The paved roads around Neuvo Arenal turned to gravel. Well, more like mud with large rock with boulders. We drove rough mountain winding roads surrounded in lush vegetation, as wisps of clouds misted the car. I thought the driving was lots of fun but it is always different when one is in control of the vehicle. I knew exactly when to brace for the bumps! I'm not too sure Barb and Bob thought it was 'fun' getting tossed around in the back seat. We climbed higher in altitude finally reaching the Monteverde Cloud Reserve area on the Caribbean side of the Continental Divide. There are several cloud reserves in this are so one could spend weeks exploring them. Steven had booked the well equipped Los Pinos Cabinas in St Elena, a perfect location for us to relax while watching the clouds float by. The weather finally turned for us, the sun shining between floating clouds.
We were able to make our own breakfast and planned to cook one evening meal at home. I love shopping in supermarkets. Mangoes, heart of palm, exotic corn munchies and beer (of course). We browsed around town that afternoon and relaxed. An excellent thin crust pizza accompanied by Tico tapas at Johnnies restaurant was enjoyed by all that evening. St Elena has changed from a few years ago when Steven and Michael last visited. The town roads are now all paved to attract more tourism.
We spent an entire day at Selvatura Park which is essentially a one stop shopping adventure park, cloud rain-forest style. It is located near the Sana Elena Cloud Forest Reserve. We branched off to do our own thing. I was determined to try zip-lining and the crowd eventually convinced Larissa to accompany me. We walked the walkways and bridges through the misty cloud rain-forest, toured a lovely butterfly garden, a snake and reptile exhibit and left the grand finale of zip-lining for the late afternoon. What a hoot! My only regret was bringing my camera. I should have left it in the locket because there is no way in hell I could take photographs while screaming the length of a zip line. I ended off the tour with a "Tarzan Swing Jump". Larissa says I screamed the loudest (followed by a fit of laughter). What an amazing feeling. That is likely the closest that I will ever get to a free fall jump. We returned with our faces covered in mud and big smiles on our faces.
The following morning, we met our guide Alexander for an early morning walk of the Monteverde Cloud Rainforest. Admittedly, this park is full of people. Don't go without a guide. I cannot image anyone having the fortune of finding a quetzal, sloth or snake. I would have just walked along and not known where to look. Rather, these guides come equipped with telescopes and knowledge of the places to look for wildlife.
No trip in another country would be complete without me experiencing at least one six degrees of separation moment. Of course, I bumped into one of my colleagues sisters in a cloud rain forest on a mountain in Costa Rica....because it always happens. But what fun it is. Here is Paula, from Ottawa....I work with her sister! Small world. (I used to work with her cousin too, I think).
