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. Its the centerpiece of La Fortuna, and what better way to see it than while relaxing in your room. Arguably, La Fortuna / Arenal is the most popular tourist destination in Costa Rica. In some areas, cloud cover can make for a longer and more cautious drive, but its magnificent nonetheless, as you put it. READ THIS FIRST! I love the incredible view of the Arenal Volcano from the secluded pools in the lower section. Finally, spend a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking through turquoise waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches. How to Get from La Fortuna to Monteverde (or Monteverde to La Fortuna) La Fortuna to Monteverde Map. It will take you around 2 hours to get to the town of Tilaran. Admission is $26 USD per adult, $16 USD for youth, and free for kids 10 and under. You need around 3 hours to hike the trail to the end and back again and enjoy the waterfall. Birdwatching. More than 450 species of birds have been spotted here! The towns elevation is approximately 300 meters above sea level, though some attractions sit at higher elevations. Each Costa Rica Travel Blog article reflects our own work, travels, and lessons learned. 2. 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 route between San Jose/Alajuela and La Fortuna/Arenal via Poas/La Paz is incredible! Our Costa Rica travel guide published by Moon Travel Guides, Our Costa Rica discounts database (Pura Vida! Best Intermediate Hike If you plan ahead, do down at sunset with some candles and enjoy the hot springs as the sunsets this is very popular! 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. After it leaves the resort, visitors are free to enjoy the hot water without a charge. Best Yoga Pose Seeing sloths in the wild here in Costa Rica is honestly so cool. 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. 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.). Most Breathtaking Architecture Best Butterfly Garden There are also fun waterslides, waterfalls, and a faux volcano. Our website uses cookies. The trails here offer some spectacular scenery and great opportunities to see wildlife on relatively easy walking paths. Foggy, mysterious, bi, Get creative in Sarchi! The other way to the top is fromArenal Observatory Lodge. Depending on the type of ground transfer service used, the route followed, and weather conditions, the drive could take longer. La Fortuna is a small, calm town that offers some great places to eat, lively bars, and lots of souvenir shopping. Best Place To See Coatis In fact, I loved La Fortuna so much that I moved there at the start of 2022 and spent lots of time exploring the surrounding area. The modern, Go SCUBA diving at Isla del Coco! Love our blog? Set amidst lush vegetation, this hot springs resort boasts 25 thermal water pools with temperatures ranging from 93F to 152F (doesnt it sound dreamy?!). The tour is early at 6 am as thats the best time to see birds here. I mentioned Selina above, which is a great budget option. Depending on the type of ground transfer service used, the route followed, and weather conditions, the drive could be longer. If you have only one full day in Monteverde, most people go to the parks to do ziplining, hanging bridges or horseback riding. Best Art Gallery About Monteverde. The trail is often really muddy, so you can rent boots at the entrance for 2,000 Colones. The Mistico Hanging Bridges are some of the best! This specific tour is awesome, and youll learn so much about chocolate making in Costa Rica as well as sample your fair share the hot chocolate is so good! Private transfer services can be hired to provide services at any time. On top of that, youll also get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato. 3 to 4 days is enough time to visit a few of the best attractions in La Fortuna. Combine two of the best activities in Arenal, Stand Up Paddle Lake Crossing and Mountain Biking all in one! 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. We've seen lots of beautiful birds there including toucans. Take our La Fortuna / Arenal vs. Monteverde quiz below to quickly find out which destination is best for you. Since transportation is one of the trip items that travelers tend to stress about the most, its smart to make transportation arrangements in advance to minimize surprises during the trip. Best Hot Springs Thanks so much for commenting! If you have the, Dine on delicious Caribbean cuisine! See you there, amigos! This walk takes some people much longer, so be prepared and take your time. Its one of my favorite ways to get a taste of the local culture while enjoying a relaxing evening. eh? 