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Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!

Lewisville, North...
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498 posts
49 reviews
41 helpful votes
Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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Hello!!

We will be traveling to Costa Rica for the first time this July. We are starting to get together a plan of how we can fit all the attractions/tours we want to see/do. his is a rough idea/estimate and we will take any and all suggestions!!

Thanks!

day 1:

-Arrive in Arenal from San Jose around 11am/12pm (something like that)

-Check into hotel/lunch/check out grounds

-taxi to La Fortuna waterfall in the afternoon

-return to hotel/dinner/relax/enjoy

day 2:

-Hanging Bridges (morning)

-Sky Trek/Sky Tram (morning)

-lunch

-maybe go check out volcano observatory lodge?? walk around, volcano view

-dinner

day 3:

-volcano hike

-maybe the la fortuna waterfall if we don't fit it in the first day

-hot springs and dinner

Any thoughts?? Changes? Suggestions?

So excited!!!

Seattle, Washington
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13 reviews
28 helpful votes
1. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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On day 3 I'd take the Cano Negro tour and finish up with hot springs and dinner. This is a tour I would not miss if it's your first time. Have a wonderful trip!

Antigua, Guatemala
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2. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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That sounds like a great itinerary. Are you staying in a hotel with the hot springs?

You can also do a horseback ride. You can do one around the volcano and to the waterfall. That might be an idea as well.

You can also enjoy an evening in La Fortuna itself. There are many cute restaurants and shops to chose from.

Are you doing anything other than La Fortuna/Arenal?

Ciao for now,

Marina K. Villator

http://travelexperta.com

Norwalk, California
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2,111 posts
39 reviews
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3. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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I second the idea of taking a trip to Cano Negro. That was one of our best days in Costa Rica... Lots of wildlife to be seen there... saw Howler Monkeys, 2 toed and 3 toed sloths, Jesus Lizards, Iguanas, tons of birds, Caimans, and lots of other neat animals.

Cornelius, North...
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117 reviews
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4. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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That might be pushing it doing the Hanging Bridges and the SkyTrek the same morning. We LOVED the Skytrek, but the hanging bridges was pretty nice. We had a great time going to the volcano at night with the Desafio tours and the waterfall rapelling tour with them. The guides make it so much fun! There was a great lunch with the waterfall trip. On the night tour we went on a great nature hike, had volcano drinks when we watched it and then went to the hot springs that night.

Lewisville, North...
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498 posts
49 reviews
41 helpful votes
5. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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I have done a lot of research and have found that the Sky Trek/Tram and hanging bridges are in the same area, and people (on tripadvisor) have actually suggested doing them the same day.

No, we are not staying at a resort with hot springs we will be going to one and doing the dinner combination.

We have thought about horseback riding to the volcano or the waterfall, but have also read mixed reviews about the condition of the horses and that the ride itself doesn't really add anything. We are also going to Manuel Antonio for 3 days too :)

so we may do horseback on the beach in manuel antonio to supplement.

thank you for your help and suggestions

Antigua, Guatemala
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26 reviews
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6. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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Hi, I recommend the sky trek and hanging bridges in the same day if it's not raining. If it rains you might want to chose one of the other.

I've done night tours of the volcano that include dinner and hot springs. You might want to look into that option.

Manuel Antonio has great sunset horseback riding tours:)

Ciao,

Marina K. Villatoro

http://travelexperta.com

Arenal Volcano area
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238 posts
5 reviews
7. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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If you don't have a car you can take the option that many tour operator offer:

In one day you can enjoy all the main attraction:

Fortuna Waterfall by car

Ecocentro Danaus

Lunch at local restaurant

Hanging bridges

Arenal Volcano HIke (LAva view)

Dinner and Hot Springs. (You decide if you want to go to Tabacon, Baldi, Ecotermales or the springs.

The tour start at 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.

Arenal Volcano area
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238 posts
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8. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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Sorry, from 7:30 a.m to 9:30 p.m.

Washington
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9. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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I would go to the Arenal Observatory Lodge. There is a short hike to a wonderful waterfall that is very easy to get to..maybe 1/4 mile? We did that because we didn't have time to do La Fortuna waterfalls.

Lewisville, North...
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498 posts
49 reviews
41 helpful votes
10. Re: Arenal Itinerary Help!!!!
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Yes, we are planning on going to the Arenal Observatory Lodge either the second or third day in the afternoon :)

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