Road Trip End - Volcan Arenal

During the last couple of days of our road trip bringing us back from Tamarindo to San Jose, we went on the road through the mountains and around Lake Arenal instead of taking the highway back into the city. Once past the "30km Monteverde road" that we had to pass on the way into Santa Elena already, the rest of the way was actually on a well paved road.


Stunning views all the way from Santa Elena to La Fortuna - Rolling lush hills, hills covered with coffee plantations (did i mention the coffee here is reaaaallly good!), Lake Arenal... the artifical lake is huge, at the foot of Volcan Arenal and you have to go around it to get to La Fortuna.


Too bad the clouds covered the volcano during our drive to La Fortuna but, when we got up in the morning, the perfectly shaped volcano was visible again.


After some more driving in hills covered with coffee plantations and other cultures, we got into San Jose's suburbs and then San Jose proper... driving in San Jose is like driving in downtown Honolulu except streets are not as well marked and drivers have no patience.... ugh!! hardly any 2-way streets so we end up going in circles quite a bit to get to our hotel and then to return the car!! but it all happened without incidents!...