Arenal Volcano Packages

HOW TO GET TO LEAVES and LIZARDS

Our cell phone number is 8333-6863 and our land line is 2478-0023.
Our address is: 500 meters Sur de Super Kike, Alto Monterrey, Monterrey, San Carlos, Alajeula, Costa Rica
We are located in the mountains above La Fortuna. It is a 20-30 minute drive to get to La Fortuna from Leaves and Lizards.

RENTAL CAR

Rental Car - driving directions are below. It is best to rent a 4x4. You can rent a GPS from the rental car agency. Our guest feedback indicates they work pretty well, especially when used with a map. To find our town, Monterrey also known as Santa Domingo, TRY: Santa Domingo. San Carlos or try Banco de Costa Rica, Monterrey.

Our GPS coordinates are: N 10.5319, W 84.6615’. Elevation is: 419 meters. We are in the San Carlos region. If you are a Geocacher, there are at least two caches in the Arenal area.

Check out Wild Rider for great rates on rental cars. They offer personal service and no hidden fees. From the San Jose area.

PUBLIC OR PRIVATE BUS OR TAXI

Public Bus - Buses leave from Downtown San Jose to Cuidad Quasada to Monterrey (Least expensive takes 5 hours) Public Bus Schedule

Tourist Buses - GrayLine or Interbus. They do not drop off at our place, you will need to pay around $25 for a taxi fare from Fortuna.

Taxis - Private Taxi transport (about $150 for a group of 8 or less - one way from the airport in San Jose, $170 from Libera) We can make these arrangements for you.

BY AIR

By Airplane - Nature Air or Sansa have flights to Fortuna/El Tanque and we can arrange for a taxi pick up or you can then rent a car in Fortuna.

Only Alamo and Mapache have offices in Fortuna. You can drop the car off at any location in Costa Rica. Be aware that only Sansa flies into the main airport in San Jose (SJO). If you fly on Nature Air you will have a $25 cab fare to the main airport.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM LA FORTUNA

Costa Rica Driving Directions to Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Retreat

Head out of town - away from the volcano. Be careful, at the Alamo rental office the main street turns into a one way. Go around the downtown area, to get you headed back in the direction of El Tanque. You will be heading Southeast towards El Tanque.

Click the fun photo map at left for a larger, printable version to help you find your way to Leaves and Lizards.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM SAN JOSE AIRPORT

Click map for larger, printable version.

FASTEST and MOST DIRECT
The Green Route on the map through San Ramon-Tigra-Chacagua-Fortuna-El Tanque-Monterrey
This route has less truck traffic and is faster. Head towards San Ramon on Hwy 1. Travel through San Ramon city following the volcano signs. Stop along the way and try some of the freshly made cheese made in the surrounding villages. Allow 3 hours-with no stops on a perfect driving day.

SCENIC and CULTURAL
San Jose-Grecia-Sarchi-Naranjo-Zarcero-Ciudad Quesada-Florencia-Mulle-Tanque-Monterrey
Follow the Light Blue Route, taking the Pan-American Highway #1 north from the Airport and continue for about 20 kilometers until you see the sign to Grecia. Turn right and continue to Grecia downtown. Once you reach downtown you will see a red church on your left. Drive to the back of the red church by turning left and at the next corner turn left again (so you will be at the other side of the church) here you will see and follow the signs to Sarchi. Once in Sarchi continue the road to Naranjo. As you arrive in Naranjo follow the signs to Zarcero and Ciudad Quesada. Once in Ciudad Quesada follow the signs to Tanque and La Fortuna. At the one intersection in El Tanque there is a large hardware store called Colono, turn right towards Monterrey. Allow 4 hours on a perfect driving day with no stops.

Exploring the Scenic Route Costa Rica Scenic Route to Leaves and Lizards

Grecia: This community was founded in 1838 its most interesting structure is the church. The church is made of iron, and was prefabricated in Belgium in the 1890's, shipped to Costa Rica and then transported to Grecia from Alajuela by oxcart.

Sarchi: This town spreads though the rolling hills, notice coffee growing as you drive through the area. Sarchi is known for furniture craftmanship, but it is most famous for its fancy brightly painted oxcarts.

Zarcero: The central park in this town looks like it was designed by Dr. Seuss. Evangelisto Blanco, a local landscape artist carefully shaped cypress topiaries in fanciful shapes. The artwork in the church was done by late local artist Misael Solis.

