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 Colin on one of the
hanging bridges by frank_delargy
It really is a walk though the jungle of about 2 miles and it has some fantastic views of the volcano and of course the jungle.
There was one bridge that had collapsed just before we arrived, so we needed to take a detour that felt very much like bushwhacking. I don't know if they ever fixed that bridge.
Price: $20.00 each Children under 12 years admitted free.
Open 7am-4pm.
Guided night tour available at 7 pm Leave a Comment
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 The beach at sunset by frank_delargy
We did see lots of iguanas, plenty of monkeys (capuchin and red squirrel), sloths, toucans, red white & blue crabs and some of the worlds best gorgeous beach scenery.
No crowds when we went, August, the 'green' season. You will need to walk into the park .. through a river! I found this to be an interesting first impression. Be careful on the way back as the tide may have come in and you will may need to wade up to your neck or take a boat across. You can walk along the beach and when you reach the river there may be a local there with a rowboat to help out. The difference between low tide and high tide is significant!
I have a separate page for Quepos, with some of the same stuff and more pictures. Leave a Comment
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 me zipping through the jungle by frank_delargy
Awesome..
If it was just a walk through the treetops it would be great, but the added thrill of almost flying across valleys is incredible. I do have a whole page devoted to this on my web site http://www.delargy.com/2003_8_CostaRica/monteverdi.htm .
There are many companies that provide this service. I only used one (Selvatura), which I do recommend. Oh yeah.. They also have a great hummingbird 'garden' at the end of the trip. Leave a Comment Address: Santa Elena, MonteVerde, Costa RicaDirections: Follow the interamerican highway from San Jose going to Liberia, turn right before Rio Lagartos and head through the rocky road for about 35 kilometers. You will get to Santa Elena Town. You may find main offices across from the Catholic Church.Website: www.selvatura.com Other Contact: Email: info@selvatura.com
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 During the day , on a clear
day.. smoke & steam by frank_delargy
Most people, however never see this, even if they go to Arenal, because it is pretty much covered with clouds all the time. I was lucky to see the top during the day, but you can't see it glow during the day, just steam & smoke. Leave a Comment Address: Arenal Costa Rica
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 Poas volcano by BEETLE_VERTE
On our last day, we couldn't leave without seeing inside a volcano. Our driver took us a little outside Alajuela to see the Poas volcano. Although I was this close to putting this experience in the Tourist Trap category (because it's really touristic, crowded and paved!), I'm enchanted and more than happy I made the trip.
A little walk will take you up on the volcano's edge to see this beautiful turquoise water in the crater of Poas, above the clouds. Magical! The terrain is rocky and dark, the lake is whimsical, the vegetation scattered to luxious, surrounding unbelievable!
You can take a walk to the Botos crater, a smaller one on the side of the volcano, or attend the museum and giftshop (expensive!) at the entrance.
Go early, as the top of the volcano clouds up quickly some day. If you missed it, wait a little bit as it often clears up in 5 minutes. Or come back later. When we arrived, there was nothing but a sea of clouds. It was quite impressive to see the crater appears before our eyes (and so close!) in a mater of seconds, as the clouds disappeared.
I have to admit, it's worth the trip!
About 6$ to get in. Bring your camera (raincoat if you think it's going to rain, not necessary to have walking shoes). More details and pictures in my travelogue on the alajuela page. Leave a Comment Address: AlajuelaPhone: 406-482-2424Directions: 37km north of AlajuelaWebsite: http://www.minae.go.cr/ Other Contact: vpoas1971@hotmail.com
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 Tabacon resort by BEETLE_VERTE
Don't miss this! An unforgetable experience mixing tropical garden, luxury, volcano and hot springs...
After an Arenal volcano trip, they'll usually drop you here, but you can also come on your own just for this. It cost 29$ per person (19$ after 7pm... so we waited half an hour in the parking lot!). Deposit for locker key and towel.
Two rivers, heated by the volcano at 30C and 40C, are cascading in little ponds surrounded by luxurious vegetation. At
the bottom, they converge into a huge pool with a wet bar, animation and music. On a terrace above, the fancy restaurant. The rivers go so high and wander so much we get lost! The 30C river is very nice and we enjoy ourselves in this hot and paradisiac surrounding. Some ponds are calm, other have waterfalls, high water, low water, ... we don't have enough time to try them all!
At one point, we reach a heavy waterfall and we can seat under it. If we pass on the other side, it's like being in a sauna. I can't resist going back to the locker room and take my camera!
Any way, there's no word to explain how wonderfull this was. I never saw or even imagined something like that. Sitting at the foothill of a volcano, completely surrounded by palm trees, bromelias, flowers and other exotic plants, in pure water heated by a volcano. It's magic! Leave a Comment Address: FortunaPhone: 506-256-1500, 460-2020Directions: 15km from La FortunaWebsite: www.tabacon.com
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 Arenal volcano by BEETLE_VERTE
While in Fortuna, you can't miss the Arenal volcano. But I strongly suggest getting closer by with a guide and feel it up close... and personnal! Even if it was pourring rain and we didn't got to see it that night, or any time before the third day, it's still an amazing experience.
