However, if they arent luxurious enough, check outThe Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal. The La Fortuna / Arenal Airport (FON) is located a 10-minute drive east of La Fortuna / Arenal, near the community of El Tanque. It should come as no surprise that La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the top attractions in La Fortuna. Then you could also add in the cloud forest. Monteverde on another hand is best for a day trip. 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. Monteverde isnt a luxury destination. I think its important to start by distinguishing between La Fortuna and Monteverde. La Fortuna / Arenal is primarily warm and sunny. This blog may contain affiliate links. Thanks so much for the compliment! We saw lots of toucans during our visit. Thanks to you, Im going to start reintroducing belts into my wardrobe! The tour has it all! While you can stay at Selina, you dont have to be a guest to come party here! Best Equipment (Other Than A Camera) To Pack Its about a 1.5-hour drive and then a 3-4 hour hike once you arrive. The tours are set up so there are protected areas and trails made of cement, so you can do this tour on a sunny or rainy day. But there are many more possibilities depending on your interests. Read about the best restaurants in Monteverde before you go! The Monteverde Cloud Forest essentially welcomes the sky down into the rainforest letting you walk through the low-hanging clouds and mist. NEW! La Fortuna is a small town in the central valley of Costa Rica known for its lush rainforests and milder climate. Those two places are the most popular, and the rainforest is the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Visiting on your own is easy. The tour includes roundtrip transportation and is only $76 USD for adults and $57 for children. Depending on the type of ground transfer service used, the route followed, and weather conditions, the drive could be longer. Hundreds of articles on Costa Rica trip planning, travel in Costa Rica, and saving money, plus free discounts. The trail between the bridges is flat, easy, and well maintained. 2 Full Days in Monteverde. Their trails are in good shape. This 23. The tour is also much cheaper at $30 USD. On day 2, we recommend to do a cloud forest hike or a birding tour, or both! Depending on the type of ground transfer service used, the route followed, and weather conditions, the drive could take longer. Theyre very knowledgeable about the area, and can help plan your whole trip. Continue to Monteverde, where you'll discover the remarkable flora and fauna of the cloud forest. Best Place To See Coatis Read our Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, Anti-Inequality, Anti-Discrimination Statement here. Most visitors split their time in Costa Rica at a coastal destination (usually during the latter part of their trip) and an inland area, such as La Fortuna / Arenal or Monteverde. 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. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about coming and going from Costa Rica, including Costa Rica packing information, Costa Rica souvenir information, and tips for practicing responsible, sustainable tourism. Best Art Gallery Come back to Costa Rica! 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. Best Safari Float 30 Best Things to do in La Fortuna & Visitor Guide - Costa Rica Travel Life. Most Underrated Hotel Amenities, Best Shortcut Please note, this tour does not include transport. Each Costa Rica Travel Blog article reflects our own work, travels, and lessons learned. 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. Youll find everything from bright, colorful paintings to traditional Costa Rican masks, ceramics, and mirrors. Reservations are requiredif you want to come here on your own. I loved the two viewpoints of Arenal Volcano. 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. Theres certain, Snap photos from incredible viewpoints! The forum Costa Rica Travel Blog Forum is closed to new topics and replies. If you decide to visit Monteverde, I highly recommend Hotel Las Orquideas. One of the best spots for birdwatching in La Fortuna is at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. Arenal and La Fortuna. I myself love that version more! There are also lots of chances to see monkeys and even sloths. Copyright 2007-2023 Costa Rica Travel Blog (Pura Vida! Enjoy transportation from your hotel door in La Fortuna to your location in Monteverde or Santa Elena. The bridges range from 170 feet (52 meters) to 560 feet (171 meters). Its located about a 30-minute drive from La Fortuna. Try the Paradise Pale Ale with a distinct hoppy flavor from Nelson, Centennial and Cascade hops. Those on a luxury budget should check out the volcano view hotels I mentioned in item number 10 above. I love your trendy tips at Reverse Commuter. If youre just setting out on this journey, review our introductory Costa Rica trip-planning resources first. However, those on a short trip might not have such luck. WebThere are 5 ways to get from Monteverde to La Fortuna by taxi, bus, shuttle or car. Those two places are the most popular, and the rainforest is the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Best Night Tour I think its important to start by distinguishing between La Fortuna and Monteverde. The conservatory is open every day from 10 am to 4 pm. Its highly rated and includes lunch, transport, and an expert guide. Evaluating destinations in Costa Rica is a subjective task that reflects greatly on the opinions, wants, and needs of the evaluator. It also comes complete with a massive jacuzzi for up to 60 guests. If you dont have transport or would prefer a guide, I recommendjoining this guided tour. Without a tour, entry to the park is $15 USD for adults and $5 for children. It includes snacks and Costa Rican moonshine to sip as the sky changes colors in the evening. Best Semana Santa (Easter Week) Tradition Unfortunately, several of our websites features, including our Questions and Answers Forum, rely on cookies to operate. Thanks so much for sharing it. About Monteverde. , click on a photo in the gallery above for discount and tour information. Shared shuttle services typically arrive into and depart from La Fortuna / Arenal twice daily, once in the morning and again in the afternoon. 15 BEST All-Inclusive Resorts in Costa Rica (Our Unbiased Opinion! If youre not a coffee drinker, you can also do just a chocolate tour instead. We appreciate your interest, preference, time, and visit. 