Ciudad Quesada/San Carlos: This large city is the center of activity for the Zona Norte (Northern Zone). It is the only town, that we know of, in the Zona Norte with any US type fast food chains. A Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken can be found in this busy area.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM LIBERA AIRPORT

Image by Richie Diesterheft, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

Head South on HWY 1 (yes the Pacific Coast Highway that goes all the way up the West coast!) to (Las Canas) Canas to Tilaran, to (Neuvo) Arenal around the lake to La Fortuna then see the above map.

Interesting sights along the way include the Lake Arenal, of course, as well as the wind generators on the hills around the North end of the Lake and the cute little town of Nuevo Arenal. A good place to stop for lunch is the Lucky Bug or Cafe Macadamia, both located a few minutes before getting into Nuevo Arenal.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM EL TANQUE

Click map for larger, printable version.

In Tanque at the main intersection there is a grocery store on one corner and a large hardware store on one corner called Colono. Head towards Monterrey (RIGHT if coming from Ciudad Quasada, LEFT if coming from Fortuna). Drive about 20 minutes to Monterrey (aka: Santa Domingo).

The road splits into a 'Y' at Monterrey, keep to the LEFT to go into town. (The other branch of the 'Y' leading to the right heads towards San Rafael de Guatuso - aka: Guatuso). Drive through Monterrey past the round rodeo building on the right and the Bank of Costa Rica.

The road comes to a 'T', with a restaurant on the left corner and a small grocery store on the right. Turn LEFT onto the gravel road. Follow the gravel road for about 15 minutes (3 km), we are 500 meters South (towards the volcano) of the Super Kike, a small grocery store. When you see the Super Kike keep to the LEFT. Our logo is painted on the store.

Look for our entrance sign and red barn on the RIGHT side of the road on top of the last hill, before the road heads down to the Rio Arenal.

If you have any trouble, just ask someone and show them this map and our local address.

COSTA RICA DRIVING TIPS

When driving in Costa Rica, there are few road signs, the best advice is to always know which town you are headed to next, and follow the signs to that town and if you get lost people are eager to help you find your way. Just say "Donde (where) está (is) Monterrey (place which ever town in the sentence is the next town on your route)?" And if you have a map in your hand pointing all the better.
Most roads do not have a number. When asking for directions, you will be told how to get to the next town along your route. If a road does have a number most Costa Ricans will not know it and you may or may not see a sign.
A good map (Click HERE for our favorite), a compass and a current Costa Rica guidebook will make your travel more interesting and enjoyable.
Do not drive at night. Plan to get to your destination by dark. It is dark by 6:00pm all year round.
Road conditions change quickly - and can contain surprising hazards - pedestrians, cyclists, herds of cattle, oxcarts, horses, goats, dogs and chickens all share the same road. There can be VW sized pot holes, disabled vehicles, washouts and landslides as well. Please be careful and drive defensively at all times. However, overall the roads are pretty good and well maintained.
Plan for extra time to stop and explore.
On paved roads you can figure it will take about 3 hours to travel 100 miles.
Even if a road is on a map, it may not be passable by car, but only by horse or tractor. It is better to ask a local before considering a 'shortcut' along the route. (Spoken from experience!)
Most bridges are only one lane, be prepared to yield to oncoming traffic. The Spanish word for yield is 'Ceda' and the yield signs are upside down triangles.
Give way to oncoming semis, buses and taxis. Watch for motorcyclists, they can pop up out of nowhere and will pass you on either side.
Assign one person in your party to be the road hazard watcher and navigator. It is very difficult to drive and navigate.
Do not leave expensive electronics out in the open in your car, even if it is locked. Take your backpack with your camera, passport, money and any other valuable items with you, do not leave them in the car.
Local restaurants are called 'Sodas' they are simple little cafes with typical Costa Rican foods.
There is a new force of 'Tourist Police' their specific duty is to assist tourists. They are located in all major tourist locations.
A note about the police, if you need help they are there to help you and protect you; however, if you get pulled over by the traffic police and they want to give you a ticket, take the ticket. Do not give them the bribe they are fishing for. They may call an English speaking person, who will tell you a long story about how expensive the ticket will be and how difficult it will be to pay the ticket. It is all hogwash, they just want you to give them cash. I have gotten speeding tickets. My ticket was $12 and you can pay it at any bank in about 5 minutes. This is not something to be afraid of, just practical information, so if it happens to you won't have to stress about it.
Click HERE for road signs in Spanish - be sure to learn - Danger, Caution, Curves, Right, Left, Bridge, Stop, Yield, One Way and Slow!