Saying good-bye
/March 1-2: 70ish degrees
Path to boat taxi to Monteverde
We get up early and get packed to catch a shuttle to Monteverde to finish out our time in Costa Rica. We get into a jam-packed shuttle and drive about an hour to catch a boat. Upon our arrival to the boating doc, we were quite surprised with what we were seeing. We arrived in a dirt parking lot overlooking a hundred yard foot path to the water. The foot path was also a dirt path but going down a fairly steep hill. There is no sign of any boat crew to help carry bags nor help anyone down the hill. As a matter of fact, I don't see a captain either. It wasn't long before we discovered that our shuttle driver was also our boat captain. All that was left to do was to throw our bags on our back or head and start toward the boat.
Once there wasn't another seat left on the boat, we begin a casual boat ride across a lake amongst mountains, nice sunny day and a view of Arenal Volcano behind us. Now we just sit and enjoy the ride.
Upon arriving to our destination, again, we have a short hike uphill with our bags to another shuttle. This time, at the top of the hill, we are passed by hundreds of mountain bikers on the dirt road. We were dropped off in the middle of a mountain bike race amongst these Costa Rican mountains. Now, those are some "MF'n Champions" racing like that!
Kasia dominating the second longest run of the trip
We still have about an hour drive on a dirt road through the mountains to get to Monteverde. The drive is quite slow since there are many potholes and sharp turns along our path. When we arrive in Santa Elena, we literally hear cheers from passengers as we finally meet a paved road near town. Dropped off at our hotel room, we discover why our hotel is named "Tree House Hotel". There is a huge tree in the middle of it.
Our mission in Monteverde is to take on its mountain top zip lining and anything else the town has to offer. This turns out to be zip lining and a coffee, cocoa and sugarcane tour.
Completion celebration picture
Zip lining first! We have done this before but here, the last line is approximately 1 kilometer or 3,000 feet long from mountain to mountain. This took about one and a half minutes of zipping from one side to the other. We were required to go tandem to create enough weight to make it to the other side. It is often windy at this elevation and no one is guaranteed to make it all the way across. Off we go! We had plenty of time to look around the valleys during the ride. It was stunning! As you would have it, Mandy and I were the only two who made it all the way to the other side. Thank goodness! Otherwise you must turn yourself backwards and pull yourself to the other side. After this long run of zip lining, we don't believe we will ever do it again. We just don't believe that a one kilometer run can be beat. An awesome way to finish out our Costa Rica trip!
While in the area it is also known for its coffee plantations. We have a little time to kill before our flight back to the States so, we book one final tour. Don Juan coffee plantation that also grows cocoa and sugar cane. One final tour to learn about Costa Rican farming. Here, we get to meet Don Juan himself and tour his farm in which he built most of his life. Now, a thriving and long lasting production of coffee and cocoa throughout the country. Learning that Panamanians are hired here for a short period of time to pick the ripest of coffee beans for $2.00 for 20lbs of beans. Difficult manual labor but well worth it amongst average Panamanian wages.
The infamous Don Juan at his coffee plantation
Adios Costa Rica, thank you for an unforgettable journey!