Arenal Volcano Tours
COSTA RICA TOURS AT LEAVES AND LIZARDS
- At Leaves and Lizards, your tours are personalized and can be customized to meet your needs. We believe in creating high quality, safe and memorable experiences for our guests.
- Our horseback riding tours are not typical nose-to-tail type rides. We keep a stable of well trained and cared for horses. We have a variety of horses appropriate for the novice rider to the very experienced rider. We are considered a horseback riding destination. Part of the proceeds from our horseback riding tours support Vinculo con Caballo, our therapeutic horseback riding program. This program is for individuals in our community that benefit from this type of therapy.
- Rates for tours not based at Leaves and Lizards are set by the vendor. We carefully select our outside tour providers based on safety, value and experience.
- Part of the proceeds from our community based tours go back into the community.
- Some of our tours require 24 hour advance reservation.
- Once a tour is scheduled and our guide is arranged, a cancellation fee of ½ the tour rate will be charged if the tour is canceled with less than 48 hours notice.
- Rates and service are subject to change at any time.
- Weather conditions may limit tour availability.
- If you don’t see what you are looking for, just ask! We can make arrangements for most any type of activity.
- Leaves and Lizards is located in a village outside the busy tourist center of La Fortuna, San Carlos.
- Remember to leave some time in your vacation to just sit and relax! Just hanging out is a great way to spend a day too!
- Transportation is not included in most cases. Ask about options.
- Fun stuff to do for free or almost free: Swimming down at the river, farm chores in the morning, hiking, visit local farmers markets, local soccer games, go shopping at a local market, Tabacon River hot springs, get your hair cut and nails done for under $30 at the local beauty salon, hammock time....!
- Tours operated by Leaves and Lizards are part of our rural tourism project. Rural tourism
promotes community involvement and cross cultural exchanges between locals and our guests.
ADVENTURE CHALLENGE COSTA RICA
Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Adventure Challenge trips create a competitive but friendly environment for individuals or groups to explore Costa Rica. Participants will experience the real Costa Rica; discovering the biodiveristy, the culture of Costa Rica while having the adventure of a life time. Click HERE for more information!
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Learn about Costa Rica’s rural tourism while you improve your digital photography skills. The Leaves and Lizards Volcano Cabin Retreat will serve as your base camp in the shadow of the active Arenal volcano. It would be easy to spend a week simply photographing the beautiful birds or the unbelievable landscape of the Leaves and Lizards property, but we won’t stop there.
Your tuition includes 5-nights lodging at Leaves and Lizards, all meals, experienced local guide, daily photography lectures, lighting demonstrations, our Digital Workflow Guide and all workshop excursions. These excursions will include: Arenal National Park, Arenal Hanging Bridges, Tico Farm Tour, Proyecto Asis Wild Animal Rescue Center, Eco Termales and more.
Ask about our group discount for your student group or camera club.
Operator: Edge of the World Workshops
Time: Six days, September 12-17, 2010 (We can arrange other dates for a minimum of 8-12 students. Discount rates may apply)
Cost: $1800 per photographer/ double occupancy (add $200 for single). Non-workshop guest is $500 with paid photographer (includes lodging, meals and excursions)
CANOPY ZIP LINE
Experience one of the safest, highest and longest canopy tours in Costa Rica! After detailed safety instructions you will hike through primary rainforest in this 1200 acre nature preserve to reach the first platform. After 3 practice zip lines over pristine jungle, you will zoom over two waterfalls 300 feet above the ground. This really is a safe adrenaline rush! There are a total of 10 zip lines; the longest is nearly 1 kilometer. This tour includes a tour of a butterfly garden, frog garden and a visit to a traditional Maleku Indian Village.
Operator: Mundo Aventura
Time: Allow 4 hours, offered three times daily at 7:30AM, 10:30AM and 1:30PM
Cost: $60.00, Student: $45.00, Under 12: $30.00
Degree of difficulty: Moderately strenuous, you may take the option of having a "taxi" on the zip lines, a guide will link his harness to yours. He does all the work and your hands are free to snap one of a kind photographs.
FISHING LAKE ARENAL
The English speaking captain knows all the secrets of fishing in this 20 mile long lake with an unbeatable view of the Arenal Volcano. Two of the commonly caught fish are similar to Large Mouth Bass, with a mild taste and they are delicious. You’re welcome to bring your catch back to the lodge and we can cook them up for supper! The photo shows Capt. Ron with client Norma Scherrer and her first guapote!
