Hacienda Santa María, Provincia de Guanacaste, Costa Rica
We
find the way to Santa Maria Ranger Station
totally
spoiled we are on our way with our map: ok first right: then slowing
down for the cows on the road – then again right and at some point
should come a U-turn and there we go on gravel – and when the
gravel road divides up we go left.... and astonishing once on the
gravel road there are even signs. A little bit rough road and we park
underneath a huge tree. The Lady in the Rangers office doesn’t
really speak English: but she explains the whole walk in Spanish –
good thing we have our own little map from the lodge. Over the
meadows and we find the Sendoro ending right up on a deserted
campground.... Following the Sendoro el Colibri (Hummingbird trail)
we didn’t see Humming birds but we came by an old structure they
used a hundred years ago for processing sugar cane juice.... then
comes our first river crossing.... And let’s not forget we put on
bug-repellent – but that does not necessarily keep the mosquitos
away: a new record in getting bites today!! On the other hand: it was
not that hot and often a breeze which made the walk very nice.
Cold
Springs – Agua Frias
ok
we are walking much faster than we thought so we can add in the cold
springs: so up the hill it goes until we end there: this was not so
mind blowing there are a little barely bubbly cold water sulphur
coming out: we touched it and it is cold... but nothing to linger...
River
crossing #2: ok so this was a little bit a longer crossing – but
then they did put up a rope you can hold on when you go from stone to
stone... which is kind of cool and soon we are at:
River
crossing #3: again we get a rope – only problem the rope is so high
Paul has to pull it down so Gine can hang on.
Hot
springs
and
then it goes through a lot of huge bolders – then out in the open
so we get some warm sun and then downhill to the hot springs. They
look like you imagine they would: white stones and the hot spring
pools... all natural. When we arrived no-one was there: so cloth off
– flip flops on and in we go: interestingly the first part we
stepped in was cold!!! and then you step into the hot springs.... it
is so cool. I’m not sure which pool I like the best the upper or
the lower one... and for cool off you only step over and go in the
cold spring/river – I may should mention this is a sulphur hot
spring... it smells (even back after swimming in the pool our swim
suits still smelled like sulphur – so they got a nice rinse with
soap). After a long soak (Gine read you shouldn’t be in there for
more than 30 Minutes – I’m sure we took it all in) – Gine
ventured a little bit more down the river: and saw an Iguana crossing
the river.... I didn’t know they go in the water – guess they do.
What
Paul thinks is the most fascinating is that you have the hot and the
cold pools right near each other. One thing is for sure they are
super cool and we loved them!! We decided to head back since we don’t
know how long we will take to check out the:
Waterfalls
being
totally refreshed up the hill we go and after the one river crossing
and before the next one: we went towards the Catarata Morpho – it’s
only 300 m (downhill – guess afterwards we will go it up again): at
the end we are happy there are roots you can hold on to climb down –
and not a lot of space but some huge bolders are big enough for the
backpack and taking of shoes and cloth and then Gine is ready to go
into the pool: the water is cold!!! but then also refreshing – so
all is perfect to walk all the way up over the river Ozopilote.
Catarata
Bosque Encantado: on the way there we saw some funky mushrooms
growing on trees and again it goes down and there we have to climb
over some bolders so we can see it all. It’s kind a 2 in one
waterfall and then back up through the bolders and one last river
crossing: this time Gine takes off the shoes as where Paul jumps from
stone to stone and then we are back at the campground.
Rule
#1: as fast as possible into the car – windows closed – and
driving away: we get swarmed with flies!!
Are
we on vacation or what?
And
on the way back we came by road fixing – no big signs – all is
easy only drive by slowly...
We
are back earlier than we thought - after walking, hot-springing,
waterfall swimming, river crossing and more walking it’s time for a
break at the pool. Jumping in and relaxing in the sun... guess we are
on vacation.
A
Nap or a Siesta?
After
supper Paul thinks it is time for a Siesta – but then didn’t he
had a nap at the pool – and aren’t we soon going to bed and then
he also wants to sleep in until 7.30!!! Really – I think we need
some more action.
Catarata
Oropendola
we
heard that this are some great waterfalls for swimming... so the
first thing on our list today was to go there: the parking lot is
empty – very promising. After walking a little bit in we saw a
whole bunch of horses – ok all those people were at the falls. What
we really liked was: you had to cross the canyon via a hanging bridge
– but this one was unique: only 2 people were allowed on it and it
was like hanging stairs... so down over the wobbly bridge we went –
around the corner and there plunges the waterfall in a pool.
Cloth
off and down the ladder into quite cold water!! on the one side you
can stand easily and then you can swim over to the falls and climb
around a little bit – it was a lot of fun, we loved it. And soon
most of the people left and we had the waterfalls all to ourselves...
but then we got cold – this was a super refreshing start to our
day.
As
we leave the Rincon area we have some last views on the vulcanoes –
it looks like there is a whole row of them.... but know it is time
for the beach.
2025-05-23