Did you know that Costa Rica doesn't have any military forces. I didn't. The military was abolished in 1948, and the money channelled into education, culture and border security. What a good idea. As a result Costa Rica, unlike its other Central American neighbours has not had a civil war in the years since. However, it's literacy rate is now sitting at around 98%, compared to around 86% for one of its larger northern neighbours who spends around $650 billion dollars on its military every year. Made me think.
And that's not Costa Rica's only claim to fame. They are heavily into nature conservation and recycling. There were six types of recycling bins at the waterfall we visited this afternoon. Took a PhD to work out where to put your rubbish. Then there's the fact that over 25% of the country is a declared National Park or Reserve, which is why we are able to come down here to enjoy all of the wonderful natural attractions.
Leaving the capital this morning, we headed north west along a freeway, forking over money at the frequent toll booths designed to keep traffic volumes down, bound for the Arenal Volcano National Park, home to Mount Arenal which you have probably already guessed is a volcano. Not the one that's been erupting over the last few weeks luckily. Up until a few years ago it was active, and you could sit on your balcony at night and watch the lava flow down its flanks. However, it's moved into a dormant phase, so while it's still a very imposing piece of the landscape, it's no longer so threatening, and therefore less desirable to tourists. Eco-tourism is now being boosted in an effort to keep the visitors coming.
After checking in to our hotel, and dutifully oo-ing and ah-ing over the view of the volcano from our balcony, we headed back down the goat track into town for lunch (just how do you order a banana and nutella pancake to go in Spanish?), and then on to Catarata Rio Fortuna, a rather impressive waterfall with a swimming hole below it and over 500 punishing stairs to get you back to the car after your cooling dip.
Very spectacular, and Brendan and Rachel joined the other visitors for a swim. Returned home via The Springs Resort and Spa for a look. Brendan had recently organised a week long holiday for a family group of 21 there, paid for by the patriarch of the family who must have had extraordinarily deep pockets. It was spectacular, and we certainly couldn't afford to stay there ourselves.
The resort was the setting for a season of the American Bachelor. There are 28 mineral springs to work your way through, and every room has a hot tub on their balcony overlooking the volcano. It's in Trip Advisor's Hall of Fame, and if you ever grow bored you can borrow a golf cart and head on down to their wildlife sanctuary to look at the jaguars, leopards, toucans and goodness knows what else.
Dinner back home at the Arenal Lodge restaurant, overlooking the volcano though it disappeared when the sun set. The exchange rate here is about 400 Costa Rica Colons to an Australian dollar and about 500 colons to a US dollar. Dividing by 400 is surprisingly hard, and does your head in. When you are told that an umbrella is 1 mill colon, a look of panic crosses your face. Should I laugh and walk away, or is it a bargain? 5-4-3-2-1. Ding. What's your answer? The salesman is waiting. Well 1 mill means one thousand, and one thousand divided by 400 is about $2.50, so it's a bargain. Did you guess right, or did you walk away into the rain and get wet?
The web's original travel blog
