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Yes, it was the perfect place to experience the best of nature! There are so many great lookout spots and scenic views all around. Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge La Fortuna Budget Hotels / Hostels 1. Please be mindful when you choose to visit a thermal spring in Arenal because some of them will make you feel like youre at a waterpark or a public pool instead of being in nature. Arenal Backpackers Resort offers a communal bar/lounge area, kitchen, pool & so much more. Read our. There are several souvenir stores in town such as Green Forest Souvenir, Cianikal Galeria, Souvenir Leo, Wood & Art Gallery and the Galeria Estudio Art. Arenal is a destination that will leave you with cherished memories and a deep appreciation for Costa Rica. With plush beds and beautiful garden paths, this is a relaxing respite from the daily grind of office life. Arenal Volcano is an active stratovolcano that includes luscious rainforests, breathtaking waterfalls, relaxing thermal springs, amazing hiking trails, memorable adventures and incredible wildlife all around. From wherever you are in La Fortuna, you can get a view of Arenal Volcano. 848. We completely forgot this fact, showed up to the entrance and were turned away. There is a great self-drive itinerary for families, too. Its so beautiful and the food just GOT me. Can I do that in one day. I highly recommend you download the FREE app Alltrails. Finca Valmy horseback ride is a nice one. more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Since many activities are half day activities, take advantage of your time in La Fortuna to experience as much as possible. The Discoveries Of is a member of the Amazon associates program. Loved reading this post, although it did make me rather envious as we didnt get to visit this part of Costa Rica when we were there. The red lava days are now gone, and the volcano was officially declared dormant in December 2010. Lunch is included as well as a two day hot spring pass! 20 Things to do in Arenal & La Fortuna, Costa Rica [Complete Guide 2021] At this early hour, we were some of the only few people under the waterfall for about an hour. (I also recommend purchasing a waterproof poncho in case it rains. Ultimate Costa Rica Itinerary Suggestions for Every Type of Traveler Costa Rica 11 Days Itinerary: Rainforest, Volcano and Beach - MytanFeet I took a picture of their map as well. Check out this list of restaurants in La Fortuna for some inspiration! This awesome restaurant is known for its fish and seafood pasta dishes. Tickets can be purchased on site right before you walk down or ahead of time here on their website. Then hot springs at night. Our plans changed a little then; we now have a little more time we could spend in Arenal instead of cramming in Monteverde too. Looks wondeful. You can book a private shuttle to La Fortuna from San Jose and Liberia for around $200 USD one way. First, youll hike up to the rim of Cerro Chato. Costs from $50 USD per person. Did u guys need to get insurance? Costa Rica Tour Packages with Airfare - smarTours Overall, I highly recommend hiking this trail during your time in the Arenal area. from. For those not staying at Tabacn Thermal Resort & Spa, you will need to purchase a pass to enjoy the hot springs. Scientists discovered that the blue water is actually an optical illusion versus a chemical reaction. I would spend at least 2 days in Arenal and I would organize a tour in advance. *Anything could happen during your travels. Eventually, youll reach an area where there is all lava rock! (Costa Rica does accept U.S. Driving to Fortuna from Liberia and San Jose takes around 3.5 hours one way in a rental car. Here are some recommended places to stay and you can read more details in our where to stay in La Fortuna post. Once you arrive you will be awarded with this stunning view of Arenal Volcano. Spend your morning getting acquainted in La Fortuna, you will be spending 3 days in La Fortuna. If youre visiting in rainy season, you will also need a waterproof backpack or rain cover. Great post Taylor! Although many places now take credit cards, we recommend carrying cash for one-off purchases or in the event that a specific area does not accept credit cards. Climate & Weather Averages in Arenal Volcano National Park, Costa Rica One interesting fact about this town is that majority of the businesses are owned by local Costa Ricans which is a rare occurrence in the touristic areas of Costa Rica. At first glance I thought it looked a bit like Bali's Mt Batur, but seeing more photos in your post, wow, that's really a towering volcano! During the summer months, Costa Rica is on Mountain Standard Time and then it is on Central Standard Time