Northwestern Costa Rica - Costa Rica - page 452

( 8416-4731; www.fincaverdelodge.com/hummingbird-cafe ; mains US$8-12, guided farm tour
US$12; noon-11pm Tue-Sun; )
On the grounds of the Finca Verde Lodge, this family restaurant is a surprising change of
pace from the Tico fare in town. Look for innovative preparations like red-chili enchiladas,
rolled tilapia and shrimp salad with avocado and bacon. The menu also includes plenty of
basics like burgers and pizzas.
Come early and take a tour of the family's organic farm ( 8416-4731;
www.fincaverdelodge.com/activities ; guided tour US$12, d/tr/q incl breakfast US$65/85/95; )
to see where your ingredients come from. There are also four comfortable cabins (doubles/
triples/quads including breakfast US$65/85/95) on the grounds.
Getting There & Away
About 6km northwest of Cañas, a paved road branches off the Interamericana and heads
north to Upala, passing between Volcán Miravalles to the west and Volcán Tenorio
(1916m) to the east. Smack dab in the middle of these two mighty volcanoes sits the little
town of Bijagua. It's about 40km north of Cañas and 27km south of Upala.
Buses between San José and Upala stop in Bijagua (US$8, four daily). There are also
six daily buses that run between Upala (US$1) and Cañas (US$1.25) via Bijagua.
Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio
They say that, when God finished painting the sky blue, he washed his paintbrushes in the
Río Celeste. The heavenly blue river, waterfalls and lagoons of Parque Nacional Volcán
Tenorio are among the most spectacular natural phenomena in Costa Rica, which is prob-
ably why the park is known to locals simply as Río Celeste.
Established in 1976, this magical 184-sq-km national park remains a blissfully pristine
rainforest abundant with wildlife. Soaring 1916m above the cloud rainforest is the park's
namesake, Volcán Tenorio, which actually consists of three peaked craters: Montezuma,
Tenorio I (the tallest) and Tenorio II.
Your first stop will be the Puesto El Pilón ranger station ( 2200-0135;
www.acarenaltempisque.org ; adult/child US$10/free; 8am-4pm, last entry 2:30pm) , which
houses a small exhibit of photographs and dead animals. Pick up a free English or Spanish
hiking map.