Things to do in Arenal Route
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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.
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Five Corners Grill
You’ll smell the wonderful barbecue aroma long before you even see this new restaurant, 4km east of Tilarán. The menu specializes in what owner Jim Aoki calls ‘gringo comfort food’ – eggs Benedict, nachos, bratwurst, peanut butter and jelly milkshakes, french fries and the best flame-grilled burgers on Laguna de Arenal. It’s only open for breakfast and lunch, but plans were underway to begin serving dinner. And if you decide to stick around (permanently), note there’s an onsite real estate agency.
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Viento Fresco Waterfalls
If you’re passing through here on your way to Monteverde, take a detour to visit Viento Fresco Waterfalls, a series of five cascades including the amazing Arco Iris (Rainbow Falls), which drops 75m into a refreshing shallow pool that’s perfect for swimming. You can also pitch a tent here (US$20 per person, including park admission) or take a horseback-riding tour (US$65 including lunch, three hours). It’s located 11km south of Tilarán on the road to Santa Elena/Monteverde.
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Swimming hole
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Super Cristian
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Volcán Look
This club is reportedly Costa Rica’s biggest discotheque outside of San José. It’s about 5km west of town, though it’s virtually abandoned except on weekends and holidays: don’t bother showing up until after 11pm unless you want to dance cumbia alone.
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Springs Resort & Spa
The newest entry into the spring scene, this over-the-top, luxury resort, partially opened in 2008, is giving Tabacón a run for its money. The Springs features 18 free-form pools with various temperatures, volcano views, landscaped gardens, waterfalls and swim-up bars, including a jungle bar with a water slide. During our recent visit, the resort was still partially under construction. But the parts that have opened, including the hot springs and the main lodge, are quite impressive.
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Restaurante Mirador Arenal Steak House
Go West, young (wo)man! If you’re craving a good churrasco (steak), that is. This sabanero-themed steakhouse has the grilling technique down pat, with great volcano views from the patio. It’s located 8km west of La Fortuna.
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Restaurante Linda Vista
Down in Chachagua, this roadside soda with fabulous views is about 500m south of Villas Josipek. The nice ladies running this place serve typical Costa Rican dishes.
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PureTrek Canyoning
The reputable PureTrek leads guided rappels down four waterfalls, one of which is 50m in height.It’s located several kilometers west of town, on the road to Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens.
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Ginger Sushi
This fabulous, open-air restaurant on the ground level of the Springs Resort & Spa has fantastic sushi rolls. It’s a bit out of the way, but you’ll find it’s worth the drive once you take your first bite of the fabulous creations, such as our favorite, the sunset roll.
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Eco Thermales Hot Springs
A large forbidding gate leads to this recommended complex, which is by reservation only. The theme here is minimalist elegance, and everything from the natural circulation systems in the pools to the soft, mushroom lighting is understated yet luxurious. Just 100 visitors per four-hour slot are welcomed at 10am, 1pm and 5pm, and you can phone ahead or book online at www.anywherecostarica.com. During the evening session, guests have the option to choose from one of three set menus, which feature home-style food served in earthenware pots.
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Ecoglide
Opened in 2008, Ecoglide is the newest and biggest game in town, featuring 15 cables, 18 platforms and a ‘Tarzan’ swing. Ecoglide is highly recommended for families with young children; the dual-cable safety system provides extra security and peace of mind.
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Canopy Los Cañones
Canopy Los Cañones 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.
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Baldi Hot Springs Hotel Resort & Spa
Baldi sports concrete Roman pillars and a Maya pyramid sprouting water-slides; the ambience of these springs 5km west of La Fortuna falls somewhere between Caesar’s Palace and Epcot Center. The 25 thermal pools here range in temperature from 32°C (90°F) to a scalding 67°C (153°F). At night, Baldi is especially popular with the younger backpacker crowd, attracted by the three swim-up bars, loud music, and decent buffet – but be aware that drink prices are ridiculously expensive.
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Arenal Paraíso Canopy Tours
Try Arenal Paraíso Canopy Tours for two-hour tours along 12 zip lines.
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Arenal Observatory Lodge
The Arenal Observatory Lodge was built in 1987 as a private observatory for the Universidad de Costa Rica. Scientists chose to construct the lodge on a macadamia-nut farm on the south side of Volcán Arenal due to its proximity to the volcano (only 2km away) and its relatively safe location on a ridge. Since its creation, volcanologists from all over the world, including researchers from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, have come to study the active volcano. Today, the majority of visitors are tourists, though scientists regularly visit the lodge, and a seismograph in the hotel continues to operate around the clock. The lodge is also the only place inside the p…
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Arenal Mundo Aventura
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.
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Arenal Bungee
It was bound to spring up here sometime – Arenal Bungee lets you fling yourself through the air from its ‘Extreme Machine’ structure in several ways, including launching upwards from the ground. Confused? Try it for yourself at this outfit, safety-certified by the Costa Rica Tourism Board. During our visit, Arenal Bungee was in the process of moving to a new location by Ecoglide.
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Wave Expeditions
Wave Expeditions runs fun, professional river trips for all experience levels. Prices are competitive, and readers have raved about the excellent staff running these trips.
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Vagabondo
Of the many Italian restaurants in the region, Vagabondo has the best wood-fired pizzas around, plus great pasta dishes. There’s also a popular sports bar. It’s 1.5km west of La Fortuna near a sharp bend in the road.
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Super Cristian 2
For groceries, stop by this well-stocked place on the southeast corner of Parque Central; there’s another branch (corner Av Arenal and Calle 2) down by the river.
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Soda Viquez
Locals swear this is the best soda in town, and we won’t dispute their opinion. Located just left of the Rainforest Café, this cute, open-air, family place serves great Tico favorites including awesome casados. Don’t miss the grilled fish with garlic. Wash it down with a fresh juice smoothie. Divine!
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Soda La Parada
Facing Parque Central and all the street action, this popular soda serves great steak casados, decent pizza and a couple of bizarre Tico health drinks – chan (slimy) and linaza (good for indigestion) – to after-hours revelers and folks waiting for their buses.
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Restaurant Los Nenes
This classic La Fortuna establishment 200m east of Parque Central is adored by locals and tourists alike. If you’re in the mood for fine dining, the seafood platters here can’t be beat, and the ceviche is as good as it gets.
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