Highly, highly recommended. Your SPAM-FREE visit to OUR FREE WEBSITE is more important to us than making money off your clicks. . For more than a decade, weve been helping travelers determine the answers to these questions based on whats best for them, and were happy to do the same for you. Best Item To Rent For A Day This is one of the best hikes in La Fortuna! Their trails are in good shape. The Arenal Observatory Lodge in the Arenal area also has nice hiking. If you go this way, be aware the trail is completely washed out and hard to navigate (although I found it fun!) Thanks so much for the compliment! Day 5 and 6: Monteverde. Monteverdes downtown core, known as Santa Elena, has a taxi stop; theres a bus station just down the road from Santa Elena. For more information, please visitDIY Costa Rica. The tour also includes a trip to the Maleku Cultural Resource Center once youre finished and roundtrip transportation from La Fortuna. One of the most popular hot springs in La Fortuna isTabacn Hot Springs. See you there, amigos! Be sure to get to the park when they open at 8 am so you have plenty of time to explore (they close at 4 pm.). Sample dishes include ceviche, mint mojitos, grilled pork loin with tropical chutney, and coconut flan with a caramel sauce. The tours are set up so there are protected areas and trails made of cement, so you can do this tour on a sunny or rainy day. 2. Day 2: Relax at the hotel or check out La Fortuna town. Best Place To See Caimans 75 photos that will make you want to go to Costa Rica ASAP! Best Adventure Tour Operator, Best View Of The Sunrise Best Soda Restaurant (Caribbean) Finally, youll end your hike at the Teideros, which is where the two rivers meet. 15 BEST All-Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica (Our Unbiased Opinion! Best View Of The Central Valley Monteverde also has nice ziplining and the hanging bridges you mentioned. The best option is taxi-boat Related Read: Love food? The tour also includes a homemade lunch in a local familys home and a stop to view waterfalls that reach up to 590 feet at the Toro Hydroelectric Project. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to read our responses to some of the most common questions we receive about Costa Rica, including questions about white-water rafting in Costa Rica, questions about zip-lining in Costa Rica, questions about visiting the hot springs in Costa Rica, and more! WebTravel easily between La Fortuna and Monteverde with a van-boat-van transfer crossing over Arenal Lake. The majority of streets in and around Santa Elena are curvy and hilly. The tour includes a lesson on the shore if youve never been paddle boarding before and then a boat ride to the middle of the lake where youll get on your board. Combine two of the best activities in Arenal, Stand Up Paddle Lake Crossing and Mountain Biking all in one! The dinner was also so tasty and one of the best local meals I enjoyed in Costa Rica! On top of that, youll also get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato. You reach the waterfall via a stunning staircase that makes for some pretty spectacular photos. About Monteverde. Related Read: La Fortuna is one of the places we suggest visiting on even a short 7-day Costa Rica itinerary! What type of destination atmosphere would you prefer? Its about 30 minutes from La Fortuna and is a great destination on a rainy day. Is the value of your Costa Rica trip worth $5.99? If you want a guide and a few extra perks,this tourincludes transportation and a professional guide to help you spot wildlife and learn about the area. Travel distance from the SJO airport (San Jose / Alajuela), Travel distance from the LIR Airport (Liberia), Best Hot Springs In Arenal: We Compare All 12 La Fortuna Hot Springs, Visiting The All-New La Fortuna Waterfall And Orchid Garden, Costa Rica Itinerary: 5 days in Costa Rica, Costa Rica Itinerary: 8 days in Costa Rica, Costa Rica Itinerary: 10 days in Costa Rica, Costa Rica Itinerary: 12 days in Costa Rica, Costa Rica Itinerary: 15 days in Costa Rica, our Questions and Answers Forum on DIY Costa Rica, Pura Vida! Best French Fry Doppelganger Excluding the hour-long hike required to reach the biological station, the hike from there to El Castillo is another approximate 6 hours. Whenever Im traveling, I love trying the local craft beer of the region. Dont be deceived by appearances, its a short distance as the crow flies, but a Kayaking is also really popular on Lake Arenal, andthis specific tourincludes all you need for a 2.5-hour paddle on the lake. I discovered that La Fortuna is an adventure-lovers paradise and a great place to see wildlife. The area is home to a vast chunk of Costa Ricas protected land space and offers a number of nature reserves, most notably the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, and the Childrens Eternal Rainforest. However, those who enjoy in-depth visits should spend 5+ days. My husband spent nearly a year mapping out our first trip. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about transportation in Costa Rica, including different ways to get around Costa Rica. Waking up to a view of the Arenal Volcano is an amazing way to start the day. Best Historical Site Its a 2.5 hour guided walk that includes transport from La Fortuna, your entrance ticket, and an expert guide for only $45 USD. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica accommodations, including recommendations for where to stay in Costa Rica. It also comes complete with a massive jacuzzi for up to 60 guests. If you only have a week, pick 2 of the above that interest you most. 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. Best Museum Up almost 100 feet in the air, it offers 360 panoramic views of the rainforest, Arenal Volcano, and the Tilarn Mountain Range. Read more 8-Day Itinerary Including Gulf of Papagayo Baby squirrel monkey and mother The hike will take you along the rim of a volcanic lagoon for a morning hike through pastures and rainforests. Inc.), How To Decide Between La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde (or Why You Should Visit Both), Deciding between La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde. , You are right about planning. Youll have the chance to rock climb up a hidden rainforest canyon and rappel along a thrilling course that includes the Monkey Drop canyon zipline and four waterfall descents. If you only have a week, pick 2 of the above that interest you most. My favorite spot was behind the restrooms at the ticket office! If you have more than a week to travel around Costa Rica, youll find that visits to both La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde are possible, in addition to time spent relaxing on a beach elsewhere in the country. La Fortuna / Arenal