Folklore in Arenal
Bienvenidos at the Maleku Indigenous Reserve. This ecological haven nestled in the Northern Region of Costa Rica consists of four different towns: Palenques, Margarita, Tonjibe and El Sol, with a small local population of 1000 habitants who speak the Maleku Jaica dialect. Embark on a cultural tour where you'll learn about the indigenous lifestyle, traditions and customs. Drive through the northern grassland and receive a warm welcome at Margarita Palenque. After a short and entertaining presentation, you'll go for a stroll through the traditional ranch to learn important details of the village such as the inhabitants' rituals, types of palenques, craftsmanship and agriculture. Discover how the Maleku cultivates cocoa and how they tailor their traditional clothing. Follow the small path that leads to the forest where you'll learn about medicinal plants and knowledge about trees passed on by their ancestors. You'll also get to practice traditional archery and ancient hunting methods used by those who came before. Experience a Maleku rite dramatized with its dances, songs and music, the soul of their culture. Finish off your experience with a local Costa Rican lunch consisting of a fish-based dish wrapped in banana leaves, steamed and accompanied by locally grown vegetables and a natural fruit juice.
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Costa Rican Campesino Farm Experience
Explore the charming Maleku Indigenous Reserve, nestled in the Northern Region of Costa. The reserve comprises three different villages and a nearby Agroecological Farm, a stone's throw away from La Fortuna, in Agua Azul. Head over to the farm and be welcomed with a refreshing drink prepared with locally grown fresh fruits. Your local expert guide will tell you about the history and main objectives of the farm. Sustainability, resource management and nature preservation are an integrating part of Costa Rican customs and traditions, leaving you with an unforgettable experience. Visit a small archaeological ranch where you can see how the indigenous produce artisanal cocoa. Taste fresh fruit and chocolate as you meander through the orchid and medicinal plant garden. Finally, sit back, relax and savour a tasty lunch made with farm-fresh products such as coffee, cheese, tortillas, and much more.
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Popular experiences in Arenal
Arenal - 2-in-1 Combo Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall
This tour shines the spotlight on two of La Fortuna's most popular attractions. Hike through dense rainforest and former lava fields at Arenal Volcano National Park to discover Costa Rica's most active volcano. Then, continue to the magnificent La Fortuna waterfall. Towering over 230 feet high, it's a must-see. Take a dip, snap some pictures and relax while snacking on fresh fruit.
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Arenal - Costa Rica white-water rafting on the Sarapiqui River from La Fortuna
Splash into action on this white-water rafting tour, kicking things off with a scenic drive through yucca, pineapple and papaya plantations at the base of the Arenal Volcano. Then, at the river, you'll gear up with a thorough training session, before taking on the exciting rapids of the Sarapiqui River. At the halfway point, you'll stop to refresh with fresh tropical fruits on the riverbank, before hitting the rapids again. Afterwards, you'll go for a typical Costa Rican lunch with your fellow adventurers.
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Arenal - Half-day white-water rafting tour in Costa Rica
Take off on this family-friendly white-water river rafting tour, suitable for adults and kids aged 8-12. Begin with a detailed safety briefing, then dive into two-hour adventure down the Balsa River. There'll be a break halfway to relax on the riverbanks, with a refreshing swim and tasty tropical fruit snack. Then its back to the rapids – see if you can spot monkeys, sloths and toucans as you paddle along. Finally, you'll wrap the morning up with lunch at a traditional country estate.
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Arenal - Costa Rica white-water rafting and ATV tour from La Fortuna
Get ready for a full-day adventure on this white-water rafting and ATV tour. You'll start with a safety briefing, before taking control of your ATV to zoom through the Costa Rican landscapes – you'll pass canyon walls and the Arenal Volcano, and wind through the tropical plantations here. After another training session, you'll raft down Rio Balsa, known for its thrilling rapids and the natural beauty of the surrounding rainforest. Finally, you'll tuck into a well-deserved Costa Rican lunch.
