From Bottom to Top:
Our hotel near Puerto Viejo.
View from my room.
Our hotel's private beach.
Me on the beach ready to swim!
Me ready to go around town on my mo-ped! Exciting!
Me ready to go around town on my mo-ped! Exciting!
Showing posts with label Weekends in CR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weekends in CR. Show all posts
Monday, June 9, 2008
Trip to Puerto Viejo
We arrived late Friday night in Puerto Viejo and stayed in a little motel for the night. Saturday morning, before leaving for our final destination, we went snorkeling. This time we were in the Carribean Sea and were able to see a coral reef along with tropical fish. I did not find this snorkeling trip to be as successful as the trip in the Pacific in the Osa. After snorkeling, we were provided snacks and allowed to rest on the beach and walk around a National Park. In just a short amount of time we were able to discover white-faced monkeys, a 3-fingered sloth, and a yellow-eyelash viper. Seeing these three creatures were all very exciting because it was the first time seeign the sloth and snake and because we were able to get very close in observing them. After a short boat ride back to the mainland, we were provided lunch. Soon after, we boarded the bus to depart for our final destination in Cahiuta, Costa Rica.
When we arrive in the early afternoon on Saturday, I spent almost my entire time either on the beach or in the hotels pool. During our stay, all meals were provided and they were very delicious! We had our own private beach and pool, as well as a sand volleyball court for some recreation. All day Sunday was spent soaking up the Costa Rican sun. Luckily I avoided getting burned! While at the beach we passed the football and frisbee, played volleyball, swam and relaxed. It was exactly how I had pictured Costa Rica in my mind. Nights were spent relaxing with the many friends I had made on the trip. On Monday morning, it was a little sad to leave because it was a great final trip and made me realize the end of my Costa Rican Study Abroad stay was near.
On the way back to San Jose we stopped again in Puerto Viejo for a 2 hour shopping/lunch break. Myself and 3 other friends decided to rent mopeds for and hour. We used them mostly as a joy ride around the town but were also able to get some shopping and lunch done. I was definately not experienced in driving the vehicle but quickly got accustomed to driving it and ended up having an amazing time! After turning in our mopeds and getting some ice cream, it was back onto the bus for the 4 hour ride back to San Jose.
We arrived around 4:30 pm safely. Pictures of this trip are soon to follow.
When we arrive in the early afternoon on Saturday, I spent almost my entire time either on the beach or in the hotels pool. During our stay, all meals were provided and they were very delicious! We had our own private beach and pool, as well as a sand volleyball court for some recreation. All day Sunday was spent soaking up the Costa Rican sun. Luckily I avoided getting burned! While at the beach we passed the football and frisbee, played volleyball, swam and relaxed. It was exactly how I had pictured Costa Rica in my mind. Nights were spent relaxing with the many friends I had made on the trip. On Monday morning, it was a little sad to leave because it was a great final trip and made me realize the end of my Costa Rican Study Abroad stay was near.
On the way back to San Jose we stopped again in Puerto Viejo for a 2 hour shopping/lunch break. Myself and 3 other friends decided to rent mopeds for and hour. We used them mostly as a joy ride around the town but were also able to get some shopping and lunch done. I was definately not experienced in driving the vehicle but quickly got accustomed to driving it and ended up having an amazing time! After turning in our mopeds and getting some ice cream, it was back onto the bus for the 4 hour ride back to San Jose.
We arrived around 4:30 pm safely. Pictures of this trip are soon to follow.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Pics From Osa
From Bottom to Top:
Waiting outside the bus as it tried a dangerous manuvure.
Group of us, after helping to push the bus across the bridge.
The "water forest" we traveled by boat through to get to our hotel.
Our hotel accomadations.
Leaf Cutter Ants at work.
Jaguar foot print.
Massive tree's root that came up during a storm.
Me drinkning from a fresh coconut.
Scarlet McCaw.
The waterfall that we swam in.
Crocadiles we saw while traveling in our boats (thankfully).
Friends with Fernando, the hotel owner.
