I am going to costa rica for 7 days and was planning to go to Arenal and Monteverde. My travel agent says I should go to Arenal and Manuel Antonio b/c Arenal and Monteverde are very similiar. Am I missing out if I don't go to Monteverde? What two cities would you do?
2006-11-03 13:58:58 · 20 answers · asked by Trua 2 in Travel ➔ Latin America ➔ Costa Rica
I am a Costa Rican living in Costa Rica. Honestly I will tell you that you have to go definitively to Manuel Antonio, which is a beach that combines clear sand and water, and forest, it is warm and humid. It has a national park where you can be in the jungle, white sand beach and monkeys included. In the area you will find good restaurants.
And then from Arenal and Monteverde, despite the fact I love Monteverde, I think as a tourist attraction I will choose Arenal. The Tabacon experience which is a spa with hot water springs and wild nature would amaze anyone. The volcano if you can see it, it is incredible.- night or day time it is a show! I have been lucky and most of the time has been without clouds. The arenal lake is also very nice. You can do the canopy and some other activities in the area.
Monteverde is a cloud forest (you will see real jungle in Manuel Antonio), very peaceful and an experience in bird watching ( probably Manuel Antonio will give you that experience too).
2006-11-06 15:15:47 · answer #1 · answered by gusber 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Monteverde and Arenal are no way similar-- except they are both in Costa Rica. Arenal is lower and warmer and has the volcano (the principal reason for going there). Monteverde is high and cool and has primary rain/cloud forests and coffee farms. The only thing that Arenal and Monteverde have in common are canopy tours. There is a very good one on the Lake side of Arenal that is comparable to those in Monteverde. The other answerer is correct about Arenal being a bird watchers paradise. If you want a forest experience, you won't easily get it in La Fortuna/Arenal or in Manuel Antonio. On the other hand, going to three places will eat up a lot of time. Only Manuel Antonio has a beach. If you have to choose, I would go to Monteverde if you love the outdoors and hiking and to la Fortuna if you don't.
2006-11-06 04:57:52 · answer #2 · answered by yellowstone 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not sure the two are all that similar. They are close by, so you should probably see them both if you are in the neighborhood. It also seems like seeing only the two of them in 7 days might leave you with a little bit more extra time than you want.
Your question left out a couple of details.
How much do you like beaches? Man Ant has one. Monteverde does not.
How are you planning on travelling between sites? Costa Rica is a small country but its roads are getting worse and worse, especially in the areas you are considering.
What are the main things you want to do in Costa Rica?
Your question referred to "cities". None of the locations you mentioned is a city. CR isn't really known for cities. To one extent or another, everything is outdoors related.
2006-11-07 09:44:25 · answer #3 · answered by Jeffrey C 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can drive to Monteverde by way of La Fortuna. That way, If you are lucky, you may be able to see the volcano sumit from afar. The other Arenal attraction is the hot water springs. If you are not into that, drive on to Monteverde.
Other than birds, the main attractions of Monteverde are the canopy trips that I am reported are quite exciting.
Manuel Antonio is mostly beach (a beatiful one) but no surfing.
2006-11-05 06:01:38 · answer #4 · answered by juanancy 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Hi,Yes, go to the Arenal volcano,you can drive or take a tour for the whole day that includes different points of view including the Arenal. For about $75.00 all day better than driving. As to manuel antonio, yes it's a pretty beach. There are many beautiful beaches and people in costa Rica. I know i've been there (5) times.Weather,People are great, Max..
2006-11-04 13:47:48 · answer #5 · answered by Brian 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Arenal and Monteverde are not similar at all. One is an beautiful volcano where you can watch it erupt from your hotel room and pamper yourself at the hot springs. The other, Monteverde, is an amazing Cloud Forest where everything is green and it is extremely beautiful.
I would suggest you go to both. Depending on the time of the year you can ride a horse - one way - from either Monteverde to Arenal or vise verse. I suggest you go from Monteverde to Arenal as you can see the volcano from the horse as you ride down in elevation to Arenal Volcano.
2006-11-09 12:11:17 · answer #6 · answered by Todd 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Arenal To Monteverde
2016-11-08 08:32:59 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are a serious birdwatcher, yes, you could. However, as a general tourist, possibly not. We've not been to Arenal, but you may not be able to see the volcano because of cloud. This happens a lot.
Here is a link to a journal a friend of mine wrote about Arenal ... http://jackmaryetc.com/Travel/Americas/CostaRica/CBWC6.htm
And here is the link to the one she wrote about Monteverde ... http://jackmaryetc.com/Travel/Americas/CostaRica/CRlyons3.htm
On a previous trip, we visited Manuel Antonio, which is much more beach-y. It has nicer hotels and restaurants, though all we stayed in were fine.
2006-11-03 14:06:54 · answer #8 · answered by Traveller 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i agree with ur travel agent, monteverde is an awful drive and not a lot to see/do- apart from the reseve of course, but in arenal- la fortuna has day trips to cano negra reserve and take the camera:
check out this travel guide and get the moon book!
http://costa-rica.typepad.com/la_fortuna_arenal/home/index.html
2006-11-11 06:39:57 · answer #9 · answered by jersey 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your travel agent is correct! Arenal is great and Manual Antonio is a great beach area. If possible try to go to the Arenal
observatory lodge it is a fine hotel with spectacular views. Enjoy!!
2006-11-11 12:36:08 · answer #10 · answered by blue 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