Let’s go on a journey, my journey. Through a rainforest that surrounds an active volcano. Where are we going? Simply; Arenal in Costa Rica. In May 2018, I took an unforgettable seven-day trip to the beautiful country of Costa Rica with my boyfriend and visited two locations, Arenal and Monteverde. Now, I want to share with you some highlights of my trip and links to all the fun!
First, Arenal.
As I mentioned in my post Exploring Costa Rica: Booking a Trip, we planned EVERYTHING through Pacific Trade Winds. We had transport to and from the airport, to both hotels and all our excursions.
In Arenal, we stayed at the Arenal Paraiso Hotel Resort and Spa for three nights. The resort was beautiful and in a perfect location. We had a shared bungalow, but our private room with a little porch, two beds (which we used for our things), and a bathroom with toiletries. We got lucky because our bungalow happened to be right at the front of the resort which gave us easy access to all the amenities and a killer view of the volcano.
The resort was surrounded by nature and featured a complimentary breakfast, which was a full buffet filled with fresh fruit, pastries, breakfast meats, and local Costa Rican eats. The hotel also had a restaurant, pool bar, and thirteen hot springs. By far, the hot springs at this resort were my absolute favorite. These hot springs are heated by the volcano and vary in temperature with the hottest at the top to the coolest at the bottom. (Yes, we tried out all thirteen) You can see in the gallery below the hot springs and some of the wildlife we saw during our stay. There was even a hidden trail behind the resort we ventured on and heard Howler Monkeys.
During our stay in Arenal, we did two excursions through the booking agency and one on our own. We decided to go white water rafting on the Rio Balsa, venture to the La Fortuna Waterfall, and finally try our hand at repelling at the Spider Monkey Canyon in the Mistico Arenal Hanging Brides Park.
During the white water rafting, we were not able to get any photos because we decided not to bring our phones, but the experience was amazing. With a skilled guide, our raft never flipped and we even got to jump off a small cliff during the excursion. As a bonus of the trip, we were fed a full authentic Costa Rican meal before going down the river and fresh fruits and drinks (beer included) when we made it to the end. With this trip, you get more for your money and a nice workout too!
After Rafting
This was one of my favorite excursions during our trip to Costa Rica. A naturally formed canyon on the slopes of Arenal volcano is the scenery of the most dynamic adventure in Costa Rica and it will certainly challenge your inner adventurer. Even if this is your first time repelling, the guides show you everything you need to know before taking the plunge and are with you 100% of the way. We lucked out again, as it was only us and another couple, so the whole excursion took about two hours to complete. Another bonus? This trip came with lunch included, which gave you the option of five different meals to choose from and an unforgettable view.
Belaying down waterfalls, jumping 80 feet down, zip-lining through canopies, and submerging yourself in the middle of the rainforest was an amazing experience and I highly recommend doing this if you are planning a visit of your own. At the end of the trip, you are even able to purchase a video and photo file of your experience. For only $20, it’s worth it.
Finally, our last adventure was diving into the La Fortuna Waterfall. On the same day, we did the Spider Monkey tour, instead of having our transfer back to the hotel, we had him drop us off at the waterfall. Something IMPORTANT to know is that the waterfall closes at 5 PM every day! I researched before we went, and brought along $30 because it is $15 per person to enter. We arrived around 3 PM which was a perfect time because it was not crowded and it took us about fifteen-twenty minutes to get down 500 steps. I can advise you, that if you arrive at 4 PM or later, they will not let you in. (We saw this waiting for our taxi after we were done)
The waterfall itself is simply breathtaking. This 70-meter waterfall has a pool you can swim in and smaller pools down the river for you to explore. The hike down requires descending several hundred steps of varying heights and is certainly exhausting on your way back up. The water was pretty chilly, but I wore a one-piece swimsuit I purchased from Amazon that kept me pretty warm. As for my boyfriend, he was freezing his you know what’s off.
Restaurants and the Town
To wrap up this part of the trip, it wouldn’t be complete without sharing some of the food and local culture of Arenal. With the town only a $10 taxi from our hotel, we ate at the Lava Lounge and Pollo Fortunero in town and Oscar’s Restaurant which is located at the hotel. We also stopped by a local ice cream shop called POPS for some amazing ice cream and a local bar for drinks. In the town, there are local shops with an abundance of locally handmade goods including bracelets, pottery, wooden pieces, and your normal tourist trinkets you’ll see everywhere in the country. I wouldn’t recommend walking alone at night, but for the most part, the area is safe. As long as you don’t make a fool of yourself and use general common sense, you’ll be fine.
Overall, our trip to Costa Rica was amazing and Arenal is a place to check out if you are planning to visit Costa Rica. With an active volcano, amazing food, and adventure EVERYWHERE, what more could you want? Pura Vida!
With Love,
Lex Paige
