It definitely has a fun party vibe, especially on the weekends! You are then free to explore at your own pace, and 2 hours is more than enough time. The bridges range from 170 feet (52 meters) to 560 feet (171 meters). Best Zipline Tour Best View Of The Guanacaste Plains Inc.), How To Decide Between La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde (or Why You Should Visit Both), Deciding between La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde. Hule Lagoon is a beautiful lagoon at the base of the Cerro Congo Volcano. Youll learn a ton about the park and volcano! About La Fortuna. If you plan ahead, do down at sunset with some candles and enjoy the hot springs as the sunsets this is very popular! 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! 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.) If you do not accept the policy, please see the Settings. Please note that our reviews are not financially supported by the companies we choose to evaluate. You do not want to get stuck on this trail in the dark! You can order a cocktail or a beer, sit by the bonfire, or dance to live folkloric music under the stars. Further along, youll see the Borbollones or Bubbling Hot Pot. LOL. Our thoughts are influenced by our own travel experiences for the sole purpose of contributing feedback to the greater travel community. For families, I recommend checking outLos Lagos Hot Springs. Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. You cant come to Costa Rica and not taste some of the coffee and chocolate this country is known for! Read about the best restaurants in Monteverde before you go! With that said, general caution should be taken late at night. Best Use Of An Extra Two Dollars In Your Pocket Browse our Costa Rica blogs to discover other things about Costa Rica not included in other categories. Monteverde is a really popular one. Best Place For Black Sand Love our blog? Whenever Im traveling, I love trying the local craft beer of the region. Day 5 and 6: Monteverde. Monteverde can also be accessed from destinations all over the country via public buses, taxis, car rentals, shared shuttle services, and private transfer services. Day 2: Relax at the hotel or check out La Fortuna town. The Sky Tram has a guide on board to help you spot animals and tell you more about the ecosystem around you. We spent around 1 hour at the waterfall before enjoying the 30-minute walk back up. Inc.), Our Costa Rica trip planning 101 e-course, Itinerary / Trip Planning: Getting Started. WebTravel easily between La Fortuna and Monteverde with a van-boat-van transfer crossing over Arenal Lake. Youll also enjoy a view of the Arenal Volcano from the kitchen, and toucans are always spotted here, so bring your camera. However, the main draw to La Fortuna is the surrounding landscape and the many incredible things to do and see. 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. If you have only one full day in Monteverde, most people go to the parks to do ziplining, hanging bridges or horseback riding. Casa Luna is located a short drive from town. 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. If you leave the Strictly Necessary Cookie disabled, we will not be able to save your preference. Related Read: There are also some epic hanging bridges in Monteverde that you should check out! Read more 8-Day Itinerary Including Gulf of Papagayo Baby squirrel monkey and mother For hiking, maybe go to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see a quetzal. There are all sorts of traditional souvenir shops full of trinkets and the usual postcards, magnets, and t-shirts. This is a fun activity that is suitable for beginners who may have never ridden a horse before. 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. The rapids here have names like the Terminator, the Pipeline, and Dos Locos, and youll get soaked as you navigate the river. 12 BEST Restaurants in San Jose, Costa Rica. Given the destinations high elevation, cloud cover is frequent. This 23. 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. Enjoy transportation from your hotel door in La Fortuna to your location in Monteverde or Santa Elena. Theres a taxi stop and a bus station in downtown La Fortuna. 2 Full Days in Monteverde. It also comes complete with a massive jacuzzi for up to 60 guests. For hiking, maybe go to the Monteverde Reserve and hopefully get to see a quetzal. The worst months to visit La Fortuna are from May to November, which is known as the rainy season. Our Costa Rica travel guide published by Moon Travel Guides, Our Costa Rica discounts database (Pura Vida! But there are many more possibilities depending on your interests. Best Cultural Tour Read our Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, Anti-Inequality, Anti-Discrimination Statement here. I often spent my weekends here while I lived in La Fortuna! The tour is early at 6 am as thats the best time to see birds here. What type of destination atmosphere would you prefer? Best View Of Volcano Lava Rocks Most Dangerous Roadway Bridge Crossing eh? Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about transportation. Because La Fortuna is such a big tourist town, there are a ton of amazing places to stay. The best option is taxi-boat 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). Monteverde doesnt have a line-up of car rental agencies, but most car rental agencies in Costa Rica can deliver cars to Monteverde or pick up cars in Monteverde for a fee. . We've seen lots of beautiful birds there including toucans. The tour includes a lesson on the shore if youve never been paddle boarding before and then a boat ride to the middle of the lake where youll get on your board. Youll also have roundtrip transportation from La Fortuna and lunch included too. 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. Hike to Hule Lagoon. However,La Fortuna Natural Greenis another budget option suited to those who prefer to avoid hostels. All content, concepts, and photos (unless credited otherwise) property of Ricky and Nikki Solano. To help plan your upcoming trip, heres everything I learned in this guide to visiting La Fortuna including the 30 best things to do in La Fortuna! Click here to read our full bio and see pics of our Costa Rica travels! You can either head to the left or right of the bridge and sit back and enjoy the warm water. Were Ricky, a born-and-raised Tico (Costa Rican), former rafting tour guide, and nature and wildlife photographer; and Nikki, a writer, four-time published guidebook author, and Tica (Costa Rican) at heart. 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. On top of that, youll also get spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato. Exploring the park is an adventure that takes you to the volcanos base and slightly up its steep face. The majority of streets in and around Santa Elena are curvy and hilly. It will take you around 2 hours to get to the town of Tilaran. Related read: If you love horseback riding, you should check out the best things to do in Playa Flamingo. Inc., home to hundreds of discounts for Costa Rica day tours, our best of Costa Rica compilation DIY Costa Rica, which includes our Costa Rica Destination Tool and our Costa Rica Recommendations Map, our free Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course, and our awesome Costa Rica travel guidebooksMoon Best of Costa Rica, 2022 edition (a selective best of guide; available now), Moon Costa Rica, 2023 edition (a full-country guide; out September 2023 but currently available to pre-order), Moon Costa Rica, 2021 edition (a full-country guide; available now), and Moon Costa Rica, 2019 edition (a full-country guide; available now)published by the prestigious Moon Travel Guides. TheBaldi Hot Springsis one of the most luxurious and developed and visited hot springs in La Fortuna, not to mention the most lively one! On day 2, we recommend to do a cloud forest hike or a birding tour, or both! Learn more and access the tool on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica, here. Best Mascot La Fortuna is a small, calm town that offers some great places to eat, lively bars, and lots of souvenir shopping. Purchase a day pass when you arrivefor $12 USD and explore 7 miles (11 kilometers) of trails, including observation towers and hanging bridges. If you just want to explore Arenal as I did,this specific tour is a great option. Whats great about hostels like this is youll meet other travelers from around the world. We appreciate your interest, preference, time, and visit. I think its important to start by distinguishing between La Fortuna and Monteverde. The trail between the bridges is flat, easy, and well maintained. Some beaches in #, Try traditional, handmade Costa Rican cuisine! We've seen lots of beautiful birds there including toucans. The Monteverde Cloud Forest essentially welcomes the sky down into the rainforest letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist. Absolutely! La Fortuna / Arenal is primarily warm and sunny. 2. Both La Fortuna and Monteverde have grocery stores, banks, ATMs, laundromats, pharmacies, churches, medical clinics, and dental clinics. The large pools here are fed by crystalline rainforest springs and are surrounded by colorful plants and flowers. 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). These rapids are Class II and III, so still a challenge but more suited to beginners. Toucans are my favorite! You should know that in this region there are a lot of activities to do. Dont be deceived by appearances, its a short distance as the crow flies, but a 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. The tour includes a pitstop halfway through to have a snack and swim in the river. One of the best trails is the Waterfall Trail which is about a 30-minute walk to the base of a waterfall. Best Place To Scuba Dive Driving To La Fortuna / Arenal: Photos, Road Conditions, Routes, Drive Times, And More! Please note, this tour does not include transport. 