Great Arenal Tours-Sunset Tour Company Located at Base of Arenal Volcano

 

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Vacationing in the Arenal Volcano area?  Great  tours are offered by Sunset Tours, conveniently located on the square in La Fortuna, which is a small town at the base of Arenal Volcano.

Sunset Tours provides first class service with well trained English speaking guides. You are picked up and dropped off  at your hotel door.

Ken and I  arrived for our 3 day stay at Arenal Observatory Lodge and we picked Sunset Tours for the activities we choose to do.   My  personal choice was the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge tour which is a full day tour  with  a delicious Costa Rican lunch included.   We were there in late December at the end of  Costa Rica's rainy season and the lagoons around the Rio Frio were filled with so many birds which stop here for the feeding grounds.   We saw several different kinds of storks,  herons, ibis, cormorants,  and ducks.  so many birds I cant remember all the names.  These birds are migratory and travel from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere and can be seen in Costa Rica's Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge starting around end of November and continue till end of February when the lagoons dry up and there is no longer a food source for the birds.   The boat ride down the Rio Frio river was great, we were also able to see white face monkeys eating palm dates high in the tree tops, plus several  really huge crocodiles.  The route from  our lodge to the Rio Frio  was very scenic.  This is pineapple country with miles and miles of pineapple farms.  Best time of the year to take this out:  December through end of February when most of the migratory birds are in the lagoons.

The other tour we choose was the SKY  which I HIGHLY  recommend.  We were lifted through the rain forest in the "Sky Tram" all enclosed in glass so we could see everything outside which was  so many species of trees which seem to reach the sky .  And a family of howler monkeys, a mother with her 2 babies.  At the top we could see  a clear view of the Arenal volcano spewing fire out it's summit, so close it seemed we could reach out and touch it.    And the very large Arenal Lake with fishing boats glistening in the sunlight.   Then we were strapped in the gear for the zip line.  One, two, three, go!  And off we went swinging from tree top to tree top,  probably one of the most exciting and adventurous things I have done in my life!

Finally at the bottom we took a walk to the butterfly garden filled with blue Morpho Butterflies.

By the time we returned to the Arenal observatory Lodge we were ready for a rest!  And a delicious Costa Rican lunch.  And then a dip in the hot tub..what more could one ask for?

Check out all the exciting adventure tours offered by Sunset Tours at their web site.   www.sunsettourcr.com

Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge, Migratory Birds?

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Let's travel to Costa Rica to Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge.  It's the middle  of December and the weather is gorgeous with lots of sunshine. We leave early in the morning from San Jose  and travel north on the Inter American Highway (Highway 1)  We will drive first to the Arenal Volcano Areas where we will spend the night and this drive will take us around 3.5 hours.  We take the quick route which is the San Ramon exit.  At the end of this article I will give the detailed directions on this route.

In La Fortuna we stop at Sunset Tours  www.sunsettourcr.com on the square and book our early morning  day tour to Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge, because December is one of the best  months to see the hundreds of migratory birds that stop here to feed.    December, January, and February is when these migratory birds, flying from the northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere  stop over in these lagoons to eat the plants and small fish.  In La Fortuna we  choose Volcano Lodge to sleep   www.volcanolodge.com because it is located only 5 miles from La Fortuna on the main road so it's easy for Sunset Tours to pick us up.  Plus the price is right for our budget,  approx. $100 for a double with breakfast included and what gorgeous gardens they have and the rooms are very very comfortable.  A great value in a small hotel and view to the Arenal is spectacular!

Next morning we are picked up at 7:30 a.m.  for our 1.5 hour journey to Cano Negro and what a beautiful drive this is!  Lush green papaya farms, bananas, and pineapple plantations.  A feast for the eyes.   Upon arrival we board a 20 passenger boat with a canopy overhead to protect us from the strong tropical sun.  And down the Rio Frio River we go.

What is the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge? It is a  shallow marshy wetland, the third largest wetland in the world,  abundant with plants and small fish, and other wildlife.  It is formed  from the overflow of two rivers, the Rio Frio River and its tributary the smaller Monica River.   This overflow happens at the end of Costa Rica's heavy rainy season.  ( which lasts from May through November)   There is a lot of water in the marshlands  until around end of Feb. (this is dry season)  when the wet marshes begin to dry up. And stay dry until the rainy season begins again in May.

Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge is the heart of a new UNESCO biosphere reserve named "Water And Peace." A biosphere reserve is an area of great natural wealth.  Here conservation of natural resources  and the rational use of these ecosystems is promoted by the local communities.  It covers a hugh area of 916,000 hectares  among navigatable rivers, wetlands,  and tropical humid forest.

Why do Tourist want to visit Cano Negro National Wildlife Reserve? The main reason is the see the hundreds of migratory birds that make it their feeding ground.  These birds migrate from the northern regions of North America all the way south to South America and they stop here to rest and feed.  These birds are here from around  first week of December   through around middle  of March.  But the best time of year to visit is mid December through mid February to get to see the most birds.

Among the many  birds we see are ibis, cormorants,  several species of storks,  herons,  roseate spoonbills,  American wigeon, blue winged teal,  tree ducks,  snail kite,  and the Nicaraguan grackle.  This is a bird watcher's paradise!

Also has  abundant wildlife.  We see monkeys- the spider monkey and the howler.  Crocodiles, black river turtles, green iguanas, and Jesus Christ lizards.

