On Horseback Through the Fields and Across Rio Platanar

Here are two intrepid riders on tour near our villa.  We have a guide, Michael, leading us through fields of pineapple and sugar cane in the beautiful Costa Rican countryside.  Our ride lasted about 3 1/2 hours and for us that was more than enough.


We crossed several creeks and a river during the ride.  We used bridges for most of these crossings but we had to cross the Rio Platanar on horseback.  Here's a short video of the crossing.  Scary!  Rivers here don't have smooth flat bottoms; the riverbed is made of rocks.  I had asked the guide if the crossing was dangerous (thinking I'd put away the cameras in a ZipLoc bag if so) but he assured me it wasn't.  It got the old adrenaline flowing, for sure.


We took a break for lunch at a nearby restaurant, La Hacienda, where we have eaten before.  We had been there in the evening but not for lunch.  At lunchtime there's a great view of Arenal volcano on a clear day like yesterday.  Here's a view of Arenal I took on the trail:

After horseback riding in the hot sun we had to go back to The Springs Resort to use the second day of our 2-day pass.  It's much closer to the volcano than is the villa where I'm staying--it's past La Fortuna.  Briana had read about a restaurant, Las Brisetas, in a guidebook so that's where we ate dinner.  Lots of tourists but the food and service were good.  Then we drove back, passing Platanar and going along to La Florencia to pick up a few things at the supermarket Flosanco.

I have an open agenda now that Briana has returned to the States; I've discussed a couple of options with Esteban.  We'll have to see what develops.  Stay tuned for more adventures!


Pura vida!