Activities in Northwestern Costa Rica
-
Sabine’s Smiling Horses
Run by Sabine, who speaks English, French, Spanish and German, Smiling Horses offers a variety of treks, from US$15 per-hour day trips to specialty tours, including a Full Moon Ride. Several multiday treks are also on offer, and Sabine may also take experienced riders on the Castillo Trail, weather permitting. This outfitter has been highly recommended by readers year after year.
reviewed
-
Monteverde Cheese Factory
Until the recent upswing in ecotourism, Monteverde’s number-one employer was this cheese factory, also called La Lechería (The Dairy). Started in 1953 by Monteverde’s original Quaker settlers, the factory produces everything from a creamy Gouda to a very nice sharp, white cheddar, sold all over the country, as well as other dairy products such as yogurt and, most importantly, ice cream. If you’ve got a hankering for something sweet, our favorite treat is the coffee milk shake. Reservations are required for the two-hour tour of the factory.
reviewed
-
Yökö Hot Springs
Yökö Hot Springs has four hot springs with a small waterslide and waterfall, set in an attractive meadow at the foot of Miravalles. The 12 elegant cabinas have huge bathrooms and gleaming wood floors. Extra amenities include a Jacuzzi, sauna and a relaxed restaurant serving everything from burgers to filet mignon.
reviewed
-
A
Desafío Adventure Company
Desafío treats its horses well and has been recommended for the trek to Monteverde. 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.
reviewed
-
B
Desafío Adventure Company
This highly recommended company offers a variety of tours including rafting, lava-viewing hikes, horseback riding, mountain biking, spelunking and more. Look for the castle-like building.
reviewed
-
Catarata San Luis
A popular (but strenuous) hike is to visit the Catarata San Luis, a gorgeous ribbon of water streaming from the cloud forests into a series of swimming holes just screaming for a picnic. The distance from the parking area to the falls is only a few kilometers, but it’s steeply graded downhill, and the rocky, mud-filled terrain can get very slick. Readers report that their entire families have been OK on the trail, but it’s important to go slow and turn back if it becomes too difficult. However, your efforts will be worth it as the waterfall is simply breathtaking.
Drivers will need a 4WD to ford the little river and climb the muddy road out. You can park (US$6 per car…
reviewed
-
C
Desafío Adventure Company
Does local treks for groups and individuals around town, day trips to San Luis Waterfalland several multiday rides. This established outfitter will arrange rides to La Fortuna, usually on the Lake Trail. The company also arranges white-water rafting trips on the Ríos Toro, Sarapiquí and others, and can help with transport and hotel reservations. Located next door to Morpho’s Restaurant.
reviewed
-
Selvatura
One of the bigger games in town, Selvatura has 3km of cables, 18 platforms and one Tarzan swing through primary forest. The office is across the street from the church in Santa Elena.
reviewed
-
Café Monteverde
Run by Cooperative Santa Elena, this highly recommended tour takes visitors to coffee fincas that use entirely organic methods to grow the perfect bean. You can help pick some beans, after which you’ll be brought to the beneficio (coffee mill), where you can watch as the beans are washed and dried, roasted and then packed. Of course, you’ll also get to taste the final product with a snack. The cafeitself offers free samples of six roasts, or buy some beans to take home.
reviewed
-
Thermo Manía
Thermo Manía is the biggest complex in the area, with seven thermal pools that are connected by all manner of waterslides, heated rivers, waterfalls and faux-stone bridges. There’s also a full spa, playground, museum, zoo, soccer field and picnic tables; the busy restaurant-bar (mains US$4 to US$10) is housed in a 170-year-old colonial cabin furnished with museum-worthy period pieces. Guests who stay in the 26 log-cabin rooms (per person adult/child US$22/11) have free access to the pools during their stay, with TV and cold-water bathroom (neatly counterbalancing the lack of cold-water pools).
reviewed
Advertisement
-
D
Santuario Ecológico
Offering hikes of varying lengths, Santuario Ecológico has four loop trails (the longest takes about 2½ hours at a slow pace) through private property comprising premontane and secondary forest, coffee and banana plantations, and past a couple of waterfalls and lookout points. Coati, agouti and sloth are seen on most days, and monkey, porcupine and other animals are also common. Bird-watching is also good. Guided tours are available throughout the day, but you’ll see even more animals on the guided night tours.
