
Arenal volcano © CANTUR
This area is renowned for its dramatic contrast in topography.
Mountain ranges, volcanoes, lakes, rivers and fertile plains
support numerous varieties of bird and wildlife, each offering
different types of activities.
The two Cordilleras, or mountain ranges, are very different from
each other. The Cordillera Tilarán has rolling mountains
that used to be covered in cloud forests; those remaining are
protected reserves of which the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological
Reserve is the most popular with visitors, offering nature trails,
horse riding and canopy tours. The Cordillera de Guanacaste is an
impressive string of volcanoes, some protected within national
parks.
Between the ranges are Lake Arenal and the nearby active Arenal
Volcano and surrounding hot springs. Further north, in the tropical
humidity of the lowland plains, lies the remote wildlife refuge of
Caño Negro, a vast wetlands area that is one of the best
places in the Americas to see river wildlife, including numerous
birds, mammals and reptiles. The fertile plains are dotted with a
mixture of agricultural fields, cattle ranches and expanses of
protected areas serviced by a maze of streams and rivers.
Attractions

La Fortuna © andre,theus
Fortuna
Fortuna is the nearest village to the spectacular Volcán
Arenal and the main reason for visiting the area. It has
uninterrupted views of the volcano and provides a comfortable but
touristy base for visiting the national park and other attractions
in the area. There...
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Monteverde mountains
Monteverde
Monteverde is a small community scattered along several
kilometres of road that leads to the Monteverde Cloud Forest
Biological Reserve. It was founded by North American Quakers in
1951, having bought over 1,000 hectares (2,471 acres) of land for
their dairy farming. Today they...
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Cloud Forest walkway
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve
The cloud forest is one of the most famous ecotourism areas in
Central America. It is called a cloud forest rather than a rain
forest because of the altitude. At an elevation of between 3,840ft
and 5,120ft (1,200m to 1,600m) the clouds go...
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Arenal volcano
Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal
The national park is situated within the Arenal Conservation
Area, also known as 'the Energetic Heart of Costa Rica'. At its
centre is the 5,356ft (1,633m) Volcán Arenal, a typically
cone-shaped image despite being highly active, with some huge
eruptions and larva flows that...
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