Best Mascot For the record, Arenal refers to the area around the volcano. The Arenal Observatory Lodge in the Arenal area also has nice hiking. Distance from La Fortuna. Once out of your car, theyll point you down to the river just below the bridge. (You can learn about the highway extension by reading our related blog post: How The New Chilamate Vuelta Kooper Highway Will Save You Time To/From La Fortuna.). The lodge charges $10 USD, and that gets you access to the pool, showers, and to park your vehicle on their property. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about saving money in Costa Rica, and to access free discounts for Costa Rica tours, hotels, car rentals, and shuttle services. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica luxury travel, including recommendations for high-end accommodations in Costa Rica. For hiking, maybe go to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see a quetzal. For more in-depth info on the areas to stay in La Fortuna, check out our blog onwhere to stay in La Fortuna! The Free Natural Hot Springs River (as its called) is a public river that runs through theTabacon Hot Springs Resort one of the most luxurious hot springs in La Fortuna. WebArenal COMBO Tour Pedal and Paddle Crossing Lake Arenal. La Fortuna / Arenal is nicknamed the epicenter of adventure. Youll have the chance to see two and three-toed sloths (and if youre lucky baby sloths!) This guided touroffers both the Sky Tram and the zipline course as well as a guide and transportation from La Fortuna. Coco Loco Art Studio and Galleryis a fair-trade gallery with original artwork from local artists. Most Important Reason For Keeping Colones On Hand. All of the opinions, recommendations, and advice expressed on Costa Rica Travel Blog are our own. Enjoy transportation from your hotel door in La Fortuna to your location in Monteverde or Santa Elena. We saw lots of toucans during our visit. Please note, this tour does not include transport. Our awesome Costa Rica Destination Tool filters 66 destinations by nearly 150 criteria to help you quickly and easily decide where to go in Costa Rica according to your unique preferences, wants, and needs. 30 Best Things to do in La Fortuna & Visitor Guide - Costa Rica Travel Life. This hostel has a large outdoor area with a bar and live music on most weekends. After it leaves the resort, visitors are free to enjoy the hot water without a charge. The Mistico Hanging Bridges are some of the best! Day 5 and 6: Monteverde. Best Cultural Tour Its arguably the most beautiful waterfall in Costa Rica and is located around a 30-minute walk from the entrance. Thanks so much for reading. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about starting to plan a Costa Rica vacation. 9 BEST Tours of Costa Rica (Multi-Day Guided Tours) & How to Pick One! The tour involves entering a larger cavern before exploring smaller caverns, and at some points, youll squeeze through holes barely big enough to fit through. Best View Of The Central Valley Finally, spend a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking through turquoise waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches. Dont be deceived by appearances, its a short distance as the crow flies, but a I just scrolled through your blog (mainly the Costa Rica category) and couldnt find an article that I wouldnt be interested in reading. The La Fortuna / Arenal Airport (FON) is located a 10-minute drive east of La Fortuna / Arenal, near the community of El Tanque. It will take you around 2 hours to get to the town of Tilaran. About Monteverde. Day 3: Hanging bridges, La Fortuna waterfall, Volcano hike. In fact, hotels and food around town are much cheaper than places such as Tamarindo, Nosara, and Jaco. There are always lots of local kids at El Salto, and they know the swimming area well, so watch where they jump off and if you need help, just ask theyll tell you where is safe to jump! La Fortuna / Arenal offers a range of more than 100 accommodations that vary in style, size, amenities, and price. 30 Best Things to do in La Fortuna & Visitor Guide - Costa Rica Travel Life. Rooms here range from $200 to 300 USD per night. La Fortuna is the city at the base of the Arenal volcano. If youre just setting out on this journey, review our introductory Costa Rica trip-planning resources first. Best View Of Volcano Lava Rocks as well as other animals like frogs, toucans, hummingbirds, and parrots. On day 2, we recommend to do a cloud forest hike or a birding tour, or both! And the best part is that youll get to eat what you create! Youll also enjoy a view of the Arenal Volcano from the kitchen, and toucans are always spotted here, so bring your camera. La Fortunas weather can be unpredictable, and oftentimes, the volcano is completely covered in clouds. You can also go to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Our Moon Costa Rica guidebook, 2023 edition (a full-country guide out September 2023 but currently available for pre-orderpaperback and e-book versions): Our Moon Best of Costa Rica guidebook, 2022 edition (a selective best of guide currently available for purchase in stores worldwide and through online retailerspaperback and e-book versions): Our Moon Costa Rica guidebook, 2021 edition (a full-country guide currently available for purchase in stores worldwide and through online retailerspaperback and e-book versions): Our Moon Costa Rica guidebook, 2019 edition (a full-country guide currently available to purchase in stores worldwide and through online retailerspaperback and e-book versions): Today's the day! You can order a cocktail or a beer, sit by the bonfire, or dance to live folkloric music under the stars. The rapids here have names like the Terminator, the