Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs

The Arenal Volcano!

     This past weekend (Friday/Saturday) I went on a trip to Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs. This tour was part of USAC (the study abroad affiliated program I am with, so it was included in the cost of studying abroad). We left Heredia at 9am on Friday Morning and the bus ride was about 3 hours. We arrived in La Fortuna de San Carlos (the town with the volcano) and had some lunch and then checked in to our hotel. Like my host family had said, it was hot and humid in this area... however, no comparison to the extreme hot and humid weather in Charlotte during the summer. Our group changed into our swim suits and we headed for the Baldi Hot Springs. This is another place where the volcano provides heat for the pools. Great, hot and humid weather and sitting in hot water. The night ended up cooling off a little so some of the pools were very nice. However, I did not go in the 156 degree pool. This hot spring resort was very nice. It is about $46 for a day ticket. Beer was about $5.50, i'm too cheap for that! There were probably 15 pools, and the big pool had 3 slides. One slide was pretty calm but the other two I heard could be dangerous. I heard last year a few students had to go to the hospital because of one... I didn't go down that one. I did enjoy watching other students go down it and then after emerging from the water, grabbing their heads in pain from hitting the water so hard. Someone said the slide takes you about 45 kph. I wish I had taken pictures but didn't want to leave my camera lying around. After the water park I was beat and went to bed before 10pm!

     The next morning we all woke up and ate breakfast and headed to the Arenal rainforest. It was a beautiful hike over bridges where we saw landscapes of the volcano, walked over Indiana Jones style bridges (ok they were constructed better, but they did have and Indian Jones one that still exists!), saw snakes and wildlife, and even a beautiful waterfall. I loved going on this hike because it reminds me of the hiking in the mountains of North Carolina. This was a different experience for a lot of the other students since most of them are from out west and they don't have trails like this with waterfalls and such. Here are a few pictures...

 I'm glad I have zoom! Just found out it's poisonous! 

 I guess the bridges were strong...

 Waterfall!

The Indiana Jones bridge... I stayed away 

Me in front of the volcano, we had an amazing view!