Arenal Hike

Today we went on a hike around the base of the arenal volcano. We had a wonderful guide, who provided lots of information about the history of the area, and was very knowledgeable about the flora and fauna along the way. We spotted leaf cutter ants, many varieties of butterflies, monkeys, and bats. We also came across a large termite nest, and my son and a few others on the hike ate live termites, which they reported tasted like mint!

The hike was not difficult, but all were glad to be welcomed with fresh water at the end, and with a place to sit affording an excellent view of the volcano. Our guide ended the tour by sharing with us the history of the volcano, including past instances of very destructive eruptions. At present, the volcano is in a semi-dormant state. We learned that Costa Rica is home to many, many volcanoes. Arenal may well be the most stunning and picturesque, and we were most happy to have seen it.