Arenal

In 1968 when Arenal Volcano began erupting (it's been erupting ever since) 84 people were killed and a town called Arenal was destroyed by the lava flow down one side of the mountain. The town on the other side of the mountain was then renamed La Fortuna, everyone moved there, and an artificial lake was created on top of the former town by an energy company. I splurged and went jeep-boat-jeep over the lake from Monteverde to La Fortuna, only to find the volcano to heavily shrouded in clouds the entire time I was there.

I did, however, get to enjoy some very pleasant hot springs. There are two resort spas in town with lots of fancy package deals but our guide insisted that the natural streams flowing through them were free and open to the public. We swam along it and ended up passing through one of the spas. Jennifer noticed a lavender smell and when she looked up we realized we were right outside a massage room. The masseuse came out and yelled at us for trespassing although our guide assured us upon return we'd done nothing wrong. I'm skeptical.