We've taken advantage of Dave and Mary's car while they were with us, driving south to Puerto Viejo and beyond. Our fav spot was a beach on Punta Uva, where you could drive along a dirt road until you saw the perfect place, then park under shady palms right at the edge of the Caribbean. Mostly Costa Rican families there, and no development - just a long stretch of white sand, shady trees, water and reef. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday, although I'm sure we missed the Superbowl or something. Jenny is truly in her element out snorkeling.
We drove up into the hills behind Cahuita searching for our friends Kit and Pam's property. Didn't get quite there - within a km according to my Google Earth gps'ing, but loved seeing the lush hills and farmers carving homesteads out of the rainforest. K&P's project (SEED) is meant to develop more sustainable agricultural practices, so we're excited to see it with Kit on Sunday.
Also had a tour of a traditional cacao (chocolate) operation, run by an indigenous guy and his family who have moved across the border from Panama. A slow, small-scale approach, all done by hand from tending the trees to fermenting, drying, roasting, grinding and squeezing to concentrate the chocolate. We sampled fresh raw chocolate, mixed with a little cane sugar - hot and unbelievably delicious, especially with a crunchy cacao bean wrapped inside!
Chilling today, walking the town and Playa Negra, using our last day at El Encanto's little pool in a jungle garden before moving to the Alby Lodge tomorrow. Love to you all!
