La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Our overly-affectionate friends from Minnesota treated us to an overnight at La Fortuna at the base of Arenal volcano. The drive there through the rural, mountainous interior of Costa Rica was already worth the price of admission - an easy (3.5 hour, 70-mile, you do the math) drive from Monteverde - rent a 4x4!
Our fancy hotel gave us a daytime tour of the amazing flora they've cultivated, then a night-time tour of the fabulous frogga hiding therein.
Did you spot the sloth in the Y of the tree above? No, he's not chained there, just knows a good sleeping spot when we sees one. We had a lovely talk with one of the gardeners - Modesto - who locates the sloths every morning then posts their location on a map, knowing they won't move much.
The next morning we checked into EcoThermales, "Arenal's only truly natural hot springs." I'm not sure what that means, but we were truly in the middle of nature, and with way less people (and cost) than the iconic Tabacon. Of course, the free El Choyin hotsprings we learned about later would have been even more natural (and more crowded), but our mission was pampering and indulgence at just the right level.
For hours we just lazed in multiple pools from 80 to 110 degrees, watched lizards and toucans, and visited with equally-relaxed and casual visitors from around the world.
We also ate way too much at the way too good buffet (following up on the hotel's breakfast buffet, and the night before at the not-to-be-missed Don Rufino restaurant). All 3 restaurants held nothing back, and bent over backwards to keep our celiac friend safe and happy. I would not want this diet, nor this separated-from-reality lifestyle, on a regular basis, but as a stacatto insertion into the flowing existence we've been enjoying in Monteverde, I was able to let go and just enjoy.
My food photos just can't capture the indulgent richness of these buffets. So I'll leave you with lizards and beauty from the hot springs.
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Currently in...
Philadelphia
Heading to...
Costa Rica (Monteverde) till Christmas, then Thailand (Chiang Mai), Vietnam (Hoi Ann, Feb-Mar). Please share any sites, people or ideas by email.