On Friday we took public transit to La Fortuna. It took 3 hrs...ick. But, the ride was beautiful - we winded through lush green canyons, passed swaths of densely growing ferns, skirted among rural communities, enjoyed views of the valley, and caught some clear glimpses of Arenal and Cerro Chato.
Upon arrival we checked into our hostel and then headed out for dinner and to book our adventures for the next day. Before snagging dinner, four of us walked around to several travel companies and asked about tours and pricing for a group of twelve students (These are both great points when requesting tour price cuts. Haha!) We landed a tour with Costa Rica Descents for $70! Package (personalized for our group) included:
Transportation to/from our hostel
Class IV Whitewater Rafting (2 hrs on the water)
Lunch
Guided Night Hike (1 hr)
Dinner
Visit to Natural Hot Springs (1.5 hrs)
After dinner and quite a few rounds of cards under the night sky, we went to bed excited and happy.
The whole group woke up early on Saturday morning and gathered in the covered patio for breakfast. The hostel charge included a home cooked breakfast every morning so we sat around and chatted while enjoying fresh fruit platters, bowls of unsweetened corn flakes and milk, eggs and toast, coffee, and tea. After breakfast we relaxed for a bit in the dew-filled yard before changing into our suits and packing up for the day. The view of the volcano was quite clear and the sunny air felt warm and sweet. We were picked up at 9:30 and began the 40 minute drive up river. On the way, our group was buzzing with excitement and we sang and laughed the entire trip. Near the rivers edge, we were provided with bright yellow lifejackets, helmets, and paddles. When we reached the water we were given some quick pointers regarding safety in the case of falling overboard and then quickly directed into rafts. Within minutes we were headed down the river!
The rafting was indescribably beautiful, fun, and awe-inspiring! There were moments of sheer joy, adrenaline rushes, laughter, peace, and tremendous happiness. On the water, we got to view the tropical rainforest like never before - it was like having the VIP or backstage pass into the jungle. We passed many birds and butterflies and could hear the sounds and calls of tons of other animals. We also floated passed several waterfalls - some rushing and others trickling - that were beautiful. Not all of the river was conducive to observations however...we DID traverse seven miles of class IV rapids! Hahaha! The rapids were a blast! We were directed by our guide with these commands: "forward paddle", "back paddle", "get down", "right back, left forward", "stop". Often we were asked to paddle forward into a set of rapids and then to get down, at which time we would duck down into the boat and ride out the crazy thrashing that was to commence. Hah! What a thrill, so fun. =D After about four to five miles, we were greeted by a spectacular thunderstorm and a heavy downpour. The rain was warm and the air fresh and humid. Awwwww...I can't put into words the next few miles! Warm rain pelting down into the river and thunder booming all around as you float through the rainforest of Costa Rica! Wha!? Is this real life? It was during this time that I just screamed out with joy, "This is what life is, it's moments like this that I feel like I'm really living my life." Haaaa...awesome. =D
When we were a few 100 meters from the beach where we would pull out we were told we could jump overboard and swim. We all jumped in with gusto and float the next stretch - beaming smiles, laughter, and shouts of joy were common occurrence. When we reached the beach, there was a glorious spread of fresh pineapple and watermelon to enjoy. We chomped on these while the rain fell, viewed the sloth that had settled in the branches above us, and continued to excitedly chatter about the amazing things we had just experienced!
Following our river adventure we were taken to a farmhouse styled restaurant in the country and served a delicious meal of typical Costa Rican food. I really do not think I will ever grow tired of the local food - it gets me every time...so tasty. =) As part of the meal, we were also greeted with a "surprise" shot of liquor made on the grounds. It is aged for two years before being served and had a distinct sweet, almost syrupy, quality to it. Quite fun =) Our view from the lunch patio was absolutely stunning. There was a view of both Volcán Arenal and Cerro Chato, as well as a river flowing below the property. Right next to the patio there was a tree decorated with plantains to attract birds. We were able to see_______.
Following our meal we were treated to a cup of warm coffee, some music by the couple who owns the restaurant, a demonstration on historical sugar cane processing, and a sugar cane and cane juice tasting session.
We returned to our hostel at around 3:45pm for the chance to dry off, rest, and change clothes before beginning our next adventure.
The second part of our day began with a hike through the rainforest at dusk and the early hours of the night. The sound of the wildlife was breathtaking! You could hear chirping, calling, rustling, whistling, humming, and clicking from all around! When it is dark, you lose one of your senses - your sight! This causes you to become more atune to the sounds of the night. I swear the nightlife is as much or more alive than the things you see and hear during the daylight hours. Wow. On our walk we saw butterflies (Blue Morpha...), birds (Common Parakeet, ___...), and frogs (Red-Eyed Tree Frog, ___...) I was able to capture this picture using only the glow of a flashlight. =) Might be my favorite Costa Rica picture to-date. =) Yeeeee....So cool!!!
At the end of our hike, we were greeted by a bungalow BBQ by the Arenal Lake. The rain was coming down, music was blasting, and we all huddled under the overhang with tasty food at hand and good friends and smiles all around. Our driver, Ganzo, was the mad BBQer and supplied us with nummy steak and chorizo.
After we were thoroughly filled and chilled, we made our way to a natural hot spring. It was pitch black except for the two flashlights held by our guides and the occasional flashes of lightning. We made our way down a rough trail to the water's edge and stepped in. Warm! Awwww, it's hard to explain...mentally you are prepared for the fact that the water will be warm, but all my past experiences with a flowing river have taught me they are cold. Not here! The water was the perfect temperature to balance out the jungle air and falling rain. We all climbed into a pool and watch the night sky light up with each passing streak of lightning. Again, life felt vibrant and almost surreal.
The adventure ended with a final dive into the water. We all joined our guide in a cave (accessed by swimming underwater) and said our "thank you"s for an incredible day. We then climbed out and scurried back to the van where our dry towels were waiting.
You should have heard the chatter on the ride back to the hostel...we were a happy bunch. =)
And, as if the day wasn't wonderful enough already, once we had returned and rested for a bit several of us walked to the market and bought the makings for banana splits! Banana, chocolate ice cream, and coconut cookies - proof that God loves us. Hahaha! It tasted delicious after a full day of fun. I went to bed full, happy, and exhausted.
Today we woke late, enjoyed breakfast, and then took the morning slow - puttering around town and poking into shops. Following lunch the girls took off to a water hole we had seen on route to La Fortuna. It was a little over a mile away, but well worth the walk!
LOOK!
We spent the next few hours enjoying the fresh water and living the real Costa Rican life!
Best CR Weekend To Date: CHECK!
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