North Bound to La Virgen Feb 21st '07

Hiking view of my long trek into La Virgen by foot

View more photos 

  The bus drive from Heredia to La Vigen was very scary at first glance. The bus drivers, truckers, etc. that drive this curvy highway must be on their top A game. My particular bus driver was crazy and aggressive, but yet he was very aware of certain sharp corners. I suppose this comes along with driving this Highway everyday of the work week. After I calmed my nerves and focused my energy on the scenic aspects of the trip I saw amazing sights of rolling mountain hillsides filled with plantain fields, small farming towns, beautiful wildlife consisting if the most colorful birds I have ever seen, and huge roadside waterfalls.

   After getting off the bus about 14 miles short of my destination in a town called San Miguel my heart dropped knowing the hike ahead of me. I was to either wait another 2 hours for the next bus or huff it by foot. I decided to hike and it turned out to be a very, very long hike indeed. But I^m glad this happened because I saw my surroundings with more detail. The North Mountains of Costa Rica are breath taking views of what seems to be never ending rainforest.   About 2 hours into my hike I was able to thumb down a tourist/commuter bus the rest of the way to La Virgen. Believe me when I tell you it was an absolute joyous moment when I got on that bus.

Waterfall taken from a moving bus window

View more photos 

   My accommodations for the next few nights (Rancho Leona) is a quiet, clean, mecca for passing kayakers and rafters. The owner and Host Leona speaks fluent Spanish/English and was very helpful in making me feel right at home. A quick stroll to the river behind her property was the perfect suggestion to making me feel relaxed from the long day of travel.  My very clean room has been a comfortable getaway for much needed relaxation. The town La Virgen is a very nice community filled with quite a few bars and restaurants and has that small town vibe. The local people have been nothing but helpful and nice.

    One of the best parts of La Virgen is the Snake Museum "Serpentario" owned by Lydia which has a very impressive collection of live snakes. I saw my first live Anaconda and every other poisonious snake indigenous to Costa RIca. I would later realize this trip to the museum would not help my solo hike to a remote waterfall.