Costa Rican Adventure Day 11

The morning dawned misty and damp after a nights rain. It was a completely different atmosphere than the previous morning. The birds were still gathering ready to be fed, but this morning we just watched the delights of the Humming birds coming to the feeders. After breakfast we said our goodbyes to Mario and the other staff and the owner too and commenced our journey to Arenal. This is a famous active volcano town and has numerous hot spring bath complexes. Fabian told us that since the last big earthquake in 2009, the volcano hasn't been so active. When we were last here you could sit in the thermal bath and watch the volcano spit out lava, but now this only happens a few times every few months.

Bosque de Paz Lodge

The cloud forest was living up to its name as we retraced our steps back to the main road. The road and fields were wet and the local cattle farmers were all in their waterproofs. We stopped a few times to catch some birds, hawks and parrots, before we hit the main road. Even here we pulled over to look at birds we had not seen on our trip. We saw some lovely Keel-billed Toucans and another woodpecker and a pair of Harris Hawks.

Another stop was a bridge coffee shop where the owner is mad on Iguanas. He started a collection and then tourists kept asking him if they could photograph them, so he decided to start a business around them, he now has a thriving coffee and gift house. The iguanas are located in trees next to the bridge. They are on eye level and you really can see the size and colour of them.

Male Iguana 

It wasn't long before we reached Arenal for lunch and then we went and explored the hanging gardens canopy tour. This is a rain forest tour, but interspersed with long cable bridges. This was a different type of rain forest than we had already been in with different plants and trees, so it was great to immerse yourself in the sights, smells and sounds of the forest. We were lucky and saw a lovely White Hawk and a really colourful Motmot hunting insects in the forest.

Arenal  Hanging Bridges

Broad Billed Motmot

To round the day off we went to the thermal hot spring baths for a long soak. It was a  really great way of relaxing and easing out the aches and pains of the days travel. Afterwards we had a lovely steak and fish meal at the restaurant located inside the complex.

By the time we reached our next lodge, the Arenal Observatory Lodge, we rolled straight into bed as we had an early start the next day for our transfer to Montezuma.