1st April 2015 – Arenal

This morning we get up early to go on a tour of the local rain forest. What we don’t realize is that the iPad is still on Panama time, so when we go to breakfast at what we think is 7:15 am we are politely told that breakfast doesn’t start until 6:30. Oh well it got us going early and has given us time to wander around the grounds of this beautiful resort. The bus picks us up at 8:15 am and takes us for a 20 minute drive to the park of the hanging bridges. On the way to the park we drive past the Arenal volcano including being able to see hot sulphur steam coming out of the top of the volcano. This volcano was inactive until 1968 and has been active ever since however the last time it erupted was in 2010. When it became active it started producing hot springs which has given rise to the multitude of thermal spas all over this area.The tour consists of a walk through a native rain forest with 6 swinging bridges as part of the walk. After about 5 minutes of walking the guide points out the most beautiful rainbow toucan.The rain forest is fascinating with huge trees covered in a multitude of other plants mixed in with enormous palms of varying shape and size. We come across a number of different animals such as lizards, frogs and poisonous viper snakes, even a tarantula spider that is hiding in a hole. The plants in the park are beautiful and vibrant. We were hopping to catch site of a sloth or some monkeys but both allude us. This afternoon we are sitting in our room and a coatis (a racoon like animal)ÿ walks past the window, by the time Michael gets the camera it has disappeared. Oh well next time. We go to the hot springs for a swim and they are magnificent.The pools are made from volcanic rock and the hot water cascades down the side of the hill, each pool a different temperature. Some of the pools have water gently trickling into them while others have water tumbling in fast and hard, so you get a great massage on the neck and shoulders. ÿ The surrounding gardens are beautiful and very peaceful, it’s so relaxing, a wonderful way to spend the afternoon with a nice cold glass of vino blanco.