Stage 2: in the countryside, towards the mountains

On the morning of the second stage, we were woken up for the first time at 5 am by the calls of howler monkeys, and then a little later for the second time by the sounds of small planes flying over the banana plantations and spraying pesticides. Although Costa Rica does a lot for nature conservation and ecotourism is booming, you quickly become disillusioned with how environmentally damaging large-scale agriculture is here, with products that end up in our supermarkets. After a nourishing, typical hearty Costa Rican breakfast, we started hiking at 7 am. Today's 18 kilometers were much more varied, with great viewpoints and secluded wooden houses. Along the way, we encountered numerous cows and leaf-cutter ants. Unlike the previous day, we were delighted to find more shade, but the trail was just as sweaty due to the first steep ascents of the Caminos on partly very muddy paths. However, we had the feeling of getting closer to the mountains. Along the way, we enjoyed a lunch snack wrapped in leaves. Upon arrival at the destination, we were rewarded with a fresh coconut and a simple shower (a pipe coming out of the wall) in a wooden shed. Sometimes the little things in life are the most beautiful! Since we were still far from civilization and there were no restaurants or accommodations, we camped today on the grounds of an elementary school with self-cooked food from our guide, including a sunset.