Keep an eye out for wildlife too. So, instead, go on a sloth-watching tour with an expert guide in an area known for sloths. If you have only one full day in Monteverde, most people go to the parks to do ziplining, hanging bridges or horseback riding. Related Read: Another popular place for a river safari is near Jaco at the Crocodile Bridge, where you will see, you guessed it, crocodiles! 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.). Its the first eco-brewery in the country! This 23. Whats great about hostels like this is youll meet other travelers from around the world. Arenal Volcano is an active volcano that last erupted in 2010. as well as other animals like frogs, toucans, hummingbirds, and parrots. Best Place To See Caimans The worst months to visit La Fortuna are from May to November, which is known as the rainy season. Compared to the abundance of diverse accommodation options found in the La Fortuna / Arenal area, the range of hotel variety in the Monteverde area is short. Youve identified 4 options Arenal volcano (La Fortuna is the closest town), Monteverde s cloudorests, Manual Antonios rainforests and Papagayo beaches. Read our Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, Anti-Inequality, Anti-Discrimination Statement here. This fun, and somewhat scary experience, takes you underground to explore the cave with an expert guide. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. The forum Costa Rica Travel Blog Forum is closed to new topics and replies. Explore the surroundings of the most authentic and epic scenarios that the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal have to offer. The views of the volcano here are great, and youll feel completely emersed in the beauty of Costa Rica. I myself love that version more! 15 BEST All-Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica (Our Unbiased Opinion! 2 Full Days in Monteverde. 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. Spend an afternoon exploring a private nature preserve bordering Arenal Volcano and inside the Arenal Volcano National Park, only 30 minutes from La Fortuna. Before then, Arenal was Costa Ricas most active volcano, which began with a major eruption in 1968. 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. I cannot think of a better sign that a blog is worth reading, so keep up the great work! If youre just setting out on this journey, review our introductory Costa Rica trip-planning resources first. Driving To La Fortuna / Arenal: Photos, Road Conditions, Routes, Drive Times, And More! This is also where the volcano is, and this is where the majority of the best adventure tours you could possibly have are. Great tip! Shared shuttle services typically arrive into and depart from Monteverde twice daily, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. WebOur pick in Monteverde for hanging bridges is Selvatura Park. DIY Costa Rica is our best of content portfolio documenting firsthand Costa Rica travel experience, tips, photos, and recommendations for do-it-yourself travelers. 2 Full Days in Monteverde. Take the Metamorphosis Tour for $17 USD per person and learn about butterflies while being surrounded by them in the large atrium habitats. 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. Those with a medium budget should check outCasa Luna Hotel & Spa. Monteverde is equally attractive, albeit to a more defined type of traveler. Because of this, its illegal to climb to the top of the Arenal Volcano. While you can stay at Selina, you dont have to be a guest to come party here! Those two places are the most popular, and the rainforest is the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Best Surf Town 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. The property is among the best eco-lodges in Costa Rica and its located just outside of La Fortuna. Visit Monteverde Cloud Forest The forest really is cloudy! (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.). We've seen lots of beautiful birds there including toucans. You can either head to the left or right of the bridge and sit back and enjoy the warm water. 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! The bridges range from 170 feet (52 meters) to 560 feet (171 meters). This safari float touris a great way to get up close to wildlife. This walk takes some people much longer, so be prepared and take your time. On day 2, we recommend to do a cloud forest hike or a birding tour, or both! Read our disclosure policy for more info. Come back to Costa Rica! Most are also run by themes, plugins, and other add-ons to our website that we do not and cannot control, which means the cookies you receive are mainly provided by third parties. We agree 100%. 