Who: Cindy Peterson and Sondra Inman of Evergreen
Where: Monteverde near Santa Elena Cloud Forest, northwest Costa Rica
Out and about: Lucky the person who gets to view the entire Arenal Volcano with Lake
Arenal in the foreground! It is a true thrill to awaken in the lush green tropics of Monteverde to view the smoke billowing from this, one of the world’s most regularly active volcanoes. Natives report few complete sightings, as we luckily got, due to the clouds drifting in and settling among the slopes providing the continuous moisture required for the exuberant plant growth. Located in Monteverde Cloud Forest, Arenal Volcano is 5,358 ft. and is an internationally sought vacation destination especially for the dramatic red lava when it spews from the crater.
Travel tip: Prepare yourself for a thrilling ride on rutted, rocky, dusty and very bumpy roads to get to Santa Elena, the starting point for this view and to see the world famous Monteverde region which includes rain forests, cloud forest, hot springs, Tico cuisine, canopy tours, and fantastic birding! If you visit between Nov. Apr., you will avoid the rainy season. For the most part, Costa Rica is still a real bargain for the traveler, a true nation of contrasts!
