ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 13: 

The last riding day on this adventure motorcycle tour around Costa Rica and Nicaragua has come,....but don´t be sad,...a twisty road back to the Central Valley and the 1928 old Oxcart factory at Sarchí is already on our plan,...and why not,...take a taxi and go to know San José...

We got it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you Henry!

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 12:

Early in the morning we go for canopy (zip lining) at MOnteverde with one of the longest lines in hole Costa Rica up to 1000 m long

Riding down to the Pacific

Crocodile safari and bird watching  before we get to our overnight destination at the Pacific ocean.

Anybody want to go swimming?

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 11:

Sniff , sniff,...bye, bye  paradise......

.....never mind....Monteverde is plenty of surprises......

Ferry to Puntarenas

Riding up to Monteverde

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 10:

Leaving Tamarindo we ride crossing Nicoyas Peninsula , today we have to ride on some gravel, but that´s not a problem on our dual purpose BMWs!

Welcome to the Paradise: Tango Mar..........mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Howler monkey

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 9:

Back to Costa Rica. A fast border cross bring us back to the beautifull Costa Rica. Tamarindo beach and a cold cocktel is waiting for us!!

A huge mosquito cloud in front of the motorcycle,...billions.....i´ve never seen anything like that...later we gave our best to wash them away.!!

Pirates Bay......close to Tamarindo,..Clement forgot his Camera at our last lunch stop and had to ride back to pick it up....he was lucky...and the waiter as well (she got 20 US$ tip)!!

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 8:

A lot of highlights are waiting for us in our rest day in Granada, Nicaragua

It´s said that  Hotel La Gran Francia was once the place were the filibuster William Walter lived before practically destroyed the whole city of Granada.

Granada city Cathedral

O boat trip around the Isletas Las Isletas  an archipelago of 365 little volcanic islands in Lago Cochibolca- Nicaragua Lake is a expirience of a life, great to relax, bird wathing and enjoy stunning views of Monbacho volcano and the 365 islands,..

Surprise....a motocross championship!!

Nicaraguan police-car!

Catarina viewpoint, Laguna de apoyo and Granada behind us.

Apoyo lagoon is the biggest Nicaragua's lagoon, its name, Lake "Alt-poyec", means "Healthy Water" and derives from the kind of its water. Apoyo lagoongives hospitality to many species of animals and plants, some of this are endemic of Nicaragua and it preerve the most part of its natural resources. Its warm and cristal clear waters, which reach to a depth of 200 mt, invite you to swim or to enjoy other actuatic pastimes. The luxurious tropical vegetation alongside its beaches make this lake unique in its genre.

Almost Henry!

What is Santana doing here?????

Masaya Handcraft market

Breathtaking Masaya Volcano, sunset and night tour....amazing!!

During the pre-Columbian age, Masaya Volcano was on object of veneration by the indigenous people. They believed the eruptions were signs of anger from the Gods and to appease them they offered sacrifices, which ofter included small children and maidens. During the Conquest, the Spaniards baptized the active Volcano "LA BOCA DEL INFIERNO" or "THE MOUTH OF HELL". They then planted a cross, "LA CRUZ DE BOBADILLA" (named after Father Francisco Bobadilla). It was placed on the crater lip in the 16th century in order to exorcise the Devil.

Bat caves,..thousends of bats going out the caves after the sunset,...swith of the torchs....and fell them flying close to you!!.. woww!!

Lava caves

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 7:

Today we cross the border to Nicaragua, the amazing and charming Granada City is waiting for us:

Trucks need from 2 to 3 days to go through, we got it in just two hours!!

Veterninary disiase control.

She is ever there with  smile on her face!

Good paved road direction Granada

A diserved coffe and Photo stop let us enjoy wonderfull views over Islas Ometepe and Lake Cochibolca-Nicaragua

Some Nicaraguan Folklore!!

Volcán Concepción, Islas Ometepe (Ometepe Islans)

Thw "Holly Week" is close, "Nicas" on a "Via Crucis" Pilginage.

We get our hotel in Granada, close to the Cathedral, Central Park and La Cazada street , all reacheable on  foot.

Time for lunch in one of the best restaurants in Granada, Nicaragua.

El Zaguán Tenderloin.....something to remember...

David, is that your meal , or is it for the whole week?.....Guapote from Isla Zapatera, Lake Nicaragua,...the biggest from the kitchen,... delicius!!!

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 6:

We leave our hotel at La Fortuna and jump on our motorcycles for a ride around la Laguna del Arenal (Arenal lake).

Surrounded with rain forest a relaxed ride on twisty and bumpy roads ......sundenly...what´s that?...Switzerland?...Bayern?..no Costa Rica,....

A bauernhof with palm trees...?????

Time for a coffe stop and enjoy the nice views over the lagoon

At Café de Macadamia every meal is organic..and it´s cakes..excellent!

The weather can change very quick in Costa Rica...starting with 19ºC in the early morning....it may reach over 30ºC at the tropical dry forest of Guanacaste province...time to open the vents on our riding gear!