Pipeline, and Dos Locos, and youll get soaked as you navigate the river. The hanging bridges are located on a large property that a local family privately protects. Luckily, the next best thing is learning how to cook the dishes for yourself. Every post intrigues me! I recommendstaying the nightso you can enjoy a few drinks and explore the property and not have to drive back that day. Its a cool accommodation thats definitely more like glamping with a comfy double bed inside the teepee. This is a fun activity that is suitable for beginners who may have never ridden a horse before. If you do decide tospend a night at Selina, book a teepee! The lodge has an incredible view of the volcano, and the wildlife surrounding it includes toucans, howler monkeys, and sloths. This 23. If you have a question or comment about our article above or Costa Rica travel in general, please post it in our Questions and Answers Forum on DIY Costa Rica, our sister website, where you can also access our private Costa Rica recommendations, our Costa Rica Destination Tool, and our Costa Rica Recommendations Map. Best River For White Water Rafting Monteverde is a really popular one. You can explore the park on your own as theres a 2-mile trail (3.2 km), including six hanging bridges. Yes! Hot springs at night. Monteverde on another hand is best for a day trip. It only takes 15 minutes to get down but a little longer on the way up its 500 steps! Area temperatures average between 25-30 degrees Celsius, with the most sun hitting the area during the dry/summer season, as you might suspect. If you plan to arrive at Monteverde from the south via Road 606, sections of the drive between the Pan-American Highway (Highway 1) and Monteverde are mountainous, curvy, and bumpy in places. Because of La Fortunas central location in the country, its not far from some great rivers that are perfect for whitewater rafting in Costa Rica. Best Street Vendor Purchase When you arrive in Tilaran, youll need to make sure you have sufficient gas to make the journey. Some beaches in #, Try traditional, handmade Costa Rican cuisine! Those two places are the most popular, and the rainforest is the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Those two places are the most popular, and the rainforest is the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Read more 8-Day Itinerary Including Gulf of Papagayo Baby squirrel monkey and mother For us it was magnificent. Finally, spend a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking through turquoise waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches. This 23. Learn more and access the tool on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica, here. The second edition of my #CostaRi, Marvel at the nations beautiful landscape! We did Curi Cancha Reserve in the morning for a birding tour and then hiked Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena by ourselves in the afternoon. We did Curi Cancha Reserve in the morning for a birding tour and then hiked Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena by ourselves in the afternoon. Youll be able to get a room here for under $75 USD. La Fortuna / Arenal is located approximately 2.5 hours from the LIR Airport via direct, ground transportation. There are 12 different ziplines on this tour, and be prepared for a bit of a hike to get to the first zipline and in-between each one as well. Road construction along the route is ongoing; to date, the road is paved as far north as Guacimal. Hiking Arenal Volcano is illegal, so I will not be mentioning it in this blog. Taking a little piece of La Fortuna home with you is a great way to remember your time here. Finally, spend a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking through turquoise waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches. It will take you around 2 hours to get to the town of Tilaran. It definitely has a fun party vibe, especially on the weekends! This happens because acidic and neutral waters combine, and they create enough particle concentration to reflect light. Sample dishes include ceviche, mint mojitos, grilled pork loin with tropical chutney, and coconut flan with a caramel sauce. Best In-Pool Hot Springs Feature Of course, Arenal Volcano is only a fraction of why people love La Fortuna. On the fastest route between the two towns, you'll experience the beauty of the Arenal Volcano National Park and the Monteverde Cloud Forest. To learn more about Costa Ricas many, many beaches, dont miss our blog post: 66 Costa Rica Beaches (In Photos) And Where To Find Them. Related Read: There are also some epic hanging bridges in Monteverde that you should check out! Read more 8-Day Itinerary Including Gulf of Papagayo Baby squirrel monkey and mother That should have said Poas. Toucans are my favorite! Best Item To Rent For A Day The town is the gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park, and from every angle in town, you can see the volcano towering above (of course, there are often a few clouds in the way.). It exists between the San Gerardo Biological Station in Monteverde (roughly a 1-hour hike is required to get to the station from beyond the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Biological Reserve) and El Castillo in the Arenal region (an approximate half-hour drive from downtown La Fortuna). Monteverde. These two products are very important exports for Costa Rica, and its really neat to see the entire process unfold before your eyes. Best Breakfast Menu Item (Non-Traditional) Monteverde isnt a luxury destination. This Rainforest Night Walk and Dinner touris the same tour I did in La Fortuna with Ecoterra. The hike I have in mind is run by ACMCR. One of the best places to visit so you can experience this is La Fortuna located below Arenal Volcano, only a few hours north of San Jose in Central Costa Rica. Home Where To Go In Costa Rica How To Decide Between La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde (or Why You Should Visit Both), Last updated on October 15th, 2022 at 03:04 pm EST, Nikki is the CEO ofPura Vida! Because we prioritize your privacy, we don't earn money when you visit us, when you sign up for our e-course, or when you click on our links, which means the time and work we put into this blogincluding its 300+ articlesis entirely voluntary! Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about transportation. For more information, please visitDIY Costa Rica. With the volcano beside you, gently glide across the water and enjoy the view. Visiting is nothing short of breathtaking. I personally visited Arenal Volcano National Park on a tour simply because I love having a guide to learn all about the volcano. , click on a photo in the gallery above for discount and tour information. Toucans are my favorite! Great photos and a wealth of info! Visit Monteverde Cloud Forest The forest really is cloudy! The trails here offer some spectacular scenery and great opportunities to see wildlife on relatively easy walking paths. This is also where the volcano is, and this is where the majority of the best adventure tours you could possibly have are. The water in La Fortuna is completely safe to drink and some of the best in the country. Youll learn how to make a variety of dishes, including appetizers, mains, and desserts. Area temperatures average between 18-20 degrees Celsius with warmer temperatures recorded during the dry/summer season. Admire the Arenal volcano from the viewpoints. Kids over the age of four are also able to take part. From San Jose, La Fortuna is 2.5 hours away. The Monteverde Cloud Forest essentially welcomes the sky down into the rainforest letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist. Youve identified 4 options Arenal volcano (La Fortuna is the closest town), Monteverde s cloudorests, Manual Antonios rainforests and Papagayo beaches. Remember to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes for the ride and bring a change of clothes if you want to go swimming. For hiking, maybe go to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see a quetzal. My favorite spot was behind the restrooms at the ticket office! The best time to visit La Fortuna is from December to April during the dry season. Its one of my favorite ways to get a taste of the local culture while enjoying a relaxing evening. Kayaking is also really popular on Lake Arenal, andthis specific tourincludes all you need for a 2.5-hour paddle on the lake. The water is cold but super refreshing, and the entire area is gorgeous. Birdwatching. Its a great chance to learn all about sloths and other animals. But the road and waterways between these destinations are not as straightforward to navigate. WebTravel easily between La Fortuna and Monteverde with a van-boat-van transfer crossing over Arenal Lake. Its about 30 minutes from La Fortuna and is a great destination on a rainy day. This is one of the best hikes in La Fortuna! Best View Overlooking The Town Of La Fortuna This safari float touris a great way to get up close to wildlife. All up, you spend around 45 minutes in the cave and come out with a ton of knowledge and lots of smiles we had such a great time! . Best Place To See Toucans If you only have a week, pick 2 of the above that interest you most. Its owned by Costa Rican couple Leo and Marisol, who sell handmade items, including wood carvings and jewelry using natural materials like coconut, wood, seeds, and gourds. Art, woodworking, and cult, Check out some beach caves! Because it is a peaceful trip down the river, you can also bring a camera to grab some pictures. Bring closed-toe shoes so you can explore the trails around here and other exhibits, including the exotic frog habitat, plant gardens, and greenhouses. Theyre sprawled out over an inland region you really shouldnt miss. Best Nature Tour Operator For the record, Arenal refers to the area around the volcano. Most Dangerous Roadway Bridge Crossing Also, you are not allowed to bring plastic into the park. Best Place For Black Sand eh? Weirdest Drink To Order La Fortuna is one of the cheaper tourist destinations in Costa Rica. If you leave the Strictly Necessary Cookie disabled, we will not be able to save your preference. , You are right about planning. If you have the, Dine on delicious Caribbean cuisine! Best Art Gallery Before we get into the details about Monteverde below, browse through our photo gallery that features a few of our Monteverde experiences. Best Use Of An Extra Two Dollars In Your Pocket WebLa Fortuna (the town nearest to the Arenal Volcano) has an altitude of 1,148 feet (350 m), while Monteverde straddles the Continental Divide at 4,921 feet (1,500 m). The trail goes around the mirrored lakes to a frog sanctuary where you can spot the red-eyed tree frog and the tiny dart frog. Youll taste farm-fresh coffee and chocolate right where they are made. With that said, general caution should be taken late at night. We love this photogeni, Swim at the base of a waterfall! Coolest Tree The hike will take you along the rim of a volcanic lagoon for a morning hike through pastures and rainforests. Best Place To See Scarlet Macaws This 23. If youre asking yourself one of these lines, youre in luck. Best Place To Feed Pigeons In some areas, cloud cover can make for a longer and more cautious drive, but its magnificent nonetheless, as you put it. Whats great about hostels like this is youll meet other travelers from around the world. 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