The La Fortuna Waterfall is a wonderous sight, but it’s not a waterfall you want to stand under for a pretty holiday snap.
The volume of water that spills 70m to literally crush down into the blue pool below would kill you if you stood directly below it.
So just look, but don’t touch.
And yes, even though you can’t stand under the waterfall directly (like you’d want to…) the 15-30 minute journey down mossy, steep steps to the waterfall – and even more arduous, the journey back UP said stairs – is totally worth it.
The sight of this waterfall is pure Costa Rica – at least that’s the feeling that overwhelmed me as I stood before it.
It was so real, in that moment, that I was ACTUALLY IN COSTA RICA.
Like a dream come true.
After the tiresome steps to and from the waterfall, you’d think that would be the last activity for my legs for a few days.
Wrong – the next day we went canyoneering – an adrenaline-pumping activity in one of the local rainforest where we rappelled, climbed and swung down waterfalls with ropes and harnesses, and in between rougher sections, enjoyed the natural beauty as we manuvered ourselves downstream via rockbeds and creeks.
An amazing experience I never once thought I would do in my lifetime.
It was absolutely incredible. I was so afraid beforehand, worried about how I would handle the heights, and if I would make a mistake with the ropes and harness and plunge to the rocky ground below.
But all went well.
As soon as I was stationed, leaning backwards off one waterfall, ready to rappel, the fear started to melt, and with my first step, disappeared, to be replaced with exhilaration.
I think rappelling is something I need to do more of – I really got a taste for it with this experience, and it’s something I definitely want to experience again – that adrenaline, mixed with a bit of fear, and powerful feeling of conquering something awesome.
So I think future travels – and even at home – might hold some more canyoneering/abseiling or rock climbing type experience for me.
What’s the most adrenaline-pumping thing you’ve ever done?