during the winter months. You are probably super hungry after a busy hiking day. Heliconias & Las Coladas Trail & ABC trail (El Ceibo): 3. We did not take a guided tour, those that did saw more sloths, however, people were very friendly and would show us the sloths that they saw! The guided tours cost about $50.00 $60.00 USD per adult and $25.00 $40.00 USD per child. Located around an hour and a half from La Fortuna is Tenorio Volcano National Park, otherwise known as Parque Nacional Volcn Tenorio. Similar to Tabacn, you have access to mineral-rich hot springs, world-class spa services and many adventure activities to choose from. Here you will also find a second volcano called Cerro Chato, which has been inactive for around 3500 years but it is a lot of fun to take a tour of it. Not only is Rio Celeste waterfall situated here, the park is also known for the dormant Tenorio Volcano itself, natural hot springs, epic hiking trails, amazing wildlife and more. This 2-day Arenal itinerary has you covered. Arenal in November 2006. To get to the waterfall, you will need to go down a 500-step staircase. How to get to Arenal and Monteverde Driving If you're renting a car in Costa Rica, we do recommend a high car for Monteverde (check Monteverde road conditions here), especially in rainy season. If you are coming from Monteverde, you can take the taxi-boat-taxi across Lake Arenal. Afternoon relax and go to the natural hot springs in the evening. This is incredibly useful. Our Costa Rica family vacation was composed of 6 days and 5 nights exploring Guanacaste, Arenal, and La Fortuna. During our evening at Don Rufino Restaurant, Caitlin and I both savored fish. Arenal has some of the best hot springs globally, heated by the Arenal Volcano. Always make sure you are insured in case there are unforeseen circumstances such as lost luggage/theft, natural disasters, personal liabilities and more. ), Thank you so much Shelley and I really appreciate that! When traveling in La Fortuna, make the most of your trip by staying somewhere beautiful. I plan on visiting Costa Rica very soon and will be saving this in my bookmarks! I do think that organizing in advance is a good idea in any case. What is the difference between Arenal and La Fortuna? You could also savor a lunch and/or dinner with whatever pass you decide to purchase. It truly is an incredible spot in Costa Rica that cannot be missed! I strongly recommend you spend at least a day in one of Arenals hot springs. Straight to your inbox. After the 1968 volcanic eruption, lava has flown in this area till 2010. Even though it doesnt seem like much, most of these La Fortuna Arenal excursions will either take a few hours up to an entire day! (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The most famous attraction within the national park is Arenal Volcano, which is coincidently the most famous volcano in Costa Rica. During our evening at Marisquerias, Caitlin and I had a local Costa Rican beer and for my meal, I savored sea bass filet in a seafood sauce that was topped with local fish, shrimp and veggies. Pura Vida also means living life to the fullest. Just like at La Fortuna Waterfall, you will also need to go down 250 stairs. Our 3 days in La Fortuna and Arenal consisted of Caitlin and I savoring breakfast at Tabacns Tucanes restaurant. . They are stylish, well-designed and attract a fun crowd. Whether its a love of nature, an itch to go zip lining, or a cheap flight deal that draws you to Costa Rica, its certainly a place worth visiting. Unfortunately, when Caitlin and I did this hike, the clouds had already taken over. The Tabacon river supplies water to the many popular hot spring resorts in the Arenal area. Our experience at Tabacn is detailed in full in my spa blog post. I like the store Bambamboo for eco-friendly clothing. The Best Time to Visit Arenal Volcano Region, Costa Rica for Weather I am excited to show you all how Costa Ricans live the Pure Life in this 3-day guide to La Fortuna and Arenal. Click here to book a cooking class in Costa Rica. The park is open from 6:30 AM 4:30 PM, with final entrance to the park at 3:50 PM. This is one of our favorite places in Costa Rica to go horseback riding because of the unbeatable views and spirited horses! Day 2: Do a sloth walk tour in the morning and safari float in the afternoon. In fact, when I last visited Costa Rica, Arenal was what brought me there in the first place. Those waterfalls, I love waterfalls and they all look amazing. How many days do you need? Even though I went zip lining and walked along the hanging bridges during my next stop in Monteverde, you can also enjoy these same thrilling adventures in Arenal! Its time to relax! This is mostly attributed to their abundance of hot springs. Arenal Volcano - Wikipedia There is a very nice private reserve called Mistico Hanging Bridges near Lake Arenal that has several hanging bridges. Alternatively, you may use, Arenal Volcano National Park Hotels and Places to Stay, The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort, Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience, Arenal Volcano National Park Travel Forum, Arenal Volcano National Park Vacation Rentals, Things to Do in Arenal Volcano National Park, Arenal Volcano National Park Travel Guide. The luxury hotels listed here are outside / to the west of the city centre of La Fortuna. One of the top things to see during a visit to the Arenal and La Fortuna area is the La Fortuna Waterfall, otherwise known as Catarata Ro Fortuna. You can read about the Guanacaste to Arenal drive and the driving San Jose to Arenal in these posts. The main bus station is in downtown next to the Mega Super and you buy bus tickets at the Red Lava stand next to it. Unbelievable though it may at first seem, a 5-day Costa Rica trip is enough time to head out to a couple of the country's finest national parks where thrills, spills, and wildlife encounters are all an everyday occurrence. Great guide ~ love all the stunning photos of you Love you, mom xoxo , I loved it so much there. Once there, you can purchase your ticket from ~2,600 colones to La Fortuna, the city nearest to Arenal volcano. , Costa Rica is breathtaking ~ gorgeous aqua waters, lovely waterfalls, awesome hot springs and beautiful rain forest. Day 2: Stand up paddle board at Lake Arenal in the morning. Want to book a private transfer? This tree is over 400 years old and its size is out of this world. Great Costa Rica Itineraries: How Many Days to Spend? Currency: Costa Rican Coln (The United States Dollar is accepted everywhere! There are also great hiking trails that go beyond Rio Celeste that take you deeper into the rainforest and the park also boasts hanging bridges too. This 200-foot waterfall is located just outside of the town of La Fortuna and it costs $18 USD to enter. We rented our car from Economy and we bought the insurance through the rental car company. Day 2: Go for a safari float in the morning to see wildlife. Other awesome patches of water to see at Tenorio Volcano National Park are Laguna Azul and El Teidero. Shared shuttles from San Jose and Liberia to La Fortuna cost around $59 USD per adult one way with Interbus, Ride CR, Easy Ride and Caribe Shuttle. There are tons of places to stay in the La Fortuna area and Arenal Volcano area at every single price point. You can also visit as a, Not sure how to move around Costa Rica? 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Yes, it is safe to drive in Costa Rica if youre careful and drive with caution. Caitlin enjoyed the grilled tuna. An idea for activities can be like this: Day 1: Canyoning in the morning, safari float in the . Re: minimum number of days for arenal and monteverde 17 years ago Save You will find out there is too much to see and to do both in Arenal and Monteverde. It is absolutely fascinating to see this waterfall in person! Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort is best for families, as there are a range of activities offered for all ages; including designated childrens pools and play areas. The price point changes between most places and I do a deeper dive into this in the above mentioned post. This may be a better option for those who would like a structured experience and for those that do not want to worry about transportation to each park. We used the Bogarin Trail. What is great about staying at Tabacn is that they have their own thermal springs on their property that you can enjoy as a guest or a visitor. Lastly, the Hanging Bridges is a really interesting and unique activity to try while in Arenal. Costa Rica is a stunning country with a vast array of unique ecosystems which are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna. Thank you so much Lisa! It is naturally heated by the volcano. Caitlin had the grilled shrimp dish. During April 2021, I did a week-long trip to Costa Rica with Caitlin of My Darling Passport. I want to make this stop on our drive from La Fortuna to Monteverde but we will have out luggage with us and I have heard it is not always safe to leave it in your vehicle. (All of the proceeds go to local conservation efforts.) Thanks. Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica, Volcn Arenal, Map, Eruptions - Geology.com Information is divided across five pages: Costa Rica Itinerary: 5 days in Costa Rica (4 nights) Costa Rica Itinerary: 8 days in Costa Rica (7 nights) Costa Rica Itinerary: 10 days in Costa Rica (9 nights) Costa Rica Itinerary: 12 days in Costa Rica (11 nights) Costa Rica Itinerary: 15 days in Costa Rica (14 nights) Contact us and well be happy to help you schedule yours! Some links in this post are affiliate, if you click them I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. We chose to purchase the entrance fee for the Hanging Bridges walk. Q&A with AAA: Pursuing Pura Vida in Costa Rica The weather experiences typical dry and rainy tropical seasons. However, unless you are staying in downtown La Fortuna, renting a car is the best way to access all the attractions of the Arenal area, since they are all spread out without a direct bus or shuttle. We parked our car on the side and debated what to do. Check out prices & booking information for Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort here. From San Jose, we rented a car and drove over three hours to the La Fortuna and Arenal area in the Alajuela province. Depending on when you are looking to go, there are a variety of different passes to choose from. To help you plan your trip, we did a lot of research to find the hostel/hotel recommendations below, one for each budget level. Once, we visited mid-March, normally the driest and hottest month and it rained for about 30 minutes around 5-6 PM. I love how many waterfalls there are to choose from, and there are hiking trails too which is fantastic. Arenal Volcano, the youngest stratovolcano in Costa Rica, is one of the most active volcanoes in that country and in the world. Chato, on the other hand, has been inactive for nearly 3,500 years. Tickets and tours for the Natural History Walk at the Hanging Bridges park start at $37 for ~2.5 hour tour. I did not put this in our jam packed three day itinerary as it was not as important as the above mentioned, however, it is still worth it! It is pretty challenging on your way back up, but just a tad easier than at La Fortuna! (I also recommend bringing bug spray for all of your adventures in Costa Rica!). The hot springs at the hotel also look super cool, would love to spend the day there. Zip lining is usually a half-day affair, where youll zip through the forest canopy on 10+ different lines. 3. Unfortunately, our Costa Rica itinerary had us arriving in Guanacaste on the first day during the evening and flying out of San Jose Airport rather early on the sixth day. We then ended our trip on the coast at Peninsula Papagayo. What I also loved about breakfast at Tucanes was their comforting Costa Rican coffee (if you didnt already know, Costa Rica has AMAZING coffee) and tropical fruit juices. I went to Costa Rica 5 years ago and have been dying to go back and spend more time there. Ready to discover the gorgeous destination of Arenal in Costa Rica? You'll experience three of the most popular tourist destinations so this itinerary is ideal for first time visitors. In fact, it is more than just a saying, its a lifestyle! Comfort travelers will rejoice at Tifakara Boutique Hotel, an Arenal hotel that boasts a small pool, wifi, and gorgeous grounds. We were immensely satisfied with our time spent there, and it is my sincere hope that you will find this itinerary helpful in planning your own adventure! Is there anything else we should look at here? How many days in Arenal? You can find plenty of red taxis in La Fortuna. Its also a fantastic budget destination that wont break the bank, and its got some of the best activities in Costa Rica to try and explore. Spa and wellness are of utmost importance at Tabacn Thermal Resort & Spa; offering volcanic mud wraps, massages and facials to name a few. What I loved about Tabacns springs are that they are the perfect place to immerse yourself in the lush tropical nature that Costa Rica boasts. Some of the best things to do at Arenal Volcano National Park are to admire the views, go on a hike, zipline, enjoy horseback riding, learn about wildlife and more. Rainforest and Tropical Coast: 6 days in Costa Rica Ziplining is a fun, family-friendly activity, popular in Arenal. Day 1: Canopy tours in the morning and whitewater rafting Class iii rapids for a full day of adventure. Here, youll join other tour groups, sip on cocktails, and relax after all the hard work you did today! Additionally, this hostel offers spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and is centrally located, making this an easy spot to visit all that La Fortuna & Arenal have to offer. We had an hour couples massage for $80.00 USD, and it was one of the most relaxing massages I have had. There are several bus stations in the city, so make sure youre headed to the right one at Avenida 7 and 9 and Calle 12. How many days in Arenal? - Costa Rica Forum - Tripadvisor Enjoy your last trail at a leisurely pace! How many days do you need? If you're looking for the very warmest time to visit Arenal, the hottest months are April, March, and then February.