Costa Rica

Tuesday 22nd September
San Juan Del Sur to Playa Hermosa (Costa Rica)

As this was a boarder crossing we started off early 7.00am and travelled the 50 miles to the boarder, the procedure here tends to be helped if you hire unofficial helpers (who have official badges!), we spent 2 hours booking out of Nicaragua, first ourselves then the bikes. We then had a short ride (100 meters) to the parking compound for Costa Rica, where we found out that a lorry had just taken out all the power cables to the office, the office consisting of a bus with some computers in it. The bus is there as the main office burnt down some months ago, so now the staff where slowly boiling, waiting for temporary power to be got working, with a line of angry truckers waiting. It took 2 hours to get temporary power to the bus then another hour while the air conditioner took effect so the staff trapped in the bus could cool down to get to work. They then had to deal with us and a load of angry truckers. With much barging and shoving we got some of our paperwork done, however lots of mistakes were found, passport numbers wrong or VIN numbers wrong and we had to go back and get these corrected. If any were wrong we would not be able to leave the country at the other border. The whole process took 5 hours in the heat of the day and I was glad to be back on the bike in the cooling stream of air. Once riding it was immediately obvious Costa Rica is much more developed and westernised, the roads being better maintained but more obviously the whole infrastructure around being more like we are used to, power cables, poles etc. at the side of the road looking better, farms more defined and regular. Buildings and houses are better maintained with gardens appearing again, though I had not noticed them missing until now.
We rolled into another beach hotel and finished the day with a swim and beers watching the sunset with a thunder storm in the distance.

Miles
Today : 98
Total : 10939
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Wednesday 23rd September
Playa Hermosa to Volcan Arenal, La Fortuna

We were due to ride the dirt road over the mountains but the recent thunder storms had made the road impassable so we had to divert on a longer run around using tarmac roads. Although still hot and sticky we proceeded on pleasant roads until turning off were there are road works, they allowed the bike to proceed but this consisted of running across planks of wood across deep ditches. After this we had a straight run until the lake where the road twisted and turned around the lake for 30 miles with sections of broken u road and narrow bridges creating an interesting ride. The volcano was ringed by cloud but I could see the top belching out clouds of steam.

Miles
Today : 189
Total : 11128
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Thursday 24th September
Volcan Arenal to La Virgen (Selve Verde Lodge)

Again starting the humid heat the road continued to be twisty and challenging until we got to the main roads. After a while we hit rain, the heaviest rain so far and it continued as we proceeded towards the water falls, a stopping point on our way. Before we got there a group of us were stopped by locals, they told us there had been an earthquake here the last month and the road and a hotel by the waterfalls had collapsed. This left the road impassable, we waited till all the group arrived and then rode in a group on an alternative route, taking some 2 hours longer and most arriving us before night fall.

Miles
Today : 168
Total : 11296
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Friday 25th September
La Virgen (Jungle lodge)
Day off



This lodge is right in the jungle with paths throughout, the noise is incredible and never stops, I guess you just get used to it after a while. We spend this day white water rafting down the local river then the afternoon on zip slides though the jungle, a fantastic experience, the evening spent relaxing and trying not to get too hot.


Miles
Today : 0
Total : 11296
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Saturday 26th September
La Virgen to Cahuita




A simple ride got us to this coastal town, the area continues to be jungle hot and humid, plenty of palm and similar tropical fauna. The ride was short and undemanding along major roads skirting the coast with the sea in view for the later part of it , of note was passing though a town called Liverpool. An early afternoon arrival allowed for a swim in the sea then drinks by the swimming pool in the hotel, once again this adventure motorcycling is really hard :>) Costa Rica is very Americanised with a lot of English speakers due to the volume of tourists normally here, we are riding in these central American countries during the off season, due to the weather being too hot and humid and it being the wet season. We therefore find most towns and hotels empty of other tourists and the beaches empty.

Miles
Today : 113
Total : 11296