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. Kudos to these Costa Rican tourism companies, Shaking off tourism competition in Costa Rica, 30 popular things to do in Costa Rica (Costa Rica activity guide), Off-the-beaten-path things to do in Costa Rica (Costa Rica activity guide), The cost of tours and activities in Costa Rica, How to save money on Costa Rica tours and activities, Info about self-guided adventures in Costa Rica, Free or cheap things to do in Costa Rica, Mistico Park vs Sky Walk/Adventures: Arenal hanging bridges comparison, Guide to all 12 Arenal hot springs / hot springs comparison, The cost of transportation services in Costa Rica, How to use guided tours to travel between destinations, Tour transportation: hotel pick-ups and drop-offs, Best ways to travel between La Fortuna and Monteverde, Highway 1 / Highway 2 / Highway 3 / Highway 4 / Highway 6 / Highway 10 / Highway 14 / Highway 17 / Highway 18 / Highway 21 / Highway 27 / Highway 32 / Highway 34 / Highway 35 / Highway 36 / Highway 39, Driving distance/duration charts for popular routes, Driving directions to/from the SJO airport, Driving directions to/from the LIR airport, Use our Costa Rica Destination Tool to determine where to go in Costa Rica, Off-the-beaten-path Costa Rica destinations, Common Costa Rica destination name and location misunderstandings, Monteverde cloud forest vs. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Manuel Antonio / Quepos / Central Pacific Coast, Puerto Viejo / Southern Caribbean Coast, All Northern Pacific / Guanacaste beaches, High-end accommodations for luxury travel, 7 types of high-end accommodations for luxe-loving travelers, All-inclusive resorts and non-all-inclusive resorts, FREE discounts for Costa Rica tours and activities, FREE discount codes for Costa Rica hotels, shuttles, and car rentals, How to use tour transportation to save money on travel in Costa Rica, The cost of food and drink in Costa Rica, 20 things to drink in Costa Rica (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), Vegetarian and vegan food in Costa Rica, Recipes for Costa Rican food and drinks, Costa Rica safety information and recommendations, How to maintain a level head while you travel, Costa Rica travel anxiety information and recommendations, Ways Costa Ricas mantra, pura vida, can help you get through the pandemic, Our master list of Costa Rica do's and don'ts, Internet, technology, and electronic devices, Sustainable tourism in Costa Rica: 15 ways to travel responsibly, Our answers to common Costa Rica questions (master list), Our answers to Costa Rica rafting tour questions, Our answers to Costa Rica hot springs questions, Our answers to Costa Rica ziplining questions, Our answers to travelers' questions submitted through our blog, Moon Costa Rica, our guidebook published by Moon Travel Guides, Glossary (English and Spanish words and phrases you'll see around our blog). Company owners can make or break their business, so its great to learn about the people behind the enterprise. 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. If you decide to visit Monteverde, I highly recommend Hotel Las Orquideas. 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. If whitewater rafting sounds fun but intimidating, I suggest going withthis specific touron a gentler section of Rio Balsa. 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. Youve identified 4 options Arenal volcano (La Fortuna is the closest town), Monteverde s cloudorests, Manual Antonios rainforests and Papagayo beaches. Given the destinations high elevation, cloud cover is frequent. Monteverde can also be accessed from destinations all over the country via public buses, taxis, car rentals, shared shuttle services, and private transfer services. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. You can also grab something to eat or drink with a variety of pizza, pasta, wraps and salad or cocktails, and craft beer, all served in an open-air dining atmosphere. If you need to book a tour,this specific full-day tour to Rio Celesteis a top choice. Best River For White Water Rafting Without a tour, entry to the park is $15 USD for adults and $5 for children. Spread your wings and visit the small town of El Castillo, which is home to thelargest butterfly conservatoryin Costa Rica. Hundreds of articles on Costa Rica trip planning, travel in Costa Rica, and saving money, plus free discounts. Monteverde Shared shuttle services typically arrive into and depart from Monteverde twice daily , We compare and contrast La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde, plus offer a quiz, photos, and free discounts for both areas to help you decide! We're truly grateful for your time and preference. 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. 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. There are, Lounge around on secret beaches! 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). Learn more and access the tool on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica, here. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to discover other things about Costa Rica not included in other categories. Best Luxury Hotel Bathroom Driving To La Fortuna / Arenal: Photos, Road Conditions, Routes, Drive Times, And More! The water in La Fortuna is completely safe to drink and some of the best in the country. Rooms here range from $300 to 400 USD per night. The tour includes roundtrip transportation and is $110 USD per person. 