As we crossed the border into Costa Rica, the rain was relentless! I was already drenched from the boat ride from Bocos del Toro and was gradually getting wetter as the day progressed! The journey was about 4 hours, so not too bad considering. When we reached the border they wanted proof of onward travel from Costa Rica and were very strict about it! Luckily I had booked my flight to Mexico now and had that on email, but he did not want me to fire up the laptop thankfully to show him, he just asked how long I needed and we agreed on 30 days…it is usually 90! The lady in front of me had no ticket and was only granted 4 days. She was crying on the bus, I felt so bad for her, but she was going to San Jose so she could just get an extension there and buy a $12 bus ticket to Nicaragua, no big deal!
I said my goodbyes to Beth and Adam and got off the bus at Cahuita, I had met some girls on the bus going there too, so joined them to see if they had a bed at the hostel where they were booked. Another downpour had started so we quickly walked into the town from the main road where we were dropped off, with all of our stuff, and tried to keep it all dry as best we could! Luckily it was just a 10 minute walk and we were there. The town was small and had a very relaxed vibe. I settled into a dorm at the hostel called Secret Garden, and met another girl from Australia called Anjana. We decided to do the 8km trek tomorrow of Cahuita National Park if the rain stops. I went for a wander into town for some lunch, and found a caribbean restaurant, where I enjoyed a plate of casado and met a local man called Robert, who was there with his family. He offered me some plantain and we chatted for a bit and he assured me the weather would improve in a couple of days! I spent the rest of the day chilling out and watching movies, waiting for the rain to clear.
The following morning the sun was shining, but not for long, I had forgotten to put my watch back an hour so got up way to early at 6.45am and was ready for our trek before I realised the time!! Arghh! Probably a good thing anyhow. We started our walk in the park, which was just 2 minutes from our hostel, and followed the sea around the bay. It only took us about 3-4 hours as we chatted most of the way and tried to spot some wildlife, probably scaring most of it into hiding with our incessant talking…..mainly in the form of spiders, bugs and loads of mosquitos!!! Unfortunately the mosquitos were not scared into hiding!!! I did spot a toucan though! Before we knew it we had completed the trail and were on the main road waiting for the bus which we were sure we had just missed. There was only one per hour so we decided to start walking the 5km back into town as it looked like the rain was just about to start. As we started walking a bus passed us from behind….damn!! Then the rain started…damn, damn!!! Before we knew it we were soaked to the skin! But our spirits were high and we made light of the situation and dicided to come up with ways in which it could be worse…..like being hit by lightning!!
Cahuita, Playa Blanca beach!
We eventually made it back about an hour later. It was still raining and we stripped off, wrung out our clothes, and jumped in the cold shower which made no difference as we were a bit cold and very wet already. By now we were all hungry, another guy from our room had joined us during our hike, so we invited him along, and we went in search of lunch. Again this consisted of rice, beans and meat. I could see a pattern developing here. After that we just got snacks and chilled out in our room again, and I watched another movie before dinner.
We hit the local bar that night which was very quiet, and I had my pina colada I had been promising myself all day! The next morning I was leaving for the 30 minute bus to Puerto Viejo.
Manzanilla beach!
Manzanilla beach!
Dead wasps!!
The next morning Winston, the other guy in my dorm and I left for puerto Viejo. The rain had cleared and we made our way to the bus station. Before we knew it we had arrived in the sunny town of Puerto Viejo! I found a hostel and Winston and I hired some bikes and headed for Manzanillo. The ride was going to take an hour and a half following the jungle coast of the caribbean. It was a beautiful ride, passing flora and fauna, going over bridges across rivers, where we spotted turtles sunning themselves and a whole host of spiders and bugs all the way there. Nature was all around us!
Scary Spider!!!
Turtles in the river!
We arrived at the small town of Manzanillo at lunchtime and grabbed a bite to eat, before taking a stroll along the beach. There were a large amount of dead wasp like creatures washed up in the surf, everywhere, which was bizarre. I took some pictures and then we made our way back, stopping to admire lots more nature on the way. I don't think my legs knew what was going on. After no exercise in a while suddenly they were being put back to the test!! Back in town we returned our bikes and headed to a bar on the beachfront to enjoy a beer. Winston was leaving for panama the following day, so we said our goodbyes and exhausted I went back to my room to have an early night and catch up on some sleep!
The next day I took a walk to Rockin' J's, this hostel where I was staying was not really happening, so I walked out of town and booked in there for 2 nights. All they had available was a tent. Different. There were about 40 tents all set up in rows upstairs so I took a tent which had a mattress and bedding and made it my home for the following 2 days!
Playa Cockles!
After organising my accommodation, I then headed along a bit further to playa cockles beach. I met Matt and Nicola from the states here and they recommended the hostel opposite Rockin J's as they were staying there. I agreed to check it out and met up with them later for a night on the town. We partied the night away with some more of their friends, Rhianna and Natalie, and met more americans, there is a lot of americans here, I met some guys who I hung out with for the remainder of the night, Scott and Gregory, and who helped me to move the following day to Rockin J's……I was hanging!! I moved my things and tried to get my head round it as best I could and then headed straight to the beach to chill out and get over my hangover!!!
Sunset at lazy Mon's!
Rhianna, Natalie, Charlie and me!
Fun at the hostel, La Ruka! With Nicola and Natalie!
The girls from La Ruka hostel!
Rockin J's was the noisiest hostel I have ever stayed in, and after my big night out, I was not in the mood for partying any more for a while. I just wanted to sleep!! I was starting to feel exhausted now and wanted to chill out! I had booked another night but spoke with Rhianna, one of the other girls staying over the road that I met, and she offered to let me share her room as her daughter had left, so I moved in there the following day!
Rhianna @ Punta Mona!
Punta Mona!
Our seabass dinner and sangria :)
Rhianna was a dancer from Texas. We spent the next few days together, hanging out, and touring the coast. We visited some waterfalls, hired bikes and rode back to Manzanilla and then trekked to Punta Mona, which was beautiful, as well as introducing me to my favourite beach, Punta Uva. The weather had been glorious now for the past few days and on my last day here we relaxed at Punta Uva. I was reluctant to leave now but had already bought my ticket and needed to get to San Jose and La Fortuna before my friends arrived on the 24th…which was only 5 days away!!
Waterfalls!
Punta Uva :)
Punta Uva!
Rhianna doing a tree pose :)
Not quite as graceful!!!
Chillin' Out caribbean style!! :) Punta Uva beach! Puerto Viejo!
I packed once again and said my goodbyes to all the wonderful friends I had made in the last 6 days, and boarded the bus for San Jose, sad to leave this caribbean paradise and the laid back, chilled out vibe behind!!
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