By Clay Larroy
It doesn't matter if you take a trip across
the state line or the border, being far from home can be exciting and also a
bit stressful. When considering traveling, it is important to think of the best
mode of travel. Traveling by car can offer many more
sights and opportunities for side trips. Traveling by train can offer a chance
to relax and get some work done if they wanted. Planes can cover ground fast
but don't allow much movement and one cannot get off the plane in flight. Each
mode of travel has its own advantages and disadvantages to be considered. When you want
to plan a vacation contact me!
Attractions in
Northwest Costa Rica
Arenal Volcano National Park
The Arenal
Volcano National Park is situated in what is known as 'the Energetic Heart of
Costa Rica'. At its center is the 5,356 foot (1,633m) Volcán Arenal, a
typically cone-shaped volcano despite being highly active, with some huge
eruptions and larva flows that killed thousands of people in 1968. Although
perpetually active the degree of activity is unpredictable, ranging from
rumbling and ground shaking to a smoldering red glow best visible at night.
Sometimes
visitors are treated to a fiery display of red-hot rocks being thrown into the
air. The park has some good trails that go through forests, passing through the
area that was flattened in the 1968 eruption, or across lava fields, but fences
are in place to stop people from venturing too far up the dangerous slopes.
There is also a good chance of seeing some of the wildlife in the forest. The
Visitor Centre has video displays of the volcano's more exciting activity. It
is not possible to stay overnight in the park or visit it after dark unless on
one of the night tours from Fortuna.
Address: Seven miles (12km) from Fortuna
Fortuna
Fortuna is
the nearest village to the spectacular Volcán Arenal. While the volcano is the
main reason for visiting the area, there is a lot more on offer. The town 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 are
many tour operators in town offering night trips to see the red-hot volcanic
activity from up close. Other tours combine luxurious soak in the hot springs
while taking in the astounding show of bright red larva coursing down the
slopes. You don't need a guide to enter the park and hike in the area but you
must have a guide to visit at night. Trips to the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge,
and the Arenal Butterfly Conservatory, are also popular excursions, as is horse
riding to the nearby waterfalls (take swim suits for the lovely pools!).
Close to
Fortuna is Lake Arenal, a picturesque lake offering watersports, fishing and
stunning scenery. There are also some rivers close by: the Pena Blancas River
is great for relaxing river cruises, and, for the more adventurous, the Rio
Toro river boasts some impressive white water rafting through deep gorges and
big rapids (class 3 - 4).
Monteverde
Monteverde
is a small community scattered along several kilometers 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 are an integral part of the
Costa Rican society and are known especially for their distinctive cheese that
is sold throughout the country. In 1972 about 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) were
added to their land, which became the famous cloud forest reserve that has
become so popular among visitors today. The village of Santa Elena is the
closest settlement to the reserve and has a cloud forest reserve of its own,
although much less visited.
Monteverde
has a number of other attractions, such as the Butterfly Garden, the
Serpentarium, a cheese factory and a number of art galleries. CASEM Handicrafts
Cooperative, made up of 140 local artisans, sells handmade goods and
the profits go towards supporting the local community. There is also the
Hummingbird Gallery near the entrance to the reserve that has feeders attracting
several species of hummingbird, providing some excellent photo opportunities. Several
nature and hiking trails allow visitors to amble through coffee and banana
plantations or up onto the hilltops for views of the cloud forest. On a clear
day, you might get a chance to spy Arenal Volcano, and lots of birds and wildlife.
Liberia
Located 135
miles (220km) northwest of San Jose, Liberia is not so much a tourist
destination as a convenient travel hub and gateway to the stunning beaches of
Northwest Costa Rica. Liberia is often called 'la ciudad blanca' (the white
city) because of the pale gravel used to make its roads and the prevalence of
white colonial buildings. The small city does offer some colonial-era
architecture charm in the form of pretty homes and churches, but one of its
main attractions is the nearby Rio Negro Hot Spring.
In fact,
most of its prime attractions are located just outside of Liberia; it is
ideally situated as a base to explore some of the stunning national parks in
Costa Rica, including Rincón de la Vieja Volcano and Santa Rosa National
Park.
Home to
Costa Rica's second largest international airport, many tourists travel through
Liberia on their Costa Rica holiday. As it receives so many tourists and is
ideally situated for exciting excursions into the Costa Rican countryside,
Liberia is home to many great tour companies who offer a variety of trips and
activities for travelers. You could easily spend a whole holiday in Liberia if
you use it as a base for day trips out into the surrounding areas.
REFERENCE SITES:
http://www.travelresearchonline.com/
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