Our next stop was just around the peninsula, about 30 minutes drive from Montezuma so a nice easy travel day for a change! We were staying at a gorgeous small eco lodge sat just back from a really long and deserted beach running from Santa Teresa to Playa Hermosa. Our room was stunning (definitely the nicest place we've stayed and will stay on this trip!) and very open....no glass in the windows, shutters as the majority of the outside walls, and an outside shower and bathroom. It was all about hearing the sounds of the ocean and wildlife roaming around.

We went for a swim before taking a stroll along the beach. No buildings can be built or trees cut down along the beach so it looks really undeveloped from the shoreline which is so nice. We sat and watched the surfers playing around in the waves in the late afternoon sun before heading back to the lodge to grab an agua azapu cocktail (toad water!) and sit on some driftwood on the beach to watch the most beautiful sunset. Another tough day for the McKlawrences! ;)

The next day we borrowed some bikes from the hotel and cycled into Santa Teresa. It was only about 3km but was along a hilly, dirt track in blazing heat so we turned into right brits abroad in no time with Keith taking his shirt off and me cycling in my bikini. Classy! As soon as we got back from town we jumped straight into the pool which was great in it's own right but made even more special by being able to watch loads of monkeys jumping between the trees above us. I absolutely LOVE monkeys so every time I see them on this trip I'm like a child. Good news is Keith's promised to buy me a finger monkey when I get home. Best husband ever...thanks Keithy! We could have stayed watching the monkeys m all afternoon but we had our surfing lesson to get to.

The summary from our couple of hours surfing would be: Keith was a natural (he said snowboarding and kitesurfing massively helped) but he wasn't sure surfing was worth the effort involved in getting out to the waves. I on the other hand was definitely not a natural and pretty rubbish but I actually really enjoyed it! Having said that my battered and bruised body the next day didn't enjoy it so much! I'd love to give surfing another try but think I may need to do a week long camp or something to make some progress (i.e. be able to stand!). Or Keith said just ditch skiing for snowboarding! After our surf lesson we headed home for a quick change and to watch the sunset again before heading to a lovely local tapas restaurant to eat our faces off and drink lots of yummy sangria!

The next day and our last in Santa Teresa was a beach day. We walked to Playa Hermosa (without shoes on which was a very bad move on crazy hot sand and rocks!) and hung out for a couple of hours jumping in the waves and sunbathing on what seemed like our own private but ridiculously large beach. An equally uncomfortable walk back was rewarded with more toad water before another delicious meal this time at a local Italian restaurant.

Our trip has been amazing but we've been constantly on the go so to have had the last 5 days chilling out and being lazy in two surfing meccas has been lovely!

Hasta luego chicos y chicas
SM