Discover Central North
North-Central Costa Rica is itself home to a diverse range of landscapes and climates. Here’s where you’ll find some of Costa Rica’s most famous volcanoes: Tenorino, Rincon de la Vieja, and of course, iconic Arenal. There’s the huge expanse of Arenal reservoir which fills the plain in-between two of Costa Rica’s best-known centres: Arenal and Monteverde with it’s also-iconic Cloud Forests.
The Arenal area is most well-known for the iconic and shapely cone of Arenal Volcano. The 1968-2010 volcanic eruption and activity created the cone and also still provides thermal waters for lovely hot springs and spas. There are rainforest reserves that offer chances to walk, guided or unguided, on trails and hanging bridges. The bridges serve two purposes, both crossing deep valleys and also giving wildlife viewing opportunities at rainforest canopy level. Canopy tours are also available via zip wire routes, and here in the Arenal area there’s white water rafting too. Nearby you’ll find Lake Arenal, important for Costa Rica’s renewable energy as it provides 17% of the country’s electricity. Here there’s a chance to take boat trips and also kayak on it’s waters.
Climate: Arenal is drier and slightly cooler from January to April; wetter and slightly warmer the rest of the year.
Monteverde’s famous cloud forest is within the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range, south of Lake Arenal and north of the Gulf of Nicoya. Santa Elena is the main town and has plenty of facilities – from a supermarket and plenty of restaurant options, to garages for vehicle repair. The town is at 1,400m whilst the cloud forest reaches 1,846m at the peak of Cerro Amigos. Getting to Monteverde is part of the adventure, whether it’s from the east by bus-boat-bus via Lake Arenal or by car from the north or south. The mountain roads are twisty and steep, and are in varying states of disrepair. If you’re driving yourself, consider yourself prewarned! If you’re arriving by transfer, steel yourself for the experience. It’s worth it when you get there. The mountains are beautiful especially when seen through cloud cover. The cloud forest takes it’s name from the amount of time that cloud covers the land. The cloud and fog brings constant moisture to these rain forests, and it’s this combined with the altitude that creates the cooler temperatures. The lush forest supports an abundance of life, mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles. Here you’ll find Costa Rica’s most famous hanging bridges, a sloth sanctuary, butterfly house, chances to visit coffee farms, bird watching, guided nature walks and all within the enchanting Cloud Forest.
Climate: Monteverde is at altitude and is cooler than many of Costa Rica’s centres. Warmest is March-May, around 20°C; coolest is November-December, around 15°C. The wettest months are August-October with the driest months being January-April.
Further north the Rincón de la Vieja National Park is refreshingly uncrowded and remote. Full of wildlife, the area is famous for it’s rivers, waterfalls, and mud baths. The national park is home to two peaks, the most impressive being the eponymous Rincón de la Vieja at 1,895 metres, which is often enveloped in clouds. Expect to see monkeys, sloths, and birds in a single day’s exploration. To get a taste of the area, there are plenty of activities that blend nature and adventure, like horseback riding, river rafting, zip lining, and hiking on a network of trails that set off from the Santa María ranger station and wind past hot springs, mud baths, and waterfalls. The volcanic mud softens the skin and detoxifies the body, and getting covered in it makes for a fun photo! The park is alive with multi coloured fumaroles, hot springs and steaming and bubbling mud pots. All of these can be visited on foot via well-maintained trails.
Climate: Rincón de la Vieja is a seasonally dry tropical climate. There’s much less chance of rain from December to April. The wetter season is May to November. This area is hotter than average, with seasonal highs up to 35°C (March, April).