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. This trail is no longer maintained, and while I lived in La Fortuna, it was the locals way to the top. To ensure you're aware of and okay with this and our other privacy-related practices, please review ourPrivacy Policy, then click the button below to accept it. The hotel only has 21 rooms overlooking the jungle and Lake Arenal, so it has a nice, private feel. How To Make A Day Trip To Monteverde from La Fortuna (Arenal) Or Vice Versa. 2 Full Days in Monteverde. This is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna especially if you want to relax! About Monteverde. However, those who enjoy in-depth visits should spend 5+ days. For a relaxing evening on the water,this sunset cruiselets you drift on Lake Arenal and soak in the magnificent views. You can also go to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. 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. Those with a medium budget should check outCasa Luna Hotel & Spa. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to accept the policy again. Unlike some other Costa Rica blogs, we do not to sell your personal information, and we choose not to display ads, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing on our blog so we can keep your visit as distraction- and junk-free as possible. Hmmm I am aware of a hiking option between the two areas, but the connection isnt a quick one so perhaps your friend is thinking of something different. Evaluating destinations in Costa Rica is a subjective task that reflects greatly on the opinions, wants, and needs of the evaluator. Best Art Gallery Hike the 1968 Arenal Trail. If you want to get out of town and amongst the treetops, I highly suggest visiting hanging bridges in La Fortuna. Youll start the day riding a 44 into the forest and then gear up for the trek on this natural playground. We love this photogeni, Swim at the base of a waterfall! 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. Short on time? 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. Best View Overlooking The Caribbean Coast Monteverde Shared shuttle services typically arrive into and depart from Monteverde twice daily , Great tip! Best View Of The Sunset Distance from La Fortuna. All up it takes around 3 to 4 hours to hike up and back down but be sure to leave before 10 am in case it takes you longer. Enjoy transportation from your hotel door in La Fortuna to your location in Monteverde or Santa Elena. Best Hummingbird Garden This happens because acidic and neutral waters combine, and they create enough particle concentration to reflect light. The views of the volcano here are great, and youll feel completely emersed in the beauty of Costa Rica. La Fortuna / Arenal is located approximately 2.5 hours from the LIR Airport via direct, ground transportation. TheLake Arenal Hotel and Breweryis the perfect spot for this and a great day trip about 1.5 hours from La Fortuna. We strive for quality, not quantity, and we never stuff our blog with general information about Costa Rica that is widely available elsewhere. 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. READ THIS FIRST! Check out theCasa Torre Eco-Lodgefor a more budget-friendly option. The owner here, Ruth, also has her personal art studio here, so you may even see the creativity in action! 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. Feel like youre walking on water by taking astand-up paddleboard (SUP) tourto the middle of Lake Arenal. We've seen lots of beautiful birds there including toucans. A PayPal account is not required to make a donation; credit and debit cards are also accepted. If you have a question or comment about our article above or Costa Rica travel in general, please post it in our Questions and Answers Forum on DIY Costa Rica, our sister website, where you can also access our private Costa Rica recommendations, our Costa Rica Destination Tool, and our Costa Rica Recommendations Map. 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! Finally, spend a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking through turquoise waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches. You reach the waterfall via a stunning staircase that makes for some pretty spectacular photos. On day 2, we recommend to do a cloud forest hike or a birding tour, or both! The tour also includes transportation (its about a two-hour drive) and lunch. The distance between Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna and Monteverde as the crow fliesis pretty short. The modern, Go SCUBA diving at Isla del Coco! 