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Around the World 2023
  • Hen Tours

Around the World 2023

A 262-day adventure by Hen Tours Read more
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  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    🤢🐋

    July 11, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    After breakfast we drove down to Fishermen’s Wharf and parked for the morning. We then went to Princess Monterey and got on our whale watching boat. It left at 9am and headed out to sea.

    Straight away it was clear that the ocean was rolling and rough and it wasn’t going to be a good trip, sickness wise.

    Anyway, I took all precautions and after a while it was announced that there was a whale on the other side of the boat. There was no way I was moving! The captain continued, for maybe 45 minutes to keep the whale on the other side of the boat. It popped up a couple of times so that I saw it but the captain turned around so it was on the other side.

    He then decided to head off somewhere else. People started being sick 🤢 but I held on, it was rough.

    After a while he reached some albatross and turned around, just in time! Things were a little smoother on the way back but I did not feel good. Simon, on the other hand, was eating sandwiches and was congratulated by one of the sick for just troughing his way through the voyage.

    I made it back to land without being sick 👍 and had some lunch but this didn’t help the nausea like it normally does.

    We went back to the motel and got changed and then headed to Carmel for some shopping. We found a car park and started walking around. Unfortunately I felt unwell so went to sleep in the car instead of shopping.

    We then went to attempt 17 mile drive again and this time it was open. We spent the rest of the afternoon driving around pebble beach looking at the houses and the ocean.

    In the evening we went to chopsticks for Vietnamese food and then an early night.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Monterey

    July 12, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    This morning we drove across Monterey to the aquarium. After some messing around we bought tickets online and went in. We spent about 3 hours looking around at the exhibits.

    We then went to Bubba Gumps for some lunch before walking around the shops in Monterey.

    On the way back to the motel we stopped at trader joes and picked up some bits for a hotel dinner.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Monterey to San Francisco

    July 13, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    W e packed everything up and loaded the car for the final time. After filling up with petrol we headed north towards San Francisco. After about an hour we stopped for coffee and then continued.

    Once at San Francisco airport we dropped off the car and caught the BART to Powell Street station. We did the short walk to the Mosser hotel and checked in.

    Once our bags were dropped off we spent the afternoon doing some shopping, getting some essentials and things ready for the next leg of our journey.

    In the evening we went back to the cheesecake factory for dinner.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    San Francisco

    July 14, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    After breakfast in Mel’s diner and a little discussion with reception about additional payments deducted we walked up to Union Square and boarded the Big Bus for our day trip.

    We rode the bus all the way to golden gate Park and then got off. Simon went in the Ansel Adams exhibition and we walked around to the Japanese garden.

    When we were all done we got back on the bus and went across the Golden Gate Bridge. Our next stop was Little Italy where we got off for lunch. A delicious pizza 🍕.

    We then walked back to the hotel, doing a bit of shopping on the way.

    In the evening we went to an Italian and had some yummy pasta.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Fisherman’s Wharf

    July 15, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    This morning we had breakfast in a Greek cafe and then caught the F Tram to Fisherman’s Wharf. The tram got really full but it was good to try something new.

    We got off at pier 39 and spent some time walking around the shops and looking at the sea lions 🦭.

    We caught the tram back to the hotel and picked up our suitcases. We caught the BART to SFO and said goodbye to Lindsey and Amanda.

    We then caught the shuttle to our airport hotel and checked in. Once in our room we did some sorting out and prepared our food for the journey tomorrow.

    In the evening we had dinner in the hotel and then failed to have an early night by watching Pulp Fiction!    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler
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    10 favs from USA

    July 16, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Representative

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    San Francisco to San Jose

    July 16, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    A very early start for our first flight, SFO to LAX. The queues were huge but moved quickly. Once we were through security we had some breakfast and waited to board our plane.

    After an hour delay we set off to LAX where we then had a 7 hour wait. We decided to pay and go in the Alaska Airlines lounge, which made things a little more bearable.

    Eventually it was time to board our flight to San Jose. The flight took almost 7 hours and the only thing we got was a drink of juice. Fortunately we had some snacks with us and had eaten plenty in the lounge.

