The majority of streets in and around Santa Elena are curvy and hilly. The Arenal Observatory Lodge in the Arenal area also has nice hiking. WebTravel easily between La Fortuna and Monteverde with a van-boat-van transfer crossing over Arenal Lake. The small downtown core offers a handful of urban amenities like trendy souvenir shops and cafes, while the outskirts of town showcase natural, agrarian settings, and quiet neighborhoods. Best Site For A Titanic Im The King Of The World Moment We appreciate your interest, preference, time, and visit. La Fortuna is a small town in the central valley of Costa Rica known for its lush rainforests and milder climate. But we did not take the typical route to Arenal. Given that Monteverde and La Fortuna are unique destinations both worthy of a visit, deciding whether you should visit La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde during your vacation may be one of the toughest and most stressful trip-planning decisions youll make. The hike will take you along the rim of a volcanic lagoon for a morning hike through pastures and rainforests. Meet us, learn about our Costa Rica experience, and learn how we help Costa Rica travelers! The water in La Fortuna is completely safe to drink and some of the best in the country. It will take you around 2 hours to get to the town of Tilaran. Pura vida, amigos! Dont be deceived by appearances, its a short distance as the crow flies, but a The conservatory is open every day from 10 am to 4 pm. Best Place To See Crocodiles Driving To La Fortuna / Arenal: Photos, Road Conditions, Routes, Drive Times, And More! On the fastest route between the two towns, you'll experience the beauty of the Arenal Volcano National Park and the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Along the way, youll see underground waterfalls, some creepy but harmless insects, bats, and even a Stalagmite thats over 6 million years old! Rio Celeste is famous for its bright blue color. On top of that, youll also get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato. About La Fortuna. This natural phenomenon is caused by the mixing of two rivers that literally turns the water Gatorade blue Im not joking! Monteverde grows in popularity with each passing year. eh? Youll be able to get a room here for under $75 USD. This blog may contain affiliate links. Arenal and La Fortuna. #Cos, Lounge around in paradise! Your best bet is to book afull-day tourwith a guide to take you there. Monteverde can also be accessed from destinations all over the country via public buses, taxis, car rentals, shared shuttle services, and private transfer services. This is arguably the most luxurious hotel in La Fortuna and comes with fantastic views, luxury rooms, a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a swim-up bar, hot tubs, and a spa and wellness center. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 30 EPIC Things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica + Complete Guide, The river is located a 15-minute drive out of La Fortuna, Rio Sarapiqu has 30 Class III and IV rapids to try onthis tou, spectacular hotels with volcano views in La Fortuna, Seeing sloths in the wild here in Costa Rica, This tour explores an area known well known as sloths territory, this tourincludes transportation and a professional guide, stand-up paddleboard (SUP) tourto the middle of Lake Arenal, Take acanyoning and waterfall rappelling tour, 15 BEST Beach Towns in Costa Rica that you should Visit. This is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna especially if you want to relax! Get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests of Monteverde as you travel by van and boat. Evaluating destinations in Costa Rica is a subjective task that reflects greatly on the opinions, wants, and needs of the evaluator. Best Place For White Sand Rooms here range from $300 to 400 USD per night. Rooms here range from $200 to 300 USD per night. The water is surrounded by lush tropical scenery although you probably wont be focused on that! With the volcano beside you, gently glide across the water and enjoy the view. In some areas, cloud cover can make for a longer and more cautious drive, but its magnificent nonetheless, as you put it. 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. 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! Youll see old impact craters from Arenal Volcanos eruption in 1968 and find a river with volcanic mud. My husband spent nearly a year mapping out our first trip. 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. Monteverde Shared shuttle services typically arrive into and depart from Monteverde twice daily , Seeing sloths in the wild here in Costa Rica is honestly so cool. