Costa Rica April 2007 - Day 4
We began this morning with a mountain bike tour. They picked us up in a van with the bikes on top and we drove to a location near Arenal National Park. There was one other couple on our tour, the van driver and our guide, Felix. The ride was on dirt roads, all passable by vehicle so we weren't really seeing anything we couldn't see by car but it was rough enough that a mountain bike was required in terms of using a bike. It wasn't super hilly - mostly rolling hills and the steeper hills were fairly short. It wasn't overly technical (since it was on roads for cars).
The entire trip was an out and back course with several stops on the way out to look at scenery and a top at the turnaround with pineapples, watermelon, cookies, water and juice. We enjoyed the ride, but we were tired when we got back and I decided that I'm definitely a roadie! Even on an easy course, I'm not very good at mountain biking. It was also strange riding without clipless pedals. I kept trying to pull through my entire stroke like I'm used to so my feet were constantly coming off the pedals.
We came back to our hotel room, dirty and tired and took a shower. We had lunch at a restaurant just up the road that was recommended by our bike tour guide. It was a very good lunch (capped off by some delicious fresh fruits a la mode).
After lunch we spent some time resting, deciding what to do. We opted to go to the Arenal National Park and hike around on our own since we hadn't actually be inside the official park grounds to view the volcano and sites of some of the most recent eruptions. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that they were closing the park soon (it was only around 3:30) so we would have to be out no later than 5 PM (they technically closed at 4, but said we could stay until 5).
We drove to a parking area, parked the car and began the hike in. Upon entering the hiking area, there was a sign warning of volcanic activity and to enter at our own risk. We decided to risk it and headed in (we were also warned to stay on the trail). We'd been told by a couple of guides that due to the constant activity, the chances of the volcano having another full-fledged eruption are remote. Even then, the volcano is constantly monitored and an evacuation plan is in place. We walked through the site of the most recent large eruption from 1992. I was expecting cooled molten lava, however, as I may have mentioned previously, this volcano spits forth large boulders, rocks and sand and very little molten, liquid material. We saw a number of very large grey boulders and lots of grey sand and rocks. As we walked, it was sometimes unnerving to hear how close the sounds were of the large boulder clambering down the side of the volcano.
The path eventually brought us into the rain forest (here in Costa Rica, it seems that all roads eventually lead to a rain forest). Once inside the forest, we continued on the path. Right as we were about to turn around, small berries fell from the trees above us to the ground. I stopped and looked up, checking the canopy for birds or possibly monkeys. I didn't see anything so we continued a few paces, but then more berries fell on us and in the trees around us and I looked up and saw some branches move. I thought it was the wind, but just in case, I stopped and continued to look. It wasn't the wind, but a small group of howler monkeys. We stayed and watched them for several minutes. Eventually, it was time to turn back, but it was nice to watch some for a bit that weren't spotted by a guide and we didn't have to watch with a large group of people. We had the monkeys all to ourselves.
For dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant. I think I already mentioned that the Ticos (the name for the Costa Rican people) seem to have an affinity for Italian food. We both ordered pizza and ate some of the best pizza we've had. (Better than any pizza we had in Italy!)
Unfortunately, there was no volcano viewing to be had on this night because it became completely surrounded by fog, which is actually fairly typical (we were very lucky to take our evening hike and volcano watching tour on a completely clear night).
We went back to the hotel and changed into our swim suits to go to Tabacón hot springs. The hot springs are a series of pools fed by the water heated from the volcano. We wandered around a lot and tried out different pools of varying temperatures. The pools are quite beautiful but since we were there after dark, it was somewhat hard to see. But we could tell that that the grounds were lush and gorgeous.
Click here for Day 5.
The entire trip was an out and back course with several stops on the way out to look at scenery and a top at the turnaround with pineapples, watermelon, cookies, water and juice. We enjoyed the ride, but we were tired when we got back and I decided that I'm definitely a roadie! Even on an easy course, I'm not very good at mountain biking. It was also strange riding without clipless pedals. I kept trying to pull through my entire stroke like I'm used to so my feet were constantly coming off the pedals.
We came back to our hotel room, dirty and tired and took a shower. We had lunch at a restaurant just up the road that was recommended by our bike tour guide. It was a very good lunch (capped off by some delicious fresh fruits a la mode).
After lunch we spent some time resting, deciding what to do. We opted to go to the Arenal National Park and hike around on our own since we hadn't actually be inside the official park grounds to view the volcano and sites of some of the most recent eruptions. Unfortunately, we didn't realize that they were closing the park soon (it was only around 3:30) so we would have to be out no later than 5 PM (they technically closed at 4, but said we could stay until 5).
We drove to a parking area, parked the car and began the hike in. Upon entering the hiking area, there was a sign warning of volcanic activity and to enter at our own risk. We decided to risk it and headed in (we were also warned to stay on the trail). We'd been told by a couple of guides that due to the constant activity, the chances of the volcano having another full-fledged eruption are remote. Even then, the volcano is constantly monitored and an evacuation plan is in place. We walked through the site of the most recent large eruption from 1992. I was expecting cooled molten lava, however, as I may have mentioned previously, this volcano spits forth large boulders, rocks and sand and very little molten, liquid material. We saw a number of very large grey boulders and lots of grey sand and rocks. As we walked, it was sometimes unnerving to hear how close the sounds were of the large boulder clambering down the side of the volcano.
The path eventually brought us into the rain forest (here in Costa Rica, it seems that all roads eventually lead to a rain forest). Once inside the forest, we continued on the path. Right as we were about to turn around, small berries fell from the trees above us to the ground. I stopped and looked up, checking the canopy for birds or possibly monkeys. I didn't see anything so we continued a few paces, but then more berries fell on us and in the trees around us and I looked up and saw some branches move. I thought it was the wind, but just in case, I stopped and continued to look. It wasn't the wind, but a small group of howler monkeys. We stayed and watched them for several minutes. Eventually, it was time to turn back, but it was nice to watch some for a bit that weren't spotted by a guide and we didn't have to watch with a large group of people. We had the monkeys all to ourselves.
For dinner, we went to an Italian restaurant. I think I already mentioned that the Ticos (the name for the Costa Rican people) seem to have an affinity for Italian food. We both ordered pizza and ate some of the best pizza we've had. (Better than any pizza we had in Italy!)
Unfortunately, there was no volcano viewing to be had on this night because it became completely surrounded by fog, which is actually fairly typical (we were very lucky to take our evening hike and volcano watching tour on a completely clear night).
We went back to the hotel and changed into our swim suits to go to Tabacón hot springs. The hot springs are a series of pools fed by the water heated from the volcano. We wandered around a lot and tried out different pools of varying temperatures. The pools are quite beautiful but since we were there after dark, it was somewhat hard to see. But we could tell that that the grounds were lush and gorgeous.
Click here for Day 5.
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