Arenal Volcano

For about the first day since arriving in Costa Rica there wasn't an early morning pic-up. I had signed up to a hike up a hill next to the Arenal Volcano, and active volcano which hadn't erupted since the 1960s, but the pick up wasn't until 1pm. So I could bum around the hotel and enjoy the pool.

On the journey we spotted another three-toed sloth

And a coati.

And then the volcano. You are not allowed to go on the volcano itself, so the best one can do is view it from afar. And we were lucky, so we were told, as it was pretty clear - it is often shrouded in cloud.

I know this doesn't look like much - should have done a video - but the little green leaves you see are all being carried away by leaf-cutter ants

A Crested Guan, a sort of turkey, which looks far too heavy to be on  a tree like this

 

As you can see it was getting dark by the time we descended. Then off to nearby hot volcanic springs for a good wallow. While the springs are natural the pools are not. These have been very well-developed for tourists. There are even bars and you can sit in a pool drinking a cocktail, if that floats your boat. I can think of worse ways to spend an evening. To be honest, very much like having a bath at home, only the water doesn't get cold. And you have to share it with a lot of other folk.