Arenal

Arenal Volcano is located in northwestern Costa Rica, in the district of La Fortuna located in the province of Alajuela. The resort we stayed at this weekend was very close to the volcano and when it wasn’t cloudy you could see how close we were. The weather by the volcano was rainy and cloudy, it was a stark contrast to the consistently sunny 81-degree days we’ve had in Heredia. Over the weekend we went to the La Fortuna waterfall and we were able to swim in the outlet of the waterfall. The water was very cold; it felt like water with ice cubes in it. Also since the waterfall as so powerful the outlet was like the tide pools at the amusement parks. Getting to the waterfall was an obstacle, steep stairs had to be climbed to get down to the bottom of the waterfall (and to get back up to the bus, oh that was fun).  In addition, surrounding the water were sharp slippery rocks that made it difficult to get to but it was worth it to get to swim by the waterfall. After the waterfall we went to the hot springs at the Baldi Resort. The water in the hot springs had different temperatures some of the pools were lukewarm and some were like a steaming hot shower. Overall the hot springs were very enjoyable and a nice way to wind down from the waterfall. The most surprising thing about this excursion was the difference in the weather. Although we were still in the central valley, La Fortuna definitely had a more tropical vibe. There was lush green vegetation everywhere and there were more exotic animals (there was a sloth hanging in a tree at the resort). There was definitely more humidity and rain in this area as well. The difference in the climate made apparent the biodiversity Costa Rica has. The volcano, waterfall and hot springs all offer the chance to educate visitors about the importance of protecting this biodiversity. This area provides people with the opportunity to participate in ecotourism and help Costa Rica develop sustainably. This excursion was included to present us with an example of ecotourism and Costa Rica’s involvement in sustainable development.