Day 2: Ziplines & Volcanoes & Farms, oh my!

Our first full day in Costa Rica was jammed packed with stunning views, delicious food, thrilling ziplines, hot springs, and bus sing-alongs.

Luigi going over our plan for the day

 We began our morning with breakfast overlooking the beautiful Arenal Volcano (named after the lava that would disintegrate into sand at the foot of the mountain). After a delicious breakfast buffet we headed off to one of the most anticipated activities on our itinerary: ziplining! After a serene gondola ride we emerged above the canopy and were greeted by the most picturesque hand ever. 





A big theme of our trip so far has been trying new things and having new experiences. The group crushed it with everyone attempting the first zipline. Seasoned zippers and newcomers alike took to the line and gave it a try, which is a testament to the bravery and resilience of this whole group. 

Arenal Volcano on a rare (mostly) clear day!

After all our feet were back on terra firma we headed off to the Don Juan Organic Farm. Founded by a school principal, the farm prides itself on being 100% organic and self sustaining with an emphasis on educating visitors on the carious plants. Our stellar tour guide Natasha walked us around the grounds providing samples of various leaves to smell, squeeze, and even taste! 

Ms. Martins makes a friend

The friend (named Loli)

Natasha running the show



After learning all about sustainable agriculture and medicinal plants we headed off into the heart of La Fortuna. We had some time to explore the couple blocks that made up this small town, which served as a perfect opportunity to do some souvenir shopping and ice cream tasting. After a jam packed schedule we ended our day relaxing at some hot springs near our hotel (which featured an epic water slide) before getting dinner and heading to bed. What a way to spend our first full day in this beautiful country! Until tomorrow, buenas noches y pura vida!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day 9: Canopy Lines, Tarzan Swings, and Waterfalls!

Image
Hey there! It's Phin. To my mom and dad specifically: I am, in fact, alive and well. I miss you. Okay, enough of the mushy-mushy stuff. Let's get into the action, shall we? Today started off great -- a bumpy ride in the back of a pickup truck -- and only got better. First, we got harnessed up to go canopying (imagine a zipline. Now imagine that you are below the tops of the trees.) As always, the wait was the worst part. Once we got going, though? Incredible. It was really a fantastic feeling to zoom through the trees, and the views were beautiful. At one point, there was a canopy line which went over the river; I think it was my favorite one. No phones on the lines, so enjoy this very safe chaperone selfie :) After that, we had lunch and a short break to collect ourselves before the next activity: a tarzan swing. "What is a tarzan swing?" I hear you ask. Never fear, for I am here to answer your questions! A tarzan swing is a long bungee cord which you hook a harness ...
Read more

Day 1: Planes, Planes, and Automobiles!

Image
Nothing makes a full day of travel more enjoyable than a 3:30 AM start time! Our intrepid travelers arrived at Bradley International Airport bright and early ready to embark on what would be an exhausting but rewarding day of flights, bus rides, and rice and beans (and beans and rice). The morning started with an awe-inspiring rendition of "Happy Birthday" for Phin who celebrated his 16th birthday with us!  Southwest Airlines was even kind enough to bring him balloons! After two relatively uneventful flights we arrived safely in San Jose, Costa Rica and met up with our legendary guide, Luigi. Before embarking on our 3-hour drive through San Carlos National Park we stopped for our first taste of Costa Rican food. The aforementioned rice and beans (and beans and rice) were a considerable upgrade from our breakfasts of airport Dunkin' sandwiches and McDonalds pancakes. After our scenic drive filled with dogs, cats, and lightning, we arrived at Magic Mountain Hotel- our home ...
Read more