Arenal Volcano & the Northern Lowland Area – Endless Eco-Adventures
Between Costa Rica’s two coasts, tropical adventures call to nature lovers and adrenaline junkies. Extending from the Nicaragua border to the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range, this farming region thrives on its pineapple, banana, and sugarcane plantations, but also draws travelers who love nature and adventure. It’s most famous for Volcano Arenal, which awakened violently in 1968 and erupted almost daily until 2010. Although the volcano is currently dormant, it’s still impressive, and the surrounding area is full of wildlife and opportunities for eco-adventure. Birdwatching and trail hiking are top activities in the 12,080-hectare/29,850-acre Arenal Volcano National Park, where you can walk on fields of cooled lava and get a photo-perfect view of the volcano cone from the El Mirador overlook when it’s not too cloudy. Get a toucan’s-eye view of the birds, wildlife, and rainforest canopy while walking 3.2 km along jungle trails and 16 hanging bridges in the Arenal Hanging Bridges park.
East of Arenal the town of La Fortuna (Fortune), so named because Arenal’s 1968 eruption blast missed the town (instead destroying three less fortunate towns). La Fortuna is a popular base for visitors to the region, and offers good restaurants and nightlife. It is also home to the Rio Fortuna Waterfall, where you can swim in refreshing pool created by the falls’ 70-m/230-ft drop. You can also try “canyoneering” here—which includes rappelling alongside the waterfall.
For more on-water fun, the Toro, Peñas Blancas, and Sarapiqui Rivers offer whitewater rafting, and a new activity catching on in Lake Arenal is stand-up paddling. Near the Nicaragua border, an on-water tour of the remote, unspoiled Caño Negro refuge (far superior to the area just outside the reserve) yields some of the best opportunities to spot river wildlife, 350 bird species and 160 mammal species, including monkeys, crocodiles, and the basilisk lizard that appears to walk on water.
For more information check out some of our Example Itineraries as well as our Blog / Newsletter and contact us on info@viaventure.com for bespoke itinerary designs.
Arenal – Adventure Beyond the Volcano
For approximately 40 years, Arenal volcano erupted near-daily, making it Costa Rica’s most active volcano. It has been dormant since 2010, but the area around it and the nearby town of La Fortuna still buzzes with activity.
Adventurous travelers set out for this region of northern Costa Rica to hike stunning rainforests with hanging bridges, sky-blue waterfalls, and fascinating caves.
Adventurous travelers set out for this region of northern Costa Rica to hike stunning rainforests with hanging bridges, sky-blue waterfalls, and fascinating caves. They raft river rapids, horseback ride, zip-line through the jungle, and relax in natural hot springs. The town of La Fortuna itself is a great spot for delicious meals and vibrant nightlife where you can salsa the night away.
Check out some of our Example Itineraries and contact us on info@viaventure.com for more information and for bespoke itinerary designs.
Sarapiqui – Ride the river to adventure
Whether you’re spotting little seed eaters to wonderful great green macaws, Sarapiqui is a birder’s paradise. Named after the Sarapiqui River running through it, the town sits at the base of the Cordillera Mountain range, in a region known for extensive pineapple, banana, and heart of palm plantations. This region offers eco-adventure options, like rainforest hikes, white-water rafting on the turbulent Sarapiqui River (Class III & IV rapids), mountain biking, tubing, horseback riding, and zip-lining. For a slightly less adrenaline-charged outing, try a morning boat tour of the river, a trail hike in the private 345-hectare/852-acre Tirimbina Rainforest Center, a walk through the exotic La Selva Biological Station or a visit to the Alma Ata Archaeological Park’s pre-Columbian archaeological gravesite dig.
Check out some of our Example Itineraries and contact us on info@viaventure.com for more information and for bespoke itinerary designs.
For more information check out some of our Example Itineraries as well as our Blog / Newsletter and contact us on info@viaventure.com for bespoke itinerary designs.
