Spotlight: Costa Rica - La Fortuna Waterfall

Spotlight: The La Fortuna waterfall is a powerful torrent of water that free falls 70-75 meters before pounding the pool below. The falls are fed by the Arenal River which flows through the rain forest on its way down to Lago Arenal.

Location: The La Fortuna waterfall is located at the base of the dormant Volcan Chato, 1.5 km south and 3 km west from the Catholic Church, Alajuela Province, La Fortuna de San Carlos, 21007, Costa Rica.

Cost: $15 for adult foreigners, $5 for children

Time: The trail is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm; plan on spending 1-2 hours

Description: La Fortuna is probably the most popular waterfall in Costa Rica. Before heading down the trail to the base of the falls, stop at the overlook on the opposing cliff, where you can get a preview of what you'll see and take a few pictures.

     The hike down to the Falls consists of a series of staircases with more than 400 steps and takes about 10-15 minutes. The hike back to the top will take about 20-30 minutes. You can also take a horseback tour down a different trail.

     Once you reach the bottom, you finally get to appreciate the majestic grandeur of the waterfall. The water crashing into the pool sounds like a turbine as water and mist explode out from the point of impact.

     You can swim in the river below the falls, but it wouldn't be wise to swim underneath the falls themselves. The water is chilly but enjoyable. Further down the river, the water is calmer and better suited for children.

Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: -  Although you can see the falls from the overlook, you need to hike down the stairs to the base if you want to get a close look at them.There are more than 400+ steps to hike down to the bottom of the falls. There is no handicap trail, so make sure you can make it back up before heading down. I would recommend wearing something sturdier than flip-flops.
- There is another waterfall to the right of the La Fortuna waterfall. It would be impressive in its own right if it wasn't located right next to La Fortuna Falls. Due to its proximity, though, it rarely gets much more than a second glance.

- Keep an eye out for wildlife along the trail. It was here that I got my first view of a howler monkey.

- If you do swim, wear sandals or water socks to protect your feet from the sharp rocks.
- There are facilities, so you can bring your swimsuit to change into there.
- There is a restaurant and souvenir shop at the trail head.

Nearby: Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal, Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano Hike, Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, Bosque Eterno de los Ninos

Travel Tip #57 - Know where the cheap gas is

     I grew up in California. Even though I now live in Utah, my parents and siblings still live there, as do my in-laws. Therefore, we often make the semi-annual migration down I-15 to visit - usually once in the summer and once during the holidays. We've made the drive so often, we know exactly how far we can get on a tank of gas, and which gas station's are typically expensive, and which ones are typically cheaper. As a result, we almost always stop at the same one on the way down and on the way back up. Rather than wait until we are low to start looking for a station with cheap gas, we fill up there because we know that 90% of the time it will have the cheapest gas. We also have a good idea which stations near our parents' houses will be cheaper than others, and carry some extra cash since one of them is significantly cheaper when you pay with cash.
     This system works well if you are very familiar with the area, but what do you do if you are traveling somewhere new? My wife has an app on her phone (Gas Buddy) that gives her the prices of nearby gas stations. Once we reach a quarter tank of gas, she looks up what's available nearby. Then, based on how far we are from another city or town, we decide whether or not we should stop. This works out much better than relying on the signs we can see from the freeway because the gas stations next to the freeway are typically 5-10 cents more per gallon than gas stations located a few blocks away from the freeway. So, if you are going on a road trip, or even just driving around town, you might want to check out the app.
     Have fun on your next adventure!

Spotlight: Costa Rica - Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal

Spotlight: Arenal Volcano National Park was created in 1991. Volcan Arenal is an active stratovolcano located about 90 kilometers from San Jose. Arenal is 1,633 meters (5,358 ft.) tall with a crater measuring 140 meters (460 ft.) across. After hundreds of years of dormancy, Arenal unexpectedly exploded in 1968, destroying the village of Tabacon. It has lain dormant since 2010. Within the park's boundaries lies an extinct volcano known as Cerro Chato.
     Lake Arenal lies just west of Volcan Arenal. Measuring 85 sq. kilometers, and with a depth of 30-60 meters it is currently the largest lake in Costa Rica. The eastern edge of the lake contains a hydroelectric dam, helping produce clean energy. The dam was constructed in 1979, and initially produced about 70% of the country's electricity (currently about 17%). When the lake was expanded due to the dam, the town of Arenal was located to higher ground. The old town, along with the town of Tronadora, now lie at the bottom of the lake. Two species of fish dwell in the lake - the Machaca and Rainbow Bass.

Location: Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal is located in the Alajuela Province northwest of San Jose, Costa Rica.

Cost: $15 entrance fee per person

Time: The park is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm daily. There are plenty of activities to fill 2 full days here.

Description: Hiking around the volcano, visitors can observe the different varieties of plants and animals that live in this tropical rain forest. About 131 species of mammals (including jaguars, monkeys, sloths and tapirs), 135 species of reptiles (including the fer-de-lance and iguanas) and 300 species of birds (including the quetzal and the toucan) live in the National Park boundaries. If you prefer not to hike, there are also many cycling and horse trails.

     Lago Arenal is a popular location for water sports. Some of the more popular ones are kayaking, stand-up paddling, windsurfing, kite surfing and wakeboarding. 

Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - There is no camping in the park, but there are several hotels outside the park boundaries and in the nearby city of La Fortuna.
- Hiking to the top of Cerro Chato is strenuous and takes about two hours. There is a beautiful lake inside the crater.
- Temperatures usually range from 70-85 degrees.
- The rainy season in Costa Rica is from May-November. Although it is cool hiking through the rain forest in the rain, most visitors come during the dry season (mid-November - April). During the rainy season, it usually is sunny during the morning, rains for a couple of hours in the afternoon, and then is nice again. Make sure you pack rain gear even if it doesn't look like it will rain.

Nearby: La Fortuna Waterfall, Baldi Hot Springs Resort, Bosque Eterno de los Ninos, Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park

Spotlight: Costa Rica - San Jose

Spotlight: San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica, and with more than 333,000 inhabitants, its largest city. The metropolitan area includes over 2 million inhabitants. The city was founded in 1738 and named for Joseph of Nazereth. Following Mexico's victory in its War for Independence, Guatemala declared independence for all of Central America on 15 September 1821. Over the next several years, the future of Costa Rica was hotly disputed among Costa Ricans. Two major groups emerged. The Imperialists were in favor of joining the Mexican Empire and were based in the capital city of Cartago. The Republicans, who desired complete independence, rallied together in San Jose. A civil war was fought between these two factions, culminating in the Battle of Ochomogo, which was one by the Republicans. As a result, San Jose was named the new capital of an independent Costa Rica on 16 May 1823. Today, it has become a major tourist destination due to its ecological friendly laws and its reputation as one of the safest destinations in Latin America.

Location: The Plaza de la Cultura is located on Avenida Central in San Jose, between Calle 1 and Calle 5. The Parque Nacional is located between Avenida 1 y Avenida 3 at Calle 15. The Mercado Central is located in the city block between Avenida Central and Avenida 1 with Calle 8 and Calle 6.

Cost: The Museo del Oro costs $11/adult, $8/student; a guided tour of the Teatro Nacional runs about $1; The Parque Nacional - free; The Mercado Central - free

Time: You can spend several days exploring the many interesting venues located within the city of San Jose. The Museo del Oro Precolombino is open from 9:15 am - 5 pm. The Teatro Nacional is open from 9am-5pm daily. The Mercado Central is open from dawn to sunset daily - closed on Sundays.

Description: The Plaza de la Cultura is located near the heart of San Jose. Underneath the plaza are a couple of museums including the famed Museo de Oro. The museum has an impressive collection of over 1,600 gold pieces from the Pre-Columbian period and dating back to 500 AD. The collection includes animal figurines, jewelry, amulets and El Guerrero - a life-sized warrior decked out with gold ornaments. The museum also includes a number of non-gold items, such as jugs, pots and corn grinding stones. The Numismatics Museum contains examples of Costa Rican currency over the years including the first coin ever minted in Costa Rica - a Media Escudo dating from 1825.

gold jaguar

El Guerrero

Pre-Columbian gold-smiths

Corn metates

     Above ground, visitors can visit the famous Teatro Nacional. The inspiration for a National Theater came after a North American performer rebuffed Presidente Rodriguez Zeledon's invitation to come perform in Costa Rica saying that the country didn't have a proper venue for her to perform in. Construction started in 1891 and was first opened to the public in 1897. According to local legend, once the theater was completed the performer offered to perform there but was rebuffed by the president who claimed she wasn't famous enough to perform in Costa Rica's elegant Teatro Nacional. The Theater is home to the National Symphonic Orchestra and features other performing arts with multiple performances every week.

Plaza de la Cultura

Teatro Nacional

Foyer of the Teatro Nacional

     The Parque Nacional isn't a national park in the popular sense of the word. Instead, it is a park honoring important historical figures from Costa Rica and Latin America. The Monumento Nacional represents Central America's triumph over North American William Walker and his foreign troops who attempted to take control of Central America from 1855-1857. Five of the figures represent the 5 Central American countries to fought the invaders, the sixth figure is William Walker, representing the invaders. The final figure is a dead soldier honoring those who died in the conflict. Other monuments honor other historical figures including Miguel Hidalgo of Mexico, Jose Marti of Cuba and Andres Bello of Venezuela among others.

Monumento Nacional

     The Mercado Central is an enclosed market place with over 200 stalls that sell everything from food to clothing to handicrafts. Although geared toward locals, it does have a wide selection of souvenirs. You can find almost anything among the vast maze of aisles and stalls that fill an entire city block.

Rating: Plaza de la Cultura - 4 1/2 stars; Parque Nacional - 3 1/2 stars; Mercado Central - 3 1/2 stars

Things You Should Know: - The Museo del Oro is part of the Museos del Banco Central, which includes the Numismatics Museum, which features all the currency used over Costa Rica's history from the colonial period to the present.

The first coin minted in Costa Rica

- You can walk into the foyer of the Teatro Nacional, but you'll have to go on a tour to see the rest of the theater.
- Costa Rica has the lowest violent crime rate in Latin America, but foreigners are often the target of non-violent crime such as pick-pockets, especially in crowded places such as the Mercado Central.

Nearby: Other attractions include: The National Museum of Costa Rica, the Museo de los Ninos, the Parque Zoologico Simon Bolivar, the Parque Metropolitano La Sabana