In the middle of the tropical dry forest a hidden oasis....

Some dirt is a must....but no problem with such a group of good riders...!!

Cataratas Llanos de Cortés- LLanos de Cortés Waterfalls

Time for a refreshing bath....and in such a beutiful place.. a smile talks for itselfs!!

At the dry season, fires are not rare.

Through the river or through the bridge?....easy answer...)

Getting our hotel close at the feet of Ricón de la Vieja Natural Park

Our hotel rooms

Hot springs directly at the hotel

Also some petroglyphs..

At the hotel trail the nature shows up...bull ants, toucans, squirrels ...and  many more

Volcanic Therapeutic mud...not only good for your skin but funny..!!!

Champagne for everybody to celebrate this gorgeus day...thank you buddies!!

Sunset...no comment.

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 5:

It´s the second rest day on this motorcycle trip around Central America. La Fortuna has a lot to offer: rafting, hiking, hot springs, waterfalls, Arenal volcano N.P. just to name a few.

Some prefer just to keep quiet at the hotel and enjoy its hot springs and relaxed atmosphere. The rest went to enjoy and know more about the rain forest at Arenal hanging bridges. As usual Henry makes a perfect job as a naturalist guide, telling about the secrets of Costa Ricas biodiversity..

Our hotels rooms-bungalows.

Arenal Volcano doesn´t like to show up completely it´s majesty

Hanging bridges at Arenal

beautiful snail

At the forest you must listen as much as you look...sounds will give you a tip about where the animals are hidden..

Central america lizard

Toomas,.....)

Don´t look for the Big Five in Costa Rica...better look for the "small five"..

Bromelis, Heliconias, Horquideas,... epiphytes that colonize the tree tops-(canopy)

Leafcutter Ants : next to humans, leafcutter ants form the largest and most complex animal societies on Earth. In a few years, the central mound of their underground nests can grow to more than 30 metres (98 ft) across, with smaller, radiating mounds extending out to a radius of 80 metres (260 ft), taking up 30 to 600 square metres (320 to 6,500 sq ft) and containing eight million individuals.

Arenal lagoon

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 4:

Again on our BMW motorcycle saddle we leave Manuel Antonio Natural Park paradise. Once on the Costanera Sur we reach Nicoya Golf. Time for a coffe stop and some nice pictures.

Riding on the Costanera Sur through oil palm plantations

Fishermen repairing their nets at Nicoya Golf.

Riding uphill the weather changes very fast, it start to be cooler and cooler...is it rain?...no, it´s just foggy!

Volcán Poás was too shy today and didn´t like to show us it´s beuty, so looks it like:

Poás volcano is a powerful symbol of the geothermal forces that formed Costa Rica.

When the mist and clouds part you'll see the sulfuric, bubbling, green rain fed lake at the bottom, surrounded by smoke and steam rising from fumaroles. Water from the lake is constantly seeping through cracks in the hot rock, evaporating and building pockets of steam. When the pressure in these pockets exceeds the weight of the water above, the steam breaks through in geysers that rocket up to 820 feet (250 meters) high. Don't worry about getting a shower though, the crater is 1,050 feet (320 meters) deep. At almost a mile (1.6 km) across it's also the largest active crater in the world.

Poás is active, but don't expect to see a full fledged eruption or even any lava flow here, the most recent period of eruptive activity ended in 1954. The last major activity was in 1910 when nearly a million tons of ash was ejected along with an immense column of smoke and steam.

The volcano provides an excellent if extreme example of the effects of acid rain. Around the caldera, and for several miles downwind, the vegetation is stunted brown and black by the tainted moisture that precipitates from the omnipresent clouds near the peak.

Trails that lead through cloud forest stunted and twisted, not only by volcanic emissions but the rigors of the cold windy high altitude habitat. Lake Botos fills an extinct crater at the end of one trail, and is home to many cloud forest birds including hummingbirds, tanagers, flycatchers, toucanets, Costa Rica's national bird the clay-colored robin, and the area's most famous avian resident, the resplendent quetzal.

After some liquid sunshine, riding downhill on BMWs on a twisty road we get to the beutyful La Paz Waterfall

San Fernando waterfall

The stunning Sarapiquí river canyon on the right, covered with rain forest.

Our afternoon coffe brake let us watch some of the biggest green Iguanas you will probably ever seen!

A Pitahaya (dragon fruit) icecream is a perfect idea for the end of our longest riding day on this motorcycle tour around Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 3:

For the "early bird" the first  rest day on this motorcycle trip at Manuel Antonio  Natural Park has many surprises to offer.

This park has one of the most impressive landscapes of the world and has several coves with many white sand beaches and lush foliage amidst great mountains and forests that reach the beaches. Additionally, it is located in the tropical forest.

It has a large land and marine biodiversity with beautiful coral reefs.

Manuel Antonio beach!

Iguana coming out of a indian almond tree hole.

Henry is a never ending source of information!

To finish this amazing and warm day, nothing better than a refreshing fresh cut "pipa fría" (coconut)!!!

