Advertisement
Published: January 4th 2010
Edit Blog Post
Hello Friends & Family
We had a pleasant although rainy New Years Eve and day. After kicking it and hanging out for a few days, we were definitely ready for some activity. We decided we´d hit the National Park at Arenal, rain or no rain. Happily, the day started out mostly dry. We headed up to the park and spent several hours exploring a few trails. Since it had been raining on and off for a couple of days the trails were some what muddy - but they were basically flat, and pretty easy to navigate. The trails wind around the base of the volcano - winding through mossy, green forests. There were also sections that had what looked like sugar cane growing. We managed to catch glimpses of a few different birds. After several kilometers - the trail leads to the lava fields from 1968. Since Arenal explodes rocks (and not liquid lava) the lava field is an immense area of large and small volcanic rocks. Vegetation is starting to return - and little plants and trees sprout up in the little spaces between the rocks. The whole effect of the volcanic rock and the sparse vegetation is a
very strange landscape. You are able to climb up and across the area - and there are some great views of the volcano (which of course was cloud covered on this day) and also of Lake Arenal. The lake is the largest lake in the country. Several towns were flooded and submerged when the lake was created. A local told us that when the water is low, you can actually see the steeple from the town church peeking out of the water. We sat and enjoyed the view of the area, and the distant volcanic rumbling while we had a little snack - but the rains returned and cut our picnic a bit short. Once back on the trails, the rains stopped and we were able to get in a little more hiking and enjoy the antics of a coati begging for food from the tourists. We seemed to time the day just right - as after we returned to town, the heavens completely opened up and it just poured for a good long while.
The next morning we had a leisurely breakfast and espresso at a nearby coffee shop. We have been there a couple of times and
seem to have befriended a little boy who lives next to the coffee shop. He came out to play and share his toys while we had our coffee. Edward got to drive his remote control car. He didn´t seem to mind that our Spanish vocabulary was limited, and that we couldn´t understand much of what he was saying. After saying our goodbuys and thanking him for letting us play with his toys, we head out for the day. No trip to the area is complete without a visit to the hot springs. There are quite a few in the area - resort areas, with thermal waters that are heated from the volcano. The waters are therapeutic from the multitude of minerals that occur naturally in the water, mainly a combination of high bicarbonates and high chlorides with relatively low sulfur. Definitely not as stinky as some of the other hot springs we´ve encountered. The water is very cloudy from all the minerals - and throughout the different pools you will find varying temperatures and levels of cloudiness (so the cloudier the water is the more minerals there are). We opted not to go to the most popular place - which
seemed to be offered on every tour and was always packed, and instead chose a new place that was offering a 2 day pass. The resort was simply incredible - 18 pools, both natural thermal waters and also heated pools. Add a great view of the volcano and surrounding area, lounge chairs, and no crowds and it was a couple of very great days. We went one day in the evening, and the 2nd day during the afternoon. The 2nd day we had many of the pools to ourselves. After several hours of soaking and lounging, we were complete bowls of jello we headed back into town and had dinner at the Lava Lounge. While we were waiting for our food - we noticed some thing climbing down from the rafters - a little cat!! Of course we had to pet him a little and share a bit of food with him. After a bite or 2, he hopped up on the chair next to Edward, and kept tapping his back for a few more morsels! Another great couple of days.
Today, we are getting ready to head to our next location - Rincon de la Vieja. We will
be there for about 5 days, and may not have internet access. So until the next time….
Pura Vida!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.086s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 7; qc: 51; dbt: 0.0543s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
mom
non-member comment
:)
OK, now I'm totally jealous. Would love those hot springs on my back. Happy Trails till you write again.