Northern Region

Area Information | Weather | Travel Time | Hotels | Tours | National Parks

Area Information:

Arenal, La Fortuna

This region is the home of the Majestic Arenal Volcano, the most active volcano in Costa Rica.  This is a major tourist attraction in this region.  Most visitors stay overnight and hope it's clear skies to witness the spectacular fireworks display when the lava and glowing hot rocks shoot up to the sky.  The last major eruption occurred in 1968, nobody knows when the next big one is going to happen.  In the meanwhile, everyday visitors come and take chances to hear the awesome rumbles and lava shooting out of this mountain giant.  Surrounding the volcano is Arenal National Park with a beautiful artificial lake that resulted from water diverted from the Arenal River.  This is the largest fresh water lake in Costa Rica.  It's a popular place for the windsurfers and freshwater fisherman. To drive to Arenal is 3 hours from San Jose; you cannot fly to La Fortuna, which is next to Arenal. The community of La Fortuna, also known as Villa Fortuna or Villa Burio, is located in the valley of the volcano Arenal (which is 1,633 meters high) bordering the Rio Burio. This town belongs to the district of La Fortuna de San Carlos , in the Province Alajuela and is situated at an altitude of 300 meters above sea level. La Fortuna is a very fertile region which allows the nature to appear in lush green and makes it possible to grow a variety of crops, such as papaya, ginger root, oranges, pineapples, sugar cane, beans and cassava root, are also exported to the United States and the Europe (from the company Polyterra). Those and the milk and meat production are the important factors besides the growing tourism. Something special about La Fortuna is that you can see the volcano Arenal from every point in the village, which is of international interest. You can see the lava and gases come out, without being in the danger of an eruption, since the volcano is constantly being observed from the Smithsonian Institute. Especially at night it's easier to see the lava flow which is an exciting moment for every participant of the natural spectacular. Also you can find a lot of lagoons which origin from volcanoes as Cerro Chato, laguna de los Patos de Beto and Laguna de los Peces y Paula. One of the most popular excursions after the volcano Arenal and the Arenal lake is the magnificent long and narrow La Catarata de La Fortuna (the waterfall of La Fortuna), surrounded from exuberant vegetation, which can be reached by foot, by horse or car (in the rainy months 4 wheels will be necessary). When you arrive there, you have to go down a steep trail that leads to the refreshing waters of the waterfall.

Monteverde

This region is the home of The Monteverde Cloud forest Preserve; It is a World Renowned region for tropical forest preservation. There are over 100 mammal species such as jaguars, over 400 bird species including different kinds of hummingbird. It is also the home of the Quetzal, one of the most beautiful birds in the world. There are over 120 species of amphibians, 2,500 plant species, including over 400 types of orchids, over 5,000 species of moths and thousands of insects. There are daily tours for hiking on this magnificent cloud forest. There are a many rustic mountain lodge hotels in the area that are dedicated to eco-tourism. A cloud forest is a highland forest characterized by nearly 100% humidity throughout the year. Here in the Santa Elena Reserve of Monteverde , warm North-Easterly trade winds, filled with moisture, blow in over the Atlantic . As the winds sweep up to the Continental divide, they cool and condense to form clouds, bathing the forest in a constant soft mist. The cloud forest here receives an incredible four meters of rain every year- that is almost twelve feet. One of the most characteristic features of Monteverde cloud forest is the abundance of vegetation. Competition for growing space is so intense that trunks and branches are almost entirely covered with a variety of epiphytes, lichens, liverworts, bryophytes and mosses. The epiphyte mats store moisture, which is especially important in the dry season (February to May). The lush cloud forest canopy of Monteverde is thus home to many species of insects, amphibians, and mammals, which never even come down to the forest floor. A walk through the cloud forest of Monteverde can be an eerie experience. As the high clouds creep through the twisted trees and hanging vines around you, strange sounds fill the air. Strong winds and the added weight of water-laden epiphytes often cause branches to fall to the ground. This reduces the height of the cloud forest canopy and adds to the forest's gnarled appearance. Falling branches also create light gaps, allowing the growth of light tolerant plants and producing a constant mosaic of succession. A perfect place for hiking, bird watching, volunteering or do some research.

Weather:

The Climate in the Northern region is mostly warm and humid with temperatures ranging from 72 to 84 degrees, supported by a pleasuring moderate breeze. For live weather info, see our weather page.

Travel time:

To get to Montevede, it is a 4 hours drive from San Jose and a four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended due to unpaved roads going to the reserve. Travelling to Arenal is 3 hours. You cannot fly to this region; there are no available scheduled domestic flights.

Hotels:

There are plenty of choices for a mountain lodge hotel throughout the entire Northern Region. For more information, review our list of recommended hotels for this region.

Tours :

GaiaLink Tours and Services is please to offer a wide selection of tours throughout this region.  Whether you're looking for adventure, sightseeing or education, we have the tour for you.  Please see our list of recommended tours for this region.

National Park & Preserves:

Arenal

• Arenal Volcano National Park
• Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

Monteverde

• Monteverde Cloud Forest
• Santa Elena Cloud Forest

 

*Click the links below for more information on tours and packages in this area:

Northern Region Hotels | Northern Region Tours