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about food and drink in Costa Rica, including recommendations for things to eat in Costa Rica, drinks to try in Costa Rica, and Costa Rican recipes so you can re-create Costa Rican meals in your own home! Its highly rated and includes lunch, transport, and an expert guide. Birdwatching. Casa Luna is located a short drive from town. Driving To Monteverde: Photos, Road Conditions, Routes, Drive Times, And More! If you have only one full day in Monteverde, most people go to the parks to do ziplining, hanging bridges or horseback riding. I think its important to start by distinguishing between La Fortuna and Monteverde. Best View Overlooking The Pacific Coast, Best Place To See Capuchin Monkeys This is one of the main Monteverde attractions, and its an incredible place to spend some time. 30 Best Things to do in La Fortuna & Visitor Guide - Costa Rica Travel Life. Best Luxury Hotel Bathroom If you plan to arrive at La Fortuna from the south via Road 702, sections of the drive between San Ramon and La Fortuna are mountainous, are curvy, and cut through a cloud forest, but the road is usually in good condition. WebThere are 5 ways to get from Monteverde to La Fortuna by taxi, bus, shuttle or car. Click on the button above to donate through PayPal. The route from Arenal / La Fortuna to Monteverde is easy and is as follows Take Route 142 to Lake Arenal and follow the road along the edge of the lake. Its $45 USD per person, which includes unlimited coffee tasting in the gift shop. Its a cool accommodation thats definitely more like glamping with a comfy double bed inside the teepee. The other way to the top is fromArenal Observatory Lodge. Theres Costa Ricas first fruit beer, the Pia Blonde, made with organic pineapples that is always on tap. Exploring the park is an adventure that takes you to the volcanos base and slightly up its steep face. I love your trendy tips at Reverse Commuter. Must-Try Fruit (Cooked) The passes here are reasonable at $16 USD and include admission to hot and cold pools and wildlife exhibits on-site. 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. We've seen lots of beautiful birds there including toucans. Lovely photos. I hope you enjoyed reading our guide to the best things to do in La Fortuna. Monteverde is a really popular one. For those with experience who want a challenge, the thrilling Rio Sarapiqu has 30 Class III and IV rapids to try onthis tour. Unfortunately, given La Fortuna/Arenals location in the middle of the northern inlands, it requires at minimum a 3-hour drive to reach a beach. You can also go to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Hiking Arenal Volcano is illegal, so I will not be mentioning it in this blog. You cant come to Costa Rica and not taste some of the coffee and chocolate this country is known for! Keep an eye out for wildlife too. The rooms feel almost like private villas in the jungle as youre surrounded by flowering tropical plants and all different types of birds. Best Late Night Restaurant The views of the volcano here are great, and youll feel completely emersed in the beauty of Costa Rica. Hike the 1968 Arenal Trail. Best View Overlooking The Caribbean Coast (Alternatively, you can try setting your browser to remove or reject browser cookies before visiting our website, but you may find that our website doesnt function properly without them.) The tour also includes transportation (its about a two-hour drive) and lunch. If youre staying at the resort, access to the hot springs is free, or if you arent a guest, you can purchase a day pass with dinner or lunch for $89 USD, or with both for $110. Best View Of The Sunset Exploring the suspended bridges and nature trails should take about three hours. Choose a modern accommodation that features hot springs on-site, or book a room at a sustainable eco-lodge. , You are right about planning. 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. Hey, Costa Rica Travel Blog reader, thank you for visiting and reading our blog! Monteverde does not have a domestic airport, so flying to/from the destination is not an option. This 23. Both destinations provide several dining options within the downtown core and more on the outskirts of town. Monteverde isnt a luxury destination. The guide will instruct you on the paddling techniques youll need before you set out on the 6 miles (9.6 km) trip. Read our disclosure policy for more info. Another one of the best free things to do in La Fortuna is the free hot springs! Its a really fun place to go as a group or to meet new people to share your Costa Rican adventure with. For more information about this and other privacy-related practices, please see our Privacy Policy. . 66 Costa Rica Beaches (In Photos) And Where To Find Them. When to reserve Costa Rica tours and activities, When to reserve Costa Rica hotels, transfers, rental cars, and restaurant visits, How to plan a trip to Costa Rica for free, step by step, Best time to visit / Costa Rica's seasons. 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 reading. Before then, Arenal was Costa Ricas most active volcano, which began with a major eruption in 1968. Its arguably the most beautiful waterfall in Costa Rica and is located around a 30-minute walk from the entrance. Taking a little piece of La Fortuna home with you is a great way to remember your time here. Getting your transportation worked out ahead of time seems to be one of the keys to success. 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). Given the destinations high elevation, cloud cover is frequent. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about spending money in Costa Rica, including Costa Rica payment policies, Costa Rica currency exchange, using USD in Costa Rica, tipping information, and more. The tour includes roundtrip transportation and is $110 USD per person. It should come as no surprise that La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the top attractions in La Fortuna. Best Breakfast Menu Item (Traditional) We saw lots of toucans during our visit. WebYou can have a volcano, a trail below, waterfalls, a lake, and a plethora of many other natural wonders all at an arms reach from La Fortuna. 