The Switzerland of Latin America
Dear International Living Reader,
Arenal in north-central Costa Rica was a complete surprise to me. I had seen the raw jungle in the southern zone and the cleared rolling landscape of Guanacaste, but neither prepared me for what was to come.
Arenal could be mistaken for Switzerland or the Italian lakes. The focal point, Lake Arenal, is surrounded by sloping hills and pasture land. Rising majestically on one side, is the pointed cone of a volcano, dominating the landscape.
The volcano is live and without sounding too New Age, has an aura all its own. I stood on a hillside dipping gently down to the lake, with a direct volcano view, and was mesmerized. At night, you can see the lava flowing; the best viewings are by boat from the lake.
There is a Swiss mini-village, complete with church and chalets, perched on the hillside overlooking the lake. There is a German bakery in the town of Nuevo Arenal, and an Austrian restaurant, all adding to that middle-European feel.
It is a tranquil, peaceful place…howler monkeys in the trees was the noisiest encounter that we had. Hiking, horseback-riding, bird-watching, swimming, fishing (mainly for rainbow bass), and boat trips are all possibilities. The lake is host to world-class windsurfing from November to April and the weather is moderate all year round.
Property prices here are as mesmerizing as the volcano. A three-bed, three-bath home was listed for $139,000. A fixer-upper was on offer for $45,500 and 38 acres of forest, pasture, rivers, and springs with volcano views was $139,000. Development here is in the early stages; most larger parcels of land have been sold.
The hot springs in La Fortuna are a major attraction that I wanted to visit, but ran out of time. The thermal water has reputed healing powers, and the volcanic mud is great for deep cleansing. There are a number of hotels that offer a variety of treatments...or you can simply soak contentedly outdoors in the heated water and relax.
And at the end of my day’s scouting, I sat down to a delicious meal at the Gingerbread Hotel. The chef hails from Israel and is passionate about food. His wild mushrooms in a wine and cream sauce on homemade bread was mouth-watering. The hotel has three rooms, set on the edge of Nuevo Arenal, and the restaurant opens for lunch and dinner.
Margaret Summerfield
