Land of the Mist ruled by the Queen of the Night

I was definitely feeling ready to move on from Alajuela, but found it difficult to choose where to go. After talking to everyone and then just choosing, I finally decided to head a few hours north east to the La Fortuna, Arenal area. The bus ride was pretty over the curvy green hills dotted with Christmas trees and cows. Local passengers didn’t talk amongst themselves, but talked on their phones. I had an entire afternoon in La Fortuna before the regular 5:30 pm transport left for the village of El Castillo where I would stay. As I roamed the town, I was surprised at how touristy it was. It seemed to be a town built for the tourists. Perhaps there are many such places built around the expats and tourists in Costa Rica, or perhaps I would need to stay longer to discover the tico (Costa Rican) locales in La Fortuna. I would not find out. When the van taxi for El Castillo came, I took the seat next to the driver to have the most settled stomach on the curvy roads and to practice my Spanish. Luis was happy to help me with my Spanish and work on his English. He pointed out the free natural river hot springs where I would return to enjoy days later.

Free Tabacon Hot Springs. See the steam rising off the river?

I was the last stop high on the hill beyond the village. I arrived in the dark and settled into my deluxe canvas/plastic tent with a cement floor, one wall with a window and a roof as well as double bed with single bunk above it. A closet-sized metal storage locker in one corner and a wooden bench under the window. I awoke to the deep sound of howler monkeys, understandably called congos in Spanish.

The next couple days it was rainy and foggy, but beautiful exploring the trails (with borrowed rubber boots as caution to the snakes as well as mud and stream crossing).

Higuera or fig tree with yellow echinacea flowers

Heliconia Butterfly

Palm

Blue Grey Tanager

La Reina de la Noche or Queen of the Night. Also called Angel’s Trumpet