Adventure Weekend in Rincón de la Vieja

After a pretty laidback week in and around Potrero, Todd, Kevin, Pam and I left for Rincón de la Vieja National Park on Saturday morning.  After lunch in Liberia we followed our directions to the hotel, which seemed extremely simple.  From Liberia, go to San Jorge.  We quickly located the sign that pointed the way to San Jorge and off we went…until we decided that the road we were on simply could not be the road to San Jorge because it was unbearably bumpy.  We went for the alternate route through Bagaces instead.  In Bagaces we asked a few men on the street for directions and followed the road, “derecho, no desvien de esta calle”, “straight, don’t leave this road” then cross the bridge that is 100 meters after Guayabo and turn left, you’ll be to San Jorge in no time.  An hour and a half, another pair of helpful townspeople and one even bumpier road later, we made it to the Rinconito Lodge.

Kevin and Pam Relaxing at Rinconcito Lodge

By the time we arrived the only thing we had time to do was a hike on the property, which was quite lovely.  We headed back to the lodge when it started to rain and spent the rest of the afternoon reading, napping and relaxing.  They provided us with a lovely dinner of fresh vegetables, steak, mashed potatoes and flan which really hit the spot after a long day in the car.  After a few rounds of cards and Guesstures (Kevin and Pam are the undeniable champs) we turned in early to get ready for our day of adventure on Sunday.

Todd Hiking Around Rinconcito

Hacienda Guachipelin was the starting point for our jam-packed day of adventure.  At 8:00 we got fitted for harnesses to go on their canopy tour.  By 8:30 or so we were hooking in to zip lines, Tarzan swings and climbing walls.  Their course was in such a beautiful setting and we were able to see so much rain forest including waterfalls and natural rock canyons.  It was so exhilarating and after a few zip lines the nerves started to fade and the adrenaline started to flow.  We even took some of the zip lines upside down.  It was such a fun way to start the day!

Reading to Zipline!

Next up was the river tubing.  Calling what we did “tubing” does not do what we did justice.  I’d call it “whitewater tubing” or maybe an “extreme tubing adventure” or even, “daredevil rapids on a tube”, something a bit more intense that merely “tubing”.  Our river adventure included quite powerful rapids.  They were so powerful in places that, at various points on the river, I was caught under a waterfall and also launched from my tube three times.

Todd and Kevin Scaling the Canyon

One time, I had been waiting at one of the barriers that the guides had put up as waiting points before intense portions of the river.  Putting up these yellow ropes was supposed to ensure that the guides who had been helping on the previous section of river had enough time to get to the next section to help us through it.  As I was waiting, the tree holding the yellow rope started to slip and the guide told us to just let go.  When I did, my lifejacket got caught on the rope and my only choice to free myself was to reach back and loosen myself.  As I did that my tube slipped form under me and I was floating free down the river.  Not too far down the river, a kind river mate got hold of my tube and I was soon back up on the tube, ready for the next set of rapids.

At the beginning of the "tubing" adventure...

Todd Hearts Tubing

At some point I fell off again, not a big deal.  The third time I fell off though, I got kind of rocked.  I was flipped out and managed to grab the strap of my tube, which I was holding onto for dear life.  A woman who had just gone through was kind enough to let me grab onto her tube and make my way through the rest of that (quite long) stretch of rapids as a stowaway.  As I was gripping my tube and her tube going through the rapids, I realized that my legs were being scraped against the bottom of the river.  Ouch.  Fortunately, I came out with nothing more than a few scrapes on my legs and hands and one under my chin.  Despite being a bit banged up at the end, it was really quite enjoyable.

Kevin Lost Pam!

After a wonderful buffet lunch we headed out on a horseback ride to a waterfall.  In all the excitement of our engagement last weekend, both Todd and I forgot to mention that we went on a horseback ride at La Carolina Lodge.  About three minutes into it I declared that I hate horseback riding and would never attempt it again.  Fast-forward eight days… What can I say?  I got back on the horse.

While I can’t say that I love horseback riding, it was better and I found it easier to control the horse.  Swimming at the waterfall at the end of the trail was definitely worth the twenty-minute ride.

It was a really fun, packed day and I’m so glad we decided to do the one-day pass.  What I still can’t believe is that it was only $80.00 per person, lunch included!  We figure that we basically got one of our activities and lunch for free, such a great deal!  It was a wonderful weekend and I’m so glad that Kevin and Pam were here to go with us.  It’s been so great to have friends here to share our little corner of Costa Rica with.

Enjoying Dinner and Good Company at Rinconcito