Blogs from Nuevo Arenal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean

Mornings in the Costa Rican interior region are interestingly different and entertaining each day. As daybreak increases, the wilderness "volume" knob gets turned up with it. Instead of watching clouds approach from the distance, they are simply manifesting and collecting themselves before us. We are witnessing thunder storms birthing from the warm rising tropical moisture. The mighty Arenal volcano that was free and clear to view in the early hours is rapidly covered by the rising moisture and forming clouds. The sky having changed from light blue to dark grey in color. Heavy rain is immenient. The crack and boom of closing thunder doesn't lie. Before we are seated for breakfast, the sky opens up with liquid furry and once again the jungle noises of animals and insects are replaced with the percussion symphony of millions ... read more

Trip date: End of November 2007 This trip was pretty much planned the way most of my other treks are...with no true direction. I knew I wanted to see Costa Rica and experience its beauty first-hand after hearing so many great accounts of it by fellow travelers. However, I also knew I wanted to walk off the beaten path, and see where the winds would take us. So, I opened a map of Costa Rica on my monitor, shut my eyes, and let my finger point the way. It landed on "Arenal". And that's how this adventure was born. DAY 1 Nothing had prepared me for the long commute from San Jose to the Nuevo Arenal area of Costa Rica. My family and I could have flown into Liberia Airport, but it was an additional $250 ... read more

From Tamarindo we decided to head to Monteverde. 3 buses and serveral hours later we found ourselves stuck in a small town called Tilaran, we got off of the bus and found ourselves as usual fending off the local taxi drivers, on this occasion howver the were quite helpful and informed us that we wouldn´t be going anywhere until tomorrow unless we took up their offer of a $40 taxi! No thank you. So we had to resign ourselves to staying the night and on direction of the taxi drivers made our way to the Central Plaza (yet another one) where we found accomodation in Hotel Mary. Thankfully we were welcomed by friendly owners and hot showers. Once we had found somewhere to stay we went for a little walk around and realised that there was ... read more