Best Butterfly Garden Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Best View Of The Sunset So, do as the locals do and explore some of the free things to do in La Fortuna! The trail between the bridges is flat, easy, and well maintained. There are two ways to hike Chato Volcano, depending on how much adventure youre after. Or another favorite is the Chili Birra, a blonde ale with a spicy kick from campana chilis grown on the farm. If whitewater rafting sounds fun but intimidating, I suggest going withthis specific touron a gentler section of Rio Balsa. Our company is inclusive. Though the Pacific and Caribbean coasts have crystalline beaches and warm water, Costa Ricas inlands invite exploration of wildlife-rich rainforest and cloud forest ecosystems. Guided tours flow through each reserve daily, but also popular are visits to local mariposarios (butterfly conservatories or butterfly gardens), ranarios (frog exhibits), and herpetariums (reptile and amphibian exhibits). WebArenal COMBO Tour Pedal and Paddle Crossing Lake Arenal. Luckily, the next best thing is learning how to cook the dishes for yourself. The best option is taxi-boat This beautiful, forested property has you cross eight sizable hanging bridges during the two-mile (3.2 km) walk. Take the Metamorphosis Tour for $17 USD per person and learn about butterflies while being surrounded by them in the large atrium habitats. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about starting to plan a Costa Rica vacation. Some beaches in #, Try traditional, handmade Costa Rican cuisine! Click here to listen to podcast interviews weve been featured on! Tours to attractions that fall outside of La Fortuna run daily from the town, including trips to the Venado Caves, to Rio Celeste inside the Tenorio Volcano National Park, and to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, as well as white-water rafting excursions on several local rivers, including the famous Pacuare River (see our related blog post The Pacuare River Rafting Tour for rafting tour details). You can do just about everything in La Fortunahike or bike nature trails, go ziplining or horseback riding, visit or rappel down waterfalls, walk on hanging bridges, ride an aerial tram or an ATV, learn how coffee or chocolate is made, and so much more. 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). Your SPAM-FREE visit to OUR FREE WEBSITE is more important to us than making money off your clicks. Best Use Of An Extra Two Dollars In Your Pocket Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica destinations, including recommendations for cities, towns, and communities to visit in Costa Rica. Theres also a beautiful garden full of orchids and a few parrots who live in the yard that you can take photos with. The distance between Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna and Monteverde as the crow fliesis pretty short. Best Breakfast Menu Item (Non-Traditional) Monteverde isnt a luxury destination. 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). La Fortuna / Arenal is primarily warm and sunny. You can get a private bungalow room for around $60 USD per night or a smaller room that has a shared bathroom for only $27 USD per night. Its highly rated and includes lunch, transport, and an expert guide. La Fortuna / Arenal is a major hub of the northern inland area; it can easily be accessed from destinations all over the country via public buses, taxis, car rentals, shared shuttle services, private transfer services, and domestic flights. Best Beach Hostel Choose a modern accommodation that features hot springs on-site, or book a room at a sustainable eco-lodge. It only takes 15 minutes to get down but a little longer on the way up its 500 steps! As a young boy, Ricky en, Hike a cloud forest reserve! The best option is taxi-boat Together with her Costa Rican husband, Ricky, she operates theCosta Rica Travel Blog, created the online communityDIY Costa Rica, built theCosta Rica Destination Tool, and designed theCosta Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. Private transfer services can be hired to provide services at any time. Not unlike La Fortuna, the area offers a wide variety of tours, activities, accommodations, shops, and dining options, but the presence of tourism in the vicinity is understated. Most Important Reason For Keeping Colones On Hand. 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. Below we compare and contrast La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde according to the following factors: La Fortuna / Arenal is located approximately 3-3.5 hours from the SJO Airport via direct, ground transportation. Most Addictive Local Pastime, Best Donation Item To Bring From Home Excluding the hour-long hike required to reach the biological station, the hike from there to El Castillo is another approximate 6 hours. Youll taste farm-fresh coffee and chocolate right where they are made. Related Read: Love food? You can easily walk to El Salto from town, and when I lived in La Fortuna, I did this at least once a week for a swim. What type of destination atmosphere would you prefer? From San Jose, La Fortuna is 2.5 hours away. I stayed for a week with a group of friends, and Danilo and his family are among the most hospitable and fun people Ive ever met. This is a fun activity that is suitable for beginners who may have never ridden a horse before. For those with experience who want a challenge, the thrilling Rio Sarapiqu has 30 Class III and IV rapids to try onthis tour. They know the property well and know exactly where to find wildlife such as sloths, monkeys, snakes, and more. The class is good for beginners as well as experienced cooks. Its a 2.5 hour guided walk that includes transport from La Fortuna, your entrance ticket, and an expert guide for only $45 USD. Rooms here range from $300 to 400 USD per night. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about coming and going from Costa Rica, including Costa Rica packing information, Costa Rica souvenir information, and tips for practicing responsible, sustainable tourism. On top of that, youll also get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato. I just scrolled through your blog (mainly the Costa Rica category) and couldnt find an article that I wouldnt be interested in reading. Bring closed-toe shoes so you can explore the trails around here and other exhibits, including the exotic frog habitat, plant gardens, and greenhouses. Staple adventures, including aerial tram rides, hanging bridges tours, and canopy zip-line tours are run in the area, as are farm tours that offer a peek at the lifestyle of Costa Rican agricultural workers who process coffee, chocolate, and sugarcane. The hike I have in mind is run by ACMCR. Thanks for the great information! TheLake Arenal Hotel and Breweryis the perfect spot for this and a great day trip about 1.5 hours from La Fortuna. If you decide to visit Monteverde, I highly recommend Hotel Las Orquideas. The weather begins to get better in December, and by January, you get more clear days. Its thrilling to fly high above the rainforest and take in views from a totally unique perspective and La Fortuna is one of the best places to go ziplining in Costa Rica (my other favorite is Monteverde!). Best Adventure Tour Operator, Best View Of The Sunrise La Fortuna / Arenal truly has it all, which is part of the reason why the destination appeals to so many travelers. 