I was quite shocked to discover that we slept about 12 hours. Normally it takes my body a few days to get into vacation mode but I must have been really ready for a break. Throughout the night we discovered some of the shortcomings of the room and I was convinced we were in a bungalow that wasn't meant to be rented. AC didn't work, no TV (although that was fine), no clock and a dehumidifier that leaked all over the floor. Add in the fact that we backed up to a road, had families as our neighbors and we were adjacent to the pool - I was certain this couldn't be the high end secluded cabin we booked. Josh agreed we should ask.
We started the morning with our free breakfast and I choose the continental. Juice, fruit, toast, cereal. Josh got a full egg and sausage breakfast. Not too much later my stomach let me knew I should have gone for a more substantial breakfast. My decaf coffee was apparently not included, although Josh's regular coffee was. Quite odd. During breakfast I popped over to the front desk and asked if I could talk about our reservation. She asked if we were going to stay another night. Oh no, not this again. I said yes and was told that the manager would be in at 9 to talk to us. I headed back to finish breakfast.
By 9 we were done eating and headed back to the front desk to wait. 10 min later Felix let us know that they would have another room for us that day and the manager would be with us in 15 min. Fifteen minutes came and went. Then 50 minutes. At 10 I was getting fed up. My Pura Vida patience was growing thin. I went back to our clueless woman at the front desk. She smiled and asked how she could help me. Um go find the manager. I've now spent two hours waiting for people and we have only been in the country 20.
Magically, Ms. Manager appeared seconds later. She came out and I calmly asked if she could discuss our reservation with us and how we could remedy whatever issue there was. To her credit she was incredibly nice and didn't try to sugar coat anything. She said she didn't know how but they simply didn't put their reservation in when they sent my confirmation. They weren't expecting us and wanted to do everything to make it right. The room they gave us obviously wasn't what we booked and they weren't charging us for the first night. They would be moving us to the right cabin around lunch. I thanked her and told her we understood but wished her team had been honest and just told us what was going on. I'm pretty sure that surprised her as she thought we knew. I have a feeling someone was trying to save their butt and cover it up.
Feeling better knowing that I wasn't crazy and we'd end up in the right place we got our cameras and headed to the back of the property to hike. The hotel is literally along Rio Celeste. I'm sure I should have know. That but I didn't. I also thought the hike was a leisurely 5 min walk.it was more like a steep well-maintained 1 mile trek down to the river. What I love the most about this part of the country is the lush rainforest. This time of year it's super green with all the rain. We immediately heard the rushing Rapids below and were treated to peaks of water before we reached a hanging wood bridge that I was sure would collapse if we stood on. We eventually made our way across and shortly came to the end of the trail with a wooden pavilion and clearing at the waters edge that allowed us to rock hop out to a boulder.
The way back up was quite rough for me. I have had a heart condition all my life but during the last few years I've increasingly had some issues with my heart rate when I'm exercising or changing altitude. Combine those and I start feeling really odd and lightheaded at times. Josh kept pulling me ahead with the promise of the pool. Why did I not where my bathing suit underneath so that I could fall into the pool immediately after? That should be a tip. When hiking in CR in rainy season always be ready to douse yourself.
Before I could make it to the pool my stomach demanded that it be fed. I utilized our outdoor shower for the third time in 24 hours because I'm simply obsessed with outdoor showers. To lunch we headed and treated ourselves to more ceviche along with traditional lunch and quesadilla.
We checked on our room and it was ready for us. Felix was heading over to our room to drive our bags over. Easy peasy we loaded up and were in our new cabin seconds later. Yes. This is what I was expecting. The rooms all look the same inside. Except this one had our giant king bed, fresh roses scattered around and a basket of fresh fruit. Oh and AC, a clock, a TV, a lack of a dehumidifier and a porch that looked out to the lush rain forest.
Another trip to the hot tub. Yes, it's chilly here. And nap time.
Our plans for the night only included going back into Bijagua and going on a night tour with Frog's Paradise. Josh was skeptical as they had no website and only one review on Tripadvisor. I had been tipped of to the tour through an online forum when I commented that our favorite place was La Carolina. We decided to go the "recommended" route back to compare the two. Thank goodness we left really early to get food. It took us an hour and 45 minutes. The other way - 26 minutes. Four times longer. I wasn't happy. And the honest truth is that both ways are rough without 4x4. Never making that mistake again.
The directions to find a restaurant and go 200 meters South and 600 meters west turned out to be fine. It was marked well. We got there and a man approached us. He didn't seem to be expecting us. All of a sudden a light bulb went off and he said "Jenny?" Thank goodness. His dad Miguel had already started with another couple. They obviously forgot we were coming.
Miguel came and met us and I was instantly at ease. He reminded me of our beloved Alejandro at La Carolina. If you do this tour (which you should) wear long pants, put on bug spray,take a rain jacket and bring a flashlight. Or do what we did and wear shorts and borrow flashlights from Miguwl.
He started by showing us his gardens and explaining the history. My disclaimer is that he didn't speak a lick of English and I think I was the only one in the group who could communicate with him. Subsequently he liked me best! Pretty sure that is what he said. Anyway, 20 years ago the land was a cattle farm. Since then he himself planted the forest. Didn't know that was possible but I believe him. The path system was quite spectacular. His love for the land was obvious. He was the kind of man I just wanted to give a big hug because he was so kind.
Our tour quickly became a night tour and we were all participants in Spot the Animals. We found lots of frogs - 4 different kinds. A snake protecting its babies from a massive spider. Several types of birds. Giant grasshoppers. Moths. Sleeping butterflies. And lots of insects. Plus he grabbed a lot of plants and had be smell them and try to guess what they were in English. In case you are wondering most have the same names so I did pretty well in that game. Miguel also tried to get me to eat termites but I was saving room for dinner. Quite sure the German couple with us thought I was nuts.
Our tour ended as the rain changed from a sprinkle to a pour. Miguel tried to tell me it only cost $15/person - that is insultingly low and I plan to have a word with him - and I decided to pay him our own price. He gave me a hug and made me promise to come back again. Such a fun night.
By now it was pouring so we booked it to get back the DANGEROUS way (parents I'm being sarcastic) and grabbed dinner at Rio Celeste before heading to bed.
