Costa Rica - On the move

We were on the go in Costa Rica. On any given day you can expect an encounter with a church, a place to bed down, a roadside soda for ceviche and a beer, sometype of weather pattern (usually sunny in the morning and storms by late afternoon) along with phenomenal scenery.

We put many miles on our Terio (second from left). It was not the most comfortable machine but it survived everything the cow dished out. We traversed the country starting in Alajuela, which is a suburb of the capital - San Jose, and drove north to Fortuna where Volcan Arenal looms large above the town. After two perfect days in Fortuna we drove around Lake Arenal to the small village of Junta. This village was off the beaten tourist path and had mineral hot springs which we were able to enjoy all by ourselves. We then traveled to the Nicoya Peninsula and southwest to the beach community of Samara. Great location, small village with all the amenities and an extraordinary beach. Stayed at Villa's Kalimba across the street from the beach and enjoyed a couple of wonderful nights on the coast (amazing weather, not sweltering at all). We wanted to stay another night but the hotel was fully booked so the cow drove us north to the coastal community of Nosara (many norte's here). We stayed one night at the Lagarta Lodge which had a spectacular open air restaurant on top of a hill overlooking the ocean. We partook watching a multihued sunset and a spectacual three hour lightening storm while dining on a great meal. The next morning we were up and back in the Terio for a bumpy, stormy, rainy day with mass amounts of lightening as we drove back into the highlands of San Jose.

We ended our trip in the Orosi valley which is filled with coffee finca's. It is a great small village and a wonderful place to slow down and enjoy the sounds of parrots flying overhead. Driving back to San Jose we stopped at the Irazu volcano. You actually drive up to the crater and look into the toxic water down below. It is the highest active volcano in Costa Rica.

Home at last but still wishing I was listening to the waves crash in Samara.