Costa Rica (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Matthew Firestone [127]
Try Arenal Paraíso Canopy Tours (Map; 2479-1100; www.arenalparaiso.com; adult/student & child US$45/35) for two-hour tours along 12 zip lines. A bit further west, Canopy Los Cañones (Map; 2479-1000; www.caopyloscanones.com; US$45) is based at the Hotel Los Lagos, with 15 cables over the rainforest. You can also do canopy tours inside the park itself with SkyTrek, Click here. Then there’s Arenal Mundo Aventura (Map; 2479-9762; www.arenalmundoaventura.com; canopy tour adult/child US$65/33), an ecological park where you can take a canopy tour over La Fortuna Waterfall, go rappelling, horseback riding and catch Maleku performances all in one go.
CANYONING
The reputable PureTrek Canyoning (Map; 2479-1313, 2479-1315; www.puretrek.com; 7am-10pm) leads guided rappels down four waterfalls, one of which is 50m in height. The four-hour tour costs US$85 and includes transportation and lunch. It’s located several kilometers west of town, on the road to Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens.
HIKING
There are many great hiking trails in and around Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal, some with excellent views of the lava flows. Most of the trails are located on private nature reserves, none of which are free. For more information, Click here.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Desafío Adventure Company (Map; 2479-9464; www.desafiocostarica.com; Calle 2; 6:30am-9pm) treats its horses well and has been recommended for the trek to Monteverde (US$75). Along with horseback-riding trips, the company organizes adventure tours rappelling down waterfalls, and community-based tours visiting a local women’s recycling collective and animal rescue shelter. Look for the building shaped like a castle turret.
KITESURFING & WINDSURFING
You’re only a short drive from the premier spot in Costa Rica for wind sports – Laguna de Arenal (Click here).
WHITE-WATER RAFTING & KAYAKING
Desafío Adventure Company (Map; 2479-9464; www.desafiocostarica.com; Calle 2; 6:30am-9pm) is recommended for its expertise in river rafting. White-water rafting and kayaking on the Ríos Toro, Peñas Blancas and Sarapiquí are convenient day trips from La Fortuna, and rapids ranging from Class I to Class IV cater to all skill levels. Depending on access and the difficulty of the rapids, trips cost between US$45 and US$100.
Wave Expeditions (Map; 2479-5250; www.waveexpeditions.com; cnr Calle 2 & Av Fort; 7am-9pm), run fun, professional river trips for all experience levels. Prices are competitive, and readers have raved about the excellent staff running these trips.
Aguas Bravas (Map; 2479-7645; www.aguas-bravas.co.cr; 7am-7pm), 2km east of Fortuna, offers a gentle safari float trip (US$50) on Peñas Blancas that’s a good choice for families, plus Class-III and Class-IV trips for US$65 and $US$85 per person, respectively.
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Festivals & Events
The big annual bash is Fiestas de la Fortuna, held in mid-February and featuring two weeks of Tico-rules bullfights, colorful carnival rides, greasy festival food, craft stands and unusual gambling devices. It’s free, except for the beer (which is cheap) and you’ll have a blast trying to decide between the temporary disco with go-go dancers getting down to reggaetón or the rough and wild tents next door with live ranchero and salsa.
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Tours
THE RAIN OF FIRE
William Bogarin-Solano was just seven years old when Volcán Arenal erupted on July 29, 1968. He was born and raised in a small village just west of La Fortuna. He is one of the few people who has hiked to the summit of Arenal (a major no-no). Today he works as a guide, leading international visitors on nightly lava-viewing hikes on the slopes of Arenal.
What do you remember about the day Arenal erupted? For about 24