La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano: To Rappel or Not to Rappel, That is the Question

The small town of La Fortuna, at the base of the Arenal Volcano, was their first stop en route to adventure. While the Arenal Volcano was once one of the most active volcanos in the world, it has been inactive since 2010. Note:  inactive does not mean dormant, as the activity underneath the ground works to heat some pretty sweet hot springs. A debbie downer pointed out that that means it is due to erupt any time now. Ashley didn't get to swim under a waterfall and lounge in hot springs in the same day, but she did get to do both. Uhm well kind of, if you count rappeling down four waterfalls as swimming under them. Clearly by the fact that 'rappeling' is in the last sentence, they found their adventurous spirit... and learned that there is a big difference between adventurous and sporty (sporty, which they are not, evident by the extreme full body pain persistent after physical activity). Nobody volunteered or saw any baby monkeys, as they were too busy getting their exercise on. If you count an awkward sunburn on ones hands, feet, and patches of the back as an injury, checkmark two for Ashley... but she didn't feel that bad as most of her tour-mates were in the same position. Passing out aloe is a quick way to make a new best friend.

Where they stayed: Hotel Cabinatas, which the internet tells them is referred to as "Hotel Cabinatas Resort and Spa". It was pretty swanky, as they got their own individual cabin with three beds (which served as great places to let their suitcases explode), and an air conditioner which was essential in the blistering heat of their second day... also came in handy once they were told of its magical existance... on the second day). The most notable aspect of the resort was being woken up by a symphony of insects, birds (including a rooster) at 5 a.m. We're not in Toronto, anymore.

What they ate and drank: Britt didn't get to eat fajitas, as she opted for great smelling pesto which wasn't quite so delicious, thus once again wishing she had ate the fajitas. Ashley opted to start taking advantage of being in a country with two coasts and no city farther than 2 hours from a coastline by eating fresh seafood: shrimp in pineapple and coconut sauce. It was kind of amazing. Day two they ate special k bars for breakfast (convenience first), some fresh fruit (pineapple and bananas are Costa Rica's largest export), coconut shakes and an avocado salad and burger at a place recommended by their knowledgeable guide Eduardo, and a buffet of some traditional Tico food followed by coconut flaun. Typing it out, it sounds like a ridiculous amount of food, however it was fairly consistent with the amount of calories they expelled being "adventurous".

What they did: Everything. Starting with trying some Costa Rican coffee at a coffee plantation en route to La Fortuna.  While they didn't initially intend to go rappeling, they were easily swayed by group think as all of their other tour-mates raised their hands to go. Ashley and Britt were shamed by a 13 year old boy and his 60 year father... if they can do it... was the rationale. Rappeling consisted of a series of four waterfalls, the first a practice 20 footer, the second 150 feet, including a drop (essentially a zip line), the third, another shorter and the last, a 220 foot freefall. In between each waterfall was hiking through shallow (to sometimes chin deep on Ashley) streams, up and down the rocky, mossy landscape. As it was hot, a mid-trip jump into the stream was welcomed. The waterfall rappel trip ended with a hike up 500 steps (this was not advertised) at which point the words were first mumbled "We need to work out". They also spent their night 'out on the town' with their tour-mates, having a few beers at a local bar to celebrate St. Patty's Day. This helped with some of the pain that their bodies were feeling (while not so much with helping them to get up in the morning for the next physical activity). Day two they did 'stand up paddle' which they thought would consist of learning how to use the stand up paddle and doing some swimming in lake Arenal. That being said, it consisted of learning how to stand up paddle and paddling two hours across the lake and back. It was pretty easy to learn (except for at the very beginning, when Ashley went a little too far into the windy zone and yelled in crisis for Britt to come tell her what to do, to which Britt told her to sweep (which she had no idea what that was) and the guide came to save her).  It was beautiful to sit on the board in the calm waters and look up at the volcano, and only physically straining in the wavey middle section of the lake. After the stand up paddle, they decided to take it easy and have lunch in town, lay down, and relax (for real) until dinner. They ended off their stay in La Fortuna by soaking their sore bodies in the hot springs, which were more of a heated swimming pool (but hey, it had water slides and a swim up bar, so they are not complaining).

Lessons Learned: To rappel down a waterfall means you have to drive up a mountain on a very bumpy terrain.  This may or may not involve almost bouncing into your neighbours lap.  A two dollar cab ride is totally worth it just for the air conditioning.

Lowest point of the trip:  When Britt was bent over a toilet puking up her travel meds... after forgetting to down a bottle of water with her pill.  Lesson learned, as everyday before was fine.

Best awkward moment:  When the rappelling tour guide pushed Ashley off the second rappel, and when she screamed, turned back to Britt and said (in heavy Costa Rican accent) "I love it". 

More questions for Monteverde/the Cloud Forest:

1) As Britt and Ash have been told that a coffee and sugar cane tour is included in the cost of their G adventure, will Ash find the best coffee to replace her morning Timmie's run?

2)Will the wavey, bumpy, uphill van-boat-van combination be toxic for Britt?

3)Will Britt and Ash do the infamous "superman" down the zip line?

Stay tuned!