Our guided tour (25$ each) pick us up at our hotel late afternoon to bring us to the entrance of the park. Gustavo guided us trough a secondary (rain!) forest, explaining plants and animals we encountered (orchids, termits, withe face monkey, Cecropia tree where sloth often sleep, ...). We then climbed up to the 1982 eruption site. Black rocks every where with little or no plants. And the sun setting on the Arenal lake below. Amazing thing to experience as the guide explain danger and historic events of the region, forge by the volcano temper. I can only imagine how breathtaking this would have been if we could see the volcano. It spits out huge rocks and at night, it will looks as fireworks...!
Bring walking shoes, raincoat, camera and bathing suit for the thermal resort afterward.
The trip will end at the Tabacon resort... not to be miss!
More pictures in the Travelogue of my Fortuna page. Leave a Comment Address: Arenal VolcanoPhone: 506-479-9767, 479-9768Directions: Departing in Fortuna, go to the north west side of the volcano (about 17km). We used the Tout Operator Jacamar in La Fortuna.Website: www.arenaltours.com Other Contact: info@arenaltours.com
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 Catarata Rio Fortuna by BEETLE_VERTE
About 3km south of Fortuna, an impressive 70 meters waterfall comes out of a luxurious green forest in a mist whirl. A steep (sometimes slippery) path takes you down the waterfall and to the basin where you can swim. Up in the green wall, we saw a toucan. Really worth it!
To make the experience as wonderfull as ours, I suggest taking a taxi to go (about 4$) but come back to the city by foot. You'll cross yucca and papaya plantations, filled with all kind of birds. We saw blue-gray tanagers but also Ani and Montezuma Oropendola that we didn't saw anywhere else during our stay in Costa Rica. You'll also get an impressive view of the Arenal volcano, from a side not seen yet. At a really slow pace, we made it back to the city in 1h30. Some people made the trip by horse or hitchiking!
It's around 6$ each to enter, bring good shoes, bathing suit and towel.
Again, see the travelogue in my Fortuna page for more details. Leave a Comment Address: La FortunaDirections: 3km south of the city
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 Manuel Antonio Park by BEETLE_VERTE
Whether you like wild tropical nature, sandy virgin beaches, limpid waters or hiking in humid forest, you'll enjoy this place. A contrasting mix of paradisiac beaches along the curves of the peninsula and wild, deep, green, rain forest.
Apparently, with a guide, you can see both marine and terrestrial wildlife. But without one, we only heard a few animals run away... saw insects, reptiles and pelicans... and heard howler monkeys (which, when you never saw one, sounds like raging King Kong... quite impressive!). We also gase at numerous deserted beaches and choose one to our convenience to bathe a little. The water was calmer than in Jaco and even Manuel Antonio, since it's more secluded.
Bring drinking water and fruits (not sold inside the park), bathing suit and towel, shades and hat, sunscreen, walking shoes but you could easily walk the path in sandals. Enjoy!
PS The first part of the park will be the continuation of the city beach, but since it's inside the park, much less crowded and with no vendors. Entree fees may be worth it just for that piece and quiet! (6$ to get in, around 20$ more each for a guide)
More details and pictures of what we saw in the travelogue of my Quepos page.
Went back a year later. Maybe we were luckier, maybe we knew what to look for, but we saw a lot of wildlife, even without a guide. Spider, anteaters, howler monkey, capucino monkey, agouti, coati, iguanas, ... Had a blast: 4 hours walking the paths, picnic in the rest area (tables, water, ...) and the afternoon on the beach looking at pelicans fish. They had to kick us out at 4 pm. Second travelogue in my Quepos page for more pictures. Leave a Comment Address: Manuel AntonioPhone: 506-777-0644Directions: At the end of the main road of Manuel Antonio
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 Reserva Biologica Bosque
Nuboso by BEETLE_VERTE
This was it for me, the trip I've been waiting for for 20 years: birdwatching in Monteverde.
We bought our tour the day before at Camino Verde Info Center, booking a shuttle, the entrance fees and a guide. I read everywhere that Monteverde was the place to go, but you had to be there really early since they let only 150 visitors at a time in the park. But they convince me to go to the Santa Elena entrance: it's the same forest with 2 entrances!! This one is less popular and thus less crowded.
But we didn't get to see a lot. The day and night before was very windy and that morning, it's pouring rain. No way to see anything! Our guide did its best, always an eye in the branches, taking us off the path to his favorite spots. I was almost disapointed tho! We saw a few little birds, even sleeping owls. But nothing I hoped for, starting with the Quetzal. The guide actually say that he saw the Quetzal everyday he came to the forest in 3 years, except two times: this time and another!
So I guess it's still worth it, even if we "only" saw an amazing cloudforest!!
Even if it's not raining when you leave, it's going to be at least misty in the cloudforest. Bring raincoat and good shoes. Possibly rent boots at the entrance of the park. Also have with you camera, binocular, drinking water (they have a little snack bar at the end of the tour, but they only serves coffee and breakfast in the morning, no juices). We paid 9$ each, plus 15$ each for the guide and 2$ for the shuttle. They pick us up at 6h45 in the morning. Leave a Comment Address: Santa ElenaPhone: 506-645-5693Directions: About 3km up north from the Santa Elena triangle.Website: www.monteverdeinfo.com/reserve Other Contact: reserve@monteverdeinfo.com
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