La Fortuna and Cattle
The last trip we had our agenda was to head inland towards the La Fortuna area and explore the area around her volcanos. The factor influencing this decision was mainly the distance we would need to drive and I had wanted to give myself some time to acclimate to driving in a foreign country. Turns out for once I made a wise choice.
From our villa, it was an approximate 3.5 hour drive through narrow, mountainous roads. And if I thought the driving along the coast was challenging then I was quickly proven wrong. On our trip we ran into just about anything you wouldn’t expect on a road; ladies with wash piled on their heads. A man in his electric wheelchair in the middle of the road. Truck piled impossibly high with bananas.
But the one I really wasn’t expecting was to be surrounded by cattle being herded down the road by men on horseback. I honestly didn’t know what to do other than just stop the car, which in itself seemed foolhardy. The cattle certainly didn’t give us a wide berth. In fact, I expected them to take off the mirrors at any moment. At a few that were hemmed in by the herd had that crazed look and I was waiting from them to launch themselves up and over the car.
Support
Our mission is a labor of love, but it does come with overhead. If you’d like to support our efforts we’d certainly appreciate it. Currently, we’re actively participating in the following field research:
- COASST Beached Bird Surveys
- Wild and Scenic River Project
Thank you.
La Fortuna Hanging Bridges
While I drove, Theresa went through the material I had collected on the area and found something that looked interesting for us both. What she found turned out to be one of the highlights of the whole trip; the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park.
Before the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna became a leading tourist destination in Costa Rica, it was a vast farming area. Blessed with such fertile and rich soil, locals raised livestock and grew crops as their livelihood. But everything changed when Arenal Volcano erupted and people attracted to the powerful volcano that made international headlines back in 1968 started to visit the area.
As Costa Rica become a top eco-tourism country, one family decided to preserve the 600 acres of land given to them near Arenal to maintain the rich biodiversity living within. This ambitious project grew immensely over the next decade and is now one of the top attractions in the Arenal area: the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges.
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One of the best things about volunteering for citizen-science projects is the opportunity to spend time in some truly breathtaking places. And with fall just around the corner, it's an especially beautiful time to be outdoors. There's nothing quite like watching the leaves change colors and feeling that fresh autumn breeze on your face. It's a great way to connect with nature and make a difference at the same time.
Our only tide window to conduct this month’s #COASST bird survey was just before sunset. Not only did we have the beach to ourselves, but we were rewarded with this view when we rounded the point. Had to pause the survey and just enjoy the view and tranquility.
We're spending the weekend exploring the 'Great Bend' of Hood Canal. We found a nice private campground to base out of. This is just one of the many views to be found on North Shore Drive.
Taking a brief pause to appreciate the beautiful sunset on the Long Beach Peninsula.
I recently went hiking in the Olympic Peninsula forests and stumbled upon this beautiful waterfall. It was such a serene and peaceful spot, and I felt so lucky to have found it. There are so many hidden gems to discover when exploring the great outdoors!
With the hot weather we've endured, I'm looking forward to Fall and the dramatic weather. Here's a sunset over North Head Lighthouse.
After a short hike along Murhut Creek, which originates from a narrow basin on the south side of the lower Duckabush River valley, we arrived at the lower half of Murhut Falls. The falls consist of two sections with a combined height of 153 feet, although only the lower half was visible from our vantage point.
I haven't had the opportunity to take a stroll around Waughop Lake lately, yet I couldn't help but notice the abundant greenery that now adorns the trails.
During our recent camping trip on the Washington coast with friends, we took a bike ride to Cape Disappointment State Park. We came across the Northhead Lighthouse, but unfortunately, it was closed at the time due to an ongoing cliff rescue operation.
Spent an incredible day immersed in nature's wonders with my adventurous partner, Theresa! 🌿🌈 We hiked along the majestic Chehalis River, mesmerized by its crystal-clear waters and lush surroundings. And then, we stumbled upon the magnificent Rainbow Falls waterfall, its cascading waters painting the landscape with vibrant colors! 🏞️💦 Moments like these remind us of the pure magic that awaits when we embrace the great outdoors.
Looking forward to this sunny weekend getaway at Rainbow Falls State Park Exploring the stunning beauty of nature and immersing ourselves in the serenity of the namesake waterfall.
On a sunny day at the beach, the four of us enjoyed riding our bikes along the shoreline, feeling the sun's warmth on our skin. We laughed and chatted as we pedaled, the refreshing sea breeze accompanying us. Eventually, we reached the breathtaking Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, where we paused to take in the stunning view of the sparkling ocean and rugged cliffs. It was a perfect moment of friendship and natural beauty.
I had to stay close to home this weekend, but the Lakewood Summerfest was fun. Hot air balloons lit the venue.
We recently adopted a new #COASST beach for our beaches bird surveys. You can find more articles and photographs in the link above. #YourShotPhotographer #conquernorthwest #nextstop24traveler
A trail leading through the coastal forest on the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Read the latest article about our new #COASST beach. Link in the description.
Looking at the turnaround point to our new survey beach, which lies just to the west of Murdock Beach.
The concept of the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is simple: To protect flora and fauna while offering visitors a safe environment to discover the rain forest in a sustainable way. So if you’re looking to experience the famous hanging bridges of Costa Rica or want a nice hike in Arenal to learn about the rain forest and see wildlife, the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is the best place to go.
Every direction we looked offered something new and exciting to observe, whether it was unique fauna or spectacular wildlife. The various hanging bridge along the trail not only give you a chance to catch a bit of cooling breeze but also provide a unique perspective to observe the jungle canopy. Some of the most interesting views of the Arenal Volcano were from the bridges. My notebook is full of the different species we saw along the trail and I’m fairly certain we missed some.
La Fortuna Waterfalls
The scenery was so stunning and the village of La Fortuna so quaint, that we decided to get forego returning to the coast and get a hotel. We couldn’t have been more pleased. From our balcony, we were looking right up the flanks of the Areal Volcano. I was seeing so many more birds than at the coast, or at least it seemed so. And not just seeing them but hearing them as well. I spend a wonderful evening taking in all the sights and sounds while watching the clouds sweep up the volcano.
With a long drive ahead of us, we woke early, checked out, and headed to the popular La Fortuna Waterfalls. Our guide book had warned of the long lines and we were hoping to beat them to the falls.
As luck would have it, we arrived a half-hour before they opened their gates, but when we saw someone behind the counter and approached to see if we could purchase our tickets early, not only did they do so, but they allowed us to head down the trail before they were officially opened. This afforded us a wonderful half-hour alone at the falls pool. I took full advantage and captured some rare photos without crowds of people. A photographer’s dream!
It also gave us a chance to really take in the beauty of the falls as well as the surrounding jungle. I fully appreciated this rare chance, and once more people started to show up they showed up in mass. We were fortunate indeed.