    We landed in San Jose at 11pm and managed to get through customs fairly quickly to collect our bags. Someone was waiting for us and drove us to the hotel where we checked in after midnight and straight to bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    San Jose

    July 17, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    After some sleep we got up for hotel breakfast of eggs and bread. After sorting everything out I downloaded an Esim which seems to be working ok.

    We then set out walking to the Pre Columbian gold museum. We spent some time looking around the different gold exhibits and at the history of Costa Rican money.

    We then walked around the historic district, looking at the shops. We stopped for a coffee before walking to the National Museum. However, this is closed on Monday so we couldn’t go in.

    Instead we went and had lunch. While we were eating it started to rain. After lunch we went to the store and got a few things for our journey tomorrow before walking back to the hotel.

    We had thunderstorms all afternoon so
    stayed in and relaxed. In the evening we decided it was a bit unsafe to go out after dark (lots of warnings about San Jose) so we had jam sandwiches and nuts for dinner in our room.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    San Jose to Puerto Viejo

    July 18, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Up early and breakfast in the hotel, bread 🥖 and eggs 🥚 again. As we left breakfast we saw our shuttle waiting for us in the street, 40 minutes early!

    We quickly brushed our teeth and packed the last few things and made our way to the Interbus shuttle. Alex, the first driver was friendly and helped put our bags on board. We then went to another hotel and picked up a family making the same journey on the shuttle.

    We drove across country for about 2 hours and met up with the shuttle coming the other way. Our bags etc were transferred over to the next shuttle and we then had a 3.5 hour trip to Puerto Viejo. This shuttle filled up so it was a bit more uncomfortable but we were dropped off at our hotel around 1.30pm.

    We checked in to a good room at the Sea Tower hotel and after a quick rest to clear my migraine we went for lunch. We had some traditional Caribbean rice and beans at Lidia’s restaurant next to the hotel. We then walked around the town looking at the beach and shops.

    Eventually we made our way to a supermarket and bought some dinner supplies before heading back to our room and relaxing for the evening.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Puerto Viejo

    July 19, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    I got up with the sun and sat on the balcony with coffee until breakfast. After eggs and pancakes we went for a walk along the forest/beach path and saw some Howler Monkeys 🙊.

    We spent some time on the beach and around the shops before going back to our room to relax during the heat of the day.

    In the late afternoon we wandered down to the beach and had a beer watching the sunset. We then walked back to Lidias for rice and beans. After dinner we sat on the balcony enjoying the evening sounds.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Puerto Viejo

    July 20, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    After breakfast we dropped some laundry off and headed back along the forest path, this time with better shoes.

    Just as we were nearing the end of the walk we saw a little turquoise poison dart frog and then, high up in the trees, a sloth 🦥. After watching the sloth for a while we headed to town and got a coffee. We picked up some fresh bread for lunch and went back to relax in our room during the heat of the day.

    Later I got an email asking me how I was going to pay for tomorrow’s transfer as my credit card wasn’t working. After double checking everything we walked down to the office to prove I had and after sticking it out she managed to‘find’ my payment.

    We stopped at a bar for a sunset beer before going for dinner at Lidias… again. Not very adventurous but the food was good and cheap and we didn’t see anywhere else selling local food.

    We had an early night as there’s an early start tomorrow.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Puerto Viejo to Tortuguero

    July 21, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    We were up early and collected outside the hotel at 6am. The first section was a transfer to Siquirres where we stopped at the Exploradores headquarters for some breakfast. Back on the bus we drove to Cano Blanco, a tiny port hamlet where we got on a boat to Tortuguero.

    We arrived in the town at around 12.30pm and, once our bags were off the boat, walked through the village to our hotel. After checking in we got some lunch and then got in our room.

    Once we were sorted we went and booked a boat tour for tomorrow and had a walk around the village. We relaxed around the hotel grounds until the evening.

    We had pizza for dinner, watching a raccoon and an early night.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Tortuguero Day 1

    July 22, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Up at 5am and we walked to meet our tour group in town. The weather was a little tempestuous, thunder, lightening and rain. Once we had checked in we were told we’d be a little late leaving due to the weather. Eventually it was time to set off. We climbed into the wobbly canoe 🛶 and set of into the wetlands in the rain.

