Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
a
day at the Paradise Hotsprings
ok
the biggest question was which hotspring should we go to? They are
from free in the tabacon river to very pricy like the Tabaccon hot
springs with close to 100 $ per person. Should we go to the oldest
and most natural but also most expensive Tabaccon? Or do we want a
waterpark with families around like Baldi? Isela recommended that we
go to the Paradise Hotsprings which has also Hydro massage: they have
a beautiful setting overall they have 8 pools and a nice view on the
Arenal volcano. So that’s what we did, the 2 largest pools are 35
and 36 degrees and have both stone benches... we set up at the 2nd
one which was more quite – the first one had the pool bar. We did
venture once in a while in one of the really hot ones: the 42 C
sounded and felt hot – so when we came to the super hot 52 C or 125
F – I only put my hand in and decided that’s too much...
During
the day when the sun came out hot – it was also cool to go in one
of the cooler pools.... to cool down. We spend a while in the one
with the super strong jets for the feet and lower back. But my
favourite was the 36 C pool because there the waterfall came down the
strongest and you really got “zenned out” as per Paul... He
rather preferred to lie down on the stone bench in the water... and
between we needed a little time out of the water not that we are
ending up like prunes.
And
towards the evening the speakers all over started to play some
soothing music... we are so relaxed today!!
Why
are there so many hot springs:
- Arenal is only around 7000 years old – so a baby Vulcan – as where it’s neighbour Chato erupted around 500.000 years ago
- in 1968 Arenal erupted after 400 years (last eruption prior was in 1520) and killed 88 people because of the hot air and destroyed 2 villages and for another 42 years it was nearly constantly active with lava bombs occasionally flying out and down the hill.
- The Volcano is still very active even we can’t see it at the moment: it still vents constantly hot steam vapor – if it is a clear day and the peak is not in the clouds you can see it.
- after an earthquake that could be felt for a whole night on July 29, 1968 it massively exploded, burning blocks flew 5 km through the air: creating a crater 20 m and 2 m deep – overall it created 3 new craters and a huge river of lava continued to flow until 1973
- people came here to see a live volcano – even today it is a perfect cone
- the volcano created this areas greatest attractions the hot springs; some say that this one of the world’s largest aquifers 800 m wide and 1 km deep, sometimes the hot water surfaces naturally (Tabaccon river) and some is pumped from wells: the rainwater falls through porous rock and reaches nonporous high-temperature rock: gravity is responsible for the downhill flow – all the hotsprings are scattered around the Arenal base
- due to the geothermal activity, there are a lot of hot springs in this area. if you drive along the road then you see one hot spring after the next....
Why
is it good for us to go into the hotsprings?
- The hot springs around arenal contain Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium, Potassium, carboantes and sulfates
- the skin our largest organ is like a sponge and absorbs those minerals – it will help purify your body
- The healing power of hot springs has been used for thousands of years
- it boost blood circulation: because they contain minerals (Calcium, Sodium bicarbonate) – soaking in them and your hydrostatic pressure rises: circulation and oxygen flow increases – it keeps your heart and other vital organs healthy and strong
- reduces stress: the minerals in the water contribute to a psychological healing process and the heat relaxes tense muscles
- promotes sleep: soaking in hot water rises the body temperature then quickly cools down after the bath – this helps you relax and fall into deeper sleep
- relieves pain naturally: a study showed that it reduces pain in fibromyalgia and arthritis
- helps the skin: the high silica content can smooth and soften dry rough skin, the water sulphur content can relieve eczema and psioriasis syndroms
What
is hydro-massage?
- With the use of water pressure to apply massage
- it goes all the way back to the ancient greek – but got popular with the romans
- it reduces stress, relieves pain and provides deep relaxation – as per Paul you can “zen out”
- they say because it increases circulation of blood and lymph it can help againts cellulite (maybe that one day helped)
Desert
before supper
and
because we had such a large breakfast Gine said all we need is desert
and so we ended up with the Banana split in the park in downtown La
Fortuna – entertainment and people watching is here guaranteed, but
then we had to go back to the hot springs – to see them at night
and get a little bit more relaxation – so that we sleep well
tonight :-) - Paul had to nearly pull Gine away from it.
By
the way Paul said he needs something for supper so we had some
ham-croissants and chicken pastry... and yes we had them after the
Banana split. After
being so relaxed all we can do is sit out on our little balcony and
enjoy the sounds of the jungle and the still warm air... guess we
will sleep well tonight.
.
Arenal
Observation Lodge
we
heard from a couple and as well Isela told us, that the Arenal
Observation Lodge is better (and cheaper) than the Nationalpark –
so we started out to check it out. We had to drive nearly around the
whole volcano, so it took us close to 45 Minutes, what was really
funky: at the turn off to the National park the line-up was so long,
they even lined up on the road and we stood there for a bit too...
then up it goes and at the gate we pay get a map and some great
instructions and lucky for us we get a parking spot the 2nd
last left!!
lookout
from the terrace: to start with one highlight we went to the
terrace and their you have a beautiful view on the volcano, we love
it. And you can also see Lake Arenal from here... Did I mention we saw some Tucans?