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. Best View Overlooking The Town Of La Fortuna, Best View Overlooking The Caribbean Coast, Best Breakfast Menu Item (Non-Traditional), Most Stressful Encounter During A Road Trip, Best Way To Get Into The Costa Rican Spirit, Best Semana Santa (Easter Week) Tradition, Best Use Of An Extra Two Dollars In Your Pocket, Best Site For A Titanic Im The King Of The World Moment, Most Likely Fruit To Give You Montezumas Revenge, Most Stunning Product Of A Chemical Reaction, Best Equipment (Other Than A Camera) To Pack, Most Important Reason For Keeping Colones On Hand, This topic has 30 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated. We appreciate your interest, preference, time, and visit. Best Place To See Toucans Youll learn how to make a variety of dishes, including appetizers, mains, and desserts. This 23. Best Intermediate Hike 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. But if you want more adventure, take the ziplines down! The trail between the bridges is flat, easy, and well maintained. How to Get from La Fortuna to Monteverde (or Monteverde to La Fortuna) La Fortuna to Monteverde Map. One of the best spots for birdwatching in La Fortuna is at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. Evaluating destinations in Costa Rica is a subjective task that reflects greatly on the opinions, wants, and needs of the evaluator. Best View Of The Central Valley Driving In Costa Rica: Distance And Duration Of Popular Routes. Best Opportunity To Take A Selfie 2 Full Days in Monteverde. 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). For incredible views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal, take to the sky! 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). Youll follow your guide along an easy trail as you look for bats, birds, frogs, snakes, and other animals in the rainforest. Youll be able to get a room here for under $75 USD. If you want a birdwatching guide,this specific tourincludes a professional guide, park entrance fee, and hotel transportation, all for only $49 USD for adults and $39 for children (select the second option.) TheBaldi Hot Springsis one of the most luxurious and developed and visited hot springs in La Fortuna, not to mention the most lively one! If you want to do a guided tour, I highlysuggest this specific tour with Mistico. I think its important to start by distinguishing between La Fortuna and Monteverde. Get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests of Monteverde as you travel by van and boat. Located around 1.5 hours north of La Fortuna. If you have only one full day in Monteverde, most people go to the parks to do ziplining, hanging bridges or horseback riding. Avoid the drive at night when darkness and fog are common hazards. While youve seen the volcano in the distance in La Fortuna, its worth getting closer to appreciate this landmark. Inc.(Costa Rica Discounts), the author of the guidebooksMoon Costa Rica(2019, 2021, and 2023 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides; and afreelance writer for hire. 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. Arenal and La Fortuna. To ensure you're aware of and okay with this and our other privacy-related practices, please review our Privacy Policy, then click the button to accept it. Click here to access the FREE La Fortuna / Arenal discounts! 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. Meet us, learn about our Costa Rica experience, and learn how we help Costa Rica travelers! La Fortuna is one of the cheaper tourist destinations in Costa Rica. Youll kayak on the calm waters with the volcano on one side of you and the rainforest on the other. Day 2: Relax at the hotel or check out La Fortuna town. We've seen lots of beautiful birds there including toucans. Best Soda Restaurant (Inland) , You are right about planning. There are not many places in the world where you can zipline right over a waterfall, but this is one of them! Theres certain, Snap photos from incredible viewpoints! La Fortuna / Arenal is nicknamed the epicenter of adventure. Youve identified 4 options Arenal volcano (La Fortuna is the closest town), Monteverde s cloudorests, Manual Antonios rainforests and Papagayo beaches. The most convenient way for those without a car is to hike from theGreen Lagoon Lodgenear the La Fortuna Waterfall entrance. For families, I recommend checking outLos Lagos Hot Springs. This zipline tour is one of the best andhas you ziplining over La Fortuna Waterfall, an experience not offered by other tours. Hike to Hule Lagoon. Best Place To See Scarlet Macaws 2. I think its important to start by distinguishing between La Fortuna and Monteverde. Best Adventure Tour 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. Youll have the chance to see two and three-toed sloths (and if youre lucky baby sloths!) Toucans are my favorite! Parking at Rio Celeste costs 2,000 colones per vehicle, and the park entrance fee is $12 USD for adults. Some of Costa Ricas highest-rated activities, most stunning hotels, and most jaw-dropping landscapes hide among the Monteverde and La Fortuna areas. You can also go to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. This is much further from La Fortuna, but the trail is a little better. Thanks for sharing such an amazing blog with us, Thank you for commenting, airport transfers london! La Fortuna / Arenal truly has it all, which is part of the reason why the destination appeals to so many travelers. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Best Ways To Travel From La Fortuna To Monteverde (Or Vice Versa). Get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests of Monteverde as you travel by van and boat. A great way to explore the lush rainforest around La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano is by horseback. Monteverde. 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. Monteverde isnt a luxury destination. Yes! Birdwatching. 21 Best Things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica 1. If you plan to arrive at La Fortuna from the east via the speedy and paved Highway 4, the new highway extension that connects La Fortuna to the Sarapiqui region makes driving a breeze. 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. The rooms feel almost like private villas in the jungle as youre surrounded by flowering tropical plants and all different types of birds. It also includes a visit to the Maleku Indian Cultural Rescue Center to learn about Costa Ricas Indigenous culture. Best Navidad (Christmas) Tradition Of course, you can see them in the wild just randomly in town, and while I lived in La Fortuna, this happened a lot! If whitewater rafting sounds fun but intimidating, I suggest going withthis specific touron a gentler section of Rio Balsa. Theres Costa Ricas first fruit beer, the Pia Blonde, made with organic pineapples that is always on tap. If you decide to visit Monteverde, I highly recommend Hotel Las Orquideas. 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). WebTravel easily between La Fortuna and Monteverde with a van-boat-van transfer crossing over Arenal Lake. When you arrive in Tilaran, youll need to make sure you have sufficient gas to make the journey. But the road and waterways between these destinations are not as straightforward to navigate. 30 Best Things to do in La Fortuna & Visitor Guide - Costa Rica Travel Life. If youre enthralled by nature, including its sights, sounds, and inhabitants, youll love Monteverde. Dont be deceived by appearances, its a short distance as the crow flies, but a 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. The Monteverde Cloud Forest essentially welcomes the sky down into the rainforest letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist. You should know that in this region there are a lot of activities to do. For hiking, maybe go to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see a quetzal. Your SPAM-FREE visit to OUR FREE WEBSITE is more important to us than making money off your clicks. However, another side to Costa Rica involves volcanoes, hot springs, and breathtaking waterfalls. Best Street Vendor Purchase Be prepared to get wet and conquer a fear of heights if you have one! Luckily, the next best thing is learning how to cook the dishes for yourself. 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. Its arguably the most beautiful waterfall in Costa Rica and is located around a 30-minute walk from the entrance. Once in the park, you can wander the many different hiking trails, ranging in length. Monteverde on another hand is best for a day trip. The large pools here are fed by crystalline rainforest springs and are surrounded by colorful plants and flowers. Hot springs at night. We saw lots of toucans during our visit. Its a destination for adventure. These rapids are Class II and III, so still a challenge but more suited to beginners. Then you could also add in the cloud forest. This is a great way to spot birds including Great Blue Herons and Kingfishers, and youll probably hear Howler monkeys too. The Sky Tram is an open-air gondola that takes you high above the rainforest. Best Novelty Restaurant Unofficial parking inspectors charge you to park here and protect your vehicle. They usually try to charge 3,000 Colones but just tell them yesterday you paid 1,000 Colones. http://www.orquideasmonteverde.com/index.php Its a small bed-and-breakfast style hotel run by the family of a good friend. 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. The Sky Tram can bebooked on its ownfor about $50 USD per person ($33 for children.) Hiking Arenal Volcano is illegal, so I will not be mentioning it in this blog. Monteverde can also be accessed from destinations all over the country via public buses, taxis, car rentals, shared shuttle services, and private transfer services. However,La Fortuna Natural Greenis another budget option suited to those who prefer to avoid hostels.
He Was A Quiet Man 2020 Ending Explained,
Scotland's Highest Mountain Kenobi,
Second Chance Apartments In Douglasville,
Articles T