In La Fortuna, it is possible to do many activities: trekkings, tours, extreme sports. One day I went hiking on the volcano, and after, when it was already dark, we walked back into the forest in search of the typical Costa Rican frog (photos after).
One of the most remarkable experiences was a night swim in a hot volcanic river in the forest. It was a little surreal to bathe in a hot, flowing river surrounded by the woods. The only lights were our torches. They were creating a discotheque effect. Among the hot water’s vapors were appearing Scandinavian girls bathing joyfully, like nymphets in the forest. Meanwhile, the guide made us cocktails. It was almost oniric.

A couple of days after, I did the rafting. I’m now almost a veteran of rafting, with experiences that include the Himalayas in Nepal and the source of the Nile in Uganda, in the heart of Africa. This rafting in Costa Rica was not very difficult, although, at one point, two guys fell from our boat. The scenery was spectacular, with the wild forest dropping sheer to the river, wrapping it.

From La Fortuna, I completed a sort of circle, returning to San Jose. There, I met Eva again, and together we went to San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua where there was Aparicio. A German guy joined us along the way, and we went to the magical island of Ometepe, in the middle of Lake Nicaragua, with two volcanoes, one of which active. After, Eva and I went to Granada.

Now I’m in Antigua, Guatemala, but I will tell you about it in the next post.

The Arenal volcano, seen from La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

The most typical of Costa Rican frogs.

We found it thanks to the guide, coming down from the volcano when it was already dark, following its croaking.

My sweet little frog, give me just a kiss… after, you will seem to me like a princess!

The view of the lake from the Arenal volcano.

The rafting in Costa Rica, on a stretch of about 10 km of the river Balsa. Pretty simple compared to that, for example, in Uganda (fotostory here).Or maybe it didn’t seem that difficult to me because, by now, going down the rapids it’s like walking in an English park on a warm summer evening.
“Eeeeeehhhhh…”

Rafting.

In Nicaragua, San Juan del Sur.

We arrived in San Juan del Sur on June 24, just in time for the feast of the city’s patron saint, and also mine: St. John. A very alcoholic celebration, on these circumstances I don’t disdain to celebrate Christian ceremonies. Though, as you see, someone went too far. That’s not the way to celebrate my saint, I’ll send an official protest to the Vatican, as well as pointing out that it would be time to catch up with the times and rename it the feast of St. Dekaro. Martyr, I might add.

Football match on the beach of San Juan del Sur.

This gentleman was unusual. After the photo, he asked me facebook’s friendship, email, etc … He said he was working for Interpol and had been a Sandinista revolutionary. Although, it seems to me to be more a Contra.

Unbelievable, this monkey said: “Dekà, what are you doing down there? Come back on the trees!” Eheheh, fun, but I will not accept these ironies on my own blog from now on.

Welcome to Ometepe. Fun assured.

On the bus.

In the bus mirror.

On Omepete island. In the background, one volcano.

The spectacular view of volcano Conception, from the other volcano, Madras, reached by horse riding.

The volcano Conception.

“Italia desnuda a Alemania y va a la final” (“Italy strips Germany and goes to the final”). Throughout all the world the silliness of Germany is equal only to the glory of Italy.

Market in Granada.

The active volcano Masaya.

Mirror, Masaya coach station.
 

From the coast, we went inland, in Monteverde, a small town about 1500 meters above sea level, surrounded by a cloud forest full of birds of various species.

Today I arrived in La Fortuna, near the volcano Arenal, that I will visit tomorrow. In the meanwhile, Aparicio already moved to Nicaragua.

The black sand beach of Puerto Viejo, on the Atlantic side in Costa Rica.

A motorcyclist in Puerto Viejo. But we all know who he really is.

Purple plant.

Fruit.

A friend of William Burroughs. Here we are beyond the pulsars during a recent interstellar journey.

Costa Rica has an extraordinary variety of plants and animals.

The legendary sloth of Costa Rica. Very lazy, perpetually resting on a tree trunk.

In San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica.

Raining night in San Jose.

Montezuma was full of these red and black crabs with purple claws.

Surfer on a beach between Mal Pais and Playa Santa Teresa.

Fish killed.

Almost at sunset, Santa Teresa.

Backlight.

Colors at sunset.

Aparicio and Indica. This type of dog reminds me of the phrase of the Full Metal Jacket sergeant: “You’re so ugly you could be a modern art masterpiece!”

Aparicio now definitely in love with Indica. Soon the wedding.

The usual toad.

Interior of a trunk in Monteverde.

A hummingbird.

Another hummingbird.

Pura vida!