    The rain eased during the trip and we saw lots of things:
    Howler monkeys
    Spider monkeys
    Small anteater in a tree
    Small cayman
    Bats
    Green ibis
    Tiger heron
    Northern Jacana
    Keel bill toucan
    Yellow throated Toucan
    Green macaw 🦜

    We made it back just in time for breakfast and then popped out to book a turtle tour for tonight and a night walk for tomorrow.

    We relaxed during the heat of the day. Around 4.30pm we went to find out which turtle tour we were going to be on.

    We were fortunate to be selected for the early tour and we got a bonus boat ride to our sector. We sat on the (closed) runway watching the fireflies and lighting in the distance listening to our guide. The stars were out, the promise of a green turtle laying eggs (closely supervised to protect the turtles)ahead. Our group is called, we walk 2 or 3 minutes through a ‘forest’ to the beach and the storm hits as soon as my feet touch the sand.

    And I mean storm, full tropical storm. Strong winds, torrential rain, sand blowing into us, thunder, lightning. The rain is hurting it’s so heavy. And all in the pitch black because no light is allowed to protect the turtles.

    The guide failed to give us much information. We just picked up that it was too dangerous to go back through the forest because of falling branches, we couldn’t cross the beach because of turtles and logs. We just had to stand there and feel the full effects of nature.

    We hear the guide tell us that there’s a turtle 10 minutes away digging, we will wait until she starts laying. Ok, 10 minutes across the beach looks rough and Simon tells me there’s holes everywhere, he thinks it looks rough ( the lighting keeps illuminating it).

    After a long, wet time the guide comes back and says he’s seen the turtle but the National Park say it’s too dangerous ( falling branches etc) and it’s closed. But, unless we all agree to leave he will ignore that and stay! Some of us voted leave, some of us voted stay.

    He leads us to the turtle 10 METRES away. We’d been standing next to it for an hour!

    It was huge and beautiful and in a deep hole laying eggs. We saw her for about 30 seconds before being dashed out of there.

    No pictures because no cameras or lights allowed but an experience was definitely had.

    Back in town the power was out so we finally got to use our torches 🔦 to find our way back to the hotel.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Tortuguero Day 2

    July 23, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    After a night with no power, the ac finally came back on around 5am and we opened the door to a beautiful morning. We took things easy no hd breakfast before sitting watching wildlife in the hotel grounds.

    Around 11am we set out to the National Park and presented our passes. Very quickly it became apparent that we would need gum boots so we headed back out to hire some.

    Once booted up we walked back to the park and spent a couple of hours on the trail. We saw a few sloths, a small anteater and vultures eating a dead turtle.

    Back out of the park we popped into the supermarket and bought lunch and went back to the hotel.

    Around 5.30pm we set out to the Roots office where we met our guide Eric for our night walk. Again we had to put on gum boots, and this time we really needed them and more as the water was deep and extensive.

    We saw quite a few night creatures:
    Coral snake
    Catidids
    Spiders
    Ants
    Moth
    Red eyed tree frog 🐸
    Lizard

    When we were finished we went for dinner on the canal front and then bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Tortuguero to La Fortuna

    July 24, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    A leisurely start as our transfer wasn’t until 11.45am. We went to the supermarket and got some travel snacks before checking out at 11am.

    We walked to the Roots office for the first leg of the transfer to find we were leaving 25 minutes earlier than we’d been told.

    We piled the luggage onto the boat and then clambered aboard for the hour trip to Pavona dock. We then had to unload the luggage from the boat and pass it through the back window of the bus before getting on board the transfer bus.

    The drive to La Fortuna took about 4 hours, which was apparently fast.

    Once we had checked in to the hotel we went to find the supermarket for water and breakfast for tomorrow.

    Later in the evening we walked around the block for pizza at an Italian.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    La Fortuna, bridges, coffee and chocolat

    July 26, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We were up at 4.15am and ready for our shuttle at 5.10am to Mistico Hanging Bridges. Our guided tour started at 6am and lasted 2.5 hours.

