Where to Go After Monteverde? If You Love the Rainforest, Costa Rica Has a Lot More to Offer!

One of the most amazing things about Costa Rica is how much there is to see in such a small country. This is a country where you can wake up to see the sun rising on the Caribbean Sea and travel for just a few hours through breathtaking landscapes, climates, and life systems. From the luscious humid rainforests of the East Coast to the cloud forests upon the mountains and the rare dry tropical forest, you would see the sun setting on the Pacific Ocean.

The changes are dramatic. 

There’s a reason why so many people who come to Costa Rica don’t just stay in one place and instead venture out to embrace all these fantastic country offers.

And although Monteverde and its cloud forests may have enough to enjoy for months (or years or a lifetime), sometimes a visit here will be part of a larger and more complex itinerary if you come on vacation to Costa Rica. 

Costa Rica is hard to beat as a destination for nature lovers, and there are actually dozens of different subtypes of these forests, from the mesmerizing cloud forests of Monteverde to the tropical dry forests of Guanacaste, and each is home to endangered species and vibrant animal life. 

In this article, though, we'll be focusing on Costa Rica's rainforests, especially those that can be found within a short journey from Monteverde. So if you’re one of these travelers on a journey through the country, we’ve put together a list of some other beautiful stops that might connect you with tropical rainforests that will take your breath away.

Where is Monteverde in Costa Rica? 

Looking at the map, you will notice that Monteverde is strategically placed between the Central Pacific region and the Northern Caribbean area of the country, on an old volcanic mountain range called the Cordillera de Tilaran. This mountain range and its elevation are what gave rise to the cloud forest originally.

The country's eastern coast is influenced heavily by the Caribbean Sea, making it luscious and super diverse. 

East of Monteverde, you can find the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna town, Rio Celeste, and the Tenorio Volcano National Park; if you like to go further, you will find the areas of Sarapiquí and Bajos del Toro. 

Going to the Pacific coast, the weather tends to be slightly different.

Take the Panamerican Highway going North. You will get to the province of Guanacaste and the golden coast of Costa Rica with dozens of luxurious hotels and tons of activities to do. 

You can also decide to go across the Gulf of Nicoya and into the areas of Santa Teresa and Malpaís. 

Or go further South into the vibrant coastal regions of Herradura, Jaco, and Manuel Antonio beaches full of coral reefs, mangrove swamps, and animal species like nowhere else on earth. 

This article will talk about the rainforests, first closer to Arenal Volcano and Rio Celeste, as well as a little further off the beaten path with hidden gems like Sarapiqui and Bajos del Toro.

Exploring Nearby: La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano

Of course, this nearby region is the first to pop up! It is almost three hours away through a super picturesque route. Usually, it is done from Arenal to Monteverde, but the drive is astonishingly beautiful anywhere in these mountain regions, through the mountains, and around Arenal Lake. When people think "Costa Rica Rainforest", oftentimes the tall trees and national parks of Arenal's tropical rain forest are the first thing to come to mind. 

 What to do in Arenal? 

Arenal is one of the most diverse tourist hubs in the country. It has so much to see and enjoy! Rivers swirling through lush jungles, waterfalls smashing into awe-inspiring gorges, hiking trails, horseback riding, walks over hanging bridges, and hot springs are bubbling up beneath the base of the only conic volcano in the country.

If you are driving from Monteverde Cloud Forests To Arenal: 

As you exit Monteverde, you will notice that the forest turns into dairy farms, tiny houses with picturesque gardens, and a winding road that will take you for about an hour to the town of Tilaran.

The road then goes along Arenal Lake with several places to park the car and take a good picture as you get closer. Probably the best pictures of the Arenal Volcano are taken from the lake.

You will also pass the small town of Nuevo Arenal, created when the lake was made, and towns were moved to new locations. 

I highly recommend the German Bakery in Nuevo Arenal. Its pastries and coffee are delicious. 

Onward into Arenal is a very picturesque yet winding road. It’s lovely, but be mindful of other drivers, the curves, and the animals on the road. 

Now and then, large groups of coatimundis appear on this road. Just look at this adorable individual we spotted on the road! They’re harmless members of the raccoon family, but make sure that you don’t feed them. They’re still wild animals!