2 Full Days in Monteverde. A wide variety of tours, activities, accommodations, shops, and dining options are available in and around La Fortunas downtown core. Rio Celeste is famous for its bright blue color. Finally, spend a few days in Manuel Antonio National Park, kayaking through turquoise waters and relaxing on pristine white sand beaches. My husband spent nearly a year mapping out our first trip. They are such unique animals, and the area around La Fortuna is a great place to see them. Take acanyoning and waterfall rappelling tourfor an adventurous day-trip in the shadow of Arenal Volcano. Doing so is a great way to pat us on the back if you feel we deserve it. Once in the park, you can wander the many different hiking trails, ranging in length. 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. So, you have to do a night walk through the rainforest to see and appreciate all the critters that only come out after dark. The best option is taxi-boat Rio Celeste is open from 8 am to 4 pm, and its best to visit early in the morning when it is less crowded. This Rainforest Night Walk and Dinner touris the same tour I did in La Fortuna with Ecoterra. Tours at Mistico Hanging Bridges can be done self-guided or on a tour. (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.). Monteverde is a really popular one. 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. Weirdest Drink To Order Seeing sloths in the wild here in Costa Rica is honestly so cool. La Fortuna is known as the gateway to Arenal Volcano National Park, as well as a beautiful destination surrounded by waterfalls, wildlife, and other natural attractions. Dont be deceived by appearances, its a short distance as the crow flies, but a Youve identified 4 options Arenal volcano (La Fortuna is the closest town), Monteverde s cloudorests, Manual Antonios rainforests and Papagayo beaches. Awe (blush). Best View Of The Continental Divide There are a variety of hot springs for all budgets, from luxurious resorts to family-friendly pools and even natural hot springs. A sign at the @BananaBe, Drink pipa fria! PayPal donations are confidential; we never see your payment details. I stayed here on my first visit to La Fortuna and loved it. Best Holiday Celebration Check out the absolute BEST restaurants in La Fortuna. The hike I have in mind is run by ACMCR. The towns elevation is approximately 1,300 meters above sea level, though some attractions are located at higher elevations. Your SPAM-FREE visit to OUR FREE WEBSITE is more important to us than making money off your clicks. 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. Best View Overlooking Arenal Lake Best Nature Tour Operator I discovered that La Fortuna is an adventure-lovers paradise and a great place to see wildlife. It will take you around 2 hours to get to the town of Tilaran. WebThere are 5 ways to get from Monteverde to La Fortuna by taxi, bus, shuttle or car. Although I dont rate the food as one of the best restaurants in La Fortuna, the live music from talented musicians is so good! Before we get into the details about La Fortuna / Arenal below, browse through our photo gallery that features a few of our La Fortuna experiences. I hope you enjoyed reading our guide to the best things to do in La Fortuna. The La Fortuna / Arenal Airport (FON) is located a 10-minute drive east of La Fortuna / Arenal, near the community of El Tanque. Its a 2.5 hour guided walk that includes transport from La Fortuna, your entrance ticket, and an expert guide for only $45 USD. A friend who was in Costa Rica no less than 25 years ago swears that their is a short hike between Monteverdi an La Fortuna. Visit Monteverde Cloud Forest The forest really is cloudy! 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. Whats great about hostels like this is youll meet other travelers from around the world. Best View Of The Sunset You need around 3 hours to hike the trail to the end and back again and enjoy the waterfall. eh? Thats what led us to Manuel Antonio, because of time constraints and travel. 21 Best Things to do in Monteverde, Costa Rica 1. Monteverde also has nice ziplining and the hanging bridges you mentioned. Given the destinations high elevation, cloud cover is frequent. Best View Overlooking The Town Of La Fortuna 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. . If you want to do a guided tour, I highlysuggest this specific tour with Mistico. On the fastest route between the two towns, you'll experience the beauty of the Arenal Volcano National Park and the Monteverde Cloud Forest. Most Erroneous Costa Rica Travel Myth, Best Way To Get Into The Costa Rican Spirit Another one of the best free things to do in La Fortuna is the free hot springs! After it leaves the resort, visitors are free to enjoy the hot water without a charge. as well as other animals like frogs, toucans, hummingbirds, and parrots. Although not a national park, youll find just as much wildlife here as you would in places such as Manuel Antonio. Both La Fortuna and Monteverde have grocery stores, banks, ATMs, laundromats, pharmacies, churches, medical clinics, and dental clinics. 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. This website uses cookies to operate and provide you with the best user experience possible. Click here to listen to podcast interviews weve been featured on! Theyre sprawled out over an inland region you really shouldnt miss. Because of this, its illegal to climb to the top of the Arenal Volcano. . The guide will instruct you on the paddling techniques youll need before you set out on the 6 miles (9.6 km) trip. Monteverdes downtown core, known as Santa Elena, has a taxi stop; theres a bus station just down the road from Santa Elena. Exploring the suspended bridges and nature trails should take about three hours. Read more 8-Day Itinerary Including Gulf of Papagayo Baby squirrel monkey and mother One attraction th, Tour a #coffeeplantation! Its the first eco-brewery in the country! One of the more unique things to do in La Fortuna is caving through the Venado Caves. #Cos, Lounge around in paradise! Shy of the low-key but obvious urban development thats featured in La Fortuna / Arenal, the Monteverde vicinity swaps commercial offices for plantations and farms. Youll be able to get a room here for under $75 USD. TheArenal ATV Tourtakes you to a private farm right next to Arenal Volcano National Park. 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). Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica destinations, including recommendations for cities, towns, and communities to visit in Costa Rica. The lake provides hydroelectric power generation for the country and is a popular lake for all kinds of water activities. 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