Playa Conchal is so named, like many others around the world (I also saw one in Western Australia), because it is largely composed of millions of shells. With that, and its clear waters it was incredibly beautiful spot. BUT! We had been told that there was good surf here and, after lugging my board for about a kilometre or so, it turned out that was a big flat lie. We stayed anyway for a couple of hours before heading for La Fortuna and Volcan Arenal, the biggest (and still active) volcano in CR. After driving all around the lake, and seeing picturesque views of the beast from all directions, we finally found La Fortuna. We were incredibly lucky to be able to see the volcano at all - usually it laughs at the tourists from its impenetrable shroud of clouds - but for us the sky was mostly clear. I suppose that (for us at least) is becoming of a place called La Fortuna.
After dark we went to a choice lookout point and witnessed, after waiting an hour or so for a window in the clouds (that had built up by that point), we watched the amazing spectacle of bright red volcanic rocks spewing out of Arenal and rolling down her sides. But she was shy, and after watching for about fifteen minutes, the clouds returned and we left.
