Volcano Poas and La Paz Waterfall Gardens

It is so predictable that one almost forgets the privilege of living in Costa Rica in January. The sun rises at 5:30 am and the temperature is about 70F. The sun sets at 6:00 pm and the temperature is about 85F. The evenings are cool, the swimming pools are chilly, the people are friendly, and the views are incredible.

When we leave here in February, I will truly miss driving. The combination of motorcycles, pedestrians, bicycles, trucks, and cars blend into a marvelous concoction of chaos and competition. Even though we rarely know where we're going, we love it, and we usually get there.

This weekend we visited Volcano Poas and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens. This is the most popular tour in Costa Rica, and takes about ten hours or so. We began on Sunday morning at about 6:30 am, stopped for breakfast at the Doka Estate Coffee Plantation, and then headed out for the volcano. It was a beautiful, clear day, and we could actually see Volcano Arenal from Poas. REMEMBER, as the sign says, DO NOT WALK DOWN TO THE CRATER. :)

Costa Rica has 112 volcanoes, several which are active. Poas belches steam, but that's about it. Here's a picture of our kids with Lindsay Befus, one of the missionary kids that live at La Palabra de Vida. I say kid, but she is actually a lovely young lady who is so helpful with Costa Rican culture and the Spanish language.

We toured the crater area, learned more about the Pacific ring of fire, and all the active volcanoes in Costa Rica.

Following our time at Poas, we trucked off to the La Paz Waterfall Gardens.

This was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. Mountains, rain forest, and five stunning waterfalls were the highlight of the day.

Following a devastating earthquake two years before, this park closed, rebuilt, and then recently reopened. They now boast marvelous exhibits of native butterflies, frogs, birds, and snakes. The large cat exhibit met an untimely fate at the hands of the earthquake and has never been reopened.

Here's a picture of Vickie and I underneath the largest waterfall in the park.

The birds in Costa Rica alone are worth the air fare, and here is a picture of a scarlet macaw, probably the most beautiful bird, and the most famous also. These birds are prized by natives and visitors alike, and poaching has been a huge problem for years. There are now gargantuan fines for private possession of one of these magnificent examples of God's creation. Good.

We took this tour with a group visiting from Loveland, CO. They are here assisting La Palabra de Vida with construction in the school They are pleasure to work with and to know.

God's blessings,

Bill