Mi viaje al Volcán Arenal

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Last week a friend visited me from the States and wanted to see a volcano.  I flew to San Jose and met her at the airport where we rented a car and drove to Arenal for a couple days and then we drove up higher into the mountains to the Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve.  

Here is our cottage at the base of the Arenal Volcano.  We stayed at a place called Lomas del Volcán.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

The Arenal Volcano

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

One afternoon we went to the Arenal Observatory Lodge and could see (and hear) smoking hot boulders rolling down the side of the volcano.  They kicked up lots of dust as they rolled down the hillside.    

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

We also went to the Hanging Bridges near Lake Arenal.  There is a pathway through this reserve and there are a series of hanging bridges that you walk across. 

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

The palm viewing from the bridges was spectacular!

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Iriarteas starting to poke through the canopy.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

I saw this palm along the trail.  Not sure what it is...

and here is the trunk

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Some seeds along the trail...

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Not sure what this is either, maybe Pholidostachys pulchra?  The palm looks a little washed out because my flash went off.  

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Newly opened Iriartea frond

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Crotons at the hotel.  On the way to Arenal, we passed a nursery and they had an entire field planted with these crotons.  It was an amazing sight!  I wish I would have stopped and taken a picture.  

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Tree Ferns at the hotel.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

A nice variegated Screw Pine.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Beautiful flowers in bloom.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Heliconias

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Scenery driving from Arenal to Monteverde.  I will make another post of pictures from the CloudForest Reserve.  

[Kris]

Dear Jeff  

The stills have come out very nice and the wire bridge is very

attractive and the screw pine looks terrefic,while the tree ferns made my head spin in its beauty...

thanks for the coverage,

lots of love,

Kris  

[bgl]

Jeff,

That's a spectacular place! And for those of you who're considering the IPS Biennial in May 2008, this is one of the places we'll be visiting.

Bo-Göran

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

You're welcome Kris!  I didn't know you liked Tree Ferns so much.

Bo, I'm looking forward to May 08!

[junglegalfla]

Beautiful...so excited to visit!!      

[NCpalmqueen]

Holy Moly

Spectacular photos!  And that tree fern and screw pine are unbelievable.  Please post more!  

[corkycory]

Hey Jeff,

When i was down in costa rica a couple years ago i also visited the volcano. Unfortunatley it was during the rainy season and the clouds made it impossible to view the peak of the volcano. O'well it fun drive cuz you would be in this fog for like 15 minutes while driving. Not fun for my dad cuz im sure he was tweekin out and worried about crashing with another car but interesting for me. Hopefully we'll go back soon. I esp wana go back to si como no again and to that forest with the sloths haha fun stuff.  

And also have you ever been up to Tamarundo i think thats how you spell it. Its got a air port and my dad said if we ever go back, we would prolly fly in there to see more of costa rica.

-Cory

[Dave-Vero]

All that, and to judge from the US State Department's foreign per diem rates, Costa Rica's an affordable destination!

[Gileno Machado]

Amazing photos. The heliconias and tree ferns are beautiful, not to mention the palms...

[Mike4284m]

I'd love to see some pictures of Monteverde if you have any handy.

[Kris]

(Jeff in Costa Rica @ Aug. 03 2007,14:01)

QUOTE

You're welcome Kris!  I didn't know you liked Tree Ferns so much.

Dear Jeff  

their are 2 specific tree fern varities that i adore the most they are one the Hawaiian variety and the other is the  austrilian fern tree.

since both appear heavy and big sized and their sprouts are like an english umberala handle..looks very tough...

is the variety seen in your still are they any of the varities of these 2 countries ?

thanks & Love,

Kris  

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Bren, can't wait to see you here in CR.  You will be like a kid in a candy store!

Cindy, I will post some more photos.  Thanks!

Cory, it's the rainy season right now.  The volcano was clear when we were driving up to the resort and then within 20 minutes it was covered in clouds to the point that if you hadn't seen it, you wouldn't believe there is a volcano there!  It stayed shrouded in clouds until our last morning there.  I woke up around 6am and it was clear so I ran out and took some pictures.  Some people go there and never see the volcano.   I haven't been to Tamarindo yet.  That place is always in the news because of all the construction going on there.  

Dave, it can be very inexpensive to visit here.  Right now there are many hotels advertising room rates at $20 to $40 per night in Manuel Antonio.

Thanks Gileno!

Mike, I will post some pictures from the CloudForest Reserve soon.  

Kris, I do not know much about Tree Ferns.  I had an Australian Tree Fern growing in my yard in Florida and it was starting to get really big when I sold the house.  I don't know what kind these are.  They look similar.

[Jeff Searle]

Jeff,

 Thanks for all the beautiful pictures and the tour. Without a doubt, CR has some really beautiful areas. This all brings back great memories. I highly reccomend to anyone that is considering on going on the 08 biennial, to go. It should make for a fascinating trip to view palms and many other groups of plants. Thanks.

Jeff

[Dave-Vero]

Embarassingly, I still haven't visited despite taking a course in college specifically so I could brush up my Spanish and brief myself on the country.  

Few places in the world have more diverse--and beautiful--plant life, although I'm one who likes native vegetation almost anywhere.

[Mike4284m]

You can count me in the group that has never fully seen the volcano.  I think we spent about three days there and it was always shrouded in clouds.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

Jeff, it was my pleasure.  I am excited about May 08!  This is such a beautiful and diverse country.  I hope that many people take advantage of the biennial as a reason to visit!  

Dave, it sounds like a visit to CR is long overdue!

Mike, believe it or not, all the guidebooks say that the rainy season is the best time to see the volcano.  You may not get to see it for long, but it does clear from time to time.