Arenal Volcano to Monteverde Tours
Arenal Volcano to Monteverde Costa Rica: 3 ways, two great shortcuts!
Costa Rica has so much to offer and no exploring of this amazing diversity would be complete without a visit to the world famous Monteverde Costa Rica Cloud Forest, a Costa Rica rainforest at 5,000 feet above sea level, straddling the continental divide. So if you're planning your trip, consider combining beach, Arenal Volcano, and the Monteverde Cloud Forest.
You can always rent a 4x4 (sedan type car is not recommended for our bumpy roads) but considering the cost and fun of driving without any road signs for directions, we recommend considering using a combination of shuttle direct bus, taxi, boat and Costa Rica tours like these ones. You will find it cheaper and much more fun, going to places no car can go!
The road from La Fortuna to Tilaran is more or less in good condition, but the dirt road one from Tilaran to Monteverde is really bumpy. A 4x4 is recommended, especially in rainy season, or if you are 4 persons. It's 4 hours by 4x4, 5 hours by car (not possible in peak rainy season for a car, October, and November). A taxi cost $110 US for 4 persons, make sure you get a 4x4. See a regional driving to Arenal map
Public Bus La Fortuna to Monteverde: 8h am bus to Tilaran, then the 1h pm bus for Monteverde, arriving at 4h pm (8 hours, 9 in peak rainy season)
Taxi / boat / taxi shortcut 1/2 hour by taxi from La Fortuna to the dam, then a beautiful 30 minutes cruise on the lake of Arenal to Rio Chiquito, and finally a 1.5 hour scenic ride by 4x4 or mini bus (depending on road conditions) to Monteverde. It’s a quick and nice 3 hour tour, one way. We also do this tour from Monteverde to Arenal. More taxi / boat / taxi info and Photos!
| Taxi/Boat/Taxi Schedules, Rates, and Online Booking Forms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Taxi Boat Taxi Arenal to Monteverde | Pick up at hotels in Arenal, cross Lake Arenal by boat and head up to the Monteverde Cloud Forest | |
| Taxi Boat Taxi Monteverde to Arenal | The Taxi-Boat-Taxi service operates year round connecting Monteverde and Arenal two times daily with great views the whole way | |
Horse, boat, and 4x4
Adventure it’s the most exciting way to
go! Pick
up at your hotel in Arenal / La Fortuna for a 30 minute
drive to the dam of the Lake Arenal, then a scenic
1/2 hour by boat on the Lake Arenal to El Castillo (or
Chiquito in rainy season), followed by a fantastic horseback
ride to the Mirador Monteverde look-out, climbing 1,200
meters (3,600 feet) on the Continental Divide (great views
of volcano, river crossings and forest trails), and finally,
a 10 kilometer bumpy and scenic drive by 4x4 to your hotel
in Monteverde. Total time 5 hours, one way. We do
this trip from Monteverde to La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano)
also.
We leave at 8h30 am from Arenal, & 8h am from Monteverde, for the best views and weather (morning tends to be clearer on the mountain). Go with a friendly Monteverde horseman using his fresh and healthy horses, in a small group (2 to 6 persons), stop along to take some photos, relax and enjoy yourself. More horseback riding info and photos!
| Taxi-Boat-Horse LAKE ROUTE Schedules, Rates, and Online Booking Forms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arenal to Monteverde by Taxi, Boat and Horse | Both a tour and a transport via Taxi Boat and Horse. The horse portion of the transfer is along the shores of Lake Arenal. | |
| Monteverde to Arenal by Horse, Boat and Taxi | ||
| Taxi-Boat-Horse Schedules, Rates, and Online Booking Forms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arenal to Monteverde Taxi - Boat - Horseback Tour | This journey begins when you board a boat at the Lake Arenal Dam and zoom across to the central shore on the southern side of the Lake. At this point a guide and Horses will be waiting for your journey through the forests of Monteverde the top of the Continental Divide and the heart of the Cloud Forest. You will then be brought to your hotel where you luggage will be waiting. | |
| Monteverde to Arenal Horseback - Taxi - Boat Tour | Take an amazing journey by Horse down through the forests of Monteverde to the Lake Arenal Basin, where you then board a boat to take you accross Lake Arenal and finally a transport vehicle to your hotel in Arenal where you luggage will be waiting. | |
No experience necessary, our smiling horses are very 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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| Arenal Canopy Tour | Rafting from Arenal or San Jose | Pure Trek Canyoning | Arenal Hanging Bridges |
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| Cano Negro wildlife refuge | Arenal Hot Springs |
San Jose Hotel Santo Tomas San Jose Airport Hotel Quepos Manuel Antonio Hotel
