If you rent your vehicle from Vamos they can include a cell pone with hot spot. Im leaving this topic for last since, as of the time of writing this article, this route is not available, yet, many travelers have asked me about it. is an excellent choice for solo travelers and couples. There are no direct flights from Liberia to La Fortuna. They also offer camping but they dont have showers. Most Addictive Local Pastime, Best Donation Item To Bring From Home This is the largest natural lake in Costa Rica and also the spot of the only official UFO sighting in the country. Thank you for replying while on vacation! For example, if you travel with a local, experienced driver, it should only take two hours to get to La Fortuna. Drive from Liberia to La Fortuna 2h 23m $17 - $26 Bus, shuttle Take the bus from Liberia to Caas Take a shuttle bus from Caas to La Fortuna 2h 5m $47 - $243 Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Costa Rica There is widespread community transmission globally. Theres certain, Snap photos from incredible viewpoints! Sorry meant to say you don't need an SUV. Our rental company gave us a cell phone to use and Waze is great here. Dusty dirt roads, lik. 1. Inc.(Costa Rica Discounts), the author of the guidebooksMoon Costa Rica(2019, 2021, and 2023 editions) and Moon Best of Costa Rica (2022 edition) from Moon Travel Guides; and afreelance writer for hire. , Must-Know Info About La Fortuna Costa Rica From Longtime Residents. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114474212', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');flight is on scheduleat 1 PMyou will be ready to hit the road by 2PMmost rent a cars are very close to LIR and on road 21toward Liberia,,,your shopping will maybe take about 30 minutes, You can easily be at Pana Am Hwy by 2:30 PM or 3 PM, Is about 135 kms..and it will take about 2 and half hours all the way to La Fortuna. However, its next to the Christian church Iglesia de Dios EC, which you can use as a landmark reference. Driving From Liberia to La Fortuna Can Be a Challenge. Otherwise, the drive will take about three hours, so using a Private Car Service (a.k.a. Copyright 2007-2023 Costa Rica Travel Blog (Pura Vida! Keep going on this road, driving past the many luxury hotels and resorts in the area, passing the Arenal Volcano National Park entrance on your right and eventually ending up in La Fortuna, the main town and tourism hub. If you do not accept the policy, we respect your choice 100%. @6, You should be able to get a SIM card in La Fortuna, too. Keep reading more detailed information on each service and how they work. Then for a couple of local spots with great views, there is Rancho Mirador Los Peas, near Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. Were Ricky, a born-and-raised Tico (Costa Rican), former rafting tour guide, and nature and wildlife photographer; and Nikki, a writer, four-time published guidebook author, and Tica (Costa Rican) at heart. Best Nature Tour Operator Foggy, mysterious, bi, Get creative in Sarchi! Read our Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, Anti-Inequality, Anti-Discrimination Statement here. You need to go to Liberia, get on the Interamericana highway 1, exit at Caas, drive to Tilaran, go through Nuevo Arenal, drive around the lake and finally reach La Fortuna. We write only what we believe or choose to believe in, and not a word more. Group shuttles are convenient and provide the best balance, saving time and money for travelers in most cases. Our chart below outlines the route, distance, and approximate duration for each trip to La Fortuna. Of course, it depends somewhat on where in the Arenal area you are going. Hey, Costa Rica Travel Blog reader, thank you for visiting and reading our blog! Below, youll find a description of driving routes to La Fortuna, as well as descriptions of the roads and highways youll encounter along the way. I love nature, adventure, and mountain biking. If we split our stay, we would rent a car and bring our car seats. This is a dirt road going up the mountain so a high car is recommended. Parking there is not very convenient as its only street parking on a steep-ish road. 75 photos that will make you want to go to Costa Rica ASAP! Here at Arenal Tours, we offer a private door-to-door service, so you dont need to worry about carrying your luggage or walking around the public roads, compromising your safety and belongings. And we have more than 30 years of combined experience traveling around Costa Rica. . Caas to Tilaran. