Monday, 11 March 2019
La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Cold, wet and very windy as we leave the highlands of Santa Elena. The rain is a theme for the day but as we descend down to La Fortuna, the cold gives way to heat and humidity. Instead of a 3hr bus journey back the way we came, it’s to be a 1hr-ish bus plus a 45 minute boat ride across Lake Arenal and then a 30min bus.
Cloudy and grey. The boat is more a floating pontoon with seats and an engine and embark from a small beach reached down a very steep dirt track. The sort you might find in Devon driving down to a very small National Trust car park and secluded beach.
Arriving at La Fortuna, it’s a far cry from the clear blue skies and sun when we passed through a couple of days ago. The volcano is now shrouded in cloud, it’s raining, hot and humid.
Spending two nights at the Hotel Montechiari (http://www.hotelarenalmontechiari.com/). It’s how I imagine Butlins to be. Rows of very basic chalets.
But set in tropical gardens.
And a view of the cone of Arenal volcano.
So a bit different to Skegness in that respect.
All it needs is Ruth Madoc to come over the PA saying, “Morning campers. Hi-de-hi.”
An afternoon at leisure was meant for activities such as horse riding, trekking, quad biking, rafting and the like. But the heat and humidity has got to us all.
And it’s raining heavily.
Lazy afternoon doing nothing required.
We’re all knackered.