You may also see howler monkeys, spider monkeys, white-faced monkeys, and two and three-toed sloths up on the trees in their natural habitat. And birds too! Colorful mixed flocks are also visible on this road, and you may witness brightly colored birds traveling together and filling several trees with their different calls and moves.

Finally, you’ll arrive in Arenal and la Fortuna, by the entrance to Arenal National Park and onward to where most hotels and hot springs are. 

We’re Here to Help

If you’re traveling without a car, we’d be happy to help you arrange a private transfer to anywhere within Arenal and La Fortuna. You can travel via car like we’ve described, or even try a unique amphibious trip, including a boat ride across Lake Arenal, before finishing your trip by car!

Feel free to reach out to us if you’d like to learn more and schedule your transfer!

Rio Celeste

Rio Celeste is another fantastic experience full of enchantment! 

The legend in the area says that this river was where God washed his painting brushes after giving the sky its blue colors. 

Of course, nowadays, we know the chemical explanation for the visual effect of the turquoise waters of Rio Celeste. But this hasn't diminished its enchantment. 

Located in the Tenorio National Park, Rio Celeste is easily one of Guanacaste's most remarkable places with its stunning beauty and mysterious rainforests. It explores the paths on the forest floor that run beside the rivers and lagoons on foot. 

In the area, there are some places where you can enjoy the river's amazing blue waters, but inside the Tenorio National Park, they do not allow any swimming. 

What to do in Rio Celeste? 

This region is blessed with incredible biodiversity, and it has some untouched primary rainforests teeming with wildlife. 

At the central Rio Celeste Reserve, the network of trails goes for around 7 kilometers ending at the area of Los Tenideros, where the two rivers combine, and the blue waters appear. 

This pathway system also offers a five-hour circuit that includes stops at scenic views, thermal springs, and boiling mud pots.

Among them is, of course, the breathtaking Rio Celeste waterfall. Wildlife abounds in this area. In addition to the three most common monkey species of Costa Rica – howler, white-faced, and spider – you may also see sloths, anteaters, collared peccaries, and coatimundis!

It’s important to acknowledge that it is forbidden to bathe in the Celeste River while in the Tenorio National Park. 

Just Down the Road Rio Tenorio Rafting 

Do you want a bit more excitement in your exploration? 

Then spend the day rafting the Tenorio River's 13 km of rapids! Navigate the challenging obstacles with an expert guide, and look for animals along the route. This adrenaline-pumping adventure is the ideal action-packed excitement to complement the relaxing Rio Celeste.

In the Northern area of Costa Rica, you may find several rivers with trips that start at Class I, just floating, up to the thrilling Class IV-V which are mainly for highly experienced rafters.

Tubing is a great experience for beginners or people into soft adventure.

Traveling from Monteverde to Rio Celeste

The fastest and most convenient route from Monteverde to Rio Celeste is getting on the Panamerican Highway and taking a turn at the Pumas Rescue Center. It takes 2.40 hours, and it is 124 Km. 

This route is paved all the way to the entrance of the Tenorio National Park.

Another route to Rio Celeste goes the same way as the route to La Fortuna, only that you can take a detour around the area of Nuevo Arenal. This is primarily a dirt road but it’s good in good conditions, almost all year round. However, it may be affected by the rainy season and get a lot of potholes. Although it is more complicated and takes much longer, this is the most picturesque route, and it has much of the wildlife and views we described above.

This route's time stretches to 3.10 hours, and it is 110 Km. 

Now Let's Journey a Bit Further to Sarapiqui and Bajos del Toro

Monteverde is strategically located between the warm Caribbean slope, and the Pacific region, divided into two areas, north and central.

The diversity and the landscapes are striking on both sides, and each has its own character.  The Caribbean side of the country goes more into nature and adventure, while closer to the Pacific Ocean, you will find fabulous beach resorts and a world of leisure and comfort. 

We encountered the Arenal Volcano and the magical Rio Celeste at the start of this post. Now, we're aiming for two areas that are a bit off the beaten track, but truly worth the visit: Sarapiqui and Bajos del Toro. 

