My Arenal visit was at the back end of my visit to Costa Rica. In fact, it was my last overnight stop after visiting the Monte Verde Cloud Forest. I was enjoying a tropical vacation package that included the National Parks of Costa Rica. The drive was very interesting. I traveled from a high elevation to sea level. Then climbed again and crossed through some central mountains. The elevation was so high that dense fog was a constant companion. It felt like being in the clouds. In fact, the fog was extremely thick. At times, it was difficult to see more than 100 feet ahead of the coach. The road was winding in some areas. It was an amazing drive. The greenery of the vegetation had me fixed on the beautiful hillsides as the bus coasted along.
Going to Arenal was remarkable. The driving route passed through the agricultural belt. I came across several vehicles transporting fruits and agricultural produce to the processing plants. It appears that the country has an abundance of produce. It is a tropical island so it has an abundance of water. I saw mangoes, pineapples, oranges and several other fruits. The bus driver promised a surprise at our lunch stop. As a matter of fact, the restaurant was selected for that purpose. I noticed several iguanas walking calmly outside the eating place. They were enjoying the attention of the guests. The iguanas were unconcerned having people near them. As a matter of fact, we were encouraged to feed them. That was an experience of a lifetime. I was not only close but feed an iguana.
Arenal
A couple hours later marked the arrival to Arenal. The community is located at the base of the Arenal volcano. The area is well known for a major volcanic eruption in 1980. That disaster killed 80 people. Since, there were constant lava flow until 2020. Presently, the Arenal volcano is quiet. Arenal is well known for the Volcano. It is also popularly known for cascading waterfalls and thriving rain forests. What’s more, the area has an abundance of wildlife.
The Hotel Magic Mountain was my lodging for the next two days. The evening was spent at the Baldi Hot Springs Resort, Hotel and spa. This was not included in my tropical vacation package. The resort has 25 different thermal hot pools. They varied in temperature from very hot to warm. The pools are well designed with waterfalls and excellent swimming area. In addition, they are in a tropical setting with several plants and birds chirping in the background. I moved from pool to pool to experience all the pools. The water was very relaxing and I spent several hours until I was exhausted.
National Parks of Costa Rica
The following day I ventured to explore the Arenal Volcano National Park. It is one of the most beautiful of the National parks of Costa Rica. From the hotel I crossed over Lake Arenal. The lake has a massive dam. It is the country’s largest hydroelectricity project. I entered the park at the north shore of Lake Arenal entrance. The rain forest was amazing. I was accompanied by a tour guide. His knowledge and expertise were of tremendous help. I learnt of several plants and animals. He took time to explain the rich biodiversity of the area. I crossed about 15 suspended bridges. They were the link between the different mountain ridges.
The forest canopy was rich with vines, ferns and beautiful flowers. I came across a 300-400-year-old tree. That was not the highlight of the walk. I was amazed to see colorful frogs, birds and several small animals that are native to the area. The trails were well maintained. This made walking through the forest very easy. Several species of plants came to my attention. The guide explained the plant importance and function to the people of Costa Rica. Walking through the forest was not only a good exercise but also exhilarating and educational. It is truly on of the top National Parks of Costa Rica and is worth remembering.
Journey home
My Arenal experience came to end. I travelled through Sarchi on the journey back to San Jose. This will be another blog in the future. I love the National Parks of Costa Rica. There are so many outdoor activities and I experienced only a limited amount. I will revisit that tropical destination sometime in the future. Summing up, I will recommend Costa Rica as a country worth visiting. Tropical Destination Vacations has tropical vacation package to Costa Rica.