Day 4 of our Costa Rican adventure (December 5). Today we leave Tortuguero National Park and travel to the Arenal Region. (The Arenal Volcano is the youngest stratovolcano in Costa Rica. The 1968 eruptions killed almost 80 people and destroyed three villages.)
But first we pack up and leave the Evergreen Lodge.
It was a very pretty property but they should really consider filtering their water and it was not potable in the bungalows and had a funny smell that lingered in our tap-rinsed clothing.
Suitcases were outside the room at 7 AM and our dock call was at 8:15 AM. We had a nice river cruise back to Cano Blanco to meet Eric and our group coach.
Lots to see on our one hour cruise.
A flock of Black-necked stilts.
A small flock of Spoonbills.
And a Juvenile Tri-Colored Heron that our two guides were very excited to see. Most birds are migratory and arrive as adults to over winter. This one is a bit too young to have flown here...so maybe it hatched here?
We meet up with Eric and head west to Arenal, but first we stop to see how bananas are harvested and processed for shipping. It was quite the operation.
When the timing is right the bunch is bagged and marked for harvest. They are picked and placed on a conveyer to be delivered to the processing facility.
They are washed, sorted and boxed up for shipping to Europe. The rejects remain in Costa Rica for local consumption. We had many of the "rejects" and they were THE BEST bananas I've ever tasted.
We start seeing fields and fields of pineapples, as far as the eyes can see. These plantations are HUGE.
We stop at "The Best Pineapple Tour in CR" you can follow them on
Facebook.
We load up into a covered wagon towed by a tractor around the property.
Our guide was hysterical. He taught us how to harvest and prepare a perfect pineapple-of course he's using a VERY SHARP MACHETE (Just In- as in Just in case!). He also told us how to find the perfect pineapple in the grocery store...look for uniform eye/flowers on the pineapple.
It was the BEST pineapple I've ever taste, so sweet and juicy-just perfect.
He's crazy fast.
Back on the coach and we make our way to the
Hotel Lomas del Volcan. It's pitch dark when we arrive but our room is very pretty, so we assume the property is nice too.
A bunch of us decided to hit a steakhouse for dinner.
The food was yummy but the service a bit slow. And I overheard that some of the meat eaters didn't get the "doneness" (medium, well etc.) that they had ordered.
We were tired and hungry and really wanted some sleep, so the food hit the spot, regardless.
More photos: CLICK HERE
Next up Day 5, Dec. 6 Hiking in Arenal National Park, a ranch visit, a salsa class and a visit to some hot springs followed by dinner.