And to finish this awesome day we enjoy our dinner on a "secret" sea-food "marisquería" restaurant,...the owner Juiberth alias "Soila"...is an excellent cook!!

Lobster, red snapper, squid, prawns, crabs mussels,...ummmmmmmmmmm yummy, yummy!!!!!!

Thank you buddies!!

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ACR1302. Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua day 2:

We leave behind our hotel in Turrialba. 15 km of hardpacked gravel roads for warming up our  machines, surrounded with sugar cane plantations. The road to Cachí damp is delicius, riding by the Reventazón river canyon,...some iron bridges crossing and we get into Orosí Valley,...Coffe plantations, "Tapantí-Cerro de la Muerte N.P. at the background,....stunning.

Ready to ride!

Stunning landscapes...

Reventazón river canyon

With its rain forests, volcanoes, hills and valleys lined with rows upon rows of coffee plants and sugar cane, the Orosi region offers some of the richest scenery to be found in Costa Rica. But the region is also rich in history and contains a number of monuments to the past, including a colonial capital founded in 1563 and archeological excavations that date back to 1000 B.C. Although this area was one of the first in the country to be settled, it has been one of the last to be developed for tourism.

A few kilometers away, at the southern end of the valley, the road ends and the Parque Nacional Tapantí Macizo Cerro de la Muerte begins

Orosi Valley. Lago de Cachi lies to the northeast.

A coffe brake and time to visit "La Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles"

The basilica was built in 1639 and was partially destroyed by an earthquake. The basilica has since been restored and constitutes a unique mix of colonial architecture as well as 19th century Byzantine style.

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels is consecrated to the Virgin of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, a small representation of the Virgin Mary carrying the infant Jesus, said to have been discovered by a peasant girl in Cartago. The story goes that the little girl found the small statue on a rock and took it home. The next morning she found that the statue was not there but back at the rock, so she took it to the priest and he locked it in a small box. The next morning the statue was back at the rock. During the construction, the church was destroyed by earthquakes so many times, it was finally decided to move it to the location where the statue was found and they were able to finish construction. Many people (one being Andrea Meszaros, a local expert on religious affairs) think that the earthquakes were signs that the Lady of Los Ángeles wanted the basilica built there.

Owing to the dark complexion of the stone statue, she is sometimes affectionately called La Negrita or Reina de Cartago (lit. Queen of Cartago). The original statue is kept in a golden shell inside the basilica. An official decree declared the Virgin of the Angels the official patron of Costa Rica.

Many pilgrims finish the way in on their knees. On the 8th August every year , pilgrims all around Costa Rica walk the 20 km from San José to Cartago and some of them finish the last meters walking on their knees.

Humminbirds-colibries at our cofee stop!

Cerro de la Muerte is the highest point in the Costa Rican section of the Inter-American Highway. Its name means "Mountain of Death", since in the past crossing the mountains from the Valle Central meant a three or four day journey, on foot or on horseback, and many ill-prepared travelers succumbed to the cold and rain. However, the peak is now easily accessible since the highway runs close by.

Finally we get our beautiful hotel in Manuel Antonio.

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ACR1302.Adventure Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the second Edelweiss Bike Travel Tour around Central America has began:

 Again an international group of motorcycle enthusiastic meet at Hotel Intercontinental in San José, Costa Rica. Three americans: Joseph,  Sally and Clement Salvadori the motorcycle writer and journlist. The friends Tony , David and Rodney coming from "Joburg" Sudafrika, Toomas from Estonia, and the german group Lutz, Niki, Manfred and Dagmar. Our Tico (costa rican) guide driving the van and taking care of our luggage.....and......i forgot....me , Alejandro the spanish Tour Guide;;-D

Time to know each other and make the motorcycle handover before it gets too dark. ( I do did it Doris!!)

A tasty wellcome dinner for a pleasent tour beggening!

The early bird catches the worm! We leave early in the morning San José, today it´s sunday, that´s why the traffic is not so busy. Once we get Cartago, the ancient colonial Costa Rican capital, we turn left and start climbing to Volcán Irazú,riding on nice turns we reach the 10000 ft (3432m) over see level volcan top.

On our way up , we meet some other motorcycle Tico groups.

We are lucky and the clouds keep below us.  The view from the top of volcán Irazú is stunnig, time for some pictures an a coffe break

Crater Diego de la Haya, behind Volcán Turrialba

To ride the 200 m to the top and ride down again is a little challenge,...the past rains had made the potholes even dipper and wider,...take it easy!

Nice views over Valle Central de Costa Rica (Central Valley)

Time for a tipical Costa Rican-Tico meal. Handmade Tortillas!

Once in Costa Rica you cannot avoid to taste their yummy natural juice: "naturales de mora para todos"!!!

These bridges are so narrow that trucks and buses must cross the river.

It´start to be foggy,...bettter we ride to our hotel and go for a jacuzzi to recover...tomorrow we have a long and fantastic riding day,....get ready!!