Day 3: La Fortuna
We had another leisurely morning. Our only deadline was arriving at the breakfast buffet before it closed. It was worth it! The buffet at La Saca was insane. It had Costa Rican dishes, custom omelets, a pancake and waffle bar, as well as fruits and fresh juices. Breakfast is included with every stay.
KidTripster Tip: Arenal Manoa Hot Springs Resort offers a gluten-free and vegan menu. Wait staff were helpful navigating our food allergies.
From breakfast we headed right to the thermal pools. Some pools are more social (like the one with the swim-up bar!). Whereas, others are more secluded and surrounded by lush greenery. The natural hot springs pools and ponds are fed by mineral-rich thermal waters, considered therapeutic. We can confirm that these waters have the power to induce instant relaxation.
Sloth Tour
After a morning of quiet relaxation, we headed back to our room to gear up for our big adventure of the day – our sloth tour with Callidryas Tours. The tour includes free pick up from area hotels.
The rain rolled in just as it was time to head out. We grabbed our rain jackets and hopped in the van, hoping we’d still see wildlife. Our worries were set aside almost immediately. We’d just pulled onto the road from the resort, when the driver stopped abruptly and pointed out a sloth in a tree above. We peered at it though binoculars from the van window, then moved on as our guide assured us there was much more to see ahead.
We arrived at the Callidryas Tours office, where we met up with another group, three French tourists with a French speaking guide. Just alongside the road, there was another sloth in a tree just so we spent some time watching him from below.
The sloth is Costa Rica’s national animal. Costa Rica’s home to two types of sloths – a two-toed and a three-toed variety. There are just six types of sloth in the world.
Wanting to show us more sloths, we got into a van with our English speaking guide, and the French tourists and their French speaking guide. The sloth viewing takes place in the wild. The guides have an idea of where to find the animals, since these creatures don’t move too far or fast. We stopped at several locations, where we would get out of the van and use high-powered binoculars to view the sloths. Our sightings included a mama and a baby, a few juvenile sloths, and more wildlife, like lizards and toucans.
We’d never have spotted the sloth on our own. Although the sloth were just hanging there right in front of us, they blended in with the leaves and trees. The guides were very knowledgeable. To become a certified guide in Costa Rica, they must go through a rigorous two-year training program. The experience was educational and fun. After a few hours of wildlife viewing, we stopped for a beverage and snack, then got dropped off at our hotel.
The Sloth Tours take place twice daily, with a 100% guarantee of seeing sloths.
Spa Time
Back at our hotel, the girls had an appointment to keep. We walked from the lobby directly to the spa. The spa’s tucked away in a tree covered area, alongside the river. Our massage room was open-air, overlooking the river. There wasn’t any need for that typical spa music, as we relaxed instead to the sound of rushing water and chirping birds.
KidTripster Tip: The hotel offers a free shuttle service around the large property. It’s helpful to have Costa Rican currency available for tipping.
We returned to the room to meet back up with the boys. We decided to return to La Saca for dinner. The dinner menu was sophisticated and pricey, but the food was good.
Keep reading: click “4” to read about why we got up extra early.
