Adventures in Monteverde

A couple weekends ago, some friends and I ventured to Monteverde for the weekend. Annalee, John, Christina and I. I hadn't spent much time with any of these friends prior to this trip so it was exciting to spend time together and get to know each other more.

We got up insanely early on Friday morning and got the 6:30 bus to Monteverde. The drive was, once again, beautiful, although I wasn't awake for much of it.

Monteverde is North of San Jose and is a small town on the top of a mountain that was settled years ago and is now a great attraction. It is a cute little town and the forest is beautiful. Monteverde is known as the Mountain in the Clouds or the cloud forest because of the elevation. At the high point, you are literally in the clouds. This is intensified during the rainy season.

After we arrived and checked in to our hostel, we went to a cute little cafe. We relaxed there for a bit and enjoyed some treats and then decided we would find this special tree we had heard about. It was called the Strangler Fig Tree. We were told it was a hike mostly uphill a ways. We weren't sure why this tree was special or what to expect. We found it pretty easily even without it being marked with a special sign or anything. There was just a path leading off the road. The tree proved to be really cool. It was really tall and looked like its roots were above ground. Its trunk was not one solid piece but many, like vines almost. We climbed the tree from the inside. It was so fun. We felt like tarzan being explorers.

The Strangler Fig Tree

Climbing the inside of the tree

Countryside

Later, we walked around a bit and did some shopping for dinner. After a short break in our room, we decided to go on another hike. We thought it would be fun to hike to the high point in Monteverde. Little did we know that this was quite the undertaking. We set out and knew we had to hurry because it looked like rain was on the way, plus we needed to get back before dark. When we reached the beginning of the trail to the top we realized it wasn't really a trail. It was an undeveloped road that was essentially straight up the mountain with some twists and turns. There was no groomed pedestrian path, no switchbacks, nothing. After the first couple hills (we divided it into 17 separate "hills"), we realized this was going to be more of an adventure than we thought. I was getting nervous because of the clouds, wind, and thunder. We knew that if it rained, we were going to be in big trouble on the way back down. The road was just dirt..or clay, really. This would be really slippery if wet. On the way, we saw some wild pigs/boars.

We finally reached the top and, of course, couldn't see anything. We were, indeed, in the clouds. We had been told that the view was spectacular and you could see into Nicaragua. All we saw were the many electrical towers, telephone towers, and satellites. We quickly headed back down. Our muscles aching and shakey, we made it to the bottom. Luckily, there was almost no rain and we made it with only a few slips and falls. At least we can say we have been to the top.

The view from the top

We survived!

In the clouds

Headed down

In the morning, we went on a canopy tour. Monteverde's canopy tour is one of the best. We were picked up at about 8 and driven up the mountain. We suited up and went over how to zipline. There were about 10 lines, each a little different. They were so much fun! The first few went through the forest. The longest ones went over a big valley. This course has the longest cable in Latin America and the third longest in the WORLD! I did it! This cable and the following one, slightly shorter, I went on superman style. We wore two harnesses that they switched around so that we were hooked up on our backs. They told us to lay down and we were hanging. We had to bend on knees, cross our feet and arms and they sent us off. I was so nervous but it was almost more relaxing and less scary than the normal way. It seemed like forever that I was out there flying over the valley. I even spotted a lone white cow below me. I was able to keep my camera in my hand and take a few pictures. The next line was done in the same style back across the valley. Because this one was a little shorter, we could open our arms and pretend to fly. This was GREAT!

Suited up!

The view ahead of me on the second superman cable

Flying!

Yup. 

The final part of the course was the Tarzan swing. I loved this. It is similar to bungee jumping. We walked out onto a suspended bridge over the valley where they attached a cable in front of us to our harness. They opened the gate, counted down, and pushed me over the edge. There was a short free fall (why its like bungee jumping) and then you just kinda swing back and forth for a while. It was so cool! I definitely screamed on the way down.

Ahhhh!

For the rest of the day we walked around and found some delicious milkshakes at an Argentinian restaurant and chocolate shop. We took the bus home that afternoon at 2:30. The trip to Monteverde was definitely worth it. It is a beautiful place and the canopy tour was like no other.

When I got home, I had a new housemate! Nia is really great and I have enjoyed getting to know her so far. Emily, another new housemate, didn't arrive until Sunday. She is also a fun girl. Sunday afternoon we went with Maritza and Jorge to her sister's house. Rosie and her husband, Craig, live in Santa Ana in a beautiful home. It was fun to have dinner with them again and get to know my new housemates.

Monteverde survivor,

Taylor