Costa Rica - Day 2

We had a lazy start with a late breakfast followed by many hours in the "cold" pool. Again we had it all to ourselves until noon. The off season is sounding better and better.

Lunch was nachos and local beer poolside. By 2:00pm we were in the lobby for our excursion. We joined a couple from Spain and one from Puerto Rico on a guided hike to the Volcano flow (from 1992).

The hike was very gentle and not very long but the guide was very good and spent a lot of time explaining the history of the volcano and pointing out the wildlife.


We saw white faced coati, lizards, leafcutter ants, termites and a baby eyelash pit viper (a very venomous snake).

The volcano was the 3rd most active in the world from 1968 until Nov 2010, with eruptions every 20-40 minutes. It never spewed molten lava just flaming rocks, gases, etc. Since the last erruption they can't tell if it has gone dormant (it must stay quiet for 25 years to be dormant) or if the flow is blocked which is backing up the lava which will eventually break through in an explosive erruption.

After the volcano we went to the Ecotermales hot springs. This place is wonderful! Seven or eight connected stone pools of various temperatures surrounded by deep forest growth. There a bars and a restaurant but only a dozen or so people. We soaked and floated at twilight, watching the bats and the lightening bugs come out.

Dinner was at Que Rico, a pizza and pasta restaurant nearby. Then we relaxed on our porch, listening to the stream run.