Day 109 - Santa Elena

Distance travelled (by bike): 11,120

Leaving Santa Elena we headed up through the mountains to the Santa Elena cloud forest to embark on a canopy walk and zip lining. The canopy walk was 5km, wandering along trails through the forest then over suspension bridges that stretched across the valley. Unfortunately we didn't see any substantial wildlife (and no, you know who you are…there are no wild elephants in costa rica).

Finishing the trek we harnessed up and took off up the mountain to start the zip lining. 11 lines through the forest, the longest one was 1.2km. Amazing fun, flying through the tree canopies and over the valley. The longest line involved doubling up to increase weight, Holly harnessed in front of me, we started out decent, with our combined weight we easily achieved the distance.

Finishing we decided to celebrate, somehow we found black market beer in the middle of nowhere, we decided we were truly blessed and bought the beer (as no beer or liquor can be sold) as the sun started to set we returned to Santa Elena to have a traditional Costa Rican dinner with BA before he departed the following day.

holly wandering across one of the bridges

looking down at the tree canopies below

jungle

one of the larger bridges

Holly zip lining 

i can't believe we have beer!!!!

me, BA and holly

Day 108 - Tilaran - Santa Elena

Distance travelled (by bike): 11,090

Leisurely day twisting through the mountains south to Santa Elena. Amazing scenery. There were no signs along these roads so each fork in the road was a gamble. A few wrong turns, dusty roads and amazingly steep hills later we arrived at Santa Elena. We were lucky to finding somewhere to stay, getting the last 2 beds in a hostel. After a wander through the town we sat down over a glass of sangria (wine based) with the bar/hostel owner to plan the next few days activities. After the activities were booked a biker called BA from Canada turned up with his surf board strapped to the side of his bike. ( http://the-alexander-project.blogspot.com/)  As we started to talk and compare routes and border crossings through central america etc. Holly bought out her book!

through the valley

lovely little bridge we had to cross

trying to capture the gradient of the hills

coffee plantation behind the palms

the mountain dust roads

BA's bike, with surfboard. Bike surf trip!

http://the-alexander-project.blogspot.com

Day 107 - Montezuma - Tilaran

Distance travelled (by bike): 11,030

Breakfast of rice, beans and peppers…interesting, think the guy cooking was suffering from the night before! Heading off on the gravel roads along the coast around the Nicoya peninsula, with no real plan on what to see or where to stop we continued to twist through the mountains. Deciding to cut inland at Honda the landscape changed from jungle to open plains. There was nowhere to stop along the way so we continued, eventually hitting the Pan American highway we flipped a coin, north or south, we turn north. 

After consulting the map the town of Canas looked the perfect place to stop, however after driving into and around the town, we opted to continue into the mountains. Canas was a nothing town, with 2 options to stay at, both hugely overpriced and nothing of interest to see or do.

After 50km through the mountains on gravel and mud roads we arrived at Tilaran. A tiny town perched in the mountains, finding somewhere to stay we embarked on a 3km walk to the liqueur store. We were the only gringo's in town. Costa Rica stops selling alcohol over the easter celebration (Thursday to Sunday), though you can buy wine. Having stocked up on rum we returned and relaxing in the knowledge that we'd survive the Easter period.

holly's view of the roads

looking through the valley

one of the locals escaping for the weekend

pink flamingoes

consulting the map!

Day 106 - Manuel Antonio - Montezuma

Distance travelled (by bike): 10,780

Off early again along the coast heading north. The original destination was scrapped after talking to other travellers, the Aim was to get a long the coast, stop and get the ferry over to the Nicoya peninsula tomorrow. We only stopped to see the crocodiles! As we got to Puntarenas, we realised there was nothing worth stopping for, so as luck would have it we managed to get the 11am ferry to Paquera. About 2 hours later we were driving along the coastal road of Nicoya, heading to Montezuma. This area looked and felt like it has been transplanted form the Caribbean. The roads were gravel and dirt, and from what the locals said, not many motorbikes ever come this way. Having avoided most of the potholes, roadworks and other drivers we arrived at Montezuma, lucky to find somewhere to stay due to the easter holidays. Montezuma has a very laid back atmosphere, but certainly takes advantage of the tourists that folk here, nice, but agreed one night is enough.

views from the road along the coast

crocodiles 

bike wedged at the front of the ferry

beach at montezuma

Day 105 - Manuel Antonio

Distance travelled (by bike): 10,630

Mangrove tour! we were told the area the mangrove park covered was approximately 60,000acres, we saw a tiny bit! After been grilled by an American criminal psychologist over  a traditional Costa Rican lunch i was relieved when we set out on our boat with our guide to explore the vast networks of canals through the park, leaving the psychologist behind.

As we floated through the canals the vast scale of the park was becoming apparent. There is a huge amount of wildlife living in this environment, but seeing them depends on luck, we were quite lucky, seeing lots of inquisitive monkeys, the silky anteater (the smallest species, measuring only 15 inches) a boa constrictor and loads of birds. 

Returning to Manuel Antonio we took a stroll to a bar. The bar, La Avion is inside an American  C-123 military Aeroplane which crashed in Costa Rica in the 50's. Rumour has it it was some CIA operation. Very unique place.

setting off into the park

monkey

the anteater (sleeping)

boa constritor 

sunset over the park

inside the plane

the bar!

Day 104 - Uvita - Manuel Antonio

Distance travelled (by bike): 10,610

Leaving Uvita after breakfast we cruised along the costal road turning off to follow the back roads and dirt tracks towards Manuel Antonio and the national park. We arrived at the hostel in time for lunch followed by an afternoon jungle trek, we decided to avoid the beach.

The build up to easter has started and people are on holiday, anywhere along the coast is starting to get busy, we were told by friday it would be mayhem, so best avoided. 

In the evening the rain really started, luckily we were happily undercover playing cards with two american guys who had driven a VW camper down from the states last year and were here to pick it up and head north back to the states.

Day 103 - Uvita

Distance travelled (by bike): 10,550

Action packed day. After a huge breakfast Andrew and Steve took us on a river/waterfall trek into the mountains. Trekking through the jungle, wading and swimming up rivers and scrambling over rocks we arrived at the final destination. A waterfall feeding into a deep pool in the middle of the jungle, with cliffs either side ideal to jump from.

Having done some cliff jumps, snorkelling, fishing and swimming we ventured back out the jungle for some lunch. 

After lunch we were invited to join the locals in a softball game. Softball was played (quite competitively) but the afternoon focussed more around the food (i was told the best pulled pork burgers in Costa Rica, they were really good!), drink and chat. When we had to hand the field over to the local football team everyone headed to the beach to swim and surf. (unfortunately not many photos)

As the sun started to set we left the beach and returned to the ranch for dinner, poker and a chance to collapse. Sadly time to move on tomorrow.

walking up river

the swimming hole

the cliffs around, perfect for jumping from

holly braving the 10 metre ledge

Andrew doing a back flip from 20 metres

having just conquered  the cliff jumps

butterflies

swimming into the waterfall

Andrew serving burgers

one of the local kids taking part in the softball action

Action!