Guidebook for El Castillo
Food Scene
Known as Kelly's, this small authentic Costa Rica restaurant has great prices. The best lunch we have found and dinner also. Perfect. Lot of locals eat here and some tourists have discovered it.
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La Ventanita
La Fortuna - El CastilloKnown as Kelly's, this small authentic Costa Rica restaurant has great prices. The best lunch we have found and dinner also. Perfect. Lot of locals eat here and some tourists have discovered it.
local bar...fantastic hamburgers, the best fries you have ever eaten anywhere. good bar. Lots of tourists and locals. Pizza made with special flour from Italy. It is different...and good
Howlers Bar & Grill
local bar...fantastic hamburgers, the best fries you have ever eaten anywhere. good bar. Lots of tourists and locals. Pizza made with special flour from Italy. It is different...and good
“Phoenix at Nephenthe”. Perhaps our favorite place to eat in the evening. Fair prices, good food, an excellent chef. Lots of area tourists eat there and it is very close by. On a nice evening, you can walk, but take a flashlight. Try their Tillapia...locally grown...with Pineapple sauce. Beautiful place for a sunset if you go early enough.
Nepenthe B&B
“Phoenix at Nephenthe”. Perhaps our favorite place to eat in the evening. Fair prices, good food, an excellent chef. Lots of area tourists eat there and it is very close by. On a nice evening, you can walk, but take a flashlight. Try their Tillapia...locally grown...with Pineapple sauce. Beautiful place for a sunset if you go early enough.
Sightseeing
Great walking trails. Lava fields from the 1998 explosion. Before this (on way in) is another walking trail which we like better. Wild orchids in season. Lava from the 1996 explosion is amazing.
Arenal Volcano National Park Visitor Center
La Fortuna - El CastilloGreat walking trails. Lava fields from the 1998 explosion. Before this (on way in) is another walking trail which we like better. Wild orchids in season. Lava from the 1996 explosion is amazing.
MISTICO HANGING BRIDGES. Our favorite jungle walk. Transverse canyons and walk in the top of the canopy as you cross 17 bridges. Some very short, others amazingly high and long.
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Mistico Arenal Hängebrückenpark
MISTICO HANGING BRIDGES. Our favorite jungle walk. Transverse canyons and walk in the top of the canopy as you cross 17 bridges. Some very short, others amazingly high and long.
Entertainment & Activities
One of the few world wide to raise all their own butterflies. Beautiful hiking trails, Many trails, 5 habitats, excellent guides. Really a must see.
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Butterfly Conservatory
One of the few world wide to raise all their own butterflies. Beautiful hiking trails, Many trails, 5 habitats, excellent guides. Really a must see.
A great art gallery of works by the owners. Also vegetarian and vegan lunches and snacks, all from their own organic gardens. Fantastic home made hot sauce, bitters, and more. Great teas and smoothies. A must stop place.
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Gavilana Permaculture
A great art gallery of works by the owners. Also vegetarian and vegan lunches and snacks, all from their own organic gardens. Fantastic home made hot sauce, bitters, and more. Great teas and smoothies. A must stop place.
ECOTERMALES HOT SPRINGS,
LA FORTUNA
An inexpensive a very nice hot springs. 7 large ponds of varying temperatures, great bar. OK restaurant. A few nice trails. Hot water from volcano flows to stream that fills ponds.
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Ecotermales Fortuna
ECOTERMALES HOT SPRINGS,
LA FORTUNA
An inexpensive a very nice hot springs. 7 large ponds of varying temperatures, great bar. OK restaurant. A few nice trails. Hot water from volcano flows to stream that fills ponds.
Best zip-lines around. Also water adventure of zip-lines and tubing. also a guided walk. Professionally run. Not inexpensive. but all events are a great adventure.
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Sky Adventures Arenal Park
Best zip-lines around. Also water adventure of zip-lines and tubing. also a guided walk. Professionally run. Not inexpensive. but all events are a great adventure.
A great Hot Springs with a day pass. Our Favorite. Under $30 for the day (off season) includes a 3 course lunch OR dinner. multiple pools, beautiful trails and grounds. swim up bar. Big Value.
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Los Lagos
A great Hot Springs with a day pass. Our Favorite. Under $30 for the day (off season) includes a 3 course lunch OR dinner. multiple pools, beautiful trails and grounds. swim up bar. Big Value.
Tabacon
Try the day or night pass. Beautiful hot springs and wonderful evening buffet.
Parks & Nature
closet place to get to see Arenal Volcano, great trails and waterfalls. Good restaurant. Negative...10 bucks per person admission. OK for a day fee...not good for a few hours or lunch. NO EVENING MEALS.. Closed to the public after 4 PM
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Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
closet place to get to see Arenal Volcano, great trails and waterfalls. Good restaurant. Negative...10 bucks per person admission. OK for a day fee...not good for a few hours or lunch. NO EVENING MEALS.. Closed to the public after 4 PM
OK...I CHEATED. On your way to White Hawk, you drove past the big national Park. That is NOT where we suggest you go. Instead, as you head from White Hawk back to La Fortuna, you will drive PAST the National park to the next drive on your left...about 1 KM...to the Arenal Volcano AREA park and hiking trails. Experience amazing rocks the size of cars thrown from the volcano in 1968. In season...Jan, Feb, March and April are the best time to see hundreds of wild orchids along the trail. We prefer the short trail...still about 2.5 hours.
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Nationalpark Arenal-Vulkan
La Fortuna - El CastilloOK...I CHEATED. On your way to White Hawk, you drove past the big national Park. That is NOT where we suggest you go. Instead, as you head from White Hawk back to La Fortuna, you will drive PAST the National park to the next drive on your left...about 1 KM...to the Arenal Volcano AREA park and hiking trails. Experience amazing rocks the size of cars thrown from the volcano in 1968. In season...Jan, Feb, March and April are the best time to see hundreds of wild orchids along the trail. We prefer the short trail...still about 2.5 hours.
Everything Else
The local Soda is across the street and the Pulperia (store) is just past the church. Kelley's Little window is a block up the street, the butterfly Conservancy and Gavalena further up the hill.
El Castillo Catholic Church
La Fortuna - El CastilloThe local Soda is across the street and the Pulperia (store) is just past the church. Kelley's Little window is a block up the street, the butterfly Conservancy and Gavalena further up the hill.
Good restaurant, beautiful grounds and tropical plants, walk to waterfalls, forests, jungles, small museum, observation decks. Admission to get in, so be sure to do more than eat. Plan to hike.
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Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
Good restaurant, beautiful grounds and tropical plants, walk to waterfalls, forests, jungles, small museum, observation decks. Admission to get in, so be sure to do more than eat. Plan to hike.