Dec. 7 Lake Arenal, Rancho Heliconia, Don Juan Coffee, Monteverde and Night Walk-Costa Rica-Rainforests, Volcanoes and Wildlife with Go Ahead Tours

Day 6 of our adventure (December 7) and we're leaving La Fortuna and making our way to Monteverde and the Cloud Forest.

It's 7 AM and suitcases are outside our door and we're headed to breakfast at the Hotel Lomas del Volcan.

We're greeted by some gorgeous orchids.

We say goodbye to our hut in the jungle and we're on the coach heading to Lake Arenal. We'll be taking a Parklands boat then a shuttle to get us to Monteverde. 

We're taking a boat across the lake and hoping we get a glimpse of the Arenal Volcano but it's pretty cloudy.

Not looking too good for a volcano view. Dang.

But the views are still stunning. We can see part of the continental divide.

And I think I found a candidate for my retirement home.

Back on land we hope into one of the MANY shuttles waiting to take tourists to Monteverde. Along the way we stop to get a bird's eye view of the continental divide close to 4,900 (1,500 meters).

Looking good Darlene!

It's freaking windy up here, no wonder they use wind turbines.

We make a quick stop for a coffee and a couple of empanadas then we're on our way to Rancho Heliconia.

Edgar introduces us to our hostess.

We are treated to some traditional dances performed by a few local school children.

For one song, our group gets to participate in the dance.

Well done folks-a video of the dance can be viewed HERE

After the dance performances we are served one of THE BEST meals we've had all week.

Then it's back on the coach and off we go to learn about coffee and chocolate with  Don Juan Tours

Our guide shows us how chocolate is grown and harvested and how the beans were traditionally ground up.

How it gets prepped for making hot chocolate.

We learn about the roasting process of coffee. And get to sample various blends of coffee and chocolate.

We have time to do a little shopping before we head to our hotel in the clouds...El Establo Hotel.

The view from our room is amazing. We are literally in the clouds at the tree tops.

The sunset was amazing.

Our next adventure is a night walk in the jungle at Santa Maria's Night Walk. 

Our local guide picks us up but the Festival of Lights is taking place so many of the roads are closed. After a few fits and starts we arrive at the tour office.

We stop to take in the night sounds, but mostly we hear marching bands from the festival in town.

We do see a Katydid trying to hide under a leaf.

I only had my cell phone with me but I got a few photos of birds sleeping and a snake that one of our fellow travelers saw.

More photos: CLICK HERE

Next Up: Planting a native tree, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve hike, zipline ride