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). Depending on the type of ground transfer service used, the route followed, and weather conditions, the drive could take longer. Foggy, mysterious, bi, Get creative in Sarchi! There are a few different levels of rapids, so you can find a tour thats great if its your first time paddling or if youre an experienced rafter. Best Shallow Beach You do not want to get stuck on this trail in the dark! Weirdest Drink To Order Distance from La Fortuna. You can take a swim at the base of the falls! Though most Costa Ricans arent bilingual, many individuals who work in the tourism industry in La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde have at least a basic understanding of English, if not the ability to converse in Spanish and English. This is also where the volcano is, and this is where the majority of the best adventure tours you could possibly have are. Best View Overlooking The Town Of La Fortuna Thanks so much for the compliment! If youre enthralled by nature, including its sights, sounds, and inhabitants, youll love Monteverde. All of the opinions, recommendations, and advice expressed on Costa Rica Travel Blog are our own. The hike I have in mind is run by ACMCR. 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. La Fortuna / Arenal is located approximately 2.5 hours from the LIR Airport via direct, ground transportation. Unless youre just diving into your Costa Rica vacation planning, youve probably already heard that La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde are two of Costa Ricas top destinations. TheBaldi Hot Springsis one of the most luxurious and developed and visited hot springs in La Fortuna, not to mention the most lively one! 12 BEST Restaurants in San Jose, Costa Rica. Arenal and La Fortuna. This is certainly one of the most enjoyable things to do in La Fortuna but be prepared to get muddy especially if you do the tour in the wet season. The worst months to visit La Fortuna are from May to November, which is known as the rainy season. Register today to start browsing! However,La Fortuna Natural Greenis another budget option suited to those who prefer to avoid hostels. You can eat at local Costa Rican restaurants that serve traditional culinary dishes, or at fancier establishments that feature cuisine from around the world. If you plan to arrive at Monteverde from the north via Road 606, the drive between Tilaran and Monteverde is curvy and bumpy in places. If you have the, Dine on delicious Caribbean cuisine! Of course, these are just a few of the spectacular hotels with volcano views in La Fortuna! This tour explores an area known well known as sloths territory, which is a private reserve run by a local family about 10 minutes away from downtown La Fortuna. Sample dishes include ceviche, mint mojitos, grilled pork loin with tropical chutney, and coconut flan with a caramel sauce. This trail is no longer maintained, and while I lived in La Fortuna, it was the locals way to the top. 22. That should have said Poas. If you only have a week, pick 2 of the above that interest you most. Area temperatures average between 18-20 degrees Celsius with warmer temperatures recorded during the dry/summer season. Click here to access the FREE Monteverde discounts! WebTravel easily between La Fortuna and Monteverde with a van-boat-van transfer crossing over Arenal Lake. DIY Costa Rica provides 100+ unique experience recommendations, each written as a chapter in a book, complete with photo galleries, Costa Rica field notes, experience details, Spanish pronunciation help, links to additional resources, and maps. 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. It would be irresponsible of us to label either Monteverde or La Fortuna / Arenal as being better or worse than the other, but we are happy to compare and contrast the two destinations so you can draw your own conclusions about which would be the best for you to visit. I prefer the left-hand side because you also get the sun, but on hot days, the right side of the bridge would be better. Best Coffee If you plan to arrive at La Fortuna from the west via Road 142, the drive between Tilaran and La Fortuna is fairly flat but curvy. Best Slogan To Recite Thanks to you, Im going to start reintroducing belts into my wardrobe! 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. Rio Celeste is explored by hiking theRio Celeste Trail, which is 3 kilometers/1.9 miles each way. We did Curi Cancha Reserve in the morning for a birding tour and then hiked Bosque Nuboso Santa Elena by ourselves in the afternoon. The best option is taxi-boat Dusty dirt roads, lik. Both La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde welcome travelers who speak English. You can spend as much time as you like on the deck here before heading back down either in the tram or by zipline! The tour has it all! If you do not accept the policy, please see the Settings. This protected reserve is a biological corridor for birds as they move between the different mountain ranges in the area. 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Monteverde Map also has nice hiking best in the dark USD per night choose a modern accommodation that hot!, get creative in Sarchi about this and other privacy-related practices, please see Privacy. Learn how we help Costa Rica travelers wont be focused on that transportation and is $ USD... Hope you enjoyed reading our blog transfer service used, the Pia Blonde made... The country is taxi-boat Dusty dirt roads, lik go to Monteverde cloud Forest Reserve so be prepared take! Out our first trip rainy season you want to get from La Fortuna waterfall is one of the!...