Arenal

We started our 4th day off by driving into the jungle. 

There were signs for this place called Toad Hall for LITERALLY at least 30 miles of winding Costa Rican roads. With that kind of advertising, I couldn't say no (and one of their homemade signs said this place was in Frommers. Double bonus).

We stopped at Toad Hall and ate a yummy lunch and smoothie with parrots and toucans. 

We then drove even more into the jungle to our next place we were staying.

obligatory cow shot. look how cute they are though!

So we got to the Bio Thermales hot spring where were staying. How cute is this place right?
WELL. Let me tell you a little story about this yellow casita.
The employee gives us the key and is showing us around the room/kitchen and I see a few ants but in my head I'm like "Ashley, we're in the JUNGLE. It's okay to have a few creepy crawlers running around". Putting my brave face on, I don't say anything and just smile and nod and get excited to stay in this place.
Next thing I know, we're unloading our luggage and ants in the grass start crawling all over my feet. I calmly (as calmly as I do anything) start brushing them off when they start BITING ME!!!!!! Umm excuse me what?! Yes. Biting me. I start screaming for Scott to help me and I am just up in arms over this jungle "paradise". 
The story goes on.
We get into our place and I think I'm safe, when we go into the bathroom and there are ants literally covering a whole door frame. EVERYWHERE I tell you. I'm really trying to keep my cool for the sake of our perfect trip, but I'm slowly losing it.
We decide that we are okay and I start unpacking our things while Scott looks around. 
Cockroach. That's what he found next.
Obviously, that was the last straw and I had had it. We marched right up to those employees and told them what for.
They said they were Army Ants and that they come once a year and that we are just the unlucky ones who met them.
Of course.

SO! They moved us to this place:

Now, I don't know if I was just an odd kid, or if other people had this fantasy, but I always thought it would be so much fun to sleep in a bed with a mosquito net above it.

Well let me tell you, it's not all it's cracked up to be.

The bugs were KILLER. The jungle and me? We're not the best of friends.

All in all, it was a cool place to stay. Would I stay there again? No way.

The next day, we hiked, hiked, hiked.

We first ate lunch with a nice view of Arenal Volcano.

 Then, explored the jungle on our way to the base of the volcano. 

It was so much fun!!! We was the most gigantic 400 year old trees, lemurs, pecarries, lizards, butterflies, birds. It was awesome.

  

We made it to the top of the hike and it was breathtaking!! 

We sat and enjoyed nature and all God has made for a good 30 minutes with no one else interrupting us. It was perfect.

After a half hour, the thunder started roaring and the rain fell like I've never experienced. We were soaked in a matter of seconds and still had the whole hike to trek back. 

It was all swampy and wonderful though and the wildlife was in full force on our way back to the car.

The next day, we went Ziplining!! It was so so sooo much fun!! We had the time of our lives!

The zipline tour ended up being not booked at all so Scott and me got a private tour, just the two of us! FATE! It was also our anniversary that day.

The tour was 25 cables through a jungle canopy over 11 waterfalls. It was BEAUTIFUL!

furry little caterpillar

cutest legs and feet

 Halfway through the tour, our guides let us stop at this waterfall and natural pool to swim. 

It was the most wonderful!!! Scott and I swimming in this crystal clear water, sitting under the waterfall, soaking in nature. It was seriously amazing.

We finished off the zip lining tour in style, crossing bridges, repelling, and they even let us go on one of the cables together!! (they said they never do that, but they liked us extra I think?)

At the end of the tour, they had this most delicious meal waiting for us. 

It was authentic Costa Rican food and was easily the best meal we ate there the whole trip. YUM!

Our view during lunch