La Fortuna Waterfall

After another fantastic breakfast at Hotel Arenal Manoa, we took a cab over to check out the La Fortuna waterfall (approx $15 each way). Apparently I was too excited to read anything about this hike and just jumped straight to the photos, because I didn’t know about the major stairmaster workout ahead of us. Described as a “15 minute walk down a set of stairs,” they neglect to mention the hour it takes to get back up them!  There are probably 500+ steps and my calves were wrecked for the next two days. Brutal, I’m telling you! (I run 3 miles every other day, so I’m in decent shape too.)

That said: it was freakin awesome! I went and jumped in the pool and fought the current to try to get close enough for a photo but didn’t have the power against the raging downpour. Workout #2 (of 4) for the day. The water was pretty cold, but the air was hot, so it was refreshing. If you scout around to the left of the waterfall behind some trees there is a crystal clear blue little swimming hole with fish in it & less of a current.  Good place for a picnic and a swim!