The
Museo: stop #1 is the museum – Paul says no museum – we only
go up on the observation platform – where they also had some super
cool paintings on the walls... ok no learning about volcanoes and
animals (for that we have later the internet)
the
frog pond with no frogs: then we start out on the trail – with
lots of supercool plants, some even have names on them. I think we
saw here the most different kind of plants ever. Then we came to the
frog pond, but we couldn’t see any frogs – either they are all
camouflaged or they are hidden somewhere....
the
observation tower: we couldn’t believe it, there came this huge
tower – with 150 stairs and a lot of cable – the higher we went
the more you felt it moving - I mean it really swayed (there was even a sign only 1 person can
be on the steps to the upper deck because of the movement)... but the
view was incredible: we looked to the volcanoes (both of them) you
are above all those trees .... I think that is one of the big
highlights of the day.
- it's called the nest and 28m high
- if you are on the top you are at 764 m
- it got built in 2017
- and in case you wonder average temperature is 23 C and it rains 3000 - 4000 mm a year
the
Dante waterfalls: another
beautiful waterfall here in Costa Rica – and you can swim here too.
But we skipped this part, since there were a lot of people, we still
had some walking to do and didn’t felt so hot, that we need right
away some cool – off.
the
Hanging bridge: over the hanging bridge and then we came into the
open where we saw again those funky coatis... out in the open we got
some sun and by the way it is quite humid today!!!
The
waterfall with no water: We decided to go from the yellow to the
blue trail because there are 3 waterfalls along it: #1 was a
trickle... in #2 there was not even a drop of water in the river so
we decided we can skip #3 the seasonal waterfall... but on the #4
trail we had some amazing views on the Volcano.
I
think we lost a flipflop: we cross a bridge and decide it is
perfect for having a drink – Paul starts to open the backpack (by
the way our flipflops hang on the openers) when Gine says let’s sit
on the side of the bridge... we sit and Paul says get up we loose the
flip flops... and then we have a pair for Gine and a single one for
Paul. Paul said one fell into the water – so we check on the one
side look under the bridge as much as we can – check the fast
moving waters on the other side (by the way we checked several times)
and saw nothing. Paul wanted to throw his other one in the river so
we see where it goes and Gine says no!! By the way Gine thought that
Paul saw the flip-flop falling in – and Paul assumed the flip-flop
fall in because there was only one left. How big was our surprise
when we came back to the car and discovered the other one was in the
car – Gine forgot to put both of Pauls one on the backpack – good
think shoe #2 was not thrown in the river... Guess Paul was lucky and
didn’t join the club “loosing a flip-flop in the river”
the
volcano is still active: we are on the way back –
always view on the Arenal volcano, when the clouds started to go
away... and unbelievable the peak was in the clear sky and we saw the
vapor coming out of the top crater – once you see the vapor you can
even see it when the clouds come slightly over it, it is a different
white color. I think it is super amazing – it makes you realize
that you are in front of an active volcano
amazing flowers: and they have some super cool flowers here, and what Gine liked the best they often have the names near them. so we know our favourite flower is the "Lobster Claw Heliconia", those bushes with the amazing red flowers are the "Elphin Herb" - and always that super amazing volcano view...
bird
watching at the terrace: Finally we are back – we are hot and
tired. Sitting down on the terrace with a drink and a view is
perfect. And we saw here Toucans, some funky birds (we have no clue
what they are – but they look cool) and enjoyed a short rest before
we are heading back....
it’s
humid and hot
on
the way back we stop at the tabaccon river: this is the warm river
and you can sit in the “free” hot pools – but it didn’t look
to inviting for us – guess with being that humid and after the walk
we felt tired... and not up to scramble over rocks and no place for
your towel.
So
we went to town to find a panaderia – which is not that easy here –
because they are either under renovation, have only whole cakes ...
and so we end up at musmani. And then after driving around in circles
we do find a parking spot and go to Pops: hopefully that icecream
brings us back to life. After checking out some souvenir shops: I
mean this town is really souvenir shops – tourist info offices and
restauraunts: a town made to pull money out of tourists with tours
everywhere (you have money they know how to take it from you) –
they don’t really crank us up so we decided today it is time for:
A
Siesta
we went back to our place – and after a refreshing shower we
enjoyed 2 hours on our nice balcony seeing the clouds coming – I
really thought it will rain, but it didn’t - are we getting lazy??. It was time to go out
again – this time only down the road for a relaxing
evening.... guess we needed a little downtime.
Early
to bed and early to rise we up early the next day: ready to move on.
Time
to move on: I think La Fortuna is not our total favourite – we love
the hot springs, but somehow this town doesn’t do it for us –
maybe it’s because it is too touristy.
2025-05-23