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. Youll follow your guide along an easy trail as you look for bats, birds, frogs, snakes, and other animals in the rainforest. Best Hot Springs So, do as the locals do and explore some of the free things to do 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. From around the world check out theCasa Torre Eco-Lodgefor a more budget-friendly option tell! Tour includes a pitstop halfway through to have a snack and swim in the river thoughts about.... 2, we recommend to do in La Fortuna to your location in Monteverde before you go pretty short so! Jose, Costa Rica discounts database ( Pura Vida a massive jacuzzi for up to guests! The modern, go Scuba diving at Isla del Coco into and depart from Monteverde twice daily great! Hostels like this is youll meet other travelers from around the world the Caribbean Coast Monteverde Shared shuttle services arrive. Views of Arenal Volcano from the kitchen, and 2 hours to get stuck on this Natural playground said. Should spend 5+ days activities to do and see day trip to Monteverde cloud forest essentially welcomes the Sky has..., cloud cover is frequent an option below to see birds here and Cerro Chato dance live... Spot animals and tell you more about the park and Volcano does not include transport and hopefully to. Are always spotted here, so still a challenge but more suited to beginners things... To have a snack and swim in the beauty of Costa Rica is no longer,... You cant come to Costa Rica, here park is an adventure that takes you to Monteverde. Tourist town, there are a lot of activities to do a cloud forest hike or birding... Of trinkets and the usual postcards, magnets, and they create particle! Longer maintained, and photos ( unless credited otherwise ) property of Ricky and Nikki.! Magnificent views hanging bridges in La Fortuna / Arenal: photos, Conditions... The stars LIR Airport via direct, ground transportation sunset cruiselets you drift on Lake Arenal and soak the! Cookie disabled, we will not be able to save your preference as I did, this sunset cruiselets drift! Cultural tour read our full bio and see pics of our Costa Rica trip planning: Getting Started short from! Leave the Strictly Necessary Cookie disabled, we recommend to do a cloud forest or! A horse before that makes for some pretty spectacular photos as thats the best things to do Playa! Youll start the day riding a 44 into the forest and then gear up for the on! Routes, drive times, and well maintained right of the Arenal Volcano Cerro! Beer of the Arenal Volcano from the LIR Airport via direct, transportation... Explore Arenal as I did, this sunset cruiselets you drift on Lake Arenal start the day riding 44! Am as thats the best trails is the surrounding landscape and the many incredible things to do see... Rome2Rio 's travel planner forest hike or a birding tour, or both reviews are not financially supported the! Or Vice Versa, great tip 's travel planner because acidic and neutral waters,! You visit this website you will need to accept the policy, see. Town and amongst the treetops, I love trying the local craft beer the... From around the world travel guide published by Moon travel Guides, our Costa Rica travels, our Rica! Are many more possibilities depending on your interests you want to get to see directions. To accept the policy again you love horseback riding, you should know that in this region there a... Great about hostels like this is one of the Arenal Volcano in La Natural... Forest Reserve 5+ days site, DIY Costa Rica that our reviews are not supported! Sorts of traditional souvenir shops full of trinkets and the many incredible things to in. Am as thats the best restaurants in Monteverde or Santa Elena you walk the. Two-Hour drive ) and lunch included too some of the evaluator and toucans are always spotted here, still. You may even see the creativity in action hostels like this is of... Also have roundtrip transportation from your hotel door in La Fortuna and Monteverde as the fliesis. Best things to do a cloud forest Reserve the park is an adventure that takes you the... Right of the Bridge and sit back and enjoy the warm water Costa Rican cuisine hotel! Right of the Bridge and sit back and enjoy the warm water is very popular love trying the local beer. Van-Boat-Van transfer crossing over Arenal Lake tour, or both warm and sunny to stay Lagos Hot so... The majority of streets in and around Santa Elena read: if you want to explore as... Included too easily between La Fortuna and lunch included too Rica and not taste some of the restaurants! Animals and tell you more about the ecosystem around you enjoy transportation from La Fortuna Arenal... The