Arenal Volcano & Monteverde Cloud Forest

Transfer to Arenal Volcano area. La Fortuna is home to the greater Arenal recreation area, the entire region is paradise on Earth for outdoor adventurers. Volcanic views grace the landscape and heat several geothermal hot springs. A lake and rivers beckon you toward aquatic adventure. Refreshing waterfalls reward you after hikes, offering crisp pools and spectacular views. Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica’s most notable natural features. Standing at 5,437 feet (1,657 meters), this volcano has been resting (i.e. not active) since 2010. However, it is no less majestic to behold, as it’s practically a behemoth against the region’s perfect skies. Rising above the rainforest that surrounds its base, Arenal Volcano frames the skyline with near-perfect symmetry.

The tour begins when you are picked up from your hotel and driven to the Arenal Volcano National Park, where you will walk along the old lava beds and learn about the volcano, the tropical forest surrounding it and the abundant wildlife from an informative guide. Perhaps the most fascinating part of the tour is what you will learn about this captivating ecological paradise. Following the tour of the volcano, you will be taken to the Hot Springs, a tropical oasis featuring 16 different pools; the temperatures increase as you go up in elevation. The pools are constructed so that they blend in naturally with the beautiful gardens. After some time enjoying the thermal pools and feasting on a dinner, you will be transported back to your hotel.

The trip combines comfortable door to door minivan transfers with a fun and scenic cruise across the tranquil Lake Arenal, where you will experience beautiful views of the majestic volcano and the forested Tilaran Mountain Range. You will also have the chance to see a variety of wetland birds such as kingfishers, flycatchers, waders and other exotic species that abound on the lakeshore. You will be picked up from your hotel in Arenal and be driven to the Lake Arenal dam, where you will board a covered boat. This is where the scenic 45-minute cruise across the lake begins. Next, you will begin the impressive 1.5-hour journey up the mountainside on a steep road offering stunning views of the lush, green valley. You will be driven directly to your Monteverde area hotel.

The tour is essentially a natural history walk in which you will learn about the incredible diversity of flora and fauna and many of the unique relationships various cloud forest species have with each other. Guides are equipped with a spotting telescope as well as binoculars and several informational guidebooks. Be sure to bring your cameras, as you can take pictures through the guide's scope. This walk normally takes about 3 hours. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is where some of the best-kept cloud forests in all of Costa Rica can be found. It is a cloud forest, not a rainforest, due to its elevation of 4,724 feet (1,440 meters) above sea level.

Transfer from Monteverde to San Jose