On our second day in Costa Rica, we headed to the La Fortuna District to visit the famous Volcán Arenal. La Fortuna is 50km west of Liberia. Don’t be fooled with the seemingly short distance, the roads in Costa Rica are windy and not as well established therefore the speed limits were much slower than what we were used to. I have always wanted to see an active flowing volcano and could not wait until we got to Volcán Arenal!
Volcán Arenal
This is a blog series about our travels to Costa Rica in 2012. To avoid a long post, we’ve decided to break this trip to several series consist of the following.
The flight from Los Angeles to Liberia, Costa Rica takes approximately eight hours with a layover in Miami, Florida. If a direct flight or layover in Texas is available, it would have cut the flight down to 5 to 6 hours. We arrived at Liberia from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 7PM, the weather was warm and dry, it reminded us of a warmer version of Southern California.
Quick and Dirty
Gear Type: Backpacking Backpack
Material: Rip Stop Nylon
Trail weight: 72 oz (4.5 lb)
Price: $60
Link: Teton Sports Scout 3400
Pros: Extremely durable, inexpensive, integrated rain cover, height adjustable backing, fits in airplane carry on luggage rack (on top)
Cons: Heavy for the size, narrow profile, plastic clips cut
The Quick and Dirty:
Location – San Gorgonio Wilderness
Distance – 14 miles round trip
Terrain Type – Dirt and Sand, Switch backs, narrow trail.
Difficulty – Intermediate to Strenuous
Best Time – Spring through Fall
Special Conditions – Permit required, apply in advance.
San Bernardino Peak sits 10,470 feet above Redlands, California. While not the tallest peak in Southern California, it is one of the best destinations for weekend backpacking due to the close proximity to the greater Los Angeles area.
Hike Now, Work Later 