Central America (Costa Rica & Nicaragua) featuring Neil Gibson

Neil Gibson's journey begins in San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, where he gets caught up in election fever and visits a volunteer group who are trying to combat the problem of poverty that still exists on the outskirts of San Jose.

From San Jose, Neil hooks up with a Harley tour, and cruises up to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Its a haven for wildlife boasting the largest number of different bird species in the world. Here Neil has close encounters with rare birds, tarantulas, & deadly snakes, before arriving at Volcan Arenal where he relaxes in the mystical atmosphere of the hot volcanic springs.

Heading west to Liberia, Neil plays at being a cowboy and goes to a bull fiesta, where his Scottish charm lands him with the honor of dancing with the Rodeo Queen. From Liberia, Neil heads south to rest up on the Pacific Coast in Montezuma, a popular travelers hangout.

The next leg of the journey takes Neil over the border by boat into Nicaragua. His first stop is at the historic town of El Castillo, where he finds a guide and heads off to explore the surrounding jungle. Neil has to hunt for his dinner and ends up eating roasted rat around the campfire.

North of El Castillo is Lake Nicaragua. Neil travels across this Lake to the Solentiname archipelago, and stops off at the Island of Mancarron, where he learns about the roles that people played during the revolution in Nicaragua. On Sunday afternoon, Neil plays baseball and as part of the winning team he celebrates with rum which is brewed locally and fermented in human excrement. Whilst on the island, Neil also investigates the local art scene and learns how the Islands turbulent history has influenced the art produced.

Traveling across from the Soletiname Archipelago, Neil reaches Granada where he visits a cigar factory and learns to roll his own. From here he hitches to Managua, the capital city of Nicaragua. Neil explores this city which was devastated by an earthquake in 1972, and discovers that getting about is not easy, because many streets do not have names, and people use buildings that are no longer standing as reference points. Neil finds a guide and takes to the road with a biker who shows him the sights and sounds of Managuas night life.

On a more serious note, Neil also visits the Heroes & Martyrs Museum, and Peace Park, which brings home the realities of decades of fighting, in a war where over 30, 000 died.

Neil hitches a lift to Diramba, where the annual religious festival was taking place. After joining in with the colorful festivities, he journeys to the serene landscape of Volcan Masaya. Its a four hour trek to the craters edge, known by the Indians as the land of the Gods, and known by the Spanish as the mouth of Hell. It is here in this dramatic landscape that Neil ends his adventure through Central America.

Category:

• Travel

Starring:

• Ian Wright
• Justine Shapiro
• Megan McCormick
• Zay Harding
• Adela Ucar
• Estelle Bingham

Produced by:

• Pilot Productions

Tags:

• Globe trekker
• Globetrekker
• Neil Gibson
• Central America
• Costa Rica
• Nicaragua
• Costa Rica Travel
• San Jose
• Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Volcan Arenal
• Liberia
• Montezuma
• El Castillo
• Lake Nicaragua
• Solentiname
• Mancarron
• Granada
• Managua
• Heroes & Martyr's Museum
• Peace Park
• Diramba
• Volcan Masaya