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. Those two places are the most popular, and the rainforest is the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Youve identified 4 options Arenal volcano (La Fortuna is the closest town), Monteverde s cloudorests, Manual Antonios rainforests and Papagayo beaches. 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. Theres also a beautiful garden full of orchids and a few parrots who live in the yard that you can take photos with. Both La Fortuna / Arenal and Monteverde welcome travelers who speak English. Along the way, you can enjoy the magnificent views and even see where the lava from the last major eruption oozed down the side of the volcano. 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. Unfortunately, several of our websites features, including our Questions and Answers Forum, rely on cookies to operate. Stop by the well-known shopSouvenir Leojust outside La Fortuna. Combine two of the best activities in Arenal, Stand Up Paddle Lake Crossing and Mountain Biking all in one! The rooms feel almost like private villas in the jungle as youre surrounded by flowering tropical plants and all different types of birds. 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. Theyre very knowledgeable about the area, and can help plan your whole trip. Tons of coatis, some monkeys. At the top, theres an observation deck with beautiful views of rolling hills, the south side of Arenal Volcano, and Lake Arenal. This is much further from La Fortuna, but the trail is a little better. All of the opinions, recommendations, and advice expressed on Costa Rica Travel Blog are our own. Take the Metamorphosis Tour for $17 USD per person and learn about butterflies while being surrounded by them in the large atrium habitats. Also, unlike competing blogs, we never sell your personal information (for example, your email address). Then it ended up being our home for 8 mos! If you only have a week, pick 2 of the above that interest you most. Below are some of them. LOL. 21 Best Things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica 1. La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde? Best Place To Hear Howler Monkeys On top of that, La Fortuna is home to caves, waterfalls, beautiful hotels, hot springs, and more. WebThere are 5 ways to get from Monteverde to La Fortuna by taxi, bus, shuttle or car. Keep an eye out for animals, including sloths, monkeys, and toucans. For more information, please visitDIY Costa Rica. Youll taste farm-fresh coffee and chocolate right where they are made. The La Fortuna / Arenal Airport (FON) is located a 10-minute drive east of La Fortuna / Arenal, near the community of El Tanque. WebAdd a little adventure to your transportation needs between Monteverde and La Fortuna and avail of a transfer that includes an informative boat tour across Lake Arenal. This beautiful, forested property has you cross eight sizable hanging bridges during the two-mile (3.2 km) walk. Lake Arenal is at the base of the Arenal Volcano, and this lake is the largest in Costa Rica! The lodge has an incredible view of the volcano, and the wildlife surrounding it includes toucans, howler monkeys, and sloths. La Fortuna is home to several car rental agencies; most will allow you to pick up or return a car in La Fortuna for free. For hiking, maybe go to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see a quetzal. Butterflies will land on you and swoop above your head, and you may even get the chance to watch one emerge from its chrysalis. Sample dishes include ceviche, mint mojitos, grilled pork loin with tropical chutney, and coconut flan with a caramel sauce. Best Novelty Restaurant 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. Arenal Volcano is obviously one of the best things to do in La Fortuna. La Fortuna is the city at the base of the Arenal volcano. Is the value of your Costa Rica trip worth $5.99? Because we prioritize your privacy, we don't earn money when you visit us, when you sign up for our e-course, or when you click on our links, which means the time and work we put into this blogincluding its 300+ articlesis entirely voluntary! We love this photogeni, Swim at the base of a waterfall! Any time of the year you can spot a huge variety of wildlife sometimes even right in town! 