Willandclaire’s Travels

La Fortuna:
Right we took many canoes buses and coaches to get to La Fortuna in CR´s mid north west. This was a nice place dominated by a large active volcano called Arenal. WE went to a local swimming hole on one day and fudged about on the rope swing then went on a night tour of tyhe volcano. this started off with us minivaning it to some hot springs/river and sitting in 40 degree water as the stars came out and glow bugs flew above us, it was very relaxing. Then we hiked up the side of the volcano through forest and old lava flows (all the time hearing but not being able to see boudlers ejected fromt he volcano tumbling down the sides – it was pretty eerie!). When we got to some clear ground we could see the volcano and its peak partly obscurred by cloud, every now and then there would be molten lava and rocks tumbling down the side, against the black night it looked just like fierworks and the stillness in the air really carried the sounds. an amazing experience.

Monteverde – Santa Elena
Next was the cloud forest cofee producing region called Monteverde, first set up by quakers many years ago it was a very green place up in the hills. consiquently it was a lot cooler than the rest of CR and was a welcome break. We went for a 6.30am walk int he Santa Elena cloud forest (basically a forest that is so high the clouds hang amongst it). We saw many birds and lovely lush vegetationa nd clouds and the rare Qestral bird (bright blue plumage and long tails feathres).

From here we went to Nicaragua