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica destinations, including recommendations for cities, towns, and communities to visit in Costa Rica. To stay on the completely paved road, make sure your route stays on Route 1 and Route 142. I am looking for rainforest, waterfalls and some monkeys. Nice place in a nice spot on your way to La Fortuna. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-80406035', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');car from Liberia to Arenal or Arenal to Samara. Most Important Reason For Keeping Colones On Hand. Tinajas is a lakefront restaurant with a beautiful view and is about a 10 minute detour from Nuevo Arenal. animals scientists are trying to bring back megalodon. Give yourself at least 4,4.5 hours for this drive to include bathroom, photo and food stops. Takes 5 hours. Just watch out for an occasional pothole. Are you planning to drive from Tamarindo to La Fortuna? We're truly grateful for your time and preference. A modern Van with A / C will pick you up at your lodge in Liberia and take you to La Fortuna. One of our favorite viewpoints on this route is in Tilaran, close to the turn of Lake Arenal Condos. Most everything I have read says the best route to take is Route 142 out of La Fortuna, around the lake and then. Note: The instructions will work if youre staying nearby Liberia. And I will guide you in this section on how to make it look relatively easy. Best Site For A Titanic Im The King Of The World Moment In addition to writing this Costa Rica Travel Blog, were the team behind several other Costa Rica-based projects, including: our business, Pura Vida! You can find the best car rental deals in one place. Mytanfeet is full of local tips, detailed guides, photos, videos and maps to help you plan the perfect trip to Costa Rica. On the other hand, the distance from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna downtown is 143.3 kilometers (88.9 miles). A less-traveled route to La Fortuna from the south is provided by Road 141, which begins in the town of Naranjo, climbs through a curvy, mountainous stretch of cloud forest and the town of Zarcero (also called Alfaro Ruiz), eventually descends into the city of Ciudad Quesada, and follows a fairly flat path on to La Fortuna. Pura vida, amigos! 7 Walk above the rain forest at the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. Bus operators Reyna del Campo Autotransportes Colorado de Abangares S.A. RIDE CR SHUTTLE A taxi will charge you $3 and get you to the terminal in about 3 minutes. These are the top 2 rainy months and the top months for accidents on the road. Best Coffee ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114497415', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Liberia to La Fortuna. Must-Try Fruit (Raw) You don't need a (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? All are connected by well-paved roads. The van-boat-van service is an alternative to driving around Arenal Lake when traveling between Arenal / La Fortuna and Monteverde. Best In-Pool Hot Springs Feature ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-80129309', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Rio Celeste is the big draw. If you plan on driving to La Fortuna and youd like to be prepared for the trip, youve come to the right place. It is basically at least an hour from the airport to Canas (maybe a bit more if slow traffic) and at least 2.5 hours from Canas to La Fortuna. View Map. Tenorio National Park is lush rainforest and we have seen more wildlife in this area than around Arenal. Road 142 is best known for being downtown La Fortunas main drag. Private car transferfrom Liberia to La Fortuna. This bus will cost $1 and get you to Tilaran by noon, arriving at Tilarans terminal called Para de buses Tilaran.. Staying in Liberia (or another town) overnight? PS. Any driving recommendations you have would be appreciated. For more information, please visitDIY Costa Rica. Landing in Liberia around 1PM, figure I'll have the rental car by 2:30PM. The rain also causes a lot of damage to the roads, which worsens during the rainy season. We land at 1pm and should be able to get to our hotel by sunset (5:55pm). This is where all the local farmers and workers eat in town. Booking a private car service is arguably the easiest way to get from Liberia to La Fortuna. . Note: Even though you will walk along a highway, there is a pedestrian walkway and a pedestrian bridge to cross the street so that you wont step on the road. After the hike, have lunch at the restaurant outside the national park entrance and then head on your way to La Fortuna. Click here to book online Costa Rica activities and Day Trips The travel time by taxi from Liberia airport to La Fortuna is around 2 hours and 30 minutes. Heres