So far it really hasn’t felt much like adventure travel until today. Rebecca mentioned what I was thinking. Now that we are out of the city, it finally feels like we are in another country.

On the Ferry

Leaving San Jose, Costa Rica

It was hard getting up at 4:45 AM, especially when we have to be as quiet as possible with a room full of fellow hostel sleepers. So we quietly gathered our things and packed them downstairs.

Around the corner from the hostel, we negotiated with a taxi for a trip to the San Carlos Bus Terminal (near the Coca-Cola plant). At the terminal, masses of people were waiting for buses, and not a lot of information to be found. When the first bus arrived, it was difficult to find someone who spoke English who could tell us if it was our bus.  FYI: There appears to be a new bus station, so make sure to do your research. Depending on where you’re going, you’ll need to pick the right bus terminal.Check out this site for info.

Leaving Puntaneras on the ferry

As luck would have it, we found the right bus. It took us to the town of Puntarenas where we caught a ferry. We took a seat in the sun, which turned out to be a bad idea as it got pretty hot. However, our pasty skin needed some sun and the ride was beautiful!

On the other side we hopped back on our bus, then we arrived at a stop where the driver said “Blah, blah, blah, Montezuma.”  The “blah” is our attempt at listening to Spanish but not getting anywhere so far.

This is where we got off, to grab a different bus. The doors to the bins under this next bus were broken so we got onto the hot, steamy bus with our bags. FYI: We’re carrying two bags each – a full-size hiking backpack on our back, and a smaller daypack hooked around the front. Not the smoothest looking way of traveling, but it works.

I can’t even remember the last time I enjoyed a hammock more

Montezuma at last!

When we reached Montezuma, it had been a long, hot day so we walked up to the first hostel we found and paid for 2 bunks. I think from now on we’ll be a bit pickier. This place is a bit of a dump (see lack of water in a later paragraph), El Parque Hostel. However, it’s right on the beach and out the back door there’s a ton of shade and hammocks and we’re just happy to have a place to sleep for now.

Be in the Know: My suggestion, if you don’t know where you are staying for the night – find a nice quiet spot to drop your gear and leave a friend while you wander around looking for a good place for the night.

Some Adventure Travel to Waterfall

Me, totally happy and ready to jump back in.

We took a little time to relax and tested out the hammocks. Turns out they work great! But we didn’t come to Costa Rica just to lay in hammocks, so we changed and took off for the local hike up to a waterfall. It was awesome! It’s a steep trail that leads up and around the lower pools to the topmost and past all the other pools that were full of people.  We went straight to the top and after the hot hike up, a long swim in the cool water was perfect.

The rope is part of the steep trail. I loved that!

Back at the hostel, there was no water for
showers, yep, it’s a dump. We cleaned up as best we could and headed to a restaurant suggested by the guidebook, Playa le Artiste. A bit of a splurge but I’m a sucker for a good meal. 

For dinner, we had shrimp fried in a sweet coating on an avocado mouse, ceviche with a touch of vodka, two cold beers, wonderful crusty bread, and a dessert with cream and fruit. Yum! Also, this restaurant is on the beach and we had candlelight to eat by. My best friend and I had a great, romantic dinner. Too bad we didn’t bring dates.

Want to see more:
Day 2 San Jose, Costa Rica
Day 4 Montezuma and Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

I’m Sonja Dewing. I’m an award winning creative writer, a published author of Toy of the Gods, an adventure in the Amazon. If you’d like a free copy of the prequel, Ire of the Gods, sign up for my email list and you’ll get it right away.