1998 - Central America (Part 1 - Costa Rica)

The start of another expedition.

Friday 3 April 1998 - Tuesday 7 April 1998
View 1998 Central America, Mexico, California on nzhamsta's travel map.

This was a bit of an expedition through Central America. It was organised by GAP Adventures, a Canadian company. They specialise in Central and South America. We used any sort of transport we could arrange (see notes below), staying in small hotels along the way.

Friday 3 April - Flight to San Jose in Costa Rica via Dallas. Okay flights, very inefficient transit in Dallas and a Coke machine that gave four quarters change and a can of Coke for a one dollar bill.

Saturday 4 April - A day in San Jose wandering around. It was very easy to get around as hotel very close to city centre. One thing I did notice was a very large number of shoe shops(?) Later on, met other members of group at hotel and relaxed in courtyard with a beer.

The National Theatre in San Jose.

Plaza de la Cultura.

Sunday 5 April - Early start with taxis at 06:30 to get to bus station for bus to Monteverde. Long bumpy ride into hills. We had a day bag stolen from the bus at a rest stop, Kerryn losing her camera, make up and other stuff, but thankfully not her passport nor her money. Afternoon walk to Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve.

A waterfall in the Monteverde Cloud Forest.

More rain forest.

Monday 6 April - Another early start for guided walk around the forest. Eduardo the guide very knowledgeable. We saw and heard lots of howler monkeys, resplendent quetzals, tarantulas and many other animals. After lunch, we drove to collect the horses. Yep, a horseback ride down through the forest, across various rivers, to Lake Arenal (total of about 4 hours on horseback). The different forms of transport carried on with a boat across the lake and a minibus to La Fortuna. An evening out to a dodgy nightclub!!

Female tarantula.

Hummingbird gallery at the entrance to the Reserve.

Setting off for La Fortuna.

My horse Carlos

Tuesday 7 April - Some of us went white water rafting on the Rio Toro (Bull River). It was great fun, beers on Gerhard (Austrian) as he was first to be thrown out of the raft. The others on trip went for walk up the volcano (Mt Arenal) and to hot springs.

Volcán Arenal, as seen from the lake.