on top of the soil. This would generally be called a paleosol, but not sure that exactly applies here.
Also interesting is that the travertine deposits capture a lot of vegetation, and a variety of leaf imprints and such can be found in the rocks here.
Also interesting is that the travertine deposits capture a lot of vegetation, and a variety of leaf imprints and such can be found in the rocks here.
Large leaf imprint in travertine
But what does this have to do with caves? Well, travertine is soluble just like limestone, and our guide for the area, the eminent volcanologist Carlos José Ramírez Umaña, knew of at least one opening in the hillside. We took a look, and although Don looks a little lost here, he eventually crawled in and found it to be a short cave.
Don and Carlos at the entrance to a short travertine cave
Nothing too much came from this, although a gorgeous lesser dog-like bat (Peropterx macrotis) was seen in there and so I had to get a quick photo. These are tiny little insectivorous bats that top the scale at a whopping four grams, or less than the weight of two dimes.
Lesser dog-like bat (Peropterx macrotis) from a travertine cave in Costa Rica
When looking for caves, it is often wise to follow the water. Our first effort at doing this came up with a waterfall and what looks like a cave under there. Turns out it was just a good place for Don to wash his feet, although really quite scenic.
Don at a travertine waterfall failing to find a cave entrance
Our last bit was to check out a spring near the bottom of the travertine quarry highwall. We thought this might have some potential, but the opening was far too small and although it moved a lot of water there was no airflow coming out.
Spring rising near the base of a travertine quarry
And after a fine day afield...
An old man in his rocking chair on the porch of Recreo Verde in Costa Rica
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