They sought a lifestyle in a country in which they could embrace their peaceful beliefs and continue to cultivate their dairy farms. The turning point in its recent history came in 1950, when a group of pacifist Quakers from Alabama moved here to avoid subscription in the Korean War. Perched on the Continental Divide between the Pacific and the Caribbean, it is thought that there has been indigenous habitation in Monteverde since 3000 BC. The last part of our journey is on bumpy roads, but we are rewarded with a two-night stay here to enjoy all that this area has to offer. After a short tour of the ranch, tuck in to a typical Costa Rican dish called "Casado" comprising of rice, beans, beef or chicken or fish and plantain. Stopping on the shore of Lake Arenal we visit El Establo, a family run restaurant and ranch. Today after a leisurely start, we travel around Arenal Lake into the cloud forest region of Monteverde - one of the most well-known places in Costa Rica to see wildlife. This evening, we can make the most of the local geothermal activity by enjoying an optional bathe in nearby hot springs. The lodge also features a freeform outdoor pool. Open up the wooden shutters each morning onto an extensive outdoor deck area overlooking the jungle and listen to the sounds of the tropical birds all around you. Each family is accommodated in individual bungalows positioned in a large tropical garden. ![]() Our accommodation for the next two nights is on the outskirts of La Fortuna. This classic cone, which rises to 1633 metres, is covered by a tangled mass of vegetation on one side, while the other is starkly barren. ![]() We meet Don William, a local artist, who will teach us how to paint a traditional oxcart with some of the patterns and designs familiar to the area.Ĭontinuing to Arenal (approximately 2.5 hours), we will catch our first sight of the famous Arenal Volcano. The town is best known for producing decorative oxcarts, one of Costa Rica's national symbols. Our next stop is the provincial town of Sarchi, well known throughout Costa Rica for its intricate arts and crafts. If activity increases again the authorities may choose to close the park in which case we will visit a nearby coffee estate instead. Due to recent volcanic activity, time at the crater viewpoint is restricted to 20 minutes. We head out on a well graded footpath to the viewing point offering views directly into the crater. At almost kilometre in diameter and 314 metres deep the main crater is one of the largest in the world. Poas has erupted 40 times since 1828, most recently in April 2017. ![]() Located in the central valley at an altitude of 1150 metres, head north, out of San Jose to Poas National Park, where the smoke from one of Costa Rica's most active volcanos periodically rises from the tropical rainforest. ![]() The National museum (Museo Nacional De Costa Rica) is also well worth a visit. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose head out to explore the city which is easy to navigate with a grid pattern of avenues and streets with a good choice of local eateries, which you may choose to sample this evening. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport (airport code SJO) which is 18km, around thirty minutes from the hotel. There are no other activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in San Jose at any time. Coffee and sugar cane are big industries here and coffee is even planted between new buildings and along the roadside on the outskirts of the city.įor those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm or the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. The Costa Rican cosmopolitan capital lies in a fertile valley at an altitude of 1150 metres.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |