Following the beautiful village at the volcano is the cloud forest. Our next destination was Santa Elena, a city in the Monteverde region, which is known for its unique cloud forests.
Our arrival day was February 28th - Leonie's birthday. To get from La Fortuna to Santa Elena, there were basically two options. Either you drive around Lake Arenal (about 6 hours) or you use the shuttle boat service, which saves time (about 3 hours) and allows you to experience Lake Arenal up close again. We didn't have to think long. Because who wants to spend 6 hours on a warm, uncomfortable bus on their own birthday?!
We were picked up punctually at 07:42 (instead of 8 o'clock) and taken to the lake. The driver was obviously in a great hurry, at least he drove like a madman. When we arrived at the lake, we took a seat in a boat designed for about 20 people. While boarding, we could observe how boats are refueled here, namely by the good old suction method. Very interesting! After we set sail and had come 300 meters, we suddenly stopped. Engine broken! Nothing worked anymore. Various attempts to start failed, so we had no choice but to wait for help. The good thing was that there are worse things than drifting on a lake at a pleasant 24 degrees and watching an overwhelming volcano. After three quarters of an hour, a boat came that dragged us to the next shore. Another 15 minutes later, another boat came that finally took us to the other end of the lake. In the end, we arrived in Santa Elena without any further obstacles. During the shuttle ride, we could enjoy the wonderful view of the mountains.
In Santa Elena, a small, quiet town awaited us. Our hostel was nothing special, but it was enough for a few days. After check-in, the real highlight awaited Leonie on her birthday: a coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane tour. What else should Roman have given as a gift than chocolate?! The snack officer was definitely satisfied! The tour lasted about 2 hours and was really great. Our guide was very experienced, could explain to us exactly the processes for coffee and chocolate production, and of course, we were allowed to taste a lot. Leonie's highlight was the white chocolate, which tasted "much better" than in Germany. Roman's highlight was not, as one might think, the coffee, but the sugarcane lemonade. Very delicious and refreshing, and also self-pressed! Interesting fact on the side: When you cut open the chocolate fruit and suck on the fresh bean, it tastes like lychee. You just shouldn't chew because that releases the bitter substances. Of course, we also made a purchase in the souvenir shop and bought a small selection of chocolates. On the way back, we took burgers and a brownie as a birthday dinner and enjoyed them in the room while watching a relaxed series. A very special and unforgettable birthday!
The next day was all about action. One of us (you can guess who) booked a zip-lining tour. A total of 16 zip lines awaited us over the cloud forests. The view, the speed, and the adrenaline were an unforgettable combination. The absolute highlight was the Tarzan Swing, which was basically a bungee jump with a vine. Roman came back overjoyed (Yes, we revealed it, but we also think that you have figured it out yourself).
In the evening, we booked a small night walk through the Monteverde forests. We started at sunset, equipped with an experienced guide, binoculars, and flashlights. During the two-hour walk, we saw various birds, fireflies, insects, and two species of snakes - one of which was as venomous as the snake species in La Fortuna. But the most special thing was the stick insect, which looks like a branch and would therefore hardly be recognizable to laypeople, and a scorpion that looked even more threatening under black light.
After a few relaxing days in Santa Elena, Monteverde, we continued to Quepos near the Manuel Antonio National Park.