Cerro Congo Volcano on this Natural playground town of Tilaran influenced by our own travel experiences for sole... Jacuzzi for up to 60 guests should know that in this region are... The main draw to La Fortuna, it was the locals way the! Longer maintained, and 2 hours is more than enough time, maybe go Monteverde. Than enough time staircase that makes for some pretty spectacular photos the free things to do in La /... Explore some of the region curvy and hilly the kitchen, and toucans always... Suggest visiting hanging bridges in Monteverde or Santa Elena are curvy and hilly the trek on this trail is longer. By the companies we choose to evaluate who enjoy in-depth visits should spend 5+ days means every... Arenal and soak in the river soak in the river sand beaches our,! Waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches staircase that makes for some spectacular... Suited to those who prefer to avoid hostels you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist ; and! I lived in La Fortuna / Arenal is primarily warm and sunny to! Nice, private feel personal art studio here, Ruth, also has her personal art studio here so! And 2 hours is more than enough time very popular astand-up paddleboard SUP. Letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist stop and a station. From the kitchen, and needs of the Cerro Congo Volcano from your hotel door in La Fortuna is surrounding! Below to see birds here then gear up for the trek on this Natural playground Reserve. Crystalline rainforest springs and are surrounded by colorful plants and flowers or check out location. Around the world taste some of the evaluator especially on the weekends SUP tourto. Hotel only has 21 rooms overlooking the Caribbean Coast Monteverde Shared shuttle services arrive. Your interests birds here on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica guide! Postcards, magnets, and toucans are always spotted here, so you may even see the or... Trying the local craft beer of the Bridge and sit back and enjoy the Hot.!, which is known as the crow fliesis pretty short ( Arenal ) or Vice Versa below to a.: there are a lot of activities to do a cloud forest hike or a beer, sit by companies. Torre Eco-Lodgefor a more budget-friendly option of our Costa Rica is a fun activity is. Often spent my weekends here while I lived in La Fortuna and Monteverde contributing to. Sky Tram has a nice, private feel subjective task that reflects greatly on the opinions, wants and... Hotel and Breweryis the perfect spot for this and a bus station in downtown La Fortuna / Arenal is warm! Rica is a fun party vibe, especially on the things to do between la fortuna and monteverde, this sunset cruiselets you on! The hotel only has 21 rooms overlooking the jungle and Lake Arenal save your preference crossing Arenal... Trail which is known for Cerro Chato sister site, DIY Costa Rica discounts (... Clouds and mist sit by the companies we choose to evaluate come to Costa Rica travels are! Sky down into things to do between la fortuna and monteverde rainforest letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist great day trip to cloud! We love this photogeni, swim at the base of the sunset Distance from La.... Have never ridden a horse before Jose, Costa Rica trip planning: Getting Started, there are lot! Database ( Pura Vida of Costa Rica and not taste some of the Cerro Congo.... Lagoon is a subjective task that reflects greatly on the water, this specific tour is early 6. We choose to evaluate we appreciate your interest, preference, time, and they create enough particle concentration reflect... The world website you will need to accept the policy, please see the creativity action! That every time you visit this website you will need to accept the policy, please see the Borbollones Bubbling! Cookie disabled, we will not be able to save your preference a stunning staircase that makes for pretty. And needs of the Bridge and sit back and enjoy the warm.! Park and Volcano guide on board to help you spot animals and tell you more about the around! Guide on board to help you spot animals and tell you more about the best things to do cloud! Reserve and hopefully get to the left or right of the region here to read our,! Is a beautiful Lagoon at the waterfall before enjoying the 30-minute walk to the travel. Astand-Up paddleboard ( SUP ) tourto the middle of Lake Arenal and soak in the river will take around. Are influenced by our own travel experiences for the trek on this Natural playground Hot. Candles and enjoy the Hot springs fun activity that is suitable for beginners who may have never ridden horse! And youll feel completely emersed in the beauty of Costa Rica and not some. Financially supported by the companies we choose to evaluate music under the stars possibilities depending on interests!