Summary. If you want to see the most birds you come here mid December thru around end of February.  If you come any other month of the year you will see the wildlife-monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas, but the number of birds you will see will be much  fewer.

Best way to see Cano Negro National Wildlife Refuge is to take a day tour from La Fortuna, Arenal areas with Sunset tours.  They are on the web  click here:  www.sunsettours.com

What if I want to come on my own to visit the refuge. You can do that too but there are no public facilities there, no hotels etc.  You can go to Los Chiles by car and ask the locals directions to the boat dock  (no far away) on the Rio Frio River and  get on one of the tour boats and pay there.

What clothing should I wear? It's hot here so you need cool clothes and I recommend you wear tennis shoes.  Sun Screen, sunglasses, sun hat, mosquitoe repellent, camera, and bottled water.  The day tour will include lunch.  The boat is covered so if it rains you are safe.

What is the weather like at Cano Negro National Wildlife Reserve, Costa Rica? The weather is hot year round.  Around 80 plus degrees.  There is a dry season and a rainy season here.  Rainy season May through November and dry season December through April.  Usually we get sunny mornings and the rains starts  around 1 p.m. and lasts for a few hours.   Average rainfall is 98" per year, a lot less than other areas of  Costa Rica.

What is the quickest and easiest route from San Jose to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna? Go north on the Interamerican highway (highway 1)  Take the San Ramon Exit  (around 20 miles fron San Jose) go straight thru San Ramon and look for sign to Arenal Volcano.  You will travel mountainous winding roads with gorgeous scenery. You will pass thru  little towns but if you feel confused just stop and inquire  "how do I get to Arenal"  The locals are friendly and helpful.  From San Ramon the drive is around 2.5 hours to Arenal-La Fortuna  The entire drive from the San Jose areas is about 3.5 hours.  Don't drive at night because of the winding mountain roads and fog.

Can I fly from San Jose to La Fortuna? Yes     click here    wwwflysansa.com

www.natureair.com

Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna and Sunset Tours

The small town of La Fortuna, Costa Rica is the main gateway to the Arenal Volcano. Despite it's tourist boom, La Fortuna still serves as a regional agricultural center, with strong ties to the local beef cattle economy. Pineapple and papaya are the most popular crops, most of which are exported to US.

The town is bustling with tourists, here to see the mightly Arenal Volcano's eruptions and experience the many adventure outdoor activities.

Best place to catch one of these tours is Sunset Tours conveniently located on the town square.
You can pick from horseback riding, river rafting, hiking around the base of the volcano, rainforest expeditions, canopy tours, sky tram, visit a self sustaining organic farm, visit an indigenous indian village, bird watching, river floats to view allegators, monkeys, and water fowl. And much much more. Plus it is a photographers paradise.

How many days should a tourist stay in this area of La Fortuna? I recommend a minimum of 3 nights. I stayed seven nights and did not run out of things to see and do.

La Fortuna offers small hotels that are for the budget minded. And local restaurants offering typical Costa Rican dishes, lots of small shops to pick up local souvenirs and T shirts.

Costa Rica Spotlight: Canopy Tour With Sunset Tours in Costa Rica

Costa Rica Spotlight:  Sunset Tours-Adventure Travel Company located on the square in La Fortuna, Costa Rica- near the mighty Arenal Volcano and lowland rain forests is the adventure tour company you should use if you are looking for exciting, adventurous outdoor day trips in the Arenal Volcano Area. From white water river rafting, horseback riding, rain forest swinging bridges, river floats, sky tram, butterfly farm, zip line tours, organic self sustaining farm tours, and more!
I was fortunate to have spend several days there experiencing a variety of these fun filled tours.

First, the canopy tour operated by Arenal Mundo Adventura, the ultimate rain forest "Tarzan and Jane " zip line. High over the tops of tropical rainforest, from platform to platform- twelve in all!
We were strapped into our swing which would sustain us as we sped over the tree tops. At first I was really scared, but by the third or forth platform I was getting in the groove. Rain began to fall, but hey! Aren't we in a Costa Rica Rainforest? Luckily I had a rain jacket- also available thru SunSet Tours Costa Rica

One middle aged lady behind me, upon reaching the top of the first platform refused to take the plunge and choose to turn back. I could almost say I didn't blame her. We were at least 80 feet above the forest floor, and looking down was... well....frightening.

We could hear howler monkeys in the near by trees. They seemed to be peering at us, and probably thinking...crazy humans, what are they doing with those funny looking straps around them and helmets on their heads?

A group of Costa Rican teachers from the near by town of Puntarenas had ridden the public bus two and one-half hours just to do this one zip line tour. Several of them were on the platform with me and I heard one say "My husband said that I would never do it, that I would chicken out..well this photo will be proof."

I'm gliding, like a bird, high above the canopy floor, in a pristine rainforest, with toucans and howler monkeys near by. Wild orchids and bromeliads cling to the arms of the trees...and everywhere one looks it green..green...green. Exhilarating , breath taking!

Go for it with Sunset Tours! www.sunsettourcr.com

Cost of Canopy Tour $70.00 per person with reservations required
Duration of tour--- morning pick up...tour takes all morning... afternoon pick up, tour takes around 4 hours from time you depart your hotel until your return to the hotel

Not recommended for small children