Well, it was clearish at sunrise, when I stepped out from our hotel cabin and onto the front porch to check on the volcano. It was still there.
I could tell, because I could finally see it. There was still some cloud cover on top, like a cap that was too big for it.
But DW and I said we'd take what we could get. The weather forecast in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, called for rain off and on throughout the day.
We quickly readied ourselves and hopped into the SUV to make it to our first destination in time for its opening. We've learned that to get to a tourist attraction as early as possible meant that you'll beat the tour buses and most of the crowds.
We didn't have far to go: as the crow flies, it was only 7 kms away, but to drive, it was about 11. We were headed to La Fortuna Falls.
We made it with about two minutes before opening, and the parking lot was cordoned off. Only one vehicle was waiting ahead of us.
There's a lookout across from and above the 70-or-so metre-high falls, that emerge from the jungle and drop to a small pool, below. To access the base, you must descend a 500-step, winding stairway. But the view is worth it.
Thing is, what goes down must go back up. The months without using my spin bike cost me dearly, but I eventually made it back to the car park.
From there, we headed into town for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast at a coffee roaster and soda (the term for a small restaurant that serves simple and inexpensive food). It was so tasty and the service was so good that we promised to return (we ended up going for dinner and had the same server).
Next, we chose one of the many nature trails in the area, in search of sloths, monkeys, and whatever else we could see. By the time we arrived, Arenal Volcano was once again shrouded in cloud but the rest of the sky was clear.
We decided to leave our rain jackets in our vehicle. Big mistake.
While most of our hike was under cover of the forest, there were some open areas, where we could catch cool breezes and see more of the landscape. We had chosen a trail that took us to part of the lava fields from the 1968 eruption that lasted for 42 years. Massive black boulders also covered the trail area from the initial eruption.
It was at this open area that the rain came down hard. We got drenched but it was worth it, even if we couldn't see the volcano.
We had already seen the volcano in all her glory.
It's too bad that we didn't spy any sloths or monkeys, but we have only been here two days. There is still time.
Today, we leave this region and will do more exploring. I'll try to keep posting as much as I can.
Stay tuned.
