Lavaly day

My only disappointment today was that the volcano didn't erupt while we were there.  Imagine how exciting it would be running down the side of a mountain with flowing lava in very hot pursuit, obviously you'd be filming it as you run, taking selfies with the lava in the background so you can show all your friends some cool photos if you make it back home alive.  The last time mount Poas had a big eruption was 1953 and before that 1918 I think so it must be due a big one but we were spared molten rock today and just engulfed in choking clouds of sulphur.  The first crater is the biggest of any active volcano in the world measuring 1.2km across, filled with a very acidic lake and billowing out plumes of smelly sulphur which at times turns the sky completely white.  The secondary crater is not currently active and its turquoise lagoon surrounded by primary rainforest is begging to be swam in although apparently its not a great idea as its still slightly acidic and is full of strange organisms.
After the volcano the tour bus we're on makes the long winding route back down and does its obligatory stops at craft shops along the way where we are supposed to buy over priced souvenirs.  Next we get a tour around a coffee plantation. Actually very interesting to see how much time and work goes on between planting a seed and pouring a cup, plus I was wired on all the free coffee, obviously I had to try each variety several times and make up for the fact that Becci hates coffee!  Next we visited a huge red church made entirely of metal before then making another stop at a souvenir shop parading as a craft workshop.  Back home at the hotel we meet up with the group we'll be travelling through to Panama with, bit of a mixed bunch it seems and we won't really get to know any of them for another day or two because the majority have opted out of the white water rafting en route to the coast tomorrow.  We are up for it though which means a 6am start in the morning and with that in mind it's time for me to get my head down. 

Erupting with excitement

Nearly time to whizz off to Costa Rica and Panama. upon arriving in San Jose the first plan is to leave San Jose...... one hour away is Poas volcano, an active volcano that has erupted 39 times in the last 150 years or so, shouldn't be too dangerous to climb to the top then! The two huge craters are filled with lakes of acid, surrounded by dwarf forest and are often puffing out plumes of smoke. Sounds like a great way to start things off to me!

After a couple of days in San Jose we move on to Puerto Viejo to chill on jungle lined beaches, look for jaguars at the nature reserve and eat unlimited chocolate on a tour of one of the cocoa plantations. A few days later we'll be over the Panamanian border in Bocas del Toro where we need a boat taxi to reach our accommodation on an island just off the coast. I'm hoping to zip wire here!  A seven stage jungle canopy zip wire should be exhilarating enough to excuse lying on the island beaches the rest of the time we're there.

Moving on inland again to Boquete the plan is to do a full day of white water rafting on the mountain rivers, a bit of trekking in the cloud forests and if we have time a tour of a coffee plantation to sample the freshest coffee in the world.  Next stop is Santa Catalina for big Pacific surf in shark infested waters, apparently the surf there is consistently world class which means I will probably drown and become shark bait.  Maybe do a bit of snorkeling and squeeze in some lounging around on the beach.  Last stop is Panama City home of the Panama canal where we also plan to explore the city and visit nearby nature reserves.

See ya laters!