Monteverde - Rincón de la Vieja (day 11)

With a well filled stomach from the breakfast we drove to Rincón de la Vieja. This is a just over 3 hours driving. Once arrived at the lodge it turned out to be beautifully surrounded by nature. As I saw a gray squirrel right away, with black stripes in length on its back sitting in the tree. When we were checked in, we dropped our luggage and went exploring the terrain of the lodge. On the riverside (the water had a strong current) are located hot springs, with four different baths. Two cold baths, a warm water bath and a hot water bath. Nearby are also a sauna and a Turkish bath.

After that we walked to the restaurant part where we had lunch. After lunch we let it digest and after that my parents went to the swimming pool. I was supposed to join them later on, but when I arrived at the swimmingpool my parents were just leaving the swimmingpool to go to the hot springs. I turned around and walked with them to the hot springs. There was also an American family (fathre, mother, daughter and son) enjoying the baths. At the riverside you could smear yourself in with mud from the volcano Rincón, to wash it off again in the river. After a while we had seen it already. We walked back to our lodge to take a shower and freshen up again. After that we relaxed some more in our room, until I heared some animal sounds real close by. I first thought it was a boar, so I looked out the window but saw nothing. I kept hearing the sounds, but still I saw nothing. Until I heared some rustling up in the trees, I looked up and saw some movement... a monkey! This time not a howler monkey, but a spider monkey. Right away taking a picture! I couldn't even take a photo because my dad was knocking on the door. It turned out there were more monkeys right above our lodge up in the trees.! What a luxury... A complete family of spider monkeys thát close!  When it started to get dark outside and the monkeys started to sleep, it was time for us to have some dinner. It turned out that the entrance to the Rincón volcano is closed every Monday, just our luck! So after dinner we walked to the reception to ask what we could do tomorrow. One of the alternatives is the volcano Santa Maria, about 40 to 60 minutes driving but this ís open. We will visit the Rincón volcano on Tuesday morning. After visiting the reception we walked (in the dark with our flashlights) back to our lodge(night walk expedition all-over again!). Once back at the lodge I looked up at the tree tops again... Our upstairs neighbours have left! :( Tomorrow morning we will find out if that's really so, monkeys wake up just like roosters at the first daylight. Except instead of crowing you hear them growling / howling... So far this day. Tomorrow as I have said the volcano Santa Maria, where there are multiple hiking paths. Hasta mañana!

Day 10

Travel overview

Day 12