MargieHar

Would like to hear what was best for you in those two areas, we have two days in each area and would like to schedule something positive. Any thoughts on your best CR experience? thanks so much

PuraAventura

Hi Margie!

Both have lots of great activities to take up much more time, but there are a few which shouldn't be missed. In La Fortuna / Arenal, the Hanging Bridges are a must, to get to see the wildlife from a very different perspective up in the canopy. While in the vicinity of the volcano, a soak in the thermal springs is a great way to unwind.

Monteverde is one of the best places in the country for 'canopy' (aka zipwire / zipline), and another unique excursion here is a guided nocturnal nature hike. Much of the wildlife only comes out after dusk! For those looking for more active pursuits, there is no shortage of options, with white water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, quad (ATV) bikes...

Hope this helps!

Dave

MichelleY

We did the Sky Trek zip line at La Fortuna, followed by lunch and soaking in the hot springs at EcoTermales.

RAC

It all depends if you like relaxation vs wildlife vs adventure. For hot springs in Arenal, we recommend Eco Termales (reserve ahead!) while in Monteverde the highlight was a morning tour of the Monteverde reserve, where we saw 7 quetzals. But, that was February so no guarantee you'd see them in another time of year.

MargieHar

We will be there in February, and we would like to do a morning tour, who did you go with? To see 7 quetzals - how incredibly fortunate for you!! We like wildlife - so that would fit in perfect for us. We have never been on a zip line - wonder how that would work out? In LaFortuna - the hanging bridges tour, it there only one? Do you have to reserve it ahead? thanks so much for all the advice -Margie

RAC

We visited with the guide referred to us by our lodge. The lodge was Arco Iris, and the guide was Adrian Mendez. You need to go early, and be ready to enter at 7:00 am opening.

There is one hanging bridges park/site/trail in Arenal.

Best wildlife in the Arenal area is the grounds of the Arenal Observatory Lodge--we saw a jaguarundi there, and it's very birdy--all kinds of tanagers etc.

colibri

Agree - afternoon or evening soaking at Eco-Termales is wonderful and is my favorite activity at Arenal. I'm not a huge fan of ziplines, but the one I did at Arenal Paraiso had 11 lines and on a rainy day was twice the speed (according to the guides) which could have something to do with my lack of enthusiasm for it! I had a difficult time stopping since the lines were so wet and slick.

We did same as RAC in Monteverde, stayed at Arco Iris and they arranged (in advance) for Adrian to be our guide for a morning of hiking at the reserve. We saw quetzals as soon as we parked the car (in March). MV is known for its birding and hiking, not as much for its wildlife. Be sure to go to the hummingbird gallery right next to the MV reserve.

MargieHar

Thank you we will try now to set up something for the am in MV - has anyone ever been guided by Gervani Bogerine in LaFortuna? I also saw something about the hummingbird gallery and thought that would be a nice place to visit as hummingbirds are high on my list - we were feeding approx. 32 here this summer in PA thanks again all of you.

volcanogirl

Our favorites in the La Fortuna area are the waterfall hike and the Eco Termales hot springs. If you're up for adventure, Sky Trek zipline is amazing. If you had more time, I'd do the Cano Negro tour, a wonderful boat tour where you'll see a lot of wildlife, but it's an all day adventure.

In Monteverde, we loved the guided hike in the Reserve where we saw quetzals and the night hike at Hidden Valley - saw things there that we had never seen anywhere else including a porcupine and a fox. Plus it's fun to hike around at night in the jungle with a flashlight!

MargieHar

Thank you, I will look for Hidden Valley, as we have not included a night hike yet.

volcanogirl

We had a lot of fun doing it. We were with a British group, and they were most excited to see a raccoon!

RAC

Ha!

We did a night hike (I forget where) and we had a Canadian woman who asked some brilliant questions, such as:

1) regarding the side-striped palm pit viper: "is that dangerous?"

2) regarding the common oppossum "is that rare?"

volcanogirl

We have raccoons in our backyard, so we got a kick out of their being so excited about it.

sylviam

If you do not stay at the Arenal Observatory Lodge can you still visit the grounds?

colibri

Sylviam - yes, you can hike the trails at AOL w/o staying at the lodge. I did it in February and the cost was $6.

volcanogirl

col, do you need to book it ahead, or can you just show up?

colibri

VG - we did not book it, just drove out there and paid our entry fee at the gate. If you want a guided hike, I would make advance reservations.

volcanogirl

Thanks, col - any idea how much the guided hike costs? Did you guys see a lot on the unguided hike?

colibri

VG - we saw very little on the trails....but we didn't get out there until mid-morning. My friends did not want to spring for a guided tour since we had several lined up for other destinations with more known wildlife activity. We really just saw birds at the fruit feeders off the deck, some coatis, peccaries and hummingbirds at the hedge of porter weed.

It was a nice way to spend the morning, but if I went back I would take their guided hike - don't know the cost, but you could e-mail them. They were quick to respond. I would stay there as long as I had my own car. The road was not bad to drive at all, just a bit slow going over some rough spots.

volcanogirl

Well, sounds like you did pretty well on your own, but I know we always see more with a guide. No telling how many things we've walked by without knowing it.