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. We look down on the city of Fortuna. It is a 20 minute drive to get to La Fortuna from Leaves and Lizards.
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. We look down on the city of Fortuna. It is a 20 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.
LA FORTUNA AREA MAP
The new RED ROUTE is the fastest way to come up to Leaves and Lizards from Fortuna. When coming from Lake Arenal do not go all the way into Fortuna, 3.5 km past the Tabacon complex, look for the signs to THE SPRINGS RESORT AND SPA and follow the RED ROUTE UP. We are about 20 minutes from central Fortuna.
The BLUE ROUTE is best when coming from Cuidad Quasada (San Carlos) or Muelle.
Click the 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.
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
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.
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
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.