As you can see on the map, these are both in the Northern area of Costa Rica and can be used to get to the capital city or as a station before heading to the Caribbean coast. 

Author's Note:

What's most amazing is that even traveling a little further we don't have time to touch on every beautiful rain forest you can explore!! Cahuita National Park, Corcovado National Park, Piedras Blancas National Park, and many others are just the start of dozens of other destinations Costa Rica has to offer.

Sarapiqui

Sarapiqui is located in the northeastern area of Costa Rica. Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui (not to be mistaken with the South Caribbean town of Puerto Viejo) is about 74 kilometers and around an hour and a half from La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano as they are also in the Northern Plains of San Carlos.

Sarapiqui is well-known for its incredible biological diversity, dense rainforests, excellent birdwatching, abundant animal sightings, river floating safaris, and adventures like rafting, ziplining, hiking, and horseback riding. 

However, Sarapiqui also has a strong history of conservation, research, bird watching, and environmental education to go along with its outstanding outdoor adventure options.

What to do in Sarapiqui?

Discover Tropical Rainforests

There is something about the rainforest that just captures the soul. Its incredible ecosystem is so perfectly intertwined, and aromas, textures, and colors are varied and contrasting in ways that can be considered surprising and even dazzling. 

The sounds of hundreds of frogs at dusk get mixed with the echoing howl of the monkeys and the crackling noises of the toucans. When you look up, the canopy is filled with so many bromeliads, orchids, moss, and vines that the sunlight is almost blocked. 

Even if you don’t see a single animal in these forests, the sightings of the Sarapiqui tropical rainforests are superb. 

Birders from all over the world are attracted by the numerous unique targets in the region.  It's also an excellent place for beginners to develop a lifelong interest in nature observation. 

Sarapiqui is known for having some of the most recognized biological research places like La Selva Biological Station or La Tirimbina Biological Reserve, where trails turn into field stations. It is a fantastic place where tourists may learn about nature protection, the effects of climate change and ecotourism, and contribute to contemporary biological research.

There are also plenty of super-specialized naturalist tour guides available to accompany you through the numerous trails. Armed with excellent optical gear, your guide will lead you through a dense forest full of birds, and maybe see monkeys, sloths, and peccaries (boar-like mammals). You can also enjoy adventures like ziplining through its luscious forests, waterfall rappelling, taking horseback rides and exploring hanging bridges. 

Take a White Water Rafting Adventure

The Sarapiqui River is an affluent of the San Juan River, which forms part of Nicaragua and Costa Rica's northern border and finally drains into the Caribbean Sea.

Along this powerful river, you can find a number of different rapids, ranging from Class 1 to Class 4. 

For those who haven’t done much rafting, the higher class your rapid is, the faster and more technical the river gets.  The most usual is the Class 2 to 3 part of the Sarapiqui, which is thrilling, excellent rafting for all ages and conditions. And during resting periods, you drift past some fantastic landscapes. 

You can also go to the lowest part of the river, where you can go on a comfortable boat and just enjoy looking at and learning about the many animals and birds that live on the edge of the river. 

As in all adventure activities, a trustworthy professional company is key to enjoying these experiences to their fullest and safest. Please reach out to us here if you’d like a recommendation for tour providers in the area.

Farm and food tours are also available. In Sarapiqui, with tasty and instructive farm and culinary excursions for those interested in learning about more tropical exports like pineapple and heart of palm. For the farm and food-lover, there’s always something to discover in Costa Rica!

Traveling to Sarapiqui from Monteverde

There are two routes to go from Monteverde to Sarapiqui. 

Both routes are very picturesque, and there is pretty much the same distance and time on both. It just depends on what you’d like to see!

The route that goes by the Arenal Volcano and Arenal Lake is relatively flat once you arrive in the town of Tilaran, and although it is winding, there are no cliffs or narrow one-way roads. You simply go past Arenal, enter the route to Rio Cuarto, San Miguel, and arrive in Puerto Viejo and your hotel. 

The alternative route that goes on the Panamerican Highway will take you through the Central Volcanic Mountain Range, with all of the beauty (but winding roads) that accompany such dramatic terrain.

Please feel free to contact us if you want to arrange transportation and accommodations in Sarapiqui. 

