DAY FIVE
This morning we awoke, excited to be collected by the captain of our little boat, to travel the short distance across the waters to the airstrip which actually did turn out to be literally ‘a strip’, of tarmac, in a field, adjacent to a small square building where we were instructed to stand and wait. ‘Checked in’ by a man who turned up with the ‘official forms’ to log our individual weights (gulp – not convinced my best diet plans have resulted in my weight being exactly what I said it would be a year ago when this vacation was booked!) and those of our cases. Seemingly overweight (me and the cases!), we duly paid the sum required to squeeze all aboard the small 12 seater plane which arrived half an hour late (but this is ‘the jungle’ afterall, not terminal 5!). We took to the skies with our fellow passengers and two jolly pilots, wedged into what seemed a very small baked bean can with no easy route of escape but offering fabulous views of the undulations beneath us (!), to land 25 minutes later in Arenal where the vision of the volcano stood before us, fortunately sleeping…
Collected by a cheerful driver and taken a short distance to our accommodation for the next two nights, the Arenal Nayara Hotel, where we were greeted most warmly by the reception staff, provided with refreshments and a cool cloth to mop the heated brow …. After a brief explanation of the hotel facilities, we and taken in a little buggy to our casita passing stunning jungle foliage en route representing a most vibrant ’50 shades of green’ … Our faces on seeing the luxury before us once our front door was opened must have been picture worthy – an outside Jacuzzi, a hammock to lie back in and take in the sounds of birds and bugs and a bed that was as soft as a marshmallow … this was going to be two nights of blissful sleep that I wished would last, replay and repeat!
DAY SIX
Following a filling breakfast surely incorporating most nationalities preferences, we were met by Oscar, our Naturalist guide. Off we set for a walk around the Arenal rainforests which boasted a series of winding trails and bridges, 16 in all, 6 of which were hanging suspended over canyons and streams!
Learning of the history of the area whilst spotting an owl (aided by Oscar’s incredible telescope and keen eye!), white striped bats, eye lash vipers, tropical bird eating snake, green hermit humming bird, howler monkeys, broad billed mot mot and tarantula hawk wasp, my mind was quite taken off the vast canyons which lay beneath the hanging bridges I was walking over – I lie, my mind was not distracted AT ALL, I dreaded each and every one, allowing the ‘bouncy tigger like’ children that raced before me to complete the now most wobbly , swinging bridges before I dare to step one foot on!
By the 4th bridge I dared to look down – beautiful trees stretching as tall as they were able with canopies of foliage beneath pushing through, seemingly craving sunlight from any portal. Leaf cutting ants marching and marching to and fro, a tireless workforce presenting their queen with fresh leaf pieces snipped from the highest, most freshest leaves for no old, low growing infected leaf matter must be taken to their perfectly clean nests. How amazing nature is, just ticking along and just working as I dare to look down and watch.
DAY SEVEN
Morning came and we were collected and driven to a boat to cross the Lake Arenal where a leisurely float afforded views of dramatic mountains, rainforests and birds fulfilling their daily chores. Once we reached the other side of the Lake we jumped into a jeep to complete the final leg of our three hour journey to Monteverde. With most stunning, rugged scenery en route, such lumps and bumps of mountains reminding me of the plastic 3d mapped undulations presented by a school Geography teacher (in which us mischievous children created our own volcanos by pressing in the mountain tops!), our final stop, Hotel Belmar.
This beautiful Monteverde ‘green mountain’ area, sitting atop Costa Rica’s continental divide and boasting cloud forests, rain forests and high altitude coffee farms, our rustic room offered spectacular views across the forests and Nicoya Gulf, with clouds absent today, the expanse vast and totally absorbing…
DAY EIGHT
Early morning collection by Roy (the driver) and driven to meet Olman, our guide for our morning walking trail of the Curi-Cancha reserve which reaches elevations of 5,300 feet in the Monteverde region (I hope I read my itinerary correctly and ‘it’ reaches such elevations and I am not expected to climb it all today!).
A peaceful sanctuary with easy walking trails (phew!) and wildlife well hidden, all except the much sought after (by eager ‘twitchers’), a resplendent Quetzal – its colourful plumage utterly stunning shimmering in shards of sunlight.
I must confess I felt almost greedy enjoying such a vision for my ignorance of such a bird’s existence seemed wholly wrong that I be permitted a look, but I promise I did sincerely appreciate seeing this creature and my good fortune today.
Returning to our Hotel for lunch and a rest before our evening walk with Olmar, where clicker bugs illuminated us with their bright yellow eyes, a unicorn cricket saluted us, a tarantula hid in her burrow, birds snoozed on tree branches and a three toed sloth slowly moved through the trees ….
plenty to recall as sleep beckoned….tomorrow a long journey to Manuel Antonio (don’t look down Son!).
