Advertisement
Published: February 3rd 2010
Edit Blog Post
“Pura Vida” the good life is Costa Rica’s mantra. So we took them at their word and our first stop was the Pura Vida Spa and Yoga retreat in Alajuela. We enjoyed three days of relaxation, massages, yoga, vegetarian food, with the occasional piece of chicken or fish for the lesser of the species. We enjoyed our time from our glass walled room with the lights of San Jose and the rolling hills of coffee plantations and forest.
After driving five hours we found ourselves on the Pacific in Samara, a layed back, surfer, expat, tourist town with the warm waves of the Pacific lapping at the beach. We awoke each morning to a sunrise and an hour walk on the beach, and our days were spent in the little town or sitting under a pallapa watching the surfers with the occasional dip in the ocean, temperature in the 80’s.
Our original plan was to visit the Santa Elena / Montverde Cloud Forest prior to the beach. However, the weather in the mountains was wet and cloudy, (who would have thunk it) so we turned around and went to
Samara. Once the weather improved in the cloud forest we
headed back up. This change of original plans was a great decision since it was sunny and the vistas were just what the brochures showed. We were told the roads were paved and that was true if you don’t count the last 20 miles that are dirt, rock and pot holes. Our first stop in Santa Elena was Buz’s Coffee Shop where we enjoyed a great cappuccino. The owner gave us the lay of the land. The mountains are confusing with no street signs. Hey, no streets, all dirt. He made us reservations at the Selvatura Park in the Santa Elena Cloud Forest for the canopy tour and suspension bridges. This is what we wanted and it was an exhilarating experience. We had zip lined before on our Costa Rican trip in 2004 and were excited to try a different area. This program was longer with 14 platforms, the longest line 1.2 kilometers. This line you rode tandem. What a thrill!. Next was the 30 meter Tarzan swing drop. Yes, your life does flash, but then the rope catches and you swing out to the far end of the drop zone.
That night we spent in the Swiss run
Miramontes hotel. The owner, a gourmet chef, and true to his word, provided a great repast. Breakfast was just as tasty. We sadly said goodbye to Santa Elena. We endured another 25 miles of pot holes and rocks on our way to La Fortuna and the Arenal volcano. It didn’t seem so long due to the vistas of mountainous valleys with coffee plantations on the hillsides.
Hotel Los Lagos, sitting at the base of the volcano, with multiple thermal pools and water slides. provided us with part of our days entertainment. Visiting the Arenal National Park provided us with many aviarian species and a great hike up to the lava fields. A peaceful afternoon float was spent on the Rio Penas Blanco, viewing the Costa Rican wildlife: crocodiles, Howler monkeys, white and blue egrets, toucans, and grey hawks preying on parrots.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.164s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 7; qc: 45; dbt: 0.1188s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb