Costa Rica Hello Again: Dinoland

–My Costa Rican Adventure

 

We were off to Dinoland this day in our Costa Rica Hello Again visit, but not before encountering a very kind person that Frank knew who allowed us onto her property so I could get my fill of the Cortessa Tree. So the day really started with some flowers.

Ok so what’s with me and the Cortessa Tree? The first time I saw it was in 2012, the trees only bloom for a few days to a week and so my first sighting was at the end of the blooming and at a very long distance.  Then I would totally miss it with the subsequent visits but this time, I saw them at their peak and I got to see the gold carpet of flowers once they fell a couple days later. So I was in Heaven.

 

 

 

Yolanda was kind enough as I said to let us onto her property. I took tons of pics and we were fascinated by the hens that were also there. Frank had done business with her previously and he told us she made ice cream. But she didn’t have any that day. What she did have were coconuts right from the tree and we enjoyed the delicious coconut water…mmmmmm! 

 

 

 

After the Cortessa Tree but before the bougainvillea it was time to handle the business of having breakfast. Frank took us to a spot we hadn’t been to called Hotel Torre Fuerte. It’s a cool place and the owner was kind enough to whip up breakfast though it was late and they were getting ready for lunch! And I remembered to take a picture of what I was eating for once! 

 

 

I also got to get my fill of bougainvillea which grow nowhere near where I live, not even close. Matter of fact, the very first time I saw them was in Mexico and I went batty over them! So I got to see not one but two of my faves! I had to get out the car to get some pics, Dinoland could wait a bit longer.

 

 

DINOLAND Aims to Impress

 

And it does. Dinoland is very very VERY impressive as well as sprawling. I will definitely go again, hopefully without it raining! We had lolly-gagged around so long (actually that was on me lol) that by the time we got to the park the ominous clouds had rolled in and it was a matter of time before we were hit with the contents. But it didn’t stop our party, oh no, not one bit!

If you do go make sure you have both a raincoat and something warm if you’re always cold like me, up in the mountains it do get a bit chillay!

Upon entering the park we suddenly acquired a canine escort, 3 dogs that I guess belong to the property were our companions for a time.

We were high up on the mountains and in the clouds, it was quite magnificent. Pretty much as soon as you go up a hill you see the first dinosaur. In the close distance, there was an enormous dry slide the workers were constructing and Frank told us folks will eventually slide down in a tube. Both he and Sly said they would do it. I, however told them I’ll shoot the video of them yelling, looking forward to that scene as I know it will be comical! (update: the slide is open now, opened before we left the country).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catarata Rio Agrio

 

Even though Jurassic Park was not shot in Costa Rica only was set there, as we moved away from the dinosaur attraction, it truly felt as if we were in the movie! The terrain, WOW! We were getting hints of a waterfall and then we were finally there…Catarata Rio Agrio. Agrio translates to sour and it is because of the volcanic activity that makes the water acidic, you are not allowed to swim in the pools.

Frank had told us the water was acid and after a while of standing around and gazing, he started saying his eyes were itching and reiterated not to get too close to the falls. I felt nothing and immediately forgot his directive, so captivating did I find the falls. I got closer and he promptly came to get me. As we started to walk away, my eyes were burning. Not too bad but enough. Luckily, it subsided and the peepers were a-ok!

 

 

 

By the time we hiked up the substantial hill toward the substantial walk back to the exit (the park is sprawling!) it was time to get down to bidnez, it was time to eat! That meant a stop to our favorite restaurant Qrico in Aguas Zarcas but not before being treated to a beautiful sunset to mark the end of another fantastic day in Costa Rica.

 

 

 

 

 

Next: Part lll Costa Rica, Hello Again: San José and the Museo del Oro

 

 

Links

 

Bio Thermales Hot Springs   +506-8862-0926 (English & Spanish)

Frank Herrera Frank Tours CR Aguas Zarcas  Whatsapp: +506-8377-6663 (he is fluent in English!)

Q’rico Restaurant

Matiz Restaurante & Café

The Iguana Cafe

Rancho de Ceci

La Fortuna Gastro Club

 

While You’re Still Here…

 

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