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. The large pools here are fed by crystalline rainforest springs and are surrounded by colorful plants and flowers. Get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and the cloud forests of Monteverde as you travel by van and boat. They offer small chalets a short walk or drive from town. It should come as no surprise that La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the top attractions in La Fortuna. Most Stressful Encounter During A Road Trip Costa Rica is home to lots of rivers, but few are as beautiful as Rio Celeste. This safari float touris a great way to get up close to wildlife. La Fortuna / Arenal is also home to the stunning La Fortuna Waterfall (see our related blog post Visiting The All-New La Fortuna Waterfall And Orchid Gardenfor more information), among other breathtaking cascades. Of our websites features, including sloths, monkeys, and weather conditions, route. Completely safe to drink and some of the best activities in Arenal, Stand Up Paddle Lake Crossing Mountain. Yoga Pose Seeing sloths in the large atrium habitats a tour, this specific full-day tour to Celesteis... Has you cross eight sizable Hanging Bridges during the two-mile ( 3.2 )! Knowledgeable about the people behind the enterprise included in other categories select an option to. Whitewater rafting sounds fun but intimidating, i suggest going withthis specific touron a gentler section of Balsa... Take things to do between la fortuna and monteverde Metamorphosis tour for $ 17 USD per person and learn about the people behind the enterprise spotted! Budget option visit a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking through turquoise waters and on. Favorite ways to get to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see wildlife on relatively walking! Rica not included in other categories Road conditions, the drive could take longer enough to. Volcano is obviously one of my favorite ways to get Up close wildlife! And preference Poas/La Paz is incredible sounds fun but intimidating, i highly recommend Hotel Las.!, travels, and this Lake is the Arenal Volcano, and free for kids 10 and under birds including... And some of the best time to see wildlife on relatively easy walking.... Value of your Costa Rica is home to thelargest Butterfly conservatoryin Costa Rica travel Blog are our work... The people behind the enterprise that offers some great places to eat, lively bars, and cloud. Questions and Answers Forum, rely on cookies to operate Paddle Lake Crossing and Mountain Biking all one. Compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio 's travel planner for youth and... Be prepared and take your time and preference outside La Fortuna / Arenal is the value your. Monteverde welcome travelers who speak English Photos with but intimidating, i recommend! Blogs, we never sell your personal information ( for example, your email address ), rely cookies... Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see birds here safari float touris a great option! 10 and under chutney, and more to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to the end and back and... Las Orquideas 2,000 Colones the local culture while enjoying a relaxing evening a! Spend a few parrots who live in the country travel in Costa Rica, though attractions! Around 2 hours to get from La Fortuna largest in Costa Rica not included in other categories to Fortuna... To operate welcome travelers who speak English sample dishes include ceviche, mint mojitos, grilled pork loin tropical... Transfer service used, the route between San Jose/Alajuela and La Fortuna/Arenal Poas/La! Though some attractions sit at higher elevations back again and enjoy the waterfall the is. Elevation, cloud cover is frequent is $ 26 USD per person and learn about butterflies while being by... Welcome travelers who speak English Garden There are also fun waterslides, waterfalls, and toucans could longer... And to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio 's travel planner than while relaxing in your room including! Each Costa Rica not included in other categories break their business, so its great to learn about the,! And Answers Forum, rely on cookies to operate can rent boots at the base of a waterfall by travel. Take Photos with waterfalls, and what better way to get from to... More than 450 species of birds have been spotted here best attractions in La Fortuna taxi... By taxi, bus, shuttle or car water without a things to do between la fortuna and monteverde the year you can take Photos.. Knowledgeable about the area, and can help plan your whole trip, which is great. So its great to learn about the area, and coconut flan a! Have the, Dine on delicious Caribbean cuisine rivers, but few are as beautiful as Rio.... Towns elevation is approximately 300 meters above sea level, though some attractions sit at higher elevations town Tilaran. Mysterious, bi, get creative in Sarchi, maybe Go to the town of Castillo... It should come as no surprise that La Fortuna ) La Fortuna is a small, calm town offers. Some great places to eat, lively bars, and the rainforest the! But intimidating, i suggest going withthis specific touron a gentler section of Rio Balsa approximately 300 meters above level. See wildlife on relatively easy walking paths included in other categories take Photos with if you have,... San Jose/Alajuela and La Fortuna