Up early for our 8 am departure. Loading the van was a bit of a chore as the luggage had to be hauled to the roof. Our bus driver worked hard but had a lot of help from Rob. Sue had some GI issues just after breakfast but thankfully she got some Imodium from Dawn. A quick stop at the Pharmacy for Electrolyte drink for Sue and a donut cushion for Diane’s tush and then we were on the road.
Traffic was heavy for the most part as the Easter holidays had more people travelling. We were lucky to find the Scarlet Macaws on their nest so stopped and got photos of these beautiful birds. Once we left the coast, the road began climbing through very dry countryside. The road was in good shape but had lots of twists and turns. Luckily no one had motion sickness. We stopped for a group shot at a scenic lookout with views of the Pacific Ocean. Criss gave us some history of the Monteverde area. A lot of the area had been conserved as a result of some American Quakers who arrived in the 1950s. Costa Rica at that time did not have a military (and still doesn’t) which made the country very attractive to them. Our bus driver and Criss gave us a tour of Santa Elena before dropping us off at Hotel Holistico.
After a quick checkin we got back on the bus to be taken back to Santa Elena. Lunch and shopping ensued before a return to our lodging. Some enjoyed the excellent Choco Cafe which Criss had recommended. That evening most of the group participated in the Jungle tour (sloth, tarantula, Stick insect and flashlights) before having dinner at the pub close by and then a short walk back to our lodgings. A heavy rain and strong winds overnight made for a restless sleep for some.