The views of the volcano here are great, and youll feel completely emersed in the beauty of Costa Rica. The weather begins to get better in December, and by January, you get more clear days. They are such unique animals, and the area around La Fortuna is a great place to see them. Hike the 1968 Arenal Trail. Birdwatching. This moderate to difficult trail (depending on the weather) leads to the gorgeous emerald green crater lake of Chato Volcano, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim. WebTravel easily between La Fortuna and Monteverde with a van-boat-van transfer crossing over Arenal Lake. Finally, spend a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking through turquoise waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches. Such as, did you know sloths come all the way down to the ground to use the bathroom once a week?! Because La Fortuna is such a big tourist town, there are a ton of amazing places to stay. So, instead, go on a sloth-watching tour with an expert guide in an area known for sloths. Enjoy transportation from your hotel door in La Fortuna to your location in Monteverde or Santa Elena. Another one of the best free things to do in La Fortuna is the free hot springs! Both La Fortuna and Monteverde have grocery stores, banks, ATMs, laundromats, pharmacies, churches, medical clinics, and dental clinics. Day 2: Relax at the hotel or check out La Fortuna town. This safari float touris a great way to get up close to wildlife. For those with experience who want a challenge, the thrilling Rio Sarapiqu has 30 Class III and IV rapids to try onthis tour. If youre just setting out on this journey, review our introductory Costa Rica trip-planning resources first. Most Stressful Encounter During A Road Trip The La Fortuna / Arenal Airport (FON) is located a 10-minute drive east of La Fortuna / Arenal, near the community of El Tanque. Keep an eye out for animals, including sloths, monkeys, and toucans. Your SPAM-FREE visit to OUR FREE WEBSITE is more important to us than making money off your clicks. The tour also includes information about coffee, cacao, and sugarcane, and youll have a chance to taste these important Costa Rican crops as part of a snack after youre done paddling. 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 similar to glacier lakes that reflect rock flour. If you would prefer not to receive cookies, we kindly (and sadly) ask that you do not visit our website. You should know that in this region there are a lot of activities to do. There are not many places in the world where you can zipline right over a waterfall, but this is one of them! The Monteverde Cloud Forest essentially welcomes the sky down into the rainforest letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist. Monteverde has a small-town, rural feel. Looking for a writer, blogger, travel journalist, proofreader, copywriter, and/or Spanish/English translator/editor? There areso many different hot springs to visit in La Fortuna; you could visit a different one every day for weeks! La Fortuna / Arenal is accessed via paved roads. Related Read: There are also some epic hanging bridges in Monteverde that you should check out! This website uses cookies to operate and provide you with the best user experience possible. Inc. (Costa Rica Discounts), Moon Costa Rica (2019, 2021, and 2023) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022), http://www.orquideasmonteverde.com/index.php. Absolutely! La Fortuna / Arenal has a mixed urban-rural feel. Check out the absolute BEST restaurants in La Fortuna. On a self-guided tour, the entrance to the Mistico Hanging Bridges is $26 USD for adults, $16 for teens, and kids under 10 go free! As a young boy, Ricky en, Hike a cloud forest reserve! This drive is particularly scenic as it curves around Lake Arenal. The majority of streets run straight, with the exception of the main road (Road 142) that departs La Fortuna to the west and curves around the Arenal Volcano. Best Intermediate Hike There are also parking attendants here, and they charge around 1,500 colones. Tours at Mistico Hanging Bridges can be done self-guided or on a tour. But the road and waterways between these destinations are not as straightforward to navigate. If you need to book a tour,this specific full-day tour to Rio Celesteis a top choice. But the road and waterways between these destinations are not as straightforward to navigate. eh? Best View Of The Central Valley The tour has it all! Best View Overlooking The Town Of 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 hope you enjoyed reading our guide to the best things to do in La Fortuna. About Monteverde. Best Soda Restaurant (Caribbean) This Rainforest Night Walk and Dinner touris the same tour I did in La Fortuna with Ecoterra. It only takes 15 minutes to get down but a little longer on the way up its 500 steps! Best Ziplines In Costa Rica: Comparing 6 In Arenal And Monteverde, Best Hanging Bridges In Costa Rica: Comparing 4 In Arenal And Monteverde. While youre here, go to theLava Loungeon a Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night. 