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Arenal - White-water rafting and zipline experience from La Fortuna
Flash through the air at up to 43 miles per hour before you disappear into rainforest canopies on this adrenaline-pumping zipline tour. Zip down Arenal's seven extreme cables, the highest starting at a 54-foot tower where you'll want to snap those 360° views of the rainforest and volcano. Then feel the rush as you soar above La Fortuna Waterfall on a half-mile-long zipline. Continue your jungle adventure by water as you hit the rapids of the Balsa River for two hours of white-water rafting. Recharge and reflect on an exhilarating morning with a traditional Costa Rican lunch.
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Arenal - White-water rafting and quad biking experience from La Fortuna
Roar through Arenal's rainforest trails together on your quad bike for two. After your safety brief it's full-throttle over the rugged terrain of the canyon walls, then zoom past tropical fields of bananas and papayas – all with the Arenal Volcano as your striking backdrop. The thrills continue as you head to the Balsa River for two hours of white-water rafting over medium grade rapids. Stop for a swim and the chance to spot the local wildlife before paddling on towards a hearty lunch.
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Arenal - Sarapiqui River white-water rafting with picnic lunch, from La Fortuna
Twist and turn your way down the jungle-fringed Sarapiqui River for an adventure to satisfy nature lovers and adrenaline seekers alike. After a full safety briefing from your experienced guide, you'll launch your boat and tackle your first rapids together. Beginners are welcome on this route, taking on a range of easy to medium rapids. After around 90 minutes of rafting, you'll be ready for some dry clothes and a picnic lunch by the river, where you could spot toucans, sloths and howler monkeys.
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Arenal - Rafting, horse riding and hot springs from La Fortuna
Start your nature-filled day by horse riding in the Arenal Volcano National Park. As you snap views of the volcano and sway through the rainforest, your local guide will point out wildlife like monkeys, sloths and tropical birds. Swap your saddle for paddles as you raft down the River Balsa and its medium-graded rapids. After two hours of rafting, including a swim stop, tuck into a traditional lunch at a rural estate. Then ease your muscles in the volcanic hot springs – a pampering tonic to a full-on day.
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Arenal - White-water rafting and chocolate tour from La Fortuna
Taste the food of the gods – chocolate – as you learn how Costa Ricans have been growing and enjoying it since the 17th century. Try mixing cinnamon, nutmeg, or chili to hit your sweet spot in a hands-on demo. Then it's off to the River Balsa for the adrenaline rush of white-water rafting along medium rapids that suit beginners. Pause between rapids for a swim before paddling to the end of this rainforest rollercoaster. Lunch awaits you at a traditional country estate, where you'll embrace the ‘pura vida', or pure life, of rural Costa Rica.
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Arenal - White-water rafting and canyoning from La Fortuna
Spend an adrenaline-filled day scrambling, rappelling and rafting your way through Costa Rica's tropical rainforests, with the impressive Arenal Volcano framing your adventure. With expert guidance and equipment, you'll trek to a waterfall, take a deep breath and begin your canyoning with a thrilling descent. After more climbing scrambling and zip-lining, you'll hop in a 4x4 to take you to the river for white-water rafting down medium grade rapids. Finish your morning with a well-earned traditional lunch.
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Arenal - Sloths and white-water rafting from La Fortuna
If sloths are on your must-see list in Costa Rica, this sloth and rafting combo tour is calling your name. You'll start things off with a guided walk at a local family-run eco-project, getting a glimpse of these adorable creatures and learning some fun facts. After a light snack, it's time to switch gears for an epic white-water rafting adventure on the Balsa River. Expect two hours of fun, rapids, and tropical views. To top it all off, you'll enjoy a delicious local lunch before heading back.
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Arenal - Hanging Bridges and white-water rafting from La Fortuna
Experience the best of the rainforest on this action-packed tour. You'll kick things off with a guided hike across the Hanging Bridges, for a bird's-eye view and wildlife spotting. Then, switch gears and hit the rapids on the Balsa River, surrounded by stunning tropical scenery – you might even see some sloths along the way. After a quick break for fresh fruit by the river, dive back into the adventure before wrapping up the day with a delicious Costa Rican lunch.
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Arenal - River safari and Latin dancing class with lunch from La Fortuna
During your two-hour gentle paddle down the Penas Blancas River, be on the lookout for the many birds, monkeys and lizards that call its banks home. As you scour the overhanging tree canopies from your raft, your expert guide will share top tips for spotting the stealthiest of creatures. From here you'll swap sloths for salsa and take to the dance floor to learn the basic steps to some Latin rhythms. Take five for a traditional local lunch and chat with your instructors to discover how dancing is woven into the culture of Costa Rica.
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Arenal - Safari float and tortilla cooking with lunch from La Fortuna
Look out for sloths, monkeys and iguanas roaming the riverbanks as you peacefully float down the Penas Blancas River. Over two hours, your local guide will share their love and knowledge of the region and help you spot wildlife from your raft. Next, you'll get a taste of the ‘Pura Vida', the pure life experienced by rural Costa Ricans, with a visit to Dona Mara's kitchen in the rainforest. As your lunch bubbles on the family's wood-fired stove, Dona Mara will teach you her secrets to making traditional tortillas – have a go yourself and feast on them with lunch.
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Arenal - River safari and bean-to-bar chocolate tour from La Fortuna
The Penas Blancas River is home to many of Costa Rica's best-loved animals, from sloths and monkeys to lizards and caimans, so keep a lookout on this trip. As the current gently guides your raft along, take in the sights and sounds of the rainforest with expert local knowledge from your captain. After docking, you'll be whisked away to learn more about the history of the food of the gods – chocolate. Get hands-on in a demonstration of all the techniques from bean to bar, then dive into the most important part – the tasting.
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Arenal - Half-day river safari tour in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is famous for its wildlife, and you'll see it first-hand on this half-day river safari. Spend a couple of hours gliding down a slow-flowing part of Penas Blancas River on a raft, where your guide will help you spot rainforest residents on the riverbanks, like monkeys, iguanas and colourful birds. If you're lucky, you might see the small crocodiles that live here ducking under the water as you float past, or a Jesus Christ lizard walking on water. Then, you'll stop at a riverside farm for a snack and coffee.
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Arenal - Nocturnal river safari in Costa Rica
Stealthily floating down the Penas Blancas River by night, you'll be on the lookout for caimans who live in tangled tree roots and long-nosed bats streaking through the skies. Your local guide will share stories of the river's history, wildlife and people, taking you to a family-run farm along the way to try some Costa Rican coffee, cheese and plantains. Afterwards, you'll continue your nocturnal rafting safari downstream for more potential sightings of monkeys and birds – you might even see a Jesus Christ lizard running on water!
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Arenal - River raft safari and cooking lesson from La Fortuna in Costa Rica
Paddling down the waters of the Penas Blancas River, you'll soak in the sights and sounds of the rainforest as you pass riverbanks with the perfect tree canopy for spotting sloths, howler monkeys and lizards. Your local guide will fill you in on the native wildlife while steering your raft past dinosaur-looking caimans. Then, it's back to La Fortuna for a taste of proper Costa Rican food during a hands-on cooking lesson that's hosted by a local family. Finish by eating your own creations of picadillos, rice, beans and salads for lunch.
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Arenal - Arenal Volcano National Park Hike with Boat Ride
One of Costa Rica's most famous natural attractions, Arenal Volcano National Park is not to be missed. On this tour you'll hike around Lake Arenal, enjoying impressive views of the surrounding mountains. Climb the 12-metre observatory platform for closer views of the volcano before finishing the walk and refuelling on fresh fruit. To end, there's a boat trip along the forested shores and islets where you'll discover exotic wildlife.
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Arenal - La Fortuna Waterfall Hike
Crystal clear waters and green rainforests teeming with wildlife are what you'll find on this hike to La Fortuna Waterfall. Along the trail, you're likely to encounter sloths, tucans, and much more. You can even take a refreshing dip in the natural pool or simply relax and soak in the natural atmosphere. End your tour with a tasty fruit break.
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