is located approximately 2.5 hours from the LIR Airport via direct, ground transportation. Read about the best restaurants in Monteverde before you go! Once at the bottom, you can get some great pictures and swim in the pool below the waterfall, or visit the calmer pools downriver for a more relaxing swim. The tour includes a 90-minute hike, a visit to a frog sanctuary, and ends with a Costa Rican dinner prepared on a wood-burning stove. The 870-acre property is the home to the Arenal Observatory Lodge a scientific research station turned hotel but you dont have to be a guest here to enjoy it. Hike the 1968 Arenal Trail. Here, you can literally see the water turn blue as the stream meet its so cool! Best Slogan To Recite Best View Of Volcano Lava Rocks Depending on the type of ground transfer service used, the route followed, and weather conditions, the drive could be longer. The route between San Jose/Alajuela and La Fortuna/Arenal via Poas/La Paz is incredible! All up it takes around 3 to 4 hours to hike up and back down but be sure to leave before 10 am in case it takes you longer. Its about a 1.5-hour drive and then a 3-4 hour hike once you arrive. Those with a medium budget should check outCasa Luna Hotel & Spa. Choose a modern accommodation that features hot springs on-site, or book a room at a sustainable eco-lodge. http://www.orquideasmonteverde.com/index.php Its a small bed-and-breakfast style hotel run by the family of a good friend. But if you want more adventure, take the ziplines down! Driving To La Fortuna / Arenal: Photos, Road Conditions, Routes, Drive Times, And More! Love our blog? It identifies some of the qualities that make La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde unique, helping you to decide whether one destination or both destinations are deserving of your time and money. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about starting to plan a Costa Rica vacation. If you leave the Strictly Necessary Cookie disabled, we will not be able to save your preference. Slipping fingerslol. Dont be deceived by appearances, its a short distance as the crow flies, but a Read more 8-Day Itinerary Including Gulf of Papagayo Baby squirrel monkey and mother There are not many places in the world where you can zipline right over a waterfall, but this is one of them! The hotel only has 21 rooms overlooking the jungle and Lake Arenal, so it has a nice, private feel. Related Read: There are also some epic hanging bridges in Monteverde that you should check out! Weirdest Drink To Order Costa Rica is often a beach getaway for many visitors who come for the surf, sun, and relaxation in towns such as Jaco and Tamarindo. Coolest Animal To See Up Close, Best Volcano To Visit The weather begins to get better in December, and by January, you get more clear days. Dusty dirt roads, lik. If you find our content valuable, and you'd like to thank us for making the trip-planning process easier and your Costa Rica vacation more enjoyable, please consider making a small donation ($1, $2, $3, or an amount of your choosing) to our blog. Those two places are the most popular, and the rainforest is the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Monteverde is a really popular one. Best Place To Scuba Dive Then it ended up being our home for 8 mos! All content, concepts, and photos (unless credited otherwise) property of Ricky and Nikki Solano. Want to show your appreciation for the free article below? TheBaldi Hot Springsis one of the most luxurious and developed and visited hot springs in La Fortuna, not to mention the most lively one! We did Curi Cancha Reserve in the morning for a birding tour and then hiked Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena by ourselves in the afternoon. I found the tour very informative and left with an abundance of knowledge. A sign at the @BananaBe, Drink pipa fria! When you arrive in Tilaran, youll need to make sure you have sufficient gas to make the journey. Youll also enjoy a view of the Arenal Volcano from the kitchen, and toucans are always spotted here, so bring your camera. Instead we chose Pias and Peace Lodge. Regardless of which tour you choose, white water rafting is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna, and few destinations offer rafting this good! The towns elevation is approximately 1,300 meters above sea level, though some attractions are located at higher elevations. Also, if it is raining, do not attempt the trail! It hits many of La Fortunas highlights in one tour and is top-rated. Its the centerpiece of La Fortuna, and what better way to see it than while relaxing in your room. Theyre sprawled out over an inland region you really shouldnt miss. Spend an afternoon exploring a private nature preserve bordering Arenal Volcano and inside the Arenal Volcano National Park, only 30 minutes from La Fortuna. Monteverde is located approximately 3 hours from the SJO Airport via direct, ground transportation. To ensure you're aware of and okay with this and our other privacy-related practices, please review ourPrivacy Policy, then click the button below to accept it. Most Breathtaking Architecture Visit Monteverde Cloud Forest The forest really is cloudy! Best View Overlooking The Caribbean Coast Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about transportation. 30 Best Things to do in La Fortuna & Visitor Guide - Costa Rica Travel Life. Entrance to La Fortuna Waterfall is $18 USD, and you can purchase them at the gate orhere online in advance and skip the line(its the same price.). Visiting is nothing short of breathtaking. Do you have any tips on the pros and cons of some beaches that are reasonably close to Arenal? Explore the surroundings of the most authentic and epic scenarios that the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal have to offer. Please note that our reviews are not financially supported by the companies we choose to evaluate. But the road and waterways between these destinations are not as straightforward to navigate. Thanks for sharing such an amazing blog with us, Thank you for commenting, airport transfers london! La Fortuna is the city at the base of the Arenal volcano. Our website uses cookies. The distance between Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna and Monteverde as the crow fliesis pretty short. Visiting on your own is easy. You can get a taxi or drive yourself from La Fortuna town to this parking lot, where youll pay the entrance fee and begin hiking. Rica ( our Unbiased Opinion are located at higher elevations local meals I enjoyed Costa! 75 photos that will make you want more adventure, take the ziplines down morning for a day This one... Scuba Dive then it ended up being our home for 8 mos making off. 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