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!). La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde both offer a wide variety of dining options. Youll want to plan for an entire day for this from La Fortuna. The property is beautiful, with a large pool and four hot tubs surrounded by nature. How to Get from La Fortuna to Monteverde (or Monteverde to La Fortuna) La Fortuna to Monteverde Map. 30 Best Things to do in La Fortuna & Visitor Guide - Costa Rica Travel Life. To start, browse through our article below. All content, concepts, and photos (unless credited otherwise) property of Ricky and Nikki Solano. Reservations are requiredif you want to come here on your own. ). Best River For White Water Rafting Costa Rica is home to lots of rivers, but few are as beautiful as Rio Celeste. If your time in Costa Rica will be short, however, or if you must adhere to a strict travel schedule, you may need to choose between visiting either La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde if you want to save some time for visiting a coastal destination too. However, those with a vehicle can also drive out there and park at the bridge. Below are some of them. If youre enthralled by nature, including its sights, sounds, and inhabitants, youll love Monteverde. Given the destinations high elevation, cloud cover is frequent. This is one of the best hikes in La Fortuna! Monteverde also has nice ziplining and the hanging bridges you mentioned. Depending on the type of ground transfer service used, the route followed, and weather conditions, the drive could be longer. One of the best spots for birdwatching in La Fortuna is at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. After instructions from your guide, youll head out on the off-road trails. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to accept the policy again. La Fortuna is a small, calm town that offers some great places to eat, lively bars, and lots of souvenir shopping. 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 or Monteverde? I think its important to start by distinguishing between La Fortuna and Monteverde. Rio Celeste is famous for its bright blue color. 15 BEST All-Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica (Our Unbiased Opinion! The trail through the forest is 3.2 kilometers/2 miles long, and although the 6 hanging bridges are the main attraction, theres lots more to see. 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. Its a really fun place to go as a group or to meet new people to share your Costa Rican adventure with. eh? 12 BEST Restaurants in San Jose, Costa Rica. However, the main draw to La Fortuna is the surrounding landscape and the many incredible things to do and see. One of the best spots for birdwatching in La Fortuna is at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. The property is among the best eco-lodges in Costa Rica and its located just outside of La Fortuna. Can/should I visit both La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde? Most Dangerous Roadway Bridge Crossing We saw lots of toucans during our visit. Best Holiday Celebration With that said, many still complete the 10 to 11-hour hike. For the record, Arenal refers to the area around the volcano. Get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests of Monteverde as you travel by van and boat. This is also where the volcano is, and this is where the majority of the best adventure tours you could possibly have are. Youll want to get out on this lake while youre here! Take our brief 5-question quiz to find out whether you should visit La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde during your trip. This beautiful, forested property has you cross eight sizable hanging bridges during the two-mile (3.2 km) walk. The tour also includes transportation (its about a two-hour drive) and lunch. Not to mention the town is big on accommodation, and a thriving restaurant and cafe scene. Click here to access the FREE Monteverde discounts! Best Safari Float However, another side to Costa Rica involves volcanoes, hot springs, and breathtaking waterfalls. Thanks so much for sharing it. 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. Read our Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, Anti-Inequality, Anti-Discrimination Statement here. After exploring La Fortuna for a few days, youll realize that almost everything costs money. Whenever Im traveling, I love trying the local craft beer of the region. My favorite spot was behind the restrooms at the ticket office! The tour includes roundtrip transportation and is only $76 USD for adults and $57 for children. You can see all of the trails over an afternoon or just pick a few. The hotel only has 21 rooms overlooking the jungle and Lake Arenal, so it has a nice, private feel. Which did you choose to visit, and why? Its a really fun way to see the area and enjoy the ziplines that Costa Rica is known for. WebArenal COMBO Tour Pedal and Paddle Crossing Lake Arenal. At the top, theres an observation deck with beautiful views of rolling hills, the south side of Arenal Volcano, and Lake Arenal. If you want to do a guided tour, I highlysuggest this specific tour with Mistico. The sky down into the rainforest letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist best eco-lodges in Costa involves... 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