OUR DAY BEGINS AT YOUR LA FORTUNA AREA LODGING, WE TAKE YOU ON A SHORT DRIVE TO THE DEPARTURE POINT. YOUR BILINGUAL NATURALIST GUIDE WILL BE WITH YOU ALL DAY TO SPOT AND TELL YOU ABOUT THE NATURE YOU ENCOUNTER, PROVIDE HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION, AND TAKE CARE OF THE LOGISTICS AND SAFETY DURING YOUR TOUR.
WE NOW GO ON A TRACTOR CART THAT DRIVES US UPHILL TO A PANORAMIC VIEWPOINT. SEEING OUR DESTINATION IN THE DISTANCE, WE START OUR TREK DOWN THE JUNGLE STAIRCASE THAT LEADS TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CANYON. AROUND HALFWAY, WE REACH A HIGH SUSPENSION BRIDGE THAT NEEDS TO BE CONQUERED TO CONTINUE. ADMIRING THE STUNNING SCENERY, YOU WILL NOTICE THE EVER-INCREASING THUNDEROUS RUMBLE OF THE HUGE MASS OF WATER CRASHING DOWN. REACHING THE LOWEST POINT, THE SPECTACULAR LA FORTUNA WATERFALL AWAITS US.
BE AMAZED BY THE LUSH VEGETATION ON ITS 60M (200FT) HIGH WALLS, THE HUGE VOLCANIC ROCKS AT ITS FOOT, AND THE LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER SPLASHING DOWN INTO ITS POOL. YOU CAN TAKE YOUR TIME TO ADMIRE ITS BEAUTY WHILE BEING COOLED BY ITS EVER-PRESENT SPRAY. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND GOING FOR A REFRESHING SWIM IN THE CRYSTAL-CLEAR WATER. THERE ARE LOW-CURRENT NATURAL POOLS A BIT DOWNSTREAM, OR YOU CAN VENTURE TO THE MAIN POOL AND BRAVE THE CURRENT AND WAVES PROVOKED BY THE FALLING WATER.
AFTER CONCLUDING THE SOMEWHAT CHALLENGING HIKE BACK UP, WE TAKE YOU TO THE LITTLE VILLAGE OF THE MALEKU INDIANS. SEATED IN THEIR PALENQUE (MAIN HOUSE), WE ENJOY A REST WHILE LEARNING ABOUT THEIR CULTURE, ART, AND HISTORY. INTERESTING HANDICRAFTS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
HAVING BEEN ACTIVE FOR SOME HOURS, THE MOMENT HAS COME TO ENJOY A WARM, TYPICAL LUNCH. GOOD, HEALTHY FOOD WITH OPTIONS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SPECIAL REQUESTS OR LIMITATIONS. NEXT TO THE RESTAURANT, THERE IS A BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND FROG POND THAT CAN BE EXPLORED. BEING WELL-FED, WE TAKE A 15-MINUTE RIDE TO THE ARENAL VOLCANO RESERVE.
FOLLOWING A TRAIL THAT IS CUT OUT THROUGH THE LAVA ROCKS, WE CLIMB OUR WAY UP THE BASE OF THE ARENAL. BEING ON THESE LAVA FIELDS, YOU GET TO APPRECIATE THE ENORMITY OF THE NATURAL EVENT THAT THIS VOLCANO PROVOKED. REACHING THE HIGHEST VIEWPOINT, YOU CAN ENJOY THE MOST SPECTACULAR PANORAMIC VIEWS. LOOKING AROUND, YOU ADMIRE: THE ARENAL LAKE, THE LUSH JUNGLE, THE NORTHERN VALLEY, THE SURROUNDING LAVA FIELDS, AND, OF COURSE, YOU CAN SEE THE ARENAL VOLCANO LOOMING OVER YOU IN ALL ITS GREATNESS.
GOING DOWN FROM THE VIEWPOINT, WE TAKE A TRAIL THROUGH PRIMARY FOREST WHERE YOU CAN SEE BIG TREES AND OTHER FLORA AND FAUNA THAT MAKE UP THE JUNGLE’S INTRIGUING ECOSYSTEM. DURING THE DAY, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO SPOT A VARIETY OF TROPICAL BIRDS, AMPHIBIANS, AND VERY POSSIBLY MONKEYS, COATIS, AND SLOTHS. AFTER THIS, IT’S TIME FOR A COFFEE BREAK IN THE RANCHO OF THE PARK.
TO FINISH THE TOUR IN THE BEST WAY, WE TAKE YOU TO THE RELAX TERMALITAS NATURAL HOT SPRING RESORT LOCATED RIGHT AT THE FOOT OF THE VOLCANO. WITH ITS INGENIOUS WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, THEY DIVERT THE NATURALLY HEATED WATER TO TEN DIFFERENT POOLS WITH TEMPERATURES VARYING FROM HARDLY BEARABLE TO REFRESHINGLY COLD. HERE YOU CAN RELAX FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND ENJOY A COMPLEMENTARY TYPICAL-STYLE COCKTAIL. AROUND 5:30 PM, WE GET ON THE BUS THAT TAKES YOU BACK TO YOUR DEPARTURE POINT.
