Day 18. 20.4.16. Lomas del Volcan across Lake Arenal to Santa Elena/Monteverde. GT day # 5.

Up, packed and out by 6.30, wander around  followed by breaky and collected by Eddy at 8.30 for our transfer to the boat at Lake Arenal. 

One of the few Hummingbirds seen, and one of fewer able to even have any chance to capture.

Not great, but the best I could do.

The garden at Volcan del Lomos were amazing.

Ginger Lily?

Some form of Hellionia.

A little Red Backed Cacique...I think.

The pool again.

A garden view toward Volcan Arenal.

Looking back to Restaurant, bar, lobby etc.

The Volcano did not reveal itself.

The boat crossed the lake, cutting off quite a long road trip between La Fortuna and Monteverde. We had been warned that this required carrying luggage over some rough ground, but we were in no way prepared for what eventuated.

The first wave onto the boat. More came.

There was a very steep, narrow concrete path almost down to the boat, and between Eddy and the boat driver, we managed to get ourselves and our luggage to the boat, where it was thrown into the front seats, there was only us and another couple or two for a while, then more came, and more luggage was thrown on top – pretty rough treatment, even worse than airports we reckoned.

The path that came towards the boat but not the whole way.

Costa Rica is very big into sustainability and biodiversity.

View across the Lake

The dam wall.

It was a really pleasant trip across the lake. We shared Eddy and our van with a couple for Houston, then some others from Boston.

Lake Arenal is man made, with the Government having damned the river flooding several villages. The water is used to assist the Guanacaste region and surrounds. I also think there is some hydro electricity generation.

The dam wall looking towards Volcan Arenal.

A view to the shore line.

The luggage piled up the front.

Splashing towards our destination.

Looking towards our landing place.

If we thought the entry to the boat was rugged, the exit was many times worse. Rough and ready to say the least. We hopped off onto sand and ash, there were no paths at all and no ‘porters’ to assist. The organisation was frankly terrible.  Several other boats landed after us, and there were 8 or more mini-buses and other vans parked in a long line up the shore. We lugged our luggage over the sand and to the ‘second’ bus in line – we were evidently on this drivers list????  Suzie did find some young boys to assist Margot and others with their luggage – it was really atrocious. The luggage was loaded into the bus through one of the rear side windows, with the passengers handing luggage up to driver, who was throwing/stacking them in the back seat area. Thankfully a couple of the other guys on our bus were willing to assist lifting our luggage up to the bus window. 

The landing spot and folk lugging their baggage to a bunch of disorganised buses.

Our luggage, awaits the haul across the sand.

The track up to the bus had recently been burnt off, so there was black ash and burnt grass everywhere, we had black soot and ash all over our feet and shoes and the luggage too.

Mmmm, now how are we going to manage this.

The track up to the bus had recently been burnt off, so there was black ash and burnt grass everywhere, we had black soot and ash all over our feet and shoes and the luggage too.

We stopped for a photo – which was really good of the driver, didn’t notice any other buses stopping.  We also stopped for a loo stop (and lunch for the driver,) grabbed an icecream. 

An amazing view was the reward.

More views

Wind turbines.

Eventually after being well shaken we arrived into Santa Elena area, we dropped Steve and Lisa (the adventurous old surfer couple) from Vermont at their Coffee tour – thankfully their luggage was on top.  They were an older couple who had just spent a week on the coast, learning to surf. They were the oldest in the lessons by far, but indicated that they outdid the young ones, who stayed up drinking too late into the night. A really nice couple.

We stopped at a couple of other places to drop people – it was a real challenge for the driver to unearth the luggage in the massive pile in the back. We were next and helping him to find all our luggage was a bit of fun.

Our Hotel- Ficus Sunset Suites in Santa Elena is on a hill with views of the forest and over Santa Elena and in the higher rooms supposedly the Bay of Nicoya.

View of Santa Elena from Hotel breaky room.

My room, is the top left of this group.

Oh, while Glenda and I were waiting in the foyer for the others, we spotted a Toucan sitting in a tree, just 5 metres from where we were sitting. Very lucky to see it evidently, as it is not common to see at the Hotel.

Can you spot the Toucan?

There he be!

Such a nice boy, even turned around for me before taking off.

One more for good measure. Very lucky.

We quickly cleaned feet and met back in the foyer to depart for lunch in Santa Elena – just a 3 minute drive down the hill.  Our taxi was actually a Landcruiser, so could fit all five.

A little under the weather in Santa Elena.

The main street.

The taxi rank.

We had lunch at a Soda (what the café’s are called in CR) called “I’m Hungry.”

A quick look around town, bank and then home to be ready for our 5.30 pick up for our night walk at Kingajou, just outside Santa Elena.

Our bus picked up a couple of more after us, it was full by the time we arrived.

Our guide was Hector and there were 9 of us in our group. It was pretty much after sunset when we took off with torches in hand. We saw:

Black Scorpion

Nine Banded Armadillo

Keel-Billed Toucans

Two toed sloth

Side Striped Palm Viper

Emerald Toucanet (a green bundle of fluff sleeping in the trees)

Porcupine up a tree (with a 20cm prehensile tail)

Magic Ficus tunnel tree.

Orange Kneed Tarantula.

There is an Armadillo in there.

A toucan.

He is looking straight at the camera.

Looking up the centre of a ficus that has grown around a tree that has since rotted away. Hector's light up the tree made amazing patterns.

Venomous Pit Viper.

Tarantula.

We arrived back in time to collect Margot from the hotel and head back for our 8.30 booking at The Treehouse, which was built around a huge tree, good band, good food and atmosphere too.

The Treehouse Restaurant.

The massive tree.

Enjoying dinner at the Treehouse.