Imagine cantering through sugar cane plantations, fording thigh-deep rivers, rounding up cattle and trotting through virgin rain forest on top of a fine, well bred Paso Fino steed. All this, while Arenal Volcano rumbles majestically in the background. Sounds too good to be true? Just come riding with us......

Our friend's truly enigmatic private cloud forest reserve in the Central Cordillera (A cloud forest is a special type of rain forest -- the famous cloud forest in Costa Rica, Monteverde, is called the "crowd forest" by local tour guides). Ascending about 1 1/2 hours from the hotel to about 7,500 feet you'll see a markedly different environment of plants. Here in the benign cloud forest the species of animals and plants change dramatically, and, because the cloud forest is a "closed" environment (atop the peaks only), the plant species seen here remain much as they were before the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

La Garza in conjunction with Serendipity Adventures offer a unique way to see our magnificent 800+ year-old strangler tree - from within. An inspiring horseback ride from the casona to the forest, across rivers and through pasture and on a private horse trail in the forest, and you arrive at the base of the strangler tree. Using safety harnesses and ropes for security, first your Serendipity guide, then you, ascend the now-hollow trunk of the tree. OUTSIDE Magazine columnist Randy Wayne White thought this was the most interesting way to be inside a living organism -- and expressed hopes it would be the only time he would do so.

Small boats close to the water move silently beneath the overhanging trees, coming up to the birds and monkeys and lizards without disturbing them. With each boat carrying only 4 people, the silence and stealth permit real natural observation.

You can join a tour group to drive up to one of the viewing locations for the Arenal eruptions. Tour companies have access to several locations, and select the evening's spot based on both the lava flow conditions and the current cloud conditions. (NOTE: Because Arenal creates its own steam, condensation around the volcano often obscures lava flows. Viewing opportunities are erratic, but lava flows are visible ONLY after dark).

15 minutes hike to the look out point of the waterfall, then a 20 minutes walk to arrive at the bottom of the cascade; where you can have a refreshing swim surrounded by nature, nature and nature!!.