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Sayeth the guidebook, “Best time: November-March for the dry season.” We were off to the area around the Arenal Volcano, one of the newest volcanos in the hemisphere and most active volcanos in the world. So let’s go when the weather is supposed to be at its best.

Well. We can’t really complain; the place we chose to stay at was the Chachagua Rainforest Hotel. I mean, you’d expect to have some rain, right? We thought, though, that it would let up at least occasionally. The four days there were pretty much like the four days in Bajos del Toro: wet, with intermittent really wet.

Still, we figure we can make the best of it. TripAdvisor said the hotel’s local tour guide, David, was great, so we booked a two-hour hike on the paths around the hotel. It turned out to be the most aimless, uninteresting meandering “tour” we’ve ever done.

Then we figure the next day, during a break in rain, we’d take off on the bikes available through the hotel. Off we go … for a mile. When my front breaks quit working and Mark’s back tire went flat. So that didn’t work out so well either.

Related to all the volcanic activity in the area there are hot springs all through the region, and we figured if we can’t hike or bike at least we can lounge in the hot springs and sit in the naturally heated pools. Finally we found an activity that we’re good at!

Of course, when things start going wrong it kind of escalates. Rain, lousy hikes, and broken bikes; what else could go wrong, you ask? How about bed bugs? Yup, for the first time since we started this adventure. We’re ready to drive back to the beach, where we’ll be spending the next 10 days or so.

Yes!