Bajos del Toro

Bajos del Toro is a one-of-a-kind private reserve in the Central Highlands region of Costa Rica, adjacent to the Juan Castro Blanco National Park.

It is home to two of the country's most stunning waterfalls, Tesoro Escondido (Hidden Treasure) and Toro Amarillo (Yellow Bull), which should be on everyone’s list to see at least once!

Bajos del Toro is located near the Central Valley, roughly 90 minutes from San Jose, the capital city. It is also close to the Poas Volcano and the Waterfalls Garden, both of which are major tourist sites.

So by all means, it’s not too far from the beaten path, and believe me when I say that these incredible forests and gorgeous waterfalls are worth the trip! 

Getting to Bajos del Toro

Taking the same route as to go to Sarapiqui, there is a detour that only goes to Bajos del Toro, as you may see on the map below.

Bajos del Toro and Sarapiqui are both great stopovers if you are heading to the Caribbean coast or the center of the country, as both are less than two hours from San Jose city. Or if you’ve flown into San Jose, these can be great, adventurous starts to the trip before relaxing in the mountains of Monteverde.

What to do in Bajos del Toro? 

Del Toro Waterfall

Del Toro Waterfall, located in the Bajos del Toro region, is one of Costa Rica's most spectacular. A 300-foot water drop into an old volcanic crater surrounded by virgin rainforests combines to make one of the most beautiful sights in the country.

In the waterfalls area, some paths provide excellent vantage locations, like the ones from this photo. And if you have the physical condition for it, I highly recommend journeying down to the base of this stunning waterfall. It is a slightly longer hike, but many of the area's magnificent butterflies, tropical birds, and lush vegetation may be seen along the walk, and the view of Del Toro Waterfall from the bottom is worth it.

Another draw from this hike is the distinctive rock formations generated by the volcano. Aside from the fantastic routes you can walk, there is also a waterfall rappel that goes alongside the cascading water. Not for the faint of heart, but ideal for those who enjoy an additional adrenaline thrill!

Tesoro Escondido Waterfall

Tesoro Escondido Waterfall is another splendid site in Bajos del Toro. This waterfall is a well-kept Costa Rican secret and entirely off the beaten route. Because few outsiders are aware of it, most tourists are ticos. Locals only recently discovered this place!

But it was worth the wait to discover because Tesoro Escondido Waterfall is one of Costa Rica's most stunning and distinctive waterfalls. The water is a vivid blue, similar to Rio Celeste, and the entire area is gorgeous. It is an excellent place to go hiking, swim, and have picnics.

Juan Castro National Park and the Biological Reserve of Bosque de Paz

Last but not least is Juan Castro National Park, which borders the Bajos del Toro region, and is a birder's delight! In the Juan Castro National Park, you may see quetzals, hawks, and other unusual and beautiful birds that I haven’t even had the chance to get names for yet! They were just a vibrant, beautiful flash against the canopy. 

In addition to birds, there are a number of mammals, including monkeys and lots of coatis. The national parks’ comprehensive path system allows anybody in good physical condition to explore this mountainous area, but I always recommend going with a guide. They know the area so well that it really changes the experience.

For example, the park is densely forested with exotic hardwoods, a great variety of wild orchids, and endemic species that you might not notice without a keen, professional eye.

A Taste of What Else Costa Rica Has to Offer | Tropical Dry Forests, and More?

Even with this in-depth write-up of Costa Rica's rain forests, we couldn't possibly cover every national park and destination in the region. Manuel Antonio National Park, Cahuita National Park, Corcovado National Park, Piedras Blancas National Park, and many more all host beautiful wildlife and a wide range of tropical rain forests, lowland rain forests, riparian forests, and everything in between.

So What’s Next?

There’s still so much to see in the country! And while we’ve covered some of the beautiful tropical forests in the mountains, there’s one thing we haven’t yet mentioned — Costa Rica’s beautiful beaches and tropical dry forests.

In the next post, we will head the other direction from the cloud forests, and cover the beaches of the Pacific coasts, from Manuel Antonio National Park to the northern tip of Guanacaste, as well as the routes to get to them, to complete a perfect trip to Monteverde and beyond.