Where to stay in La Fortuna. Plan the Ultimate Vacation to Monteverde Costa Rica. Most grocery stores take USD and colones. Surrounded by thick jungle and abundant wildlife, La Fortuna is a great home base for various adventure activities in Costa Rica. Playa Carrillo is located in a bay just south of Samara, one of the best beach towns in Costa Rica. and our awesome Costa Rica travel guidebooks, Moon Costa Rica (2021) & Moon Costa Rica (2019), published by the prestigious Moon . . The Arenal Sky Adventures Park is located an approximate 30-minute drive west of downtown La Fortuna near the community . Finisterra is located up on the hill, so you you have good views. Modern house with splendid views of the lake and Arenal volcano - 0.1 mi (0.1 km) away. The town belongs to the district of La Fortuna of San Carlos, in the Province Alajuela and is situated at an altitude of 300 meters . Punta Uva, in Puerto Viejo Today you'll have plenty of time to spend at one of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches, Playa Punta Uva. Sorry, there is no public beach anywhere near the route from SJO to La Fortuna since both are smack dab in the middle of the country. Closest Airports: 50 minutes to Liberia (LIR) and 10 minutes to Tamarindo (TAM) airstrip. Puerto Jimenez, hikes, fishing, whale and dolphin watching and archeological spots. Grab your boots, your bathing suit, and a hat because it's time to make your way to the small town of La Fortuna! 7. 9.7 Excellent. Transfer from Arenal or La Fortuna to Conchal beach up to 5 passengers: $240 . The nearest beach is Puntarenas, but noone on this forum is going to suggest beaches around this port town are worth going out of your way to visit. If you catch all the connections this will take about 4:30h. La Fortuna is a town nestled in the northwest corner of Costa Rica at the base of dormant volcano Arenal. The beach is beautiful with warm blue water, but the current can be strong. You can take a bus from San Jose (SJO) to La Fortuna via Ciudad Quesada in around 2h 45m. Distance and transportation times from SJO and LIR airport. La Fortuna: Day 10: Depart Costa Rica . Inc., home to hundreds of discounts for Costa Rica day tours. Montezuma, bohemian surf town. The best way of reaching La Fortuna Waterfall in Costa Rica is through the gates of ADIFORT. The 2.7 km hike up Mount Miros is definitely Jaco's best-kept secret. Table of Contents [ show] List of Best Places to Stay in Costa Rica On the Beach. Best to stick to Arenal and maybe one of the beaches of the southern Nicoya Peninsula, such as Montezuma or one of the beaches close to the airport such as Playa Hermosa. LIR. During the rainy season, nights can get a little chilly when temperatures fall to about 18°C/64°F. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. . 12. Nosara has gorgeous, wild beaches and is perfect for those looking for an idyllic, low key surfing town. Of course, you can book tours from Playa Flamingo that will take you out there for the day. Pacific Coast - Hermosa Beach near Jaco Beach The Best Beaches Near San Jose, Costa Rica are Not Too Far Away by Car The country's most popular beach resorts are just two hours away by car west of the capital city of San Jose. our free Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course. These are the distances from downtown: - Cariari Country Club is 7 miles away (20 minutes) - Valle del Sol is 7 miles (20 minutes) - Marriott Los Suenos is 70 miles (1:15 hour) and a great option if staying in San Jose. Renting a car is one of the most efficient ways to go from San Jose to La Fortuna. The trails of Volcano Arenal National Park close to La Fortuna (Alamy)2. 3. To Samara, it is about the same. 7 Walk above the rain forest at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. Information on hotels & tours for your next visit to the Arenal Volcano National Park and La Fortuna in Costa Rica, the country's top travel destination. Most everything in the beach town of Tamarindo can be explored on foot. If you look at a map of Costa Rica, you'll notice that La Fortuna and Monteverde are very close to each other. 5. ADIFORT is a non-profit community organization that manages the property. One of the largest and most popular beach and surf towns in Costa Rica is Tamarindo in the Guanacaste region. Closest Town: Tamarindo is about 2.5 km driving from the beach. Read about driving from Liberia to Arenal and driving from San Jose to Arenal. Gateway to Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano, Tilaran is a charming town that lies in the northeastern regions of Guanacaste province, close to the border of Alajuela. It has a fitness centre, as well as an express check-in and check-out feature, massage services and a concierge. . Playa Hermosa is located about 10-15 minutes north of Santa Teresa's main strip. Inc., home to hundreds of discounts for Costa Rica day tours. The other route, marked in green, is a more cultural drive—you'll pass through quaint villages, including Sarchí, the country's handicraft capital. Bus, minivan, private car. Bear in mind that La Fortuna is one of the rainiest places in Costa Rica and it rains quite a bit even in the dry season. Most grocery stores in Costa Rica take both USD and Costa Rica colones so if you don't want to pay with your credit card, you can use cash. $1000-$1500 p.p. You can also book tours from Tamarindo. Visitors to this area are in for a treat as the volcano provides a magnificent backdrop to the day trip adventures. Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park - Walking across a network of bridges hanging high about the rainforest is one of the most iconic things to do in Costa Rica and Arenal is one of the best places to do it. In the morning, you will travel to La Fortuna, the closest town to Arenal Volcano. Neither of these is a good candidate for a day trip. http://www.samarabeach.com One of the most popular Costa Rica beach destinations, Tamarindo Beach invites those seeking adventures, water play, excellent food, and vibrant nightlife. Tamarindo & Flamingo will take approx 4-5 hours, about the same as MA. Jaco, Costa Rica is the optimal choice for an adventure-filled vacation in paradise. Golf courses near San Jose, Costa Rica: San Jose is the main hub for golf courses in Costa Rica. Transfer to the bus going to Puntarenas which takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, ~1500 colones. Costa Rica Classic. At the north end of the beach, Roca Mar - aka . . Playa Santa Teresa. Visitors to Costa Rica choose to stay here as it is an easy drive from San Jose International Airport (SJO) and is located on the breathtaking Pacific Coast. ________________. Fast Facts About Playa Langosta. Luxury Romantic Heaven. Costa Rica Classic. Re: Is there a beach close to Arenal. Located along the Pan American Highway some 4 km from Lake Arenal, Tilaran is now fast becoming a key location for adventures in and around the lake area. The beaches of Flamingo, Potrero, Conchal and Brasilito are just a bit further from the airport and a really nice area. 2. . Book Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, Costa Rica on Tripadvisor: See 2,677 traveller reviews, 3,119 candid photos, and great deals for Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, ranked #2 of 153 Speciality lodging in Costa Rica and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. Less than $1000 p.p. Here are the best places to stay for your Costa Rica vacation. 5. Neither of these is a good candidate for a day trip. Take the 530 AM bus from La Fortuna to San Ramon (2 hours, ~2000 colones). Similarly, the small cities (or large towns) of Jacó and La Fortuna are known as tourist hotspots — for Costa Ricans as much as foreigners. The volcano itself is active and has been constantly erupting since 1968. . PART V: Arenal. Playa Hermosa is a great little beach town to end on a good note. If you leave the car in Arenal you could fly on Nature Air or Sansa, maybe save a little time. our "best of Costa Rica" compilation DIY Costa Rica, which includes our Costa Rica Destination Tool. and our awesome Costa Rica travel guidebooks, Moon Costa Rica (2021) & Moon Costa Rica (2019), published by the prestigious Moon . Report inappropriate content xelas Slovenia Destination Expert Every vacation has to start somewhere, and for most people visiting the country, it begins at one of Costa Rica's airports. By driving: Arenal/La Fortuna is 3-3.5 hours from both San Jose Airport and Liberia International Airport with fairly straight forward routes and doesn't require a 4X4. Take a lava trek. Nosara, paradisiacal beach area great for yoga and learn surf. "Beautiful Beach," living up to its name. The community of La Fortuna, also known as Villa Fortuna or Villa Burio, is located in the valley of the volcano Arenal, bordering to the Rio Burio. La Fortuna is surrounded by rainforest, Arenal Volcano National Park and is minutes from Costa Rica's largest lake. Re: Beach Town Close to Liberia. With more than 800 miles of spectacular coastline consisting of coral reefs, volcanic beaches and pristine forests that tumble into the ocean, Costa Rica is unsurprisingly rated one of the best diving and snorkeling countries on earth. LIR. 1. Unfortunately, La Fortuna, Costa Rica does not have any beaches nearby. The waves at the popular Peninsula de Nicoya destination are pretty consistent and can be surfed at virtually any time of day. Situated in Monterrey, Amor Arenal is an easy drive from La Fortuna and offers an outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi and a Jacuzzi. 4,260 colones for a 6 pack of Imperial beer. Staying in La Fortuna for your entire vacation in Costa Rica and planning to visit the beach? This region along the northern Pacific coast has some of Costa Rica's most beautiful beaches. Driving with Rental Car. The town of Nosara. Not only that, but many have calm water and are good for swimming—perfect with kids. San Jose to Monteverde. MA may be your closest beach, and nice area to stay. Remember, it's a 3 hour drive from Monteverde to LIR and you need time to return rental Report inappropriate content roadadvisor San Jose, Costa Rica Level Contributor 72,381 posts 143 reviews 45 helpful votes 2. 7. our "best of Costa Rica" compilation DIY Costa Rica, which includes our Costa Rica Destination Tool. Fully-furnished and decorated, it runs $1,350 a month. Hike Mount Miros. Closest International Airport: . There are, however, several side trips along the way that are worth exploring, including the Poás Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens (see our Driving Map to Arenal). This was our favorite restaurant in La Fortuna — an elegant Italian place with stylish ambience, excellent service and, best of all, outstanding food. Starts at US $115. Get Your Free Costa Rica Report Here: Boat Shuttle from Jaco Beach to Montezuma, Santa Teresa, Mal País & Viceversa. But in lieu of Tamarindo you could consider Playa Del Cocos / Playa Hermosa /as they are closer to LIR. Proprietor Geovanny Lobo, 37, said his is the only place in . Golf courses near San Jose, Costa Rica: San Jose is the main hub for golf courses in Costa Rica. To Samara, it is about the same. It is the closest town to Arenal Volcano, and the area is often simply refered to as Arenal. Visit the on-site pro shop and play 18 holes . Juan Santamaria International Airport is technically in Alajuela but very close to San José and it is a . Region: Guanacaste & The North Pacific Closest Airports: Liberia International Airport (LIR) and Tamarindo airstrip Altitude: Sea Level Average Temperature: 75-92º F (23-32º C) On average, the town of Tamarindo Costa Rica has a population of 500.