Kekoldi Tour

For the past few months, the Kekoldi Tour has been the new addition to the variety of tours offered at Willie’s Tours. And for the past few months I have been insisting on going on this tour. It wasn’t quite clear what the tour entailed and I needed to gather pictures and text for the website and marketing materials.

After a long wait, the tour actually happened. It was Jorge, Minor (a local guide that works for Willie’s Tours) and a couple from Spain (we lucked out and we had clients).

We set off on our tour.. It was a beautiful landscape views all around us. You actually felt as though you were immersed in the jungle. Normally, in Cahuita you aren’t so totally surrounded by jungle. Birds were everywhere, cacao plants all around.

The tour started with an hour hike to the village where we were given history about the area. We then hiked another half hour to the observatory tour where you could look all around and see the ocean and the Panamanian Mountain Range. Birds and butterfly’s migrate to the tops of the tree tops.

After the observatory, for what we thought was another 20 minutes.. was in fact another hour to reach the waterfall. Luckily the waterfall was beautiful and refreshing. The tour was more then 5 hours including around 4 hiking. Lots of work.. In the end the tour was beautiful and very exhausting!!!! We couldn't help but make jokes the entire time.. "oh yeah.. just 40 minutes to the waterfall.. umm no!!"

Surprise Visit

A few days after my return home from Nicaragua, I was sitting at Parquecito (a local restaurant in town and the only one that does 2 for 1's) with Sabina (my coworker) and Deborah (a tour guide) when I heard this familiar voice behind me. I turned to see this tall man standing there, I squinted my eyes a bit, thinking man he looks familiar.. turned a little bit further and recognized the girl as well! Immediately I stood up and was so happy and excited because it was Mia and Carl!! They were part of the single group that I had traveled with.

They joined us for dinner! Much to my surprise they ended up spending 3 nights in Cahuita!! I had such a blast with them!! We had so many laughs and good times over drinks at night at reggae bar!! I was so happy to see them and I wish them the best of luck with their incredibly long journeys. I hope one day to see them again.. Maybe in either South Africa or England!

The girls!!! Sabina and Annie!

Mia and I with our Caipirina Drinks.. HMM tasty!

Carl doing his famous eye roll!! We all got that down pretty well after that trip!

End of the Trip

The end of my visa adventure went well. I had my first panicky moment while waiting for my bus to take me back to Costa Rica. I waited a good 40 minutes and was freaking out that the bus schedule had been wrong.. or wasn't coming.. since I had already paid for the fair. Luckily it was just very slow and did arrive!

I arrived late that night in San Jose, at around 10 p.m. After getting my luggage the taxi men were waiting to prey on us. One guy, apparently giving me the deal of my life said he would take me to my hostel for 5.000 colones.. which is like $10. I couldn't help but laugh in his face.. haha and then he said ok 4.000 and I kept laughing and he brushed me aside. I got the ride for 3.000 even though that in itself was still ridiculously expensive.. But I settled.

I got to the hostel, played catch up on emails and went to bed. I was exhausted!! I got up early the next day and caught the 6 a.m. back to Cahuita.

It was great to be back even though I had had an incredible adventure. I met amazing people.. and did something I didn't see myself ever doing!!

Night Time Adventure

Everyone in the group thought it would be a good idea to head into that town for dinner as well. The walk took maybe 40 minutes.. which wasn't bad. We had made it over rock formations just fine and had caught the most beautiful sunset ever! We took gorgeous pictures and had a relaxing time walking and talking.

Upon arrival at the restaurant/hotel.. the lovely couple was nowhere to be found. We ended up just sitting and having dinner the group itself. Thankfully it was happy hour and we were able to squeeze some cheaper drinks in there, since the prices on the menu were not all that cheap.. OOps...

The walk back is where it got interesting. We still aren't sure how this all went wrong.. but somehow we ended up walking a good half hour out of our way and getting lost. I knew when we went up the hill that it was too good to be true. it wasn't as rough as the first time we had climbed. We ended up figuring it all out, but oh man was this a show.

People were starting to get angry and upset. I couldn't stop laughing the entire time.. I thought it was hilarious.. especially since how did we get lost.. there was really only one road!! It was soo funny!!! I will admit though, had it been only two of us.. I would of felt differently.

That night we made it back over the rocks but barely.. they were quite slippery. By the time we got back to the hotel we were just plain tired and ready for bed. There was an incredible lighting show in the distance, but I was to tired to go back to the beach to watch...

All in all an interesting and adventurous evening!!

Internet?

The next day one of the guys in the group and I decided to head out and find Internet. We were told one was in close proximity after we reached the landing on the beach. I am not sure why I still trust when people say "oh yeah it's just right there.." Does that ever seem to be the case to you?? Or the other famous line "you can't miss it, it's right there!" Umm yes yes it can be missed and no no it's not right there!!!

We walked a good 40 minutes and finally found it. To which we find out that there are in fact no computers.. it's just Wifi. Luckily he had brought his ipod touch with him.. and we were able to send some short quick emergency emails back to humanity.

We met this great couple from new York and decided we would go back there that evening for dinner..

WOO HOO quite the morning.. Can't complain to badly as the exercise and the surrounding beauty is always worth the time.

Underneath the Stars

Our first night there we headed out to watch the stars. We just sat and relaxed.. talked about old memories.. made up funny things to say.. just enjoyed where we were and who we were.

Star gazing is by far one of my most favorite things in the world. Whenever you are you truly just watching the sky you see so many shootings stars it's incredible! It's like free fireworks! Doesn't get much better then that..

This was one of the best nights on that trip! We spent at least an hour just sitting and starring...

Playa Mathilda

After surfing that afternoon we headed north on a shuttle to Playa Mathilda. We had heard great reviews and after the previous night of loud and obnoxious bunk mates and some thievery going on.. we headed north bound.

The shuttle was beautiful, winding us up and around to reach the beach. It took me quite a while debating where I was going to stay after arriving. There was a little hostel right when you arrived..it didn't look that neat and or safe.. so I stuck it out with the group.

We had to wait till the tide went down before heading over to our beach! It was just as the sun was getting ready to go down. We managed to make it over there right before the last light fell. We ended up staying at a different place then planned.. which worked out better sine this place was cheaper..

We were all starving and exhausted from our long day of travel and surf in the immense heat. I think we were all ready to kill each other.... just from being so tired. We had a nice dinner at the hotel before deciding to just hit the sack or do our own thing.

Playa Mathilda is definitely a place I would recommend going.. Isolation, but pure beauty.. Can't go wrong there.. Probably one of the places I have felt the safest.

It was nice to be on a beach in isolation. For me it puts the world and me in alignment and back to center. This was a place I could of stayed forever. Utter beauty and perfection.