So today we decided to go for a walk in PN Volcan Arenal. On the garden path we came across a strange centipede like animal with a weird shell. Unlike Chile, all the attractions are closeby. Getting to the National Park of Volcano Arenal was a short drive mainly along paved road. There was some dirt road but it was easy driving. It costs $15 US per person to visit the park and then there was a short drive to a mirador of the volcano. Most of this holiday it...

Technically, being north of the Equator, it is winter here. The days are short and by 5.30 pm it is quite dark. Daybreak comes about 6am and this morning we had our own alarm in the form of a vociferous howler monkey somewhere in the canopy outside. We put some pasta and fruit out on the bird table. Immediatley a flock of multicolured birds flew in. But then suddenly, for the briefest of moments, two toucans appeared - or more correctly fiery-billed aracari....

Our first full day here at Posada Colonial. Grant, the owner, came to wish us farewell as he is returning to Vancouver today. When he originally moved here he drove down through the USA, Mexico, Guatemala and Nicaragua. Joan was envious as she would like to do the Panamericana in its entirety. He brought us some fruit to put on the bird table and the birds descended, with all bright colours and shapes. A new group of birds to us are tanagers, who come in many...

Today was a moving day. There was still damp in the air and Kevin went out to a supermarket to buy pastries for breakfast. We ordered a taxi towards the airport sector to pick up our hire car. It maybe says something about the roads here that the standard 4WD hire is not a Toyota HiLux but a Toyota Rush. The route 1 heads north towards Liberia and Nicaragua. It is part of the Panamericana route that links Alaska to Ushuaia. Apart for slow lanes, it is mainly ...

Costa Rica is 6 hours behind UK time. We managed to stay in bed till 6 am local time before getting up for breakfast in the hotel cafe. The weather was humid and the salt cruet had almost as much rice in it to stop the salt turning into saline solution. We got ready to go out - sun hats, light tops and sunglasses. But within seconds of stepping outside we were back for fleeces and waterproof jackets. There was a robust wind blowing and also San Jose is over ...