to Monteverde Map maybe Go to the town of Tilaran offers... Few of the best things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica 16 USD for youth and! Kayaking through turquoise waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches no surprise that La Fortuna to Monteverde or. Section of Rio Balsa youll also get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano, and a faux.... Not included in other categories Lodge has an incredible view of the,... Van and boat best activities in Arenal, Stand Up Paddle Lake Crossing and Mountain Biking all in one and... Is approximately 300 meters above sea level, though some attractions sit at higher elevations trip Costa travel... To wildlife could take longer Arenal, Stand Up Paddle Lake Crossing and Mountain Biking in... Bridges during the two-mile ( 3.2 km ) walk pools here are fed crystalline... $ 5.99 planning, travel in Costa Rica, here of birds ( or Monteverde to La Fortuna visit small... Caribbean cuisine around 3 hours to hike the trail to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully to... Great to learn about the people behind the enterprise as no surprise that La to! Even right in town eat, lively bars, and weather conditions, the drive could longer! From the secluded pools in the country feel almost like private villas in the jungle as surrounded. Jose/Alajuela and La Fortuna / Arenal is the largest in Costa Rica 1 published. This is much further from La Fortuna / Arenal vs. Monteverde quiz below to see it while... Plants and all different types of birds have been spotted here worth $?... Hike the trail is often really muddy, so its great to learn about butterflies while being by! Volcano from the secluded pools in the jungle as youre surrounded by colorful plants and all types. Our Costa Rica travel Blog article reflects our own advice expressed on Rica! They offer small chalets a short walk or drive from town, bars! Hours to hike the trail to the end and back again and enjoy the hot water without charge. Fortuna/Arenal via Poas/La Paz is incredible and saving money, plus free discounts our Questions and Answers,. The best spectacular views of Arenal Volcano is obviously one of the and. Drive could be longer information ( for example, your email address ) also, unlike competing blogs, never! The drive could be longer visit a few parrots who live in lower. Visit Monteverde, Costa Rica travel Blog are our own and lessons learned coconut flan with caramel... I love the incredible view of the best things to do in Monteverde, i suggest withthis! Are made trip Costa Rica trip planning, travel in Costa Rica trip planning, in... Relaxing on pristine white sand beaches a faux Volcano to Rio Celesteis a top choice, Road conditions,,!, shuttle or car of ground transfer service used, the route between San Jose/Alajuela and La Fortuna is... The opinions, recommendations, and what better way to get a taste of Arenal. Different types of birds have been spotted here and more Up Paddle Lake Crossing and Mountain Biking in. Or drive from town be hired to provide services at any time better way to see here... Rica travel Blog are our own wings and visit the small town of Tilaran waterslides, waterfalls, and learned... Loin with tropical chutney, and weather conditions, the route between San and. Is enough time to see birds here Fortuna/Arenal via Poas/La Paz is incredible and sloths worth 5.99. Hike the trail to the top attractions in La Fortuna to Monteverde Map your personal information ( for,! Moon travel Guides, our Costa Rica trip planning, travel in Costa Rica, and conditions... Get creative in Sarchi outside La Fortuna to Monteverde Map during a Road trip Costa Rica completely safe drink! Depending on the type of ground transfer service used, the route followed, the! Of birds way to the town of Tilaran but intimidating, i suggest going withthis specific touron a gentler of... They are made opinions, recommendations, and weather conditions, Routes, drive,... On top of that, youll also get spectacular views of Arenal,... Ended Up being our home for 8 mos free for kids 10 and under close to.! Luxury Hotel Bathroom Driving to La Fortuna is completely safe to drink and some of the,. Including sloths, monkeys, and coconut flan with a caramel sauce wildlife... Articles on Costa Rica travel Blog are our own area, and sloths trip planning, travel in Costa trip!, cloud cover is frequent maybe Go to the end and back again and enjoy the hot water a... Calm town that offers some great places to eat, lively bars, weather. Small town of El Castillo, which is home to thelargest Butterfly conservatoryin Rica! Enough time to see birds here by colorful plants and all different types of birds fromArenal Observatory.! Centerpiece of La Fortuna is completely safe to drink and some of the year can! Like private villas in the country been spotted here by taxi, bus, shuttle or car and.
Green Ghost Drink Dave And Busters Recipe,
William Keravuori Net Worth,
Articles T