Arenal
The first stop in our Costa Rica trip was Arenal, but not without a few pit stops along the way.
Journey to Arenal
Hacienda Alasacia
Our adventure started by journeying through the winding mountain roads of Alajuela. From there we stumbled upon the most magnificent coffee farm, Hacienda Alsacia. This coffee farm is nestled at the bottom of the Barva Volcano. Stepping out of the car the fresh mountain invigorates you. You can tour the farm and learn the process of how they turn coffee beans into a cup of coffee. When we were done roaming the facilities, we went to the coffee bar and ordered a coffee and a snack. We enjoyed our refreshments with a view overlooking the coffee fields and a waterfall.
Tip: There is a massive coffee culture in Costa Rica. I would recommend touring some of the local coffee farms throughout your vacation. It is a great way to meet locals and support local business.
La Paz Waterfall - Wildlife Sanctuary & Gardens
After finishing our coffees we continued our journey to Arenal, but not before stopping at La Paz Waterfall - Wildlife Sanctuary & Gardens. This location is home to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica along with some excellent hiking trails in the jungle. La Paz is also an animal sanctuary with over 100 different species of animals.
Some of the highlights of this excursion included: feeding toucans, seeing a jaguar just mere inches away from me, seeing a sloth, and hiking the trails and getting caught in a massive downpour.
Tip: Always bring a rain jacket with you in Costa Rica. You never know when it is going to rain on you.
Arenal
After drying off we finished our last leg of our journey to Arenal. We dropped off our bags at our Airbnb and got a bite to eat in La Fortuna. With bellies full, we laid our heads down for so much needed rest, excited to see what Arenal had to offer.
La Fortuna Waterfall
This waterfall is 3 miles from downtown, La Fortuna. It is located in a dense rainforest at the base of a volcano. The waterfall itself is roughly 200ft high. Be aware that this attraction can get busy during the tourist season (December to April). For the best experience get there as early as possible. It costs $18 to enter, but all the proceeds go to local conservation efforts. This attraction does have a café on site, but I would recommend packing a lunch and enjoying it at the base of the waterfall.
There are observation decks at the top and at the bottom of the waterfall. Make sure you bring a good camera to take photos. The ascent/descent is 480 steps and it can be strenuous if you are not in shape. I would advise against wearing flip flops as it can be torturous to your feet. There are hiking trails that are not flip flop friendly as well.
Tip: It would be a good idea to invest in some sort of water shoe/Chaco's/Teva's for your trip to Costa Rica. They will prove life savers.
Take your time at the bottom of the waterfall and enjoy the fresh lunch you packed. Keep in mind that there are no bathrooms at the base of the waterfall. There are some swimming areas at the bottom so make sure you pack a swimming suit. Explore some hiking trails as well. At the top you can enjoy the Orchid and Garden Trails. In total this attraction took us 1/2 day to experience everything.
Free Natural Hot Springs
If you want more of a local experience, then this attraction is for you. Keep in mind, that this is not an official attraction, but rather it is an alternative option for those budget travelers or the adventurous soul. This is a local spot that is located right across from Tabacon Hot Springs. It is a river that is naturally warm from volcanic activity. The best thing about this hot spring is that it is completely free.
Driving from La Fortuna you will see a parking strip along the side of the road with a gated entrance. Although this attraction is free, there will be someone there to collect money to park and watch over your car, so make sure you bring some spare change. I would recommend that you bring some sort of water shoe, as you will have to walk down a non paved path and scuttle over some rock. Follow the path until you meet the river, take a left, hop over a wall, and you will see the river. You can chose any pool you like.
Tip: Make sure to wear your bathing suite. There is nowhere to change. Do not bring any valuables, as there is nowhere to store them.
Baldi Hot Springs
We chose Baldi because of the discount price our hotel offered us. If this one does not interest you, no need to worry, there are plenty more hot springs in the area to choose from.
We started our day at the top of the resort and worked our way down all 25 thermal pools. Along the way we enjoyed wondering around sauna caves, speeding down water slides, and enjoying the tropical rainforest that surrounds the resort. To cap the day, we enjoyed a complimentary dinner with a scenic view of the volcano in the distance. With our bellies full, we made our way back to our Airbnb to rest for our next destination, Manuel Antonio