    The weather was a bit wet so we didn’t see too many birds but we did see:
    Glass frog
    Eyelash viper
    Bat
    Wrens
    Basilisk lizard
    Spider monkey
    Howler monkey
    Hummingbird

    When our tour was finished we had a coffee and then caught the shuttle back to the hotel. After some breakfast and relaxing we were picked up for our next tour at 12.15pm.

    We went to North Fields for a coffee and chocolate plantation tour. This took about 3 hours and we got to try different coffee, chocolate, sugar cane juice.

    When we got back to the hotel we went out and got some salad for dinner and spent the evening watching football.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    La Fortuna to Monte Verde

    July 28, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    After breakfast our shuttle picked us up at 8am. Thank goodness I asked to sit in the front as the road was rough and windy. After 3.5 hours we arrived in Monteverde and were dropped off at the accommodation.

    Rosie, the owner of the house greeted us and showed us everything. There was a slight language barrier but we managed.

    Once we were settled in we walked up to the town for supplies and to figure out how to get to the cloud forest tomorrow.

    We spent the afternoon trying to figure out the house sitter problem and had dinner in as we had a kitchen.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Monte Verde Cloud Forest

    July 29, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    We were up early and caught the 6.15am bus to Monteverde clod forest reserve. Our tour wasn’t until 7.30am so we sat and watched humming birds for a while. As we were watching, I noticed a snake that turned out to be another eyelash viper. Word went around pretty quickly that there was a snake and soon people were telling me about it!

    Our guide met us at 7.30am and we started our nature walk. We saw:

    Social caterpillars 🐛
    Stingless bees 🐝
    Quetzal
    Dove
    Leaf tosser
    Coati

    When the tour had finished, we had some breakfast and then went for another walk around the reserve.

    We came back in time for the 12pm bus but it didn’t show up so we had to catch a more expensive shuttle.

    Back in town we bought some veggies and went back to the house for lunch. We spent the rest of the day continuing to sort out the house sitter situation and had dinner in again.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Santa Elena

    July 30, 2023 in Costa Rica

    We walked to the town to get bread for breakfast and then spent some time watching the world go by from the house. Around 10am we walked to the orchid garden but the tours started on the hour so we had just missed one.

    To fill in time we went to the supermarket and got food for dinner before returning to the orchid garden for the 11am tour.

    The tour lasted almost an hour and we saw lots of different types of orchids. Most were very small and green or white but some had a variety of colours and some had different fragrances.

    Another afternoon spent on the house sitter situation and paperwork before heading out for a night walk.

    On the night walk we saw a couple of snakes, a glass butterfly, scorpion, some birds, frog, spiders and a stick insect.

    Back at the house we had dinner before bed.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Bosque del Ninos

    July 31, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Up early and on the 7.30am bus to Stella’s restaurant. We had breakfast before walking to the Bosque del Ninos just in time for the 8.30am tour.

    Our guide took us on a 2 hour walk through the forest where we saw 3 wattled bell birds and blue crowned mot mot.

    We caught the 11am bus back to town and had lunch in the house and spent more time sorting everything out.

    In the evening we went out for dinner.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Monteverde to Quepos

    August 1, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    Our shuttle picked us up at 8am and after some messing around we got under way. The journey took about 5 hours but we eventually arrived at our hotel and checked in.

    After discovering we had a tiny room and this wasn’t going to be the little bit of luxury planned, we unpacked and headed out. We found somewhere for lunch and then spent the afternoon by the pool.

    Supermarket dinner and an early night.    Read more

  • Hen ToursAround the World 2023Traveler

    Manuel Antonio National Park Day 1

    August 2, 2023 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Up early, again and munched the paper bag breakfast (bread roll) in the lobby before catching the 6.15am bus the Manuel Antonio National Park.

    The park opened at7am and we spent 3.5 hours walking around. We saw lots of sloths, a nightjar, a bay and a few birds.

    We caught the bus back to Quepos and had brunch before relaxing in the hotel for the rest of the day.    Read more

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