With a 9.30 am departure I had time to wander back into town at 7.30 am for an excellent buffet breakfast back at El Patio - US $ 7.80. I could have easily not paid as I was asked for my room number and no checks were done as to who was a hotel guest or a walk in customer.

Finishing at 8.30 am town was still very quiet, Yes, workers were hurrying to work and the shops were just lifting their roller doors. Central Market was also just opening. The food hall in the middle was filling with their early morning patrons. I am sure that this place could tell a few stories.

The central Post Office was open so post card finally sent to “Valued TA“. Lets see how long it takes to get to its destination.

Then off to La Fortuna. Back along part of the road that we had driven 2 days earlier. Los Angeles, not the USA one for a brief stop then up into the missy clouds for a brief time. In some ways it felt like driving along our South Island West Coast with a winding single carriage way tarseal road.

Got to La Fortuna at 1 pm and the first stop was at Desafío Adventure Company where we organised our activities.

La Fortuna is a rural city located in San Carlos, in the province of Alajuela, Costa Rica.

La Fortuna has the airport which is nearest to the Arenal Volcano, though many visitors also arrive via automobile, to the resorts and hotels in La Fortuna, Castillo, Palma, Monteverde, or Tilaran. Arenal is often cited by scientists as being in the top ten or top 20 of the world's most active volcanoes. La Fortuna is less than 10 km from the peak of Arenal and less than 20 km from the entrance to Arenal Volcano National Park (the entrance is west of the peak, whereas La Fortuna is east of the peak).

Other than the volcano, La Fortuna has tourist attractions such as the La Catarata de la Fortuna, a waterfall that falls from a height of 70 meters, several resorts with natural hot springs temperate enough to bathe in, other day spa services, and day-trips which involve horseback riding, whitewater rafting, hanging bridges, a "sky tram," zip-lines, mountain bike, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and ATV or dirt bike rentals, "butterfly farm" and Venado Cavern tours, bungee jumping, Laguna Cedeno, El Salto Swimming Hole, and canyoneering.

Arenal Volcano, in Spanish Volcán Arenal, is an active andesitic stratovolcano in north-western Costa Rica around 90 km northwest of San José, in the province of Alajuela, canton of San Carlos, and district of La Fortuna. The Arenal volcano measures at least 1,633 metres / 5,358 ft. It is conically shaped with a crater spanning 140 metres / 460 ft. Geologically, Arenal is considered a young volcano and the age is estimated to be less than 7,500 years. It is also known as "Pan de Azúcar", "Canaste", "Volcan Costa Rica", "Volcan Río Frío" or "Guatusos Peak".

The volcano was dormant for hundreds of years and exhibited a single crater at its summit, with minor fumaroles activity, covered by dense vegetation. In 1968 it erupted unexpectedly, destroying the small town of Tabacón. Due to the eruption three more craters were created on the western flanks but only one of them still exists today. Since October 2010, Arenal's volcanic activity appears to be decreasing and explosions have become rare, with no explosions reported between December 2010 and October 2012. Thanks Mr Wikipedia.

Orientation then lunch at Gecko’s Gourmet Deli. Caprese Chicken - grilled chicken, fresh mozarella, tomato, basil with light mayo and balsamic dressing on ciabatta bread C 4,000. Nutty Monkey - double espresso, chocolate, banana and peanut butter blended with ice cream C 2,000. Total with tax 6,600 / NZ $ 16.10 / US $ 13.20. The heavens opened up. Glad that I wasn’t up at the waterfall or going to the volcano.

Dinner for most of those not going to the Los Lagos hot springs was at Kazan. A chicken Casado C$ 4,500 / NZ $ 11 / US $ 9.10 plus a bottle of Imperial.