First and foremost, the Costa Rican countryside is absolutely beautiful and the people are also gorgeous inside and out. I had an amazing bus ride through the hills of the country on my way to Arenal, an area known for its adventure and amazing views of the nearby volcano. Along the way, I met a kind student who not only suggested great restaurants in the city, but also encouraged me to open the bus window as far as possible so that I could get the best shots of the scenery.
First up was a hike around the volcano, so I stopped in the town for a quick lunch before heading back to my hotel to get picked up for my afternoon adventure! I had a perfect view from my 2nd story table to see over the town and the food was incredible. There was even a pretty little river AND I saw a wild gecko just hanging out on some bushes that I found.
The first night, I went for a hike on an inactive volcano...I was a little sad that it was only 2 years ago you could see lava flowing down the side, but alas, we can't have everything we want in life. During the trip, I learned so much about the plants, wildlife, and the history of the surrounding area.
We hiked up to a spot that had a 360 degree view of the cloud-covered volcano, the lake and the lush landscape. It was incredible!
...and then we hiked even higher to get an even better view of the lake!
Before the night was over, we stopped at an amazing natural hot springs (with over 20 different pools and some waterfalls as well!) for some light swimming and relaxation. The grounds were beautiful and the poorly lit pictures barely do the place any sort of justice.
During the trip, I met two amazing sisters from southern California whose brother was spending an extended amount of time in the country. They were even kind enough to give me their contact information in case I needed anything for my upcoming trip to LA! The world is a truly beautiful place, so I love great reminders like this.