reviewed
-
E
Reserva Sendero Tranquilo
An 81-hectare private reserve, Reserva Sendero Tranquilo is located between the Reserva Biológica Bosque Nuboso Monteverde and the Río Guacimal. Trails here are narrow to allow for minimal environmental impact, and the group size is capped at six people, which means you won’t have to worry about chattering tourists scaring away all the animals. The trails pass through four distinct types of forest, including a previously destroyed area that’s starting to bud again.
reviewed
-
F
Sendero Valle Escondido
This trail begins behind the Pensión Monteverde Inn and slowly winds its way through a deep canyon into an 11-hectare reserve. In comparison with the more popular reserves, Valle Escondido is quiet during the day and relatively undertouristed, so it’s a good trail for wildlife-watching. However, the reserve’s two-hour guided night tour (at 5:30pm) is very popular, so it’s best to make reservations for this in advance.
reviewed
-
Las Hornillas
On the southern slopes of Miravalles, Las Hornillas is the center of volcanic activity in the area. The entrance fee includes an informative tour around the small crater (again, stay on the trail, kids) and allows you to soak in the thermal pools. This wonderfully isolated, family-run spot also offers hiking and tractor tours (US$40) via hanging bridges to a waterfall, including lunch and access to the mud and pools.
reviewed
-
Monteverde Trainforest
Monteverde Trainforest is a miniature train system that travels four miles through the forest, crossing one tunnel and four bridges. The scenic railroad offers amazing views of Monteverde and Arenal lake and volcano. This is a great option for families with young children, as kids under 12 ride free. It’s located 5km north of downtown Santa Elena, on the road to Reserva Santa Elena.
reviewed
-
El Guayacán
El Guayacán, whose hissing vents and mud pots (absolutely stay on the trail!) are on the family finca, lies just behind Thermo Manía. With its five thermal pools and one cold pool in front of its simple, cold-water cabinas, this unpretentious place has a mellow, family vibe to it. There’s an onsite restaurant.
reviewed
-
Termales Miravalles
For some local flavor, Termales Miravalles has two pools, a waterslide and lies along a thermal stream. The owners have set up a small restaurant and offer camping (US$6 per person) on the property. They’re usually open on weekends year-round, and daily during high season. The access road is directly across from Yökö Hot Springs.
reviewed
-
G
SkyTrek
If you’re not buying the whole ‘eco’ element of canopy tours, then this is definitely for you. This seriously fast canopy tour consists of 11 platforms attached to steel towers that are spread out along a road. We’re talking serious speeds of up to 64km/h, which is probably why SkyTrek is the only canopy tour that has a real brake system. The price includes admission to the SkyTram gondola and SkyWalk hanging bridges; cheaper ticket options are available.
reviewed
-
Extremo Canopy
The newest player on the Monteverde canopy scene, this outfit runs small groups and doesn’t bother with extraneous attractions if all you really want to do is fly down the zip lines. There’s also a new Superman canopy ride allowing you to fly Superman-style through the air.
reviewed
-
Buena Vista Rainforest Combo Tour
10 hours (Departs Guanacaste, Costa Rica)
by Viator
Discover the beautiful Rincon de la Vieja National Park on this Buena Vista rainforest combo tour in Costa Rica! Experience hot springs, volcanic mud facials, m…
Not LP reviewed
Advertisement
-
Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour with Hot Springs
6 hours 30 minutes (Departs Arenal, Costa Rica)
by Viator
Combine activity and relaxation on a hiking and hot springs tour from Arenal. First, you'll enjoy an easy hike in Arenal Volcano National Park, where you'll gai…
Not LP reviewed
-
H
Centro Panamericano de Idiomas
Specializes in Spanish-language education, with some courses geared to teen-agers, medical professionals or social workers. Also has locations in Heredia and Playa Flamingo, with the opportunity to transfer from campus to campus.
reviewed
-
Meg’s Riding Stables
Takes folks on private trails nearby plus treks to San Luis Waterfall. Kid-sized saddles and gentle horses are also available. The horses are well looked after, and this is the longest-established operation in Monteverde.
reviewed
-
SkyTram
Owned by SkyTrek, SkyTram is a wheelchair-accessible cable car that leads you on a gentle ride through the cloud forest; tickets can only be purchase in conjunction with SkyWalkor SkyTrek.
reviewed
-
I
Monteverde Studios of the Arts
Administered by Monteverde Institute, this offers a variety of classes and workshops, sometimes open to visitors, covering everything from woodworking to papermaking, with a special emphasis on pottery.
reviewed
