la fortuna boasts some serious natural wonders. aside from the rich and colorful flowers that pop out from every corner, there is la arenal, which is costa ricas youngest and most active volcano. when i saw this volcano for the first time, the sheer immensity took my breath away.
come to find out, the top of la arenal had been covered in clouds for the last few weeks, making it impossible to see the lava. on this day, the clouds merely skirted the volcano, exposing the top for our viewing pleasure. we were given directions to a spot behind la arenal that sports the ideal vantage point to watch the lava flow.
it was very peaceful once we arrived. there was an unexpected symphony of crickets and frogs to open our show. we were by ourselves. night approached, and we had a clear view.
we did end up seeing lava. every 40 minutes or so, we would hear noises that resembled gun shots, followed by balls of fire tumbling down the mountain. just as we were leaving and the clouds started to cover the crown, we saw a small lava slide.
