Travel, Nature & Us

After leaving The Rescue Center (explanation in future post) and some recovery days in the hotel room we both felt a little better and were able to book a tourist day out. After some research we found a local tour company offering a great day out; we would be collected and taken to visit one of the oldest coffee plantations in Costa Rica, Poas Volcano, the La Paz waterfall and have a local lunch during the trip.

Our driver collected us at 08:00 and we set off on our adventure. Our first stop was the Doka coffee plantation, and what a beautiful place to visit. We had a private guided tour of the plantation including seeing the coffee bushes and all the processes used to produce the best coffee we’ve ever had. Seeing first hand how labour intensive the process is really surprised us. The Doka coffee plantation goes above and beyond for its seasonal bean pickers by paying them above the government minimum wage and housing them on site. The wash, sort and roasting process was done by machinery and then the drying out is done in the open air on a huge concrete drying lot….we even got to have a try at turning the beans while they dried.

After some more coffee tasting and coffee purchases we were on our way again travelling through stunning lush mountainside scenery until we reached Poas Volcano. Here the cloud started to roll in and we were worried we wouldn’t see the volcano crater, but just as we finished the 30min walk up to the crater the cloud cleared and we had some impressive views of this active volcanoe’s crater lake. Due to the sulfur being emitted we could only stay for 20mins but it was well worth the trip. This active volcano last erupted in April 2017 and is closely monitored. While we were in Costa Rica another Volcano erupted, and we also felt an earthquake one afternoon; it’s a very active volcanic zone!

Back in the minibus we drove further into the countryside to view the La Paz Waterfall….just stunning! We walked behind the fall of water into a completely different atmosphere and marvelled at the power of the falling water.

Lunch was included in our tour and was definitely a highlight. We stopped at a ‘roadside shack’ and at first had our doubts after the illness we’d previously suffered but we had judged too quickly and not only was the food local and excellently prepared but absolutely delicious! And to top off the amazing food we were treated to stunning open views of waterfalls across the mountainside from a table on the rear terrace, and a beautiful hummingbird display all around us!

By this time it was mid afternoon and both of us were feeling past our best and very tired, this was a big day out after being so ill. And as we were coming down the mountainside the heavens opened and the downpour that ensued was the most impressive rain storm we’d ever experienced. We made it down the mountain and back to our hotel tired but extremely happy with the day out we’d had.