Costa Rican Adventure Day 16

Today is our last full day on the beach before we start our return journey to San Jose tomorrow. George was up early, 05.30 hrs, to catch the sun rise. He was joined on the beach by Sarah and Andrew who are also early risers. The rest of us stayed tucked up in bed!

After a coffee in bed we went for breakfast- our favourite is huevos rancheros, which is tortilla with refried black bean, fried egg and a salsa and sour cream topping! It really sets you up for the day.

We then all strolled along the beach into town for some 'girlie' shopping and lunch supplies. We met the same nice girl at the end of the beach, this time with her mum, and Sarah and Clare each got a few bits. There are quite a number of stalls selling mainly home made jewellery which you can watch the stall holders making.

Along the beach on the way back the Magnificent Frigate birds were putting on a great flying display above us, soaring and swooping. They really look prehistoric as there shape is very angular.

More bashing and crashing in the surf before it was time for lunch. Today we had it on the beach in the shade, which was really fantastic. We were joined by a couple of magpie jays, who were on the look out for any left overs. These are lovely blue And white birds with  a great crest.

After a really pleasant lunch it was time for some more swimming and relaxing in the hot sun. It's been cooler today, around the 95°F mark! The sea was lovely and warm as usual, but we again got wiped out by some big waves!

After swimming we had some R&R time and then it was time to get changed and ready for dinner. I think tonight I'll have the blackened tuna steak with mango sauce,  as it was absolutely delicious the last time! We'll have to make the most of it for as soon as I get home I'll be starting a diet - rice and beans sounds a good place to start!!!

Tonight was the last time we will see Christian, our waiter. He has stood out head and shoulders from the other staff, always with a smile, polite, good humoured and very good at his job. He served us at our beach meal and was the ultimate professional. We will be sorry not to see him immediately before we go, but his shift doesn't start until 2pm tomorrow and we check out at 11am ready for our transfer to San Jose.

Costa Rican Adventure Day 15

Our new daily routine of swim, breakfast, walk to town was repeated today. It was slightly cooler, a mere 100° F in the sun! It always amazes me that even in this heat and strength of sun that people still lay out and cook themselves!

This routine is a rather pleasant one as you always see / notice something different. Today it was a chevron of pelicans flying overhead and the ginger cat at the organic cafe. I also noticed some of the art work advertising some of the local businesses.

Upon our return, we had a session in the pool, cooled off and then had another wave battering in the ocean. It was then time for rum o'clock and a spot of lunch at mum's cabin. Italian bread, jam, tuna, dulce leche, biscuits and peanuts, all washed down with rum and coke!

Afterwards it was time for a siesta / hammock time as the rum and sun had taken its toll! After a peaceful couple of hours we went for another battering. The sea was quite rough as we had just had a full moon and the tide was very high. We didn't stay too long after the second wipe out! We therefore had a stroll along the beach and a swim in the pool before showering and changing for dinner.

On the menu tonight is chicken kebab and tuna steak in mango sauce, washed down by a mojito!

Costa Rican Adventure Day 14

Another hard day at the office! We started the day with an early morning swim in the ocean, 7 am and the temperature was already in the mid 20's with a sea temperature not far off! After a swim and a walk along the beach, it was time for breakfast. Plenty of coffee and the preferable rice and beans, tacos, fresh fruit and juice. We were joined by the hotel's black Labrador pup who loved a bit of fuss!

We then walked into town with mum, Lee and George to get some fresh bread and supplies for our lunch snack. There was a nice stall selling beach wraps at the head of the beach. The colours were vibrant in the sun and the sea breeze advertised them really well.

It was around 11am and the temperature in the sun was 40.4°c! Thankfully there was some breeze as we strolled back along the beach. Due to the heat we retreated to the pool where it was shady and cool, the pool water refreshing in the intense heat. Thank god it is a dry heat here and very low humidity, otherwise it would be unbearable.

We gathered at mum's for our lunch of bread, tuna, jam, banana loaf and biscuits, washed down with a rum and coke before having a little siesta. We then had a play in the surf as the temperature dropped a little. The waves can be quite large and Sarah was knocked off her feet on several occasions, much to the amusement of us all!

In the evening as a treat, we had our dinner by candlelight on the beach as the sun set and the moon rose with the back drop of the breaking waves, we enjoyed a beautiful meal. It was a memorable experience and something that we'll remember as one of those unique travel experiences!