2. For the record, Arenal refers to the area around the volcano. The food in Costa Rica is amazing! Spend an afternoon exploring a private nature preserve bordering Arenal Volcano and inside the Arenal Volcano National Park, only 30 minutes from La Fortuna. Read more 8-Day Itinerary Including Gulf of Papagayo Baby squirrel monkey and mother Theres Costa Ricas first fruit beer, the Pia Blonde, made with organic pineapples that is always on tap. Each Costa Rica Travel Blog article reflects our own work, travels, and lessons learned. The Monteverde Cloud Forest essentially welcomes the sky down into the rainforest letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist. 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 trail is well maintained and leads down to the waterfall via lots of steps. If you want to get out of town and amongst the treetops, I highly suggest visiting hanging bridges in La Fortuna. You can take a swim at the base of the falls! Best Place To Scuba Dive Hike the 1968 Arenal Trail. Before then, Arenal was Costa Ricas most active volcano, which began with a major eruption in 1968. Most Likely Fruit To Give You Montezumas Revenge, Most Stunning Product Of A Chemical Reaction I think its important to start by distinguishing between La Fortuna and Monteverde. You can choose to either do a tour to Rio Celeste from La Fortuna or visit on your own. Birdwatching. Both destinations provide several dining options within the downtown core and more on the outskirts of town. If you need to book a tour,this specific full-day tour to Rio Celesteis a top choice. Hike the 1968 Arenal Trail. Theyre very knowledgeable about the area, and can help plan your whole trip. Best View Overlooking Arenal Lake TheVolcano Lodgeis set at the foot of Arenal Volcano. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to accept the policy again. If you leave the Strictly Necessary Cookie disabled, we will not be able to save your preference. Whats great about hostels like this is youll meet other travelers from around the world. Its also important to note that after rain, the water can turn brown, so its best to visit when it hasnt rained in a while. This is one of the main Monteverde attractions, and its an incredible place to spend some time. These two products are very important exports for Costa Rica, and its really neat to see the entire process unfold before your eyes. . La Fortuna is the city at the base of the Arenal volcano. The tour also includes transportation (its about a two-hour drive) and lunch. Day 5 and 6: Monteverde. Best Mascot The best part is, transport from La Fortuna is included. For $65 USD, youll get a guide, transport, entrance to the waterfall, lunch, snacks, and get to visit El Salto a beautiful swimming spot mentioned further down this list. The worst months to visit La Fortuna are from May to November, which is known as the rainy season. Our Costa Rica guidebooks published by the prestigious Moon Travel Guides: 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). La Fortuna / Arenal is located approximately 2.5 hours from the LIR Airport via direct, ground transportation. A great way to explore the lush rainforest around La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano is by horseback. The tour also includes a trip to the Maleku Cultural Resource Center once youre finished and roundtrip transportation from La Fortuna. Explore the surroundings of the most authentic and epic scenarios that the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal have to offer. (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.). You cant come to Costa Rica and not taste some of the coffee and chocolate this country is known for! Most Likely Beach Companion Shy of the low-key but obvious urban development thats featured in La Fortuna / Arenal, the Monteverde vicinity swaps commercial offices for plantations and farms. Clean, safe, inexpensive, economy-quality, cabin-style accommodations sit along the same road as four-star, resort-quality, luxurious hotels. Day 2: Relax at the hotel or check out La Fortuna town. The Lake Arenal Hotel and Brewery is on a 15-acre organic farm with a focus on green energy. Without a tour, entry to the park is $15 USD for adults and $5 for children. . A wide variety of tours, activities, accommodations, shops, and dining options are available in and around La Fortunas downtown core. We've seen lots of beautiful birds there including toucans. 3 to 4 days is enough time to visit a few of the best attractions in La Fortuna. This happens because acidic and neutral waters combine, and they create enough particle concentration to reflect light. This area is well known for great hiking trails, with the main trail stretching 4 miles (6.5 kilometers). Their trails are in good shape. Distance from La Fortuna. Of course, you are not legally required to pay them, but its less than $2 USD, and they do direct traffic and make it safe to pull out. For hiking, maybe go to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see a quetzal. Awe (blush). http://www.orquideasmonteverde.com/index.php Its a small bed-and-breakfast style hotel run by the family of a good friend. The closest thin, Search for critters in the rainforest! Neither destination has a hospital; the closest hospital is a 60-minute drive from La Fortuna / Arenal in Ciudad Quesada, and a 75-minute drive from Monteverde in Puntarenas. I personally visited Arenal Volcano National Park on a tour simply because I love having a guide to learn all about the volcano. Monteverde on another hand is best for a day trip. 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. Top of that, youll also get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano an incredible Place to spend some time us. Those with experience who want a challenge, the next best thing is learning how to cook the for. 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