Osa Penninsula Trip
We left San Jose by bus at 6:30 am Sunday moring for a long trip to the Osa Penninsula. WE traveled on the bus for about 6 hours and the trip was longer than expected due to terrible road conditions and traffic. Osa is considered the most Biodivers prat of Costa Rica and the lack of infrastructure found on the way there made it very clear that the Osa is very untouched from human society. At one point, we had to get of the bus so it could cross a skinny bridge that the bus driver didnt feel safe doing with all of us on. We also at one point had to push the bus to get it unstuck on a hill. The last part of our trip to get to Drake Bay (where our "hotel" awaited) included a 2 hour boat trip down a river and into the Pacific ocean. Without even a place to dock the boat on the beach we were staying, we were forced to get a little wet to reach our final destination.
We were the first guests our hotel had ever had as it just opened recently.Because of this, we were treated amazingly! Noone went hungary and they were very generous in meeting any of our needs. Fernando the owner was especially friendly and made the stay very enjoyable. Where we stayed was probably the most "outdoorsy" place I had ever spent the night. It was small tents with three cots each and bug netting aournd us. Though it was not something that I am used to, it turned out to be lot of fun. It was as if you were staying in the jungle because there was wildlife all around us. Along with a place to stay, the hotel also had a bar and a little sitting area for everyone to relax and play cards and most of our nights were spent doing just that.
The first day in the Osa, was filled with two hikes through the rain forest. The first was for strictly observing the beauty of the nature around us. We were provided a guide and were lucky enough to see many different wildlife. All sorts of bugs, birds, and interesting plants were all seen. My favorit parts were seeing a Jaguar foot print on the path we were following that the guide said was probably about 3 days old and the opening, drinking, and eating of fresh coconut. Again, surprisingly, I found I like something that I originally believed I did not.
The second hike was much shorter and led to a water fall where we were able to swim and relax. The water was a perfect temerature for the hot day and we were ever able to jump off the waterfall into the awaiting pool below. It was a refreshing swim and after the short hike back out of the forest, we traveled by boat back to our hotel.
Tuesday morning we woke up early again and set off by boat for and island that was aboout an hour and a half away. After arriving on the island, we loaded up the gear needed to go snorkeling and headed out to sea. The water was very clear and we were able to see all sots of fish and coral reefs from about 15 feet away. When I dove, I was able to get even closer and I saw many colorful and interesting fish. The highlights for me were seeing two schools of fish both containing what I guessed to be hundreds of fish and the BlueJack fish which was blue on its top half with silver sports and silver on the bottom half. The BueJack was about 3 long and according to our guide is a very good fish to eat. While on the island we also ate lunch, explored the coastline, and swam in the water.
On the boat ride back to our hotel, we saw the bird, Brown Boobie, which led us to dolphins since the Brown Boobie usually follows them and their feeding patterns. The dolphins we saw were Silver-Spotted Bottlernosed and our guide believed they were traveling in a pack of 50 or so. We followed in our boats for about 15 minutes and watched as they came up and out of the water for air.
I spent the nights in the Osa playing Hearts, a new card game that I learned and really enjoyed the company of everyone on the trip with me. The last night, Fernando through a small party for us where he made some cocktails and provided some music for dancing.
Wednseday morning, we left at 7:30 am and arrived back in San Jose around 6 pm after another long and adventurous trip through CR.
We were the first guests our hotel had ever had as it just opened recently.Because of this, we were treated amazingly! Noone went hungary and they were very generous in meeting any of our needs. Fernando the owner was especially friendly and made the stay very enjoyable. Where we stayed was probably the most "outdoorsy" place I had ever spent the night. It was small tents with three cots each and bug netting aournd us. Though it was not something that I am used to, it turned out to be lot of fun. It was as if you were staying in the jungle because there was wildlife all around us. Along with a place to stay, the hotel also had a bar and a little sitting area for everyone to relax and play cards and most of our nights were spent doing just that.
The first day in the Osa, was filled with two hikes through the rain forest. The first was for strictly observing the beauty of the nature around us. We were provided a guide and were lucky enough to see many different wildlife. All sorts of bugs, birds, and interesting plants were all seen. My favorit parts were seeing a Jaguar foot print on the path we were following that the guide said was probably about 3 days old and the opening, drinking, and eating of fresh coconut. Again, surprisingly, I found I like something that I originally believed I did not.
The second hike was much shorter and led to a water fall where we were able to swim and relax. The water was a perfect temerature for the hot day and we were ever able to jump off the waterfall into the awaiting pool below. It was a refreshing swim and after the short hike back out of the forest, we traveled by boat back to our hotel.
