After a long time traveling you kind of run out of money… but well, luckily there’s also a lot of free stuff! I always get to the point that I’m extremely happy to be traveling and even though the backpack might hurt my back after a while, I’m so happy that I don’t even feel the ‘travel-muscle pain’ anymore. However, getting to a hostel with a really good hot shower or finding a jacuzzi does seem to please my back every single time.

I’m in Costa Rica and I just met Patrick from Australia during a coffee tour in Monteverde with El Trapiche. We went out that night with a bunch of other backpackers and shared our travel plans. In two days we would meet again in Arenal, since we’re both heading to this volcanic area.

The cute little dog at the Sloth Backpackers Hostel

Leg space in Central America

In the morning I get picked up at the Sloth Backpackers hostel by a small van, where I can use an extra seat to store my backpack on. For some reason, all the buses in Central America think that we have really, really short legs and so the leg space is really nothing, but fortunately I can cope. Along the way I get to enjoy the amazing scenery again that Monteverde offers. Such a beautiful place with the mist hanging in between the trees and the mountain tops popping out in the back with an occasional pretty bird flying by.

One big lava field

We reach a place that looks like the sea but is actually only a lake. The Arenal volcano is at the back of the lake and I can only imagine how this place would look like after its eruption. One big lava field. A boat shows up and I assume we have to get on it, but a local guy tells us we still have to wait for our boat. About 20 minutes later another boat appears and I get to place my backpack inside of the boat and sit somewhere near a window to enjoy the view. We keep getting closer to the volcano and it’s truly magical. Again I try to imagine the volcano erupting and quickly I decide to think of something else since this is somehow a possible scenario with the Arenal volcano still being active!

When I reach the Arenal port another van is waiting for everyone who was on the boat and asks us where we want to be dropped off. I booked a night at Gringo Pete after someone’s recommendation, so that’s where I will be heading to. As soon as I arrive I doubt if this is the right place for me. There is absolutely nobody besides the sleeping receptionist who for some reason locks himself up in the reception with a closed curtain in front of the little window. I get a room, a big room, where I am all by myself. Well, that’s not so bad, I could use the privacy for once, but for some reason there’s a strange ambiance in this place. Anyhow, I decide to stay due to the ridiculously cheap rate. Only 5 dollar!

I found a cute little kitten in Arenal on the central square 🙂

Relaxing for free?

I leave my things in a locker and talk with my friend Patrick through the Facebook chat. He’s staying at another hostel with a pool and a nice lounge area, so I decide to meet him there. We check our tour options for Arenal and figure we should visit one of the spa hotels. That is, until we get into a taxi of which the driver tells us about a secret spa that’s for free. Okay, just bring us to the free one then! The driver stops by the side of the road and explains us where to walk to. He also asks us if we want him to wait for us, since it will cost him more to drive back and forth so he’d rather wait. We decide to make a deal with the guy and promise to be back within 2 hours. The taxi driver gives me one last piece of advise before the walk free local hot springs, “since you’re with him the guys won’t bother you hopefully, but just take care of your bag”. Sure we will. We’ll just take our bag with us to the different streams. And so it was arranged: we had two hours of relaxing in the local hot springs where only the locals go to.

The hot springs get accessible from the bridge, meaning you have to walk down to the ‘river’ and decide where you want to stay. Underneath the bridge some kids are sliding from one side to another while their laugh echoes through the tunnel and their parents watch them. Patrick and I decide to cross the river and leave our things by the riverside to explore the first actual natural pool. And oh my god, it’s soooo nice! The water is hot and it feels good to bathe in these natural surroundings after traveling in the sweaty hot weather of Costa Rica. We decide to explore a bit more of the hot springs, so we take our things and walk through the jungle by the riverside a bit further away from the bridge. It just got better. It start to rain! With the refreshing drops of mother nature it’s almost as if we were in a sauna right now and got the cold plunge all naturally. However, we do enjoy the hot water more, so we enter the hot springs once again at a different part of the river. We leave our things at the riverside and I let Patrick, carefully, explore this part of the hot springs. It’s a bit more slippery due to the moss, but my friend manages to find a comfy spot to relax at. Now it’s my turn to walk in. Of course I manage to fall down 2 or 3 times before I find a good spot to sit at, but it’s totally worth it.

Kids sliding down the hot springs underneath the bridge

Patrick walking into the hot springs

Patrick found a nice spot

My turn!

Jeej, I found a place to stay too!

We have no idea what time it is and how long we’ve been here, but after getting tired of our rock throwing game – we try to hit the giant red ants walking up the tree – we decide to walk back to the road and find our friendly taxi driver who’s hopefully still waiting for us.

What a great way to start the day. A trip to a new place, a natural hot spring that’s for free and we should definitely end today with some beers!

What is more important to you? The budget or the quality of the experience while traveling?

If you prefer to go to a more luxurious place where you can enjoy the same hot springs I recommend the Tabacón Thermal Springs, which I tried as well and likes a lot. Read more about the Tabacón Thermal Springs here!

About Renate Rigters

Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.

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