Volcan de Lodo El Totumo

Yesterday, I decide to go to the Vocan de Lodo El Totumo. I figured why not - it might be fun to sit inside a volcanic mud bath. I booked it through my hotel, but later that night I decided look at some reviews. And I am glad because I knew what to expect.  Here is how it goes ---

You get picked up by a tourist operator and they proceed to tell you that there are 3 optional services that you have to pay $3000 CP (less than $2 USD) each. The first is a "massage" in the mud bath, the second a photographer, and the third is a woman will clean you like a baby to help you get all of the mud bath. It is sort of hard to say no - but optional really means they are going to do it and charge you for it! I was fine with it, but some of the other travelers were not very happy about it.

You have to walk up these stairs to get to the mud bath.

Then you have to climb down this latter - which is a bit slippery and the bath is filled with people!

You basically just lay back down and then a man will retrieve you and pull you to the side so he can start your massage.

And the massage begins. It lasts for probably about 10 minutes.

And then you attempt to dog paddle over to a corner and just relax. The mud is super buoyant, so you have to be careful not to try and swim or you're whole body floats up. It takes a bit of work to stay upright.

Once you get out, there is a guy at the top who tries to get most of the mud off of you. And this is how you look at the end!






Now here is where it gets funny. So they show you the way to a lake off to the side. You will see about 5 ladies standing in the water ushering you to come over. They push you down so that you are sitting in the water and then they start dumping water all over you. I suspect this is what a dog must feel when he is getting bathed. There may be 5 other tourists (men and women) in the water with you. Everyone is pretty submerged from the neck down. All of the sudden - you feel these hands behind you take off your top and then the woman orders you to remove your bottoms so she can clean the mud off of your suit. You just sit there naked and wait for the lady to finally return your suit. I have never skinny dipped before - however, now I think I can say I have with a bunch of strangers and a woman washing me!