Uvita Beach, Costa Rica

Although I was half and hour late I successfully picked up Kai at the San Jose airport and we had (overpriced) breakfast in Alajuela (town near the airport) before heading for our planned hike in the Baurilio Carillo National Park.  We were disappointed with all the traffic driving through the park but eventually went down a tiny unmarked lane and found a trailhead.  The walk was better than expected – both of us seeing quicksand for the first time (see the comparative photos showing the stick in the ground and out of it), as well as some kind of anteater, and a bright red (tiny) frog.

Another Aviary for Me, Flutterby Hostel, Costa Rica

We returned to San Jose for the night and went out to some dingy bars around the center, sidestepping the abundant prostitutes around the hotel. In the morning we started out preparing to drive through the mountains through to San Isidrio and down to the coast to the Corcovado National Park on the Osa peninsula. We arrived in Uvita on the coast at 4:30pm still 2 hours  from the park and it started to rain heavily so we decided to spend the night there instead.  We eventually found the Flutterby Hostel and had a good time talking to the owner over beer during the evening.  I have to partially retract my last post at this point as the Uvita beach was really undeveloped and quite nice.

In the morning in order to make it to Panama City we drove all day. The border crossing was exceptional – especially the Panamanian side – helpful clerks, no ‘helpers’, no lines, easy… was a Sunday.

Kai is flying out in two days and I’m supposed to get up tomorrow at 4am to drive to the Kuna Indian territory in by the Carti river where I’ll get my bike on a catamaran to sail to Columbia… Anxieties about sinking, rough weather, the state of my bike by the time it arrives are developing in earnest.

Quicksand in Costa Rica

Kai, Heredia Pali Supermarket, Costa Rica	Quicksand stick in, San Jose, Costa Rica	Quicksand stick out, San Jose, Costa Rica	San Isidrio, Costa Rica
San Isidrio, Costa Rica	San Isidrio, Costa Rica	San Isidrio, Costa Rica	Flutterby Hostel, Cabin, Uvita Costa Rica
Another Aviary for Me, Flutterby Hostel, Costa Rica	Uvita Beach, Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa, Rica to Uvita to Panama City, Panama