the end of this article. Right on the route so no detour required. Because simple actions like reading our articles, asking a question, and even visiting our websites homepage require the use of cookies, it is not possible to explore or use our website without them. You can't predict how long your arrival to either airport will take. Whenever you stop, try to park your car where you can see it from the restaurant. Once you get around the lake, you can stop by the dam for a nice view of the volcano and lake. Public transportation is the cheapest way to get from Liberia to La Fortuna. Best View Of Volcano Lava Rocks This website uses cookies to operate and provide you with the best user experience possible. Road signage is fine. Inc., home to hundreds of discounts for Costa Rica day tours, our best of Costa Rica compilation DIY Costa Rica, which includes our Costa Rica Destination Tool and our Costa Rica Recommendations Map, our free Costa Rica Trip Planning 101 E-Course, and our awesome Costa Rica travel guidebooksMoon Best of Costa Rica, 2022 edition (a selective best of guide; available now), Moon Costa Rica, 2023 edition (a full-country guide; out September 2023 but currently available to pre-order), Moon Costa Rica, 2021 edition (a full-country guide; available now), and Moon Costa Rica, 2019 edition (a full-country guide; available now)published by the prestigious Moon Travel Guides. You need phone internet data so get a. If you live in Costa Rica and have been through that route thousands of times, you will not see anything particularly wrong with this. Prices can fluctuate throughout the year based on market conditions and demand. However, these averages are more realistic and applicable to those used to driving in Costa Rica. Traffic flows west on Road 142 in the downtown core. Taxis will be available at the Iglesia de Dios EC terminal as you step out of the Liberia Caas bus. Liberia also has a Walmart. Find out what are the top things to do in La Fortuna/Arenal! Flying in and out of Liberia.We were originally going to stay in the Guanacaste area; however, a part of me feels like I'm missing out by not seeing Arenal. Lets explore them. If you have a question or comment about our article above or Costa Rica travel in general, please post it in our Questions and Answers Forum on DIY Costa Rica, our sister website, where you can also access our private Costa Rica recommendations, our Costa Rica Destination Tool, and our Costa Rica Recommendations Map. Best Adventure Tour On the other hand, you have the unpredictable weather conditions of Costa Rica. You can also stop at the Rio Celeste Free Pool to swim in the river after the hike. Many potholes come to life during this time of the year, and it takes a couple of months for the government to repair the cracks. Best Mascot What remains of this one-time c, Cross a hanging bridge while admiring white-water, Soak up some sun on Isla Tortuga! How to Get from Arenal/La Fortuna to Tamarindo. Best Post-Meal Treat, Best Vacation Rental Property (Continued use of the website implies that you agree with the policy.) Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about coming and going from Costa Rica, including Costa Rica packing information, Costa Rica souvenir information, and tips for practicing responsible, sustainable tourism. I know there are previous questions about this but the answers have been removed due to inactivity. Find the travel option that best suits you. Keep in mind that if you visit during rainy season, particularly months like May, June, August December, the Rio Celeste area does tend to rain a lot. My flight is scheduled to land at the Liberia airport around 1 p.m. on a Friday. I want to follow up on the drive from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Popular destinations encountered along the route: San Jose, Canas, Bagaces, Liberia, and the border community of Penas Blancas The only drawback is that you need internet data to use Waze, so you will want to buy a chip with internet data if you want to use it. We love helping visitors so they can have a memorable experience in our country. I thought we could take the 6 to the 4 on the way to La Fortuna and then later when we move on to Tamarindo we could take the 142 around the lake to the 1. 2 passengers - 2. For places that are not quite touristic, check out Lake Arenal Brewery, Tinajas Arenal or Los Heroes. Road 702 is the second-most traveled road in downtown La Fortuna after Road 142. Private transport can be scheduled anytime you wish and from any airport, hotel, private home or identifiable landmark in Costa Rica. Best Navidad (Christmas) Tradition However, most tourists drive at a significantly slower pace than locals. hot springs, hanging bridges, restaurants. And depending on your Hotel/Airbnb location, you may be able to stop along the bus route and walk to it. Best Place To See Coatis They have a parking lot and a convenience store right next door. It will cost you 16 USD to fill up your car. Cold coconut water is just as del, Relax on a secluded beach! It would be best to stay the night in Caas or Tilarn, and get an early start the next day. NEW! Road 702 meets Road 142 one block west of La Fortunas central park and church. . For us, we usually like to stop at Cafe y Macademia because its very convenient being right off the road. The biodive, Sunbathe on #PlayaEspadillaSur! Our company is inclusive. We strive for quality, not quantity, and we never stuff our blog with general information about Costa Rica that is widely available elsewhere. Whether you are staying in Gulf of Papagayo (Playas del Coco, Hermosa, Ocotal, etc. The cheapest way to get from Liberia Airport (LIR) to La Fortuna costs only $9, and the quickest way takes just 1 hour. There are four ways to get from Liberia to La Fortuna. DIY Costa Rica provides 100+ unique experience recommendations, each written as a chapter in a book, complete with photo galleries, Costa Rica field notes, experience details, Spanish pronunciation help, links to additional resources, and maps. To ensure you're aware of and okay with this and our other privacy-related practices, please review our Privacy Policy, then click the button to accept it. Best Yoga Pose Looking for some activities? Best Breakfast Menu Item (Traditional) One-way. Compared to all the other ways to get from Liberia to La Fortuna, driving is the fastest way. Our favorite stop for coffee to go! Best Poolside Cabanas Im concerned about my drive from (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Read our Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, Anti-Inequality, Anti-Discrimination Statement. Hard drive in the rain? First, depending on where youre staying in Liberia, you may need a taxi to get to the, This bus will cost $3 and get you to Caas by 9:30 am. 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However, if you have multiple bags, you may want to take a taxi instead of walking. We support our comments with evidence, however we welcome opposing comments. An alternative plan I have is to add the International Day Pass to my AT&T plan. Pura vida, amigos! The best way to get from the volcanoes of Arenal to the surf and sunsets of Tamarindo is by car or private transfer. Filed Under: Costa Rica Travel Tips, Our Travels. Best View Overlooking Arenal Lake Most Underrated Hotel Amenities, Best Shortcut We appreciate your interest, preference, time, and visit. Get the Costa Rica info you need by browsing our article's TABLE OF CONTENTS: To say were familiar with the roads to La Fortuna is an understatement. a Private Shuttle or Private Transfer) will be faster. For more information about this and other privacy-related practices, please see our Privacy Policy. We will be visiting Costa Rica toward the end of May this year and will be driving a rental 4WD SUV from La Fortuna to Monteverde. (and IMO well worth a visit.). Best Place For Black Sand These prices assume there is a minimum of two travelers. If you need help planning your perfect trip to Costa Rica, send us a message, and we will happily assist you! Best Extreme Hike You must take three buses and between one and three taxis, depending on where youre heading. Hundreds of articles on Costa Rica trip planning, travel in Costa Rica, and saving money, plus free discounts. If you like to stay overnight maybe Hotel CAA BRAVA right by the Hwy about 45 minutes and 61 kms drive from Liberia, Another good places to stayLa Pacificagreat food by the way next to Corobice bridge, You are more than WELCOME / Con mucho gusto. Check out our other Costa Rica-related projects, too: The comment section of this article has moved! Most Breathtaking Architecture Bus From San Jose To Monteverde: 6:30 AM and 2:30 PM. This one requires a longer stop, its about 30 minutes total to go there and back from the main road. You can find the best car rental deals in one place. Learn more and access the tool on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica, here. Best Hanging Bridge Best Night Tour Traffic delays often? Use our Rental Car Comparison Tool to Find the Lowest Prices (Guaranteed) On Car Rentals To Visit Costa Rica. From there we will head to Samaracould trade the car for an SUV somewhere along the way if we needed. Then these instructions will work the day you travel from Liberia to La Fortuna. Did a GPS help? Best View Of The Arenal Volcano Selva Paraiso is another coffee shop with souvenirs and bathrooms right off the road. Thank Nikki here. This is because of the very dark and curvy roads. Re: Driving from Liberia to La Fortuna 7 years ago Save It gets dark by 6 PM, so will be dark for the last part of your trip. They do not necessarily apply to foreigners. In fact, most of it goes on a highway. What time does it get dark that time of year. Best Shallow Beach You are more than WELCOME/ Con mucho gusto. Click here to read our full bio and see pics of our Costa Rica travels! ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-114497668', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Liberia to La Fortuna or the other way aroundroads in grate shapejust common sense..!! https://www.guestreservations.com/hacienda-la-pacifica/booking?msclkid=24904bda244e12fe94bb29c70b7c51a7 Report inappropriate content SkinnyTree Yes, the driving distance between Liberia Airport (LIR) to La Fortuna is 59 km. I would like to stop for a quick lunch somewhere around Liberia/Canas on the way to La Fortuna, Costa Rican style. Hiring a Private Transportation Service, or a Private Shuttle, as locals call it, is the easiest way to get from Liberia to La Fortuna. Best Beach Hostel Hi, We are planning a 1 week trip to Costa Rica during the 1st full week of December. Agree. I am torn between Arenal and Tenorio. eh? For example, on highway 1, one of the main routes from Liberia to La Fortuna, you might see someone going at full speed, passing multiple vehicles on a relatively narrow road. Thank you. Which route did you take and how did you find the drive? eh? Therefore, if youre heading to this area, you must wait to arrive at La Fortuna and then take a taxi to El Castillo, which will cost about $20. Best Accessible Tour in Costa Rica. Or Playas del Coco to La Fortuna? A group shuttle is a shared transportation service from Liberia to La Fortuna. On the other hand, the distance from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna downtown is 143.3 kilometers (88.9 miles). Best View Of The Continental Divide Our awesome Costa Rica Destination Tool filters 66 destinations by nearly 150 criteria to help you quickly and easily decide where to go in Costa Rica according to your unique preferences, wants, and needs. Planning a trip to Costa Rica? Meet us, learn about our Costa Rica experience, and learn how we help Costa Rica travelers! Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica accommodations, including recommendations for where to stay in Costa Rica. Keep scrolling to find out how each option ranks against the other based on its pros and cons so that you can make the best of your trip from Liberia to La Fortuna. My initial plan is to drive from Liberia to La Fortuna for a few nights then onto Playa Conchal. The price can change depending on the seasonality and demand, but its usually around $54 per person per way. Flights run daily and after a short hop, you'll land at the foothills around Costa Rica's most popular volcano. You will know when you are close to La Fortuna when you drive across a short bridge on the lake. Also, unlike competing blogs, we never sell your personal information (for example, your email address). Here's the lowdown on one of the simplest, and best, cars you can find in the Costa Rican market: the Daihatsu Terios Bego. If youre just setting out on this journey, review our introductory Costa Rica trip-planning resources first. Then, one of our local professional drivers will pick you up with a modern vehicle to take you from your departure place in Liberia to your destination in La Fortuna. Much more infrastructure in La Fortuna and Arenal, Hotels, Ziplines. We offer Modern Vans equipped with WiFi and A/C and professional drivers who will take you from Liberia to Arenal and La Fortuna. The road is good but it is twisty and you are in the mountains. Thanks for your replies. Costa Rica Tourism Costa Rica Hotels Costa Rica Bed and Breakfast Visitors typically arrive at La Fortuna via one of four main routes: Continue reading below for more specific information about each road and highway, including alternative road/highway names; destinations encountered along the road/highway; road/highway conditions, design, and terrain; traffic pace and flow; whether the road/highway has tolls or requires river crossings; whether you need a 44 vehicle to travel the road/highway; and special driving-related notes and advisories. However, its possible to arrange a flight through a private helicopter, which would cost between $1,000 and $2,000 and would take less than an hour to get to La Fortuna.