Monteverde- Senda Suites

​A 5K run through the Tabacon Hot Springs resort grounds kick started the day and kind of helped justify the omelette and other breakfast goodies. Phillipe from Odyssey tours was there to pick us up promptly at 10am albeit in a 7 seater car. Some miscommunication on their part extended the journey from Arenal to Monteverde by an hour or so, most of that wait was by the Lake Arenal waiting for the 3 other tourists to be picked up by their transport so our group could board. Our 45 minutes personal boat ride was pleasant; our captain was eager to point out the snow egrets and other birds to us. Parishi took one of her many naps that day stretched along the seat of the boat.

The much larger and cozier car that picked us up from the lake took us on a 2.5 hour ride to Monteverde. However, the magical verdant scenery and worthwhile stops made the ride seem like an excursion in itself. Our stop at the sugar cane plantation was a call back to simpler times in India and we all enjoyed operating the sugarcane machine from the 1800s! We sipped multiple varieties of sugarcane juice: plain, with lemon, and with ginger.

 We arrived at the sustainable eco friendly luxurious Senda suites hotel around 2pm, and were greeted with a fresh sugar cane cocktail Cano Dulce, the piece of jaggery in the citrusy drink was a neat touch. The place is spread out on acres of land, the approach to our suites was a short hike in itself. Both of our cottages 622 and 628 had the most serene views of the Nicoya peninsula from the porch with the sunset on the horizon. 

The kids enjoyed roasting marshmallows in the bonfire 🔥 while the adults attended the Yoga class in the studio after a flavorful late lunch at El Sopa in the hotel. 

The cashew cream garlic pesto soup and the entire farm to table vegetarian menu was soul pleasing. It was no surprise that this restaurant was rated #2 in Monteverde on TripAdvisor, we’d find out the next day from our fellow tourists from Sacramento! After a dinner of gnocchi, salad and veggie tagliatelle pasta we were picked up by our Night Safari tour. 

Parishi had decided to skip the tour and catch up on homework and college apps. Our group of 7 and the guide treaded through the windy rain forest sighting sleeping toucans and other birds on the tree branches, the motion from the wind intruding their siesta. Daddy long legs, spiders, leaf cutter ants, grass hoppers and 4 green poisonous pit vipers in attack position were few of the nocturnal creatures we got to meet up close and personal, thanks to our guide’s sharp trained eyes. A 2 toed sloth curled up and hanging out high on the tree top was a cool sight as well. The sounds of the crickets and the leaves from the giant ficus trees shaking in the wind, hundreds of species of insects, birds and animals co-existing in this unique ecosystem of the Cloud forest makes us wonder if the most intelligent species alive can learn a thing or two about peaceful and sustainable co-existence on the only home we have in this lifetime aka Mother 🌍 Earth.