Panama City to Monteverde (Costa Rica)

Three hours in a jeep through the jungle was rewarded by our first sighting of the San Blas Archipelago, 365 paradise islands surrounded by crystal clear waters.

We stayed with Eulogio and his family on the island of Carti, one of the few islands that has more than one family on it, with a population of between 600 and 1000 people. Everyday he would take us on boat trips to beauty spots such as the Island of Dog (not to be confused with the Isle of Dogs), Pelican Island or to reefs where star fish lazed.

We even managed to stay on our own desert island, not the most beautiful, but all ours. The island had 2 unfinished huts, 3 trees and hammocks for beds, so arrangements were made for our meals to be delivered to us - not bad considering we got fresh lobster for lunch. We spent a night under a shooting star sky and watching the sea bugs glow, and the day splashing around and snorkeling around the coral, the island was Coral Island after all.

Having finally started getting a bit of a tan, I've been using factor 50, we needed to rest our skin and head into the mountains. And you'll be pleased to know that ever since we've been rained on everyday.

Boquete was a small and relaxed town surround by cloud forest and coffee plantations. We spent our first day walking around the hills (actually they are mountains but to us anything without snow on them seems so feeble) and pottered around the private gardens of El Explorador, which was sold to us as an Alice in Wonderland experience but in reality was just a collection of junk that some mad old woman had filled with plants.

The highlight was having a tour around the Kotowa coffee plantation and factory with a session of coffee tasting. We tried the 4th best organic coffee in the world, the 1st prize winner sells at $120 a lb, and I now know I favor a medium roasted Arabica bean.

For those of you who are worrying about their acohol intake, Panama has come up with the solution, beer that actually sobers you up...

Following a nine hour bus journey, combined with our longest border crossing and two bag checks, we arrived in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, and happily left the following day.

We spent our time in La Fortuna waiting for the cloud, and rain, to leave and give us a view of the active volcano Arenal. Three days later we finally give in, we never did see the top, and go on a night lava viewing tour. From 2km away we watch boulders of lava, the size of cars, dropping out of the clouds and explode as they tumble down the side of said volcano. Sadly the minuscule lens of my point shoot camera couldn't capture it.
We left the following day going by jeep-boat-jeep, with the view still strangled by clouds , and arriving in the Quaker town of Monteverde. Hours later we find ourselves on a canopy tour of the cloud forest ziplining through the trees.

And, the tash is coming along nicely but is feeling shy without your support, one whole GBP will do! Sponsor me here: http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1815071

Tx