A Wayward Journey

I didn´t think it was possible to get off the tourist track here in Costa Rica.  Ever since we entered into this country, it seems like we’ve seen more foreigners than locals.  It’s crazy!  And to think this is the off-season…

But today we managed to get off it - way off it!  We pulled out of Dominical (tourist haven!) and headed south along the beach.  The entire road was lined with condos and development offices- great big tourist traps.  Yes, the beach was lovely - but all the junk that seems to come with the beach here in Costa Rica was pretty awful!

So when we pulled into Cortez to look for a hotel, we were expecting more of the same.  Big fancy hotels… loads of tourists wandering around…  But no!  Not at all.

In fact, this tiny little town isn’t much of anything.  We finally arrived into the “center” of town, but I had to ask where the center was anyway!  There really is nothing here at all.  We did manage to find the only cabinas in town - with help - and checked in to a room right before a massive downpour.

We are enjoying being away from the tourists for a little while at least!

Davy put together a video about our visit to Manuel Antonio a few days ago.  Check it out!

The kids put this video together ages ago, but John forgot to upload it until a couple days ago!  This is about making beef stew in Guatemala - after shopping for the veggies in the market.

We survived!  For weeks now we’ve been fretting about this 45-km stretch of dirt road.  Since it’s rainy season, we had feared it would be one big mud-fest and we would be slipping and sliding the whole way.

So this morning we set off bright and early - just in case that 45 kilometers took us all day - and it was easy!  In fact, the first half had such a good surface we could maintain our regular speed!  Yes, it did deteriorate, but not too badly.

In the end, our biggest enemy ended up being dust rather than mud.  I arrived here totally, completely covered in mud - all that dust mixed with copious amounts of sweat!

Kilometers today:  43

Kilometers to date:

Due to construction, the road was reduced to one lane - but they still crammed in two lanes of traffic!

We finally made it.  It took us quite a few days, but in the end - we got there!  Manuel Antonio National Park.

And true to its promises, we saw lots of wildlife - a couple of 3-toed sloths, a whole messload of monkeys, iguanas scurrying here and there, woodpeckers drilling holes in trees, bats hanging upside down…  It was pretty impressive!

What was not impressive, however, were the crowds.  Well, I suppose they were impressive on one level, but not the level I want.  The pathway through the rainforest was little more than a four-lane divided highway filled with two-legged traffic.  Enormous groups with guides blocking the path as the guide explained this or that.  Telescopes set up to see the animals better in the middle of the path.  It was crazy.

That being said, we all enjoyed the day tremendously.  The boys spent hours and hours playing in the waves and running through the rainforest.  What more could they ask for?