Today in La Fortuna, I joined a tour group to catch some views of the Arenal volcán, hiked through the jungle in search of animals, and relaxed in a nice warm hot spring! First stop: Arenal volcán
The last big explosion of this volcano was in 1968. When a volcano is going to erupt, there are warning signs! Up to a few months before the explosion, there will be rumbling (earthquakes). Those who choose not to evacuate do so because they are worried looters will take their home, or because they want to go down with their home that they've lived in their whole lives. The last slight action was in 2010. A common misconception of death-by-volcano is that the lava flow will kill you. This is very unlikely as it is super slow. You are more likely to be killed by a heated air plume that comes from the hot lava. It is like inhaling hot glass and immediately destroys your lungs. Another likely death is by being crushed by giant boulders that are shot through the air from the violent eruption. On our hike up to see this magnificent work of art, we ran into a cow along the trail!
(See video here!) https://youtube.com/shorts/KQl4a_oiULo?feature=share We also ran into some leaf cutter ants marching along! (MUST SEE VIDEO!!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KYNOj0RPYM The ants harvest 20% of all of the leaves in the jungle. They chew up the leaves and mix it with their special spit to create their housing! They are the most organized of all ants (and my favorite) Next stop: The Jungle! https://youtube.com/shorts/7c7UoDSM6D0?feature=share The jungle is exactly like you'd see in movies or hear described in books. Complete with swinging vines and everything! We saw many animals including howler monkeys, a green frog, and an eyelash viper - one of the most deadly snakes in Costa Rica! (Don't worry, he was just a little guy with no interest in us) MUST SEE video here (shortcuts in the description)--> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnwIfNB_gUQ Pictures below!
After our hikes, we stopped for coffee / tea and cookies before we headed off to the hot springs!
Last Stop: Hot Springs! I didn't capture much of the springs as it was water and I didn't want to have my phone on me but I did have some great conversations with a couple from Germany, a woman from Italy (originally from Brazil), and a woman from Chile (she didn't speak english and I didn't speak spanish so our italian friend was translating the conversation for us!) We discussed latin politics (and italian / american politics) as well as sharing travel trips. I got a lot of great information to help me travel with ease around Costa Rica! My Feelings! I booked this adventure because I was beginning to feel sad on my trip. I had ventured out of my airbnb a few times to get breakfast, groceries, and dinner and had yet to meet anyone. So I booked this tour with hopes to do what I came here to do, meet people! And it worked! I am back to feeling energized and excited. I also have a new confidence now that I have some real life, in person, recent experiences about traveling around the country. I can't wait to see what's next! Not sure how I will be spending my last few days in La Fortuna but I will be doing a jeep-boat-jeep travel to my next city of Monteverde!
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