23 Mar 2025
Our guide Johann was very informative and entertaining in his discussions. We were picked up from our hotel in San Jose on the first morning and driven to Arenal volcano by Oscar (our driver) and Johann. We walked a short distance from the parking lot to the viewing point to view the volcano from a distance. In the afternoon after a sumptuous lunch, we were driven to La Fortuna waterfalls. To get an amazing close-up view of the waterfalls, one has to walk down 530 steps to the bottom and then come back up taking the same 530 steps. It may be an arduous task for some travelers. After checking in a hotel that evening, we visited Baldi Hot Springs, where we spent some time enjoying the warm water of the Springs. Next morning, we were driven to Monte Verde rain forest, with an amazing array of eight hanging bridges. The view of the green canopy of the forest from the bridges is amazing. On the final day, we visited Manuel Antonio National Park, where we walked through dense forests on both sides of the trail. We got to see two snakes, different kinds of birds, howler and cappuccino moneys and sloths in the forest with the help of our forest guide, Kevin. Without his help it would have been impossible for us to locate these animals among the thick canopy of the forest. Next, we spent one hours on the gorgeous beach of the National Park. The hotel that we stayed on the first night at La Fortuna was excellent. On the second night we stayed at a hotel in Jaco, about an hour from Manuel Antonio National Park. The room in this hotel was okay for one night of stay. This hotel did not serve any morning breakfast. The amount of time spent on the road is long on each day is long, although it is time well spent to visit these wonderful places. On the overall, I will not hesitate to recommend this tour conducted by AyE Tours with Johann and Oscar.