6.20 bus from the Montezuma sandy bus stop, changed up the road on to a coach which took us on the Paquera to Puntarenas ferry and on to San Jose. Taxi to another bus station in attempt to escape San Jose on the evening bus but fully booked - fortunately room the next morning. After overcoming confusion as to which part of San Jose we were in, taxi to hostel in the downtown area. Braved the rain to check out what the city was all about - not a lot in terms of sig...

Started the day with a little sleep on the hammocks - why not, we're on holiday after all. Walked up the stream to the waterfall in montezuma and swam in the pools at the top. Back to our balcony for lunch where we enjoyed a brilliant wildlife display, the highlight being a family of unbelievably cheeky monkeys who swung in the palm trees, played on our hammocks and ate some of our lunch. Also found a new creature, much like a very very large rat but good looking...

Trip to Tortuga island, about half hour speed boat north of montezuma. On the way, saw a few dolphins and a turtle bob it's head up before diving away. Spot of snorkelling around a small island - saw a few new tropical fish, swimming within the pools of some fish, but water visibilty wasn't great and it was no great barrier reef. On Tortuga given lunch then lazed about for a couple of hours, chatting to parrots, funny pigs, vultures, iguanas, horses, and trying n...

Sitting on our balcony watching the waves, watched an array of wildlife play in the palm trees, including a really brightly coloured squirrel. Walked north up the coast along the beach and over the rocks, spotting thousands of crabs of various varieties, and huge birds nose diving to catch fish. As we walked through forest slightly inland encountered a cheeky monkey. Swam in a pool formed where a waterfall and the sea met, then positioned ourselves on a rock abov...

Collectivo from San Juan to Rivas, which we shared with an american chap. Bus from there, across the costa rican border (involving usual money changing battles, and hauling our bags off the bus and carrying it miles only for the customs person to give it a cursory glance and wave it away). Some food on the costa rican side gave us our first indication of how much more expensive costa rica is compared to Nicaragua (very!). Hopped off the bus at barranca with an Au...