Arenal Volcano to Monteverde
Arenal Volcano to Monteverde Costa Rica: 3 Routes, Two Great Shortcut Tours!
The world famous Monteverde Cloud Forest, is a great destination for those who wish to explore Costa Rica's amazing biological diversity. At 5,000 feet above sea level and straddling the continental divide, the Monteverde Cloud Forest is a unique biological environment. If you're planning a trip to Costa Rica, consider combining the beach, Arenal Volcano, and Monteverde Cloud Forest.
For traveling between Arenal and Monteverde, we recommend a taxi/boat/taxi ride or a horseback adventure. You will find these options cheaper and more fun than just a taxi! Of course, you can always rent a 4x4 car or truck (a sedan type car is not recommended for our bumpy roads,) but please remember that Costa Rica's roads are rough and directional signs are often absent.
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Car: Due to the drastic change in elevation between La Fortuna and Monteverde (La Fortuna stands at 350 meters and Monteverde straddles the Continental Divide at 1,500 meters,) there is no direct road route. The road distance between these destinations is 106 kilometers, passing around the lake and through the town of Tilaran. Road conditions from La Fortuna to Tilaran are fairly good, but the dirt road from Tilaran to Monteverde is quite bumpy and takes extra time. A 4x4 is strongly recommended, especially in rainy season. During the peak rainy season months of October and November, it may not be possible to drive the route without a 4x4 vehicle. Estimated driving time between Arenal and Monteverde is about 4 hours by 4x4 (5 hours by sedan car.) See this rental car search and driving map. |
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Public Bus: From La Fortuna, take the 8h am bus to Tilaran. Then catch the 1h pm bus for Monteverde. It will arrive in Santa Elena, Monteverde at about 4h pm (8 hour duration; 9 in peak rainy season) |
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Taxi / Boat / Taxi Shortcut: First take a short taxi from your hotel in the Arenal area to Lake Arenal Dam. Then, enjoy a beautiful 30-minute cruise across Lake Arenal, from the dam to Rio Chiquito. Finally, jump on a 4x4 or mini bus (depending on road conditions) for a 1.5-hour scenic ride to Monteverde. The transfer tour is approximately 3 hours, one way. We also offer this transfer in the reverse direction, going from Monteverde to Arenal. Reservations and booking: write to info@arenal.net |
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Horse, Boat, and 4x4 Adventure: This is the most exciting way to go! We will pick you up from your hotel in Arenal / La Fortuna for a short 30 minute drive to the Lake Arenal Dam. Then you will take a scenic 1/2-hour boat ride across Lake Arenal to El Castillo (or to Chiquito in the rainy season). The boat secion is followed by a fantastic horseback ride to the Mirador Monteverde look-out. On horseback you will climb 1,200 meters (3,600 feet) on the Continental Divide. The route presents great views of the volcano. It includes river crossings and trails through dense forest. Upon your arrival at the Mirador Monteverde look-out, we will drive to your hotel in Monteverde (approximately 10 km.) The total journey takes approximately 5 hours, one way. It is led by a friendly Monteverde horseman and his fresh, healthy horses. Group sizes are small (2 to 6 persons,) and along the way there are opportunities to take photos and enjoy yourself. The tour also runs down the moutain, from Monteverde to La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano). In order to catch the best morning views and weather, tours depart from Arenal at 8h30 am and from Monteverde at 8h am. Reservations and booking: write to info@arenal.net |
No experience necessary, our smiling horses are easy to handle!
We also offer these tours from Monteverde Cloud Forest to Arenal.
Visit this site for more info about Monteverde Costa Rica Cloud Forest
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