Arenal Hike to La Catarata

La Catarata = Waterfall. This is one of the only new words I still remember. Most were lost due to sleep deprivation and car sickness on bumpy roads.
Danny and Kaya were excited to wake up and see the "cano" on our first morning at Arenal Observatory Lodge. After a pretty tasty buffet breakfast, we went on the free, guided hike at the lodge. Anyone going to Costa Rica - pay the extra to stay at this lodge. It was phenomenol and had tons to do right at the place! We didn't pay any money to take taxis anywhere because all the hiking and cano watching was right there.


We tried out the backpack we borrowed from Billings and Danny did pretty well as long as we were moving. The guides pointed out a lot of different birds, frogs, & lizards and also told us about the plants and flowers we were seeing.








I took over the pack about halfway through the hike. It only got tricky a few places. Finally we arrived at our destination - la bonita catarata. It really was beautiful and we all enjoyed the cool mist after a hot hike. The hike was labeled "easy," but it was still a pretty good one. Especially when we are used to FLAT, FLAT sidewalks.










Danny was not happy to leave the waterfall. He went in the pack screaming and continued to do so unless I held his hand. This proved to be a little tough climbing back up from the waterfall. In the end he got his paci . . . and finally he got to walk on his own at one of the hanging bridges. I think he would have been happy to stay at that bridge and skip the end of the hike. Throughout the hike, since he was such a trooper, other guests kept calling him "tough guy" and "Mr. Energy" and stuff. Kaya was named "the most beautiful girl at the lodge" and most people thought the two of them were twins.











This was the only hike throughout the trip that ended with a wagon ride back to the lodge. We were happy to take it and wished we had a ride back on a few other excursions. Danny liked sitting with Uncle Lance and pointing out the "moos" and "he-ee-ee-ees" on the ride back. Before lunch we also managed to fit in a quick swim. Nothing says relaxation like soaking in a cool pool surrounded by jungle with a volcano rumbling right behind you. It was fantastic!