Tuesday morning we woke up early again and set off by boat for and island that was aboout an hour and a half away. After arriving on the island, we loaded up the gear needed to go snorkeling and headed out to sea. The water was very clear and we were able to see all sots of fish and coral reefs from about 15 feet away. When I dove, I was able to get even closer and I saw many colorful and interesting fish. The highlights for me were seeing two schools of fish both containing what I guessed to be hundreds of fish and the BlueJack fish which was blue on its top half with silver sports and silver on the bottom half. The BueJack was about 3 long and according to our guide is a very good fish to eat. While on the island we also ate lunch, explored the coastline, and swam in the water.
On the boat ride back to our hotel, we saw the bird, Brown Boobie, which led us to dolphins since the Brown Boobie usually follows them and their feeding patterns. The dolphins we saw were Silver-Spotted Bottlernosed and our guide believed they were traveling in a pack of 50 or so. We followed in our boats for about 15 minutes and watched as they came up and out of the water for air.
I spent the nights in the Osa playing Hearts, a new card game that I learned and really enjoyed the company of everyone on the trip with me. The last night, Fernando through a small party for us where he made some cocktails and provided some music for dancing.
Wednseday morning, we left at 7:30 am and arrived back in San Jose around 6 pm after another long and adventurous trip through CR.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Pics from Arenal, LaFortuna, and Monteverde
From Bottom to Top:
Stephanie, myself, Prof. Platt, and Bob in the 152 degree hot spring.
Arenal Volcano.
Nate and I at the hydroelectric damn.
Horseback riding to Lafortuna Waterfall.
Me and hardened lava from Arenal volcano.
Nate and I in our equipment ready to go zip lining through the jungle.
And though you cant really tell, that is me on the Tarazan swing!!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Arenal, LaFortuna, and Monteverde
We arrived in Arenal on Friday night. The first sightseeing part of our trip was to visit the Baldi hot springs which are naturally heated by the Arenal volcano near by. Here were able to go down water slides, get into pools that where 150 degrees, and have dinner. Almost everyone got into the extremely hot spring, especially compared to other years where the proffessors claimed that barely anyone got in past their knees. I was pretty excited because I was able to go under with my whole body including my head.
The next day, we had breakfast at our hotel and proceeded to a Hydro electric plan. At the ICE plant, we were able to see where they damned the water up as well as the turbines and other parts of the electricity generating process. It was very interesting and something I had never seen before. When leaving the tour we saw a 3 feet iguana which was the pretty much first exotic animal I had seen while in CR so far. The next stop in our day was LaFortuna water fall. After about a 20 min hike down what seemed like a vertical mountain side, we were rewarded with the view of a large water fall that I guessed was at least 10 stories high. we were able to swim in the pool of water that the fall dropped to. The current was very strong and the water was cool and felt amazing after getting hot on the hike down. The worse part about the visit to the waterfall was the walk back up to the bus which was tiring. We then took a hike on the trail of the Arenal Volcano. WE were able to walk over colled lave and saw some amazing views as we hiked higher up the volcano. That night we ate at the Steakhouse restaurant. When we returned to our hotel, the power was out so we lit candles to find our way around. It was actually kind of relaxing not to have power to watch tv or read or anything else. We were also lucky enough that night for it to be clear enough for us to see molten lava running from the top of the volcano.
Sunday morning we had breakfast at the hotel and left by jeep to cross the Arenal Lake which 40 years ago was a city but was destroyed by the volcano and later flooded by damns. While crossing the lake there were many beautiful views of the volcano and the scenery around us. after crossing the lake we boarded more jeeps for the final part of the trip to Monteverde. When we reached Monteverde, it was time to ZipLine. We traveled over 13 lines through the cloud forest , rappeled 50 feet, and Tarzan swung. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done and hope I get to experience it again. The fact that I was able to travel through the canopy of a Rain Forest still amazes me! After the ZipLining, we traveled to where were staying which was the Monteverde National Park. The night consisted of a walk through the jungle. we were able to see many insects but the highlight of the walk was a couple of from and the Orange Ringed Tarangela.
Monday morning was our travel day, but we woke up at 6am for a morning Bird watch in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Luckily we were able to see many birds including the male and female Quetzal, the most popular bird to try and view in CR. We Arrived back in San Jose around 1pm. We hit up a local flee market to try and find some good stuff for cheap.
Tomorrow we head for Manuel Antonio at 7am. Here, we will be able to enjoy our first beach experience in CR.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)