Zip Zip Zipping Away

The drive to Arenal is a little longer but very pretty until we turn off the main road and onto a bumpy dirt track that is rutted and pot holed.  We spend the next 15 kilometers trying to avoid craters or the steep drops and tackling steep climbs and hairpin bends.  As we drive along we are counting the number of times we will need to travel this road during our stay!

The Arenal Observatory Lodge is amazing.  Our room has a massive picture window, which it is claimed overlooks the volcano although due to the rain and mist we can see nothing and will have to take their word for it.

The grounds are lovely and there are some gentle walks in the surrounding countryside.  Despite the rain, we but on our boots and head off to trek to  a waterfall.

more stairs

We are up bright and early for a trip to the hanging bridges,  on our way we stop to take some shots of the passing wild life

Grey Hawk enjoys terrapin for lunch

Coati - Cute but not traffic aware

Small but far away - far away

Hanging Bridge

We arrive early and before our trek we grab some breakfast before heading off into the rainforest.  The trek is a short loop on a well-maintained forest path.  On the way we have to negotiate 16 hanging bridges, the longest of which is 300 foot long and 150 feet high.  The amount of rocking and swaying is alarming to say the least.  We walk across like drunken sailors.

It’s drizzly but not too wet and one of the first things we spot is another viper

The walking palms are abundant and sit astride a ‘teepee’ of thick roots and yes, the palms do move slowly in search of nutrients.  Our guide tells us this is also known as the ‘sexy’ plant – the reason becomes apparent when we observe the formation of new roots!

Steady on - This is a family blog

That evening we head for the spa pools which are a series of natural hot springs.  The hottest pool is 104F and John enjoys going onto the ice-cold waterfall before entering the hot springs for maximum effect.   Small waterfalls link the pools and clouds of steam bellow up in the night air. We enjoy a meal after this indulgence and then have our first experience of driving back in the dark.  John is driving and we are pleasantly surprised with the well lit roads.

The following day comes our intense trek followed by a lot of zip lining.  This is our first dry trek and we pass waterfalls, walk over hanging bridges and almost pass out on the upward lung busting marches.  We stop and John disappears into a tree

We also spot a very rare example of a body snatching fungus.  A moth infected by the spores has been used as host to grow the fungus that then erupts from the moth.  The dead moth is clearly discernible amongst the growing fungus and the cycle of infection begins again.

At the very end of the walk we get to capture a shot of a Bronzy Hermit hummingbird.

After the walk we make it to the zip wires.  We’re kitted out in safety harness and helmet, given a quick safety briefing then its into a cable car which takes us up through the forest to about 2,500 feet.  The views on the way are  amazing but we are very high and there is only one way down.

The first zip is a quick test of our ability to follow our briefing.  I’m first up!  I’m clipped on via my harness and an additional safety line.  I hold onto the brake gear that sits on the cable, sit back, draw my knees up to my chest and cross my legs – on the way down the wire its is important to remember to open your legs as you approach the landing – it’s a bit off putting having a chap other you’re your husband yelling at you to ‘Open your legs’!

Me Tarzan

OMG what I hadn’t realized is that there are 7 separate lines linked by high steel platforms.  The longest run is about 2,500 feet long and is 650 feet above the ground – still at 60 mph you don’t have too much time to worry. The scariest line takes you low above the ground and amongst the trees that gives a real feeling of speed.  We are not allowed cameras or bags for obvious reasons so we don’t have many pictures although John wore a GOPRO that has some amazing footage.

It’s an amazing experience and at the end we’re alive to tell the tale and grinning from ear to ear.

And we finally got to see the volcano in most of its glory to round off our trip to Arenal