Laguna Arenal
We now know how to find the paved roads …Simply by asking the tourist buses drivers the best itinerary.
It’s usualy longer but much easier to drive on.
We drive in very different landscapes through tropical jungle.
On our arrival, the volcano « Arenal » is completely clear of clouds which doesn’t happen very often. It is very impressive.
Although it’s only 670 meters high, its perfect cone makes the Arenal the most famous and emblematic volcano of Costa Rica.
Active from 1968 till 2010, the Arenal suddenly fell asleep but until when ?
We find a nice bivouac at « la Pequena Helvecia », a swiss chalet where the owners welcome the campers.
We visit the entire property : the farm, the church, the restaurant and an old train station from where starts, every morning, a little steam train.
The menu of the restaurant offers us swiss specialities such as Fondue savoyarde, Wiener schnitzel or chocolate cake.
Our second day is dedicated to the visit of the " Arenal 1968 reserve", where the view over the volcano is amazing. We follow a little lane through the jungle and treck on the lava fields dating from the 1968 eruption.
Numerous hot springs come out of the volcano at a temperature raising from 28 to 53 degrees Celcius. They are supposed to be very good for the muscles and rhumatism.
So we spend our third day in the hot water, repairing our old bodies
Uvita
The coronavirus extends over the planet. We decide to join the Pacific coast to find a campsite to wait for the next events.
It takes us two days.
We choose a campsite on the edge of the pacific and near a supermarket.
Nothing to do with a real campsite : just some land in a coconut grove, but with no comfort. Here we meet "Babette and Jean-Jacques", "Marjorie and Alex" and "Peter" our companions for the days to come.
Cahuita
We decide to reach the Caribbean coast, crossing a tropical forest.
Our first idea was to join "Tortuguero" an Afro-Caribbean village and a beautiful national park, between sea and canals. On the sea side, you come to see the turtles; on the canal side, you discover the fauna and flora in the boat.
Unfortunately the access is closed, not enough water !!!
We took refuge in " Cahuita " another very touristic Afro-Caribbean village.
We find a bivouac on the edge of the ocean where we meet Carole and Lea in a roof-tent 4 x 4. Great time.
We stay there three days to visit the national park.
This park, created to protect the fauna, flora and coral reefs of the region, is considered one of the most beautiful sites in the country with white sandy beaches bordered by many coconut trees and turquoise waters
We hike on the 8.3 km trail that crosses the park along the beaches.
Not a lot of wildlife but beautiful landscapes under a blazing sun.
We are witnessing the violent aggression of 4 German tourists by spider monkeys who steal their bag of food. No one wounded.
At the end of the trail, we can either turn around or return by a local bus.
We waited for the bus one hour and a half without any shade.
Fortunately we are saved by a "collective" taxi.
In the evening, next to our bivouac, two slothes perform... a magical moment. We can almost touch them.
Frog’s Heaven Reserve
A private reserve specialized on frogs, but not just any frogs.
Discovery of many species: blue jeans, black and green poisonous frog, red eyes, glass frog ... that our guide knows how to highlight for beautiful photos.
In fact, the owner organizes a 3-hours « photo tour ».
Christophe loves it.
In addition to frogs, there are a few snakes.
Tirimbina Reserve
The biological reserve, the cradle of scientific research and environmental education, protects 345 hectares of forest refuge for wildlife.
In fact, only a third of Tirimbina’s forests are used for environmental ecotourism, leaving most of the reserve intact.
On our arrival we are greeted by two slothes quietly installed next to the reception.
The guides advise you to visit the park early in the morning to see the birds.
Staying on site, we have time to hike in the afternoon and the next morning.
The 9 km of trails start on a suspension bridge, the longest in the country, it is 262 meters long and 22 meters high. Impressive crossing.
During our two tours treck, we do not see many birds ... A pitty.
On the other hand we admire very colourful tiny frogs .
National Park Tenorio Volcano
We must continue our journey and we leave our hosts in the direction of the volcano "Tenorio".
By programming our GPS we see once again how easy it is to get us on tracks.
We prefer to make a detour of several kilometers that allows us to cross cities to shop and fill the gas bottle.
According to our guides, the road that joins the entrance of the park is a 10 km track and hard to drive on. We’ll see ... In fact it is tarred !!!
We arrive in the early afternoon, just before closing time. We prefer to wait until the next day for the visit.
The volcano " Tenorio " is located in the North West of the country on the Guanacaste mountain range at an altitude of 1916 meters.
Extinct and covered with vegetation, the park is mainly visited for its river, the "Rio Celeste river " with bright colors due to the sulfur that flows there.
The walk goes through the hot springs to reach the waterfalls of an incredible bleu azur.
It rained all night and in the early morning, when we woke up, the fog invaded the park.
We wait for the announced sunny intervals.
We hike 3 hours on a very muddy trail but the show is there.
We are not alone ... We meet a lot of French people.
After the visit we decide to stay one more night onsite.
ROAD BOOK 091
MAVROS ODYSSEE