Operator: Captain Ron's Lake Arenal Fishing Tours
Time: Half or Full-day tour
Cost: $225 half day and $325 full day for 2 adults, $70.00/extra person up to 4.
Degree of difficulty: Easy, fun for all ages!
CANYONING
Trek through the forest on magical trails that lead to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica, a place very few people get to experience, then rappel down the beautiful and pristine canyon. Experience 5 rappels, 4 of which are along side or right in waterfalls and one dry rock face.
Operator:Pure Trek Costa Rica
Time: 7:30AM, Noon
Cost: $90.00 for all ages, includes lunch
Degree of difficulty: Moderately strenuous, no experience necessary, kids welcome.
COWBOY FOR A DAY
Ever dream of living the life of a rancher or cowboy? Spend the day with a real Costa Rican rancher. The activities in this tour vary; depending upon what work needs to be done. The typical tour starts early, with your Costa Rican Cowboy mentors. You may move the cattle into a corral for routine care, give medications, inspect them for any needed medical care, help with branding and separate the young or females ready to calf from the large herd. Then move them to another location, often through rivers, over hills through the beautiful countryside. Our professional bilingual guide accompanies this tour. Our host rancher would like at least a 3 day notice to prepare for this tour.
Operator: Leaves and Lizards
Cost: $Varies, includes meals, professional bi-lingual guide.
Time: Full-day tour
Degree of difficulty: Moderately strenuous, previous horseback riding experience is recommended. This tour is part of our community/rural tourism project! Not recommended for children under 16.
WHITEWATER RAFTING
If you are ready for exhilarating fun consider a whitewater rafting trip. You will be paddling your day away as you roar through lush canyons and sneak under waterfalls traveling through large expanses of tropical rainforest. The rivers vary from an easy Class II and III rivers to adrenaline pumping Class IV whitewater.
Operator: Wave Expeditions
Cost: $65.00 Balsa River Class II and III; $85.00 Toro River Class III and IV, includes lunch.
Time: Full Day
Degree of difficulty: Moderately strenuous
CERRO CHATO TOUR
Cerro Chato is Arenal’s neighboring dormant volcano. On this trek you will hike to the rim of the Cerro Chato crater and down to the crater lake for a refreshing swim. Local legend says UFO's are often seen coming and going from this ancient, mysterious, lagoon.
The crater is at an elevation of 1,400 meters (4,594 ft.). During this hike you may hear Arenal grumbling next door and if it is clear, see truck sized, semi-solid lava rocks being chucked out of the top Arenal!
Operator: Leaves and Lizards
Time: Full day, 8 hours
Cost: $65.00 per person, $150.00 family rate, park entrance fee not included.
Degree of difficulty: Strenuous, but rewarding, steep hike.
GUIDE FOR A DAY
One of our most popular tour options, our professional, bilingual, naturalist guide will accompany you for the day. Tour the country side or pick a National Park to explore; you never know what you will discover! The perfect option for bird watching or discovering the secrets of the rainforest.
There are unlimited options for this tour. Immerse yourself in the culture, go to places where tourists rarely tread. Can also include Arenal Hanging Bridges.
Operator: Leaves and Lizards
Time: Half or Full-day tour
Cost: Full Day-$65.00 per person, $150.00 family; Half-day-$65.00 per couple; $75.00 family. Does not include park entrance fees or $22.00 fee for Hanging Bridges.
Degree of difficulty: You set the activity level, fun for all ages!
PARADISE ON A PLATTER
Culinary Tour! Experience the fresh tastes of Costa Rica! Learn traditional cooking techniques, with hands-on participation. Prepare authentic cuisine with fresh, tropical ingredients. The day begins with a trip to the local markets in the village of Venado. You will proceed to a beautiful farm, where our hostess, a local Costa Rican woman, will open up her kitchen and show you it how it’s done, Tico style! This tour offers a rich, cross-cultural experience. As all tours that are part of our rural tourism program, it is very flexible. There are also opportunities for bird-watching, sight-seeing and exploration. Menu offerings may include: Ceviche with homemade tortillas, Plantain Salad Imoyo, Empanadas, and Tres Leches Cake. At the end of the day share a delicious meal with your new Costa Rican friends!
Operator: Leaves and Lizards
Time: Full day
Cost: $65.00 per person
Degree of difficulty: Easy
