Costa Rica 2013

When it rains in one corner of Costa Rica, it's sunny in another... So here we are after 1h30 of driving, facing the magnificent Arenal volcano and under beautiful weather!

And here we are now in La Fortuna at the foot of the volcano, which dominates the streets of the small town with its 1670 km altitude.

This young volcano was active until December 2010. It erupted almost every day, notably with lava flows. Alas, we won't get to see it...   Nevertheless, the activity is only dormant, as evidenced by these fumaroles emerging from the craters.

So not dormant at all that the Tabacon river flowing at its feet is totally and naturally heated by the magmatic soil! So no need to pay to enjoy the hot springs. Just go to this river where local families gather. The place is located opposite the Tabacon hotel, by passing through the woods and a tunnel that goes under the road. Click here to see the precise location on the map.

Saturday9November

8:30 AM. American breakfast, a change from rice and beans...  

The Soda Mima

The morning is dedicated to discovering the tropical forest in the Arenal Hanging Bridges park, which immerses you in nature thanks to its suspended bridges. So here we are at the entrance of the park where a blue macaw (ara ararauna) perched on its telephone pole welcomes us...

And we get right to the heart of the matter with this first suspended bridge that takes us into the upper part of the trees.

Being high in the trees is where you need to be to see the monkeys up close. And precisely, there's a small family moving from branch to branch! These are black-handed spider monkeys (ateles geoffroyi).

And from the ground, the tropical forest is superb; we are on the lookout for the slightest sound, never safe from a wild surprise!

A lizard holcosus festivus

There are 8 fixed bridges and 6 suspended bridges to cross on the site

This leaf-cutter ant is a proponent of minimal effort, making a hole in the leaf before transport!  

And there aren't just bridges at Arenal Hanging Bridges, there's also a tunnel!

Oh, my feet, it's been a while...

And then, look, my feet again!  

We often encounter it here, it's the broad-billed motmot (electron platyrhynchum)

A very damaged blue morpho?

A fern and its spores

And there, blood freezes  , emerging from the side of the path, a snake flees from us (phew) climbing the trees from branch to branch...  

It's a spilotes pullatus and it's not dangerous. But still!!!

Some places offer a beautiful view of the Arenal volcano

And then, there are these improbable little curiosities of Costa Rica. It's a frog again, of course, but unlike its cousin with red eyes and blue and yellow striped legs, this one has nothing going for it except camouflage. Indeed, tiny and earth-colored, you have to have your eyes glued to the ground or be incredibly lucky to spot it... This is the case for Eric, who swears to us that there's something no bigger than a fingernail between this leaf and these twigs. I look hard, but I see nothing, but getting very close, indeed! She's there with her legs and her eyes! Wow!!! Incredible, this thing is alive!

Perhaps it's of the genus craugastor?

And here it is in motion!

And here again is the broad-billed motmot. This time, we can clearly see its two small feathers detaching from its tail.

And the journey ends facing the majestic Arenal!

All that makes you hungry. A small dietary break. Chicken, small potatoes, white cabbage, green beans...

A quiet afternoon to cool off and swim at the bottom of the La Fortuna waterfall

Unlike the warm river from the day before, the water here is very cold! And the waterfall creates a current that pushes the water towards the edges. Ultimately, this swim is not at all relaxing!

Back in La Fortuna where the church is wide open, revealing the choir where a gigantic statue of Jesus levitates...

And to finish the evening, a typical taco: beef wrapped in a corn tortilla with cabbage, fries, mayo, and ketchup...

Tomorrow we leave the center of Costa Rica to reach the West coast and the village of Ostional where olive ridley turtles come to lay their eggs.