Just a couple questions regarding are stay in the La Fortuna/Arenal area.

I printed driving directions from Santa Teresa/Mal Pais to La Fortuna from both Google maps and yourtravelmap.com. The directions for both take us up the east side of the Nicoya penninsula. Google maps listed it as a 4 hour drive and yourtravelmap.com listed it as 6 and a half hours. I am sure that the actual time depends on weather and road conditions, but thought I would see if someone could tell me which time is probably more accurate.

In the La Fortuna area I was very interested in taking the trip to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge. Has anyone been? Did you enjoy the trip.

What are your suggestions for "shouldn't miss" activities int he area?

Any restaurants you would strongly recommend?

Thanks for all of your help!

Yes, we've done Cano Negro several times and love it. It's a cool trip in a covered boat up the Rio Frio. We've seen caimans, monkeys, sloths, and water birds when we've done it. It's an all day adventure and usually includes a stop at the Las Iguanas restaurant where you can take photos of dozens of huge iguanas sunning themselves in the trees. I'd recommend bringing your own binoculars.

In addition to Cano Negro, some other things we like in the Arenal area are the waterfall hike, the Hanging Bridges hike, the Penas Blancas river float, the natural hot springs including Tabacon and Eco Termales, the Proyecto Asis animal rescue center, Sky Trek ziplines, and Rios Tropicales for rafting.

Don Rufino is our favorite restaurants. We also like La Choza de Laurel, and Soda la Parada (cheap).

We really enjoyed our meal at La Choza de Laurel. It was the best place we ate in that area. We had lunch at Lava Rocks which was ok.

If you don't mind going to a hotel for food, the Altamira restaurant at hotel Nayara is also excellent, more sophisticated than some of the other food we've had. El Novillo has some pretty good steaks, although beef in CR can be chewy sometimes.

I also have done the Rio Frio float at Canon Negro. It was relaxing and we saw several Capuchins, bats, caymen, etc.
A good fast food restaurant is "Just Good Food." Where the main street becomes a one-way, the restaurant is the second building on the left. Wonderfully priced and the nachos supreme are excellent!
The Butterfly Conservatory at El Castillo is absolutely the best! Also the serpentarium in El Castillo is great.
I stayed at the Arenal Green Hotel near the Cataratas La Fortuna. Very peaceful. Cabins are wonderful. Owners are very nice and helpful. Best place I've stayed during my 3 trips there.