For our trip to La Fortuna we had booked a package deal from Monteverde which included transport, a night in a hotel and a day trip all in one. We set off in a minibus to the lake nearby and crossed it on a small boat with views of the surrounding hills and most impressively Arenal Volcano. Waiting on the opposite side of the lake was another bus that transferred us to our hotel for the night. We took the opportunity to grab a quick meal with a new friend we were on the trip with before being picked up at 3pm for our tour to Arenal Volcano.
The tour started off badly as Jonny forgot one of his hiking socks and we had to turn round to retrieve it from the hotel. Finally underway properly our guide, a local Costa Rican introduced himself and very knowledgable the surrounding area and its main attraction. We took a short drive the base of Volcan Arenal and were led into the surrounding forest canopy. You cannot hike up the actual Volcano as it is still active and unpredictable, as well as very steep.
  
Instead we walked around the base of it and our guide talked through various species of wildlife, plants and animals alike, with great enthusiasm and expert knowledge. He even gave us tips on how to use the plants for medicinal purposes and which spots were best for photos. We passed huge crater holes created when the volcano last erupted and flung rocks the size of houses out of the abis and onto the land around.
  
We passed howler monkeys, who our guide replied to in his best impression. These small animals create s huge racket and we were informed that they make the loudest noise for their size out of any animal on the planet. Shortly after hiking up to our highest point we stopped to watch the sunset over the lake we had crossed that morning and were treated to one of the best, if not the best, sunset so far. It was truly staggering. 
  
We then headed back down through the canopy passing animal bones and hideouts which our guide again pointed out when with the naked eye the appear invisible. Our guide also informed us that a film starring Will Smith – After Earth – was filmed here and some of the set was left behind, which of course, he showed us, also revealing he had managed to meet the man himself. 

Next up was what we had been looking forward to for 24 hours since we booked our tour. La Fortuna is famous for its hot springs as well as its nearby volcano and national park. We were taken to Baldi Hot Springs resort and given a pass for the springs and also for a buffet meal. We had three dining times to choose from and we headed straight for the food. The buffet was for the hotel guests (it must have been 4 if not 5 stars) and everyone was dressed nicely, apart from us. We rocked up, covered in dust from our hike and in our best walking gear, probably smelling too. We were cast some questionable looks but we didn’t care as we tucked into the array of meats, pastas and various other foods on offer. We gorged ourselves until bursting point and then managed to squeeze in a few deserts! Stuffed and delirious due to the amounts of food we were no longer used to we headed to the springs.

The spa has numerous pools, probably in excess of 25/30 altogether ranging from coolest at the bottom to hottest at the top. We began at the bottom and worked our way up. Some pools had bars attached where you could buy a drink and some simple had seats or beds within the water to relax. A few had jacuzzi bubbles and were accompanied with a cold dip pool that Jonny and Chris (our Austrian friend) braved but only the once.

  
As we worked our way to the top we came across the slides. We had been told they were crazy but on first appearance they didn’t look so at all. We decided it must just be that the Costa Ricans weren’t used to water parks like we were and headed to the top. Little did we know they were crazy. The first one was a straight slide down to the pool and instantly you picked up speed and were hurtled down the slide as fast as possible. Totally unexpected and a lot of fun we were excited to test out the others. The next two were twisty slides and made from one sheet of material like the first. This made for an incredibly fast descent, being thrown from side to side and at one point plunged into complete blackness before crashing into the water below. Water was forced up our noses and into our lungs as we coughed and spluttered through brief spells of laughter when we could manage them. Hayley screamed her way down the slides and the proof is in the video – soon to be attached.

We then headed up to the hottest pools which somewhat scalded your skin as you attempted to descend into them. Too hot for Hayley opted for some cooler ones and spent our last few moments wishing we didn’t have to leave.

Before we did so Hayley managed to get herself locked in the toilet and then in an attempt to climb out became stuck on top of the separating wall. Only to shout for help and nobody to appear for a good few minutes until a woman working there noticed her in the unusual spot. Jonny was totally unaware until informed when Hayley came out in stitches of laughter later on.  

We made our way back to La Fortuna sad to leave the springs and slept ready for our transport to San Jose the next morning. We caught the bus from the local bus station with relative ease and set off on our way to meet Hayley’s aunties parents who would kindly be putting us up for a few days. 

The day trip package was an absolute bargain and we would urge people to do this if they ever get chance! Hear about San Jose and our Spanish speaking homestay in our next post.. 

Jonny & Hayley 🙂