Costa Rican Adventure Day 13

First full day at Ylang Ylang! After a fitful night's sleep listening to the pounding surf, we made coffee and sat taking in the view and watching the waves crashing ashore. Tearing ourselves away, we had breakfast overlooking the sea and drank more coffee and watched the early morning horse riders exercising on the beach.

In the early morning light, the plants and trees of the hotel grounds looked stunning. The grounds form part of the natural landscape and as there are no fences, the wildlife comes and goes as it wishes. We have seen Capuchin monkeys and heard Howler Monkeys in the morning and evening calling in the rest of the troop. Iguanas and small lizards are numerous and today whilst laying in a hammocks, Clare and George saw an armadillo.

Capuchin playing

After breakfast we took a stroll into Montezuma town. It is very small and very Bohemian in nature. I imagine that Goa was like this in the 60's, with older hippy types living out their lives in a haze of marijuana. There are a few stalls selling home-made jewellery and some limited tourist shops, a couple of small supermarkets and a few outlets selling excursions and that's it. In many ways that is good, as I imagine that in a few years there will be more hotels and more people to make use of the miles of beaches.

Montezuma Town

We brought some freshly  baked bread and jam for lunch later and then strolled back towards the hotel. The beaches are very quiet and there are really very few people about. Those that are aren't doing very much as the sun is very hot - mid 30's today.

One of Montezuma's beaches

Local chilling!

The rest of the day was spent lazing around and playing in the sea . The time just evaporates before you know it, it's time for dinner. Tonight we had a mixture of shrimp in garlic and white wine and a mixed seafood platter. It was all very good and fully satisfied we rolled into bed, another full day!

Costa Rican Adventure Day 12

We were up early for our breakfast before our transfer to Montezuma. The Arenal Observatory Lodge is situated in extensive grounds right on the slopes of the volcano. It was a shame that the visibility wasn't better for a view of the volcano but the cloud was down obscuring most of it. There is a lovely viewing platform next to the restaurant which gives tremendous views over the gardens and down to the reservoir in the valley below. We joined a British group of 'twitchers' on the platform to view some Montezuma Oropendola and a huge Great Curassow in the garden below. After a quick breakfast we set down the slopes of the volcano back to the road to start our transfer to the Pacific coast.

Montezuma Oropendola

Great  Curassow

View from Arenal  Observatory Lodge

We stopped on route at a great coffee shop, where in the car park at the back there is a group of Scarlet Macaws sitting in a tree. Beside it was a lovely giant Alsatian dog sitting in the back of a pick up truck. A lady tourist got too close and jumped a mile when he barked at her!

The road we were using is part of the Pan America Highway and as such was quite busy. We had to catch the 11 am ferry and due to the traffic we were running perilously close to missing it. As we stepped on and our minibus drove on the doors were pulled up and we were off - we made it by the skin of our teeth!

Last on the ferry!

The crossing over the Gulf of Nicoya took just over an hour. We made the most of it with a little rum o'clock session and some snacks with our guide and driver (thankfully Olman the driver didn't drink, so he had a soda and lots of crisps!)

Gulf of Nicoya

Across the other side in Puntarenas province, the road were rough and pot holed so we bumped our way for an hour and half or so to make it to Montezuma. Just as we reached the town outskirts a troop of White-faced Capuchin monkeys crossed the road in front of us, some using the overhead telephone lines to do so.

White-faced Capuchin 

We said our sad farewells to Fabian and Olman, who had to make the return journey all the way back to San Jose. Both had been excellent and we were sad to see them go, as with all our guides we will not forget them and already have their E-mail and Facebook details.

We transferred to a Land Rover which took us a half mile or so to our beach hotel - Ylang Ylang. First impressions are usually right and all of us were really impressed with its location and simple, yet elegant look. A lovely chap called David who had picked us up in town, took us to our rooms. He explained he was a graduate taking a year off to improve his English before continuing his studies. Like all the staff and people we have met on this journey he was polite and courteous and a pleasure to meet.

Beach view from room, Ylang Ylang

Our rooms are of two types. Mum, Lee, Sarah and Andrew are in a beach 'igloo' type bungalow.These are right on the beach and are quiet and private. As we are sharing with George we have a two storey place with three double beds. Again it's right on the beach and has a veranda.  The whole place is very relaxed and has a nice feel to it.

We settled in and then went for a great swim and play in the pounding surf. More rum o'clock and then a lovely open air dinner in the warmth of a tropical evening and under a full moon - perfect!