I\u2019m not much of a birdwatcher myself, but spotting so many rare and beautiful species in Monteverde made me want to take it up as a hobby. From colorful quetzales<\/em> to spooky-looking owls, I saw all kinds of birds in Monteverde. This isn\u2019t to say I didn\u2019t see any in La Fortuna, but I did notice quite a difference between the two, with more of a variety of birds in Monteverde.<\/p>\nMany interesting species of birds are best viewed at night, so I recommend joining a Cloud Forest Night Walking Tour. Even if you weren\u2019t super into the birds, the night tour is great for seeing other critters like frogs, spiders, snakes, and more.<\/p>\n
The weather is cooler<\/h3>\n\n
After being on the beach in Manuel Antonio, I was excited to trade my bikini for some leggings and a rain jacket. Monteverde was the coldest place I visited in Costa Rica, with chilly evenings dipping into the low 60s. I loved the moody, foggy weather and the excuse to huddle in the blankets at night, but if you are hoping for a warmer getaway, this might not be your cup of tea. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s more laid-back<\/h3>\n Since Monteverde is slightly less touristy than La Fortuna, it has more of a laid-back vibe. There usually aren\u2019t huge crowds; there were no lines when I went (in July, during the rainy season). And the locals were super friendly and down to earth. Monteverde feels more like an actual town where people live as opposed to a tourist trap, which is how La Fortuna felt to me.<\/p>\n
Monteverde is ideal for nature lovers who love peace and quiet. There were so many moments while I was hiking in the cloud forest where I was the only person around, a sensation that I crave when places get too busy.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s in a cloud forest<\/h3>\n\n
Speaking of the cloud forest, my favorite part of Monteverde was seeing the astounding variety of plant species. Here you can expect to see vibrant green moss hanging from the trees, trickles of mist in the air, and thick jungle canopies for as far as the eye can see. I loved the serenity of the forest, as well as the mystical quality it takes on because of the fog.<\/p>\n
The hiking is supreme<\/h3>\n The Cloud Forest Reserve is just one of several places in and around Monteverde that are prime for hiking. Here you\u2019ll find over eight miles of trails \u2014 enough to spend an entire day exploring. Other places that were fantastic to hike were the Children\u2019s Eternal Forest, the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, and Curi Cancha Reserve.<\/p>\n
A quintessential part of hiking in Monteverde is crossing the massive hanging bridges. Compared to La Fortuna, I thought the Monteverde hanging bridges were better, because many of them stretched above the forest canopy and offered stunning mountain views. <\/p>\n
Drawbacks of Monteverde<\/h2>\n\n
It\u2019s much rainier<\/h3>\n This isn\u2019t much of a surprise, considering that Monteverde is at a higher elevation and surrounded by rainforest, but there was definitely more rain here than in La Fortuna. There were rare moments when it wasn\u2019t wet, but even if it wasn\u2019t pouring rain, there almost always seemed to be mist or sprinkles. Though this can be a big turnoff for some travelers, I didn\u2019t mind it, as I was prepared with waterproof gear. I find the rain to be charming, while others might not.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s not any nightlife<\/h3>\n Saying that Monteverde is dead at night is an understatement. There\u2019s only one bar in town, and restaurants typically close around 10pm, so don\u2019t expect to dance the night away here. If you\u2019re traveling solo and want to meet other travelers, consider staying in a hostel rather than private accommodation, as it might be tough to branch out otherwise.<\/p>\n
You may need a 4\u00d74 vehicle<\/h3>\n This varies depending on what you want to do in Monteverde, but just getting there will be challenging if your car doesn\u2019t have 4\u00d74 drive. The roads leading into town are quite bumpy, and I even saw a big section washed away when I was en route. Obviously, if you are taking public transportation, you won\u2019t have to worry about driving \u2014 just expect a rocky journey.<\/p>\n
Another reason why a 4\u00d74 vehicle may be necessary when visiting Monteverde is that it gets quite muddy during the rainy season. If you\u2019re renting a car without four-wheel drive, there\u2019s a risk you\u2019ll get stuck in the mud, or what\u2019s worse, damage the car.<\/p>\n
La Fortuna Highlights<\/h2>\n\n
It\u2019s much easier to get to<\/h3>\n Since La Fortuna is closer to San Jos\u00e9 and less remote in general, it\u2019s much easier and quicker to get to from most other parts of Costa Rica (in comparison with Monteverde). The roads leading into La Fortuna are smoother as well, so you don\u2019t have to worry about journeying hours on a bumpy road full of potholes. You can even visit La Fortuna on a day trip from San Jos\u00e9 if you\u2019d like!<\/p>\n
Hot springs\u2026dare I say more?<\/h3>\n\n
The famous Tabac\u00f3n hot springs (this is the part you can access for free)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nAnother huge perk of visiting La Fortuna is the abundance of hot springs. Heated by geothermal activity from the Arenal Volcano, these springs are both man-made and natural. The man-made ones are less impressive, but still nice to soak in and kind of reminded me of an adult water park with hot tubs instead of wading pools. The natural hot springs come from the Arenal River, and there are a couple of spots where you can take a dip for free (find out how here).<\/p>\n
There are more adrenaline-pumping activities<\/h3>\n La Fortuna is famous for its daring activities. Some include extreme zip-lining, white-water rafting, canyoneering, and off-roading on ATVs. Sure, Monteverde has some of these activities as well (zip-lining and ATV tours), but the overall vibe in La Fortuna lends itself to having a more exciting experience aimed at getting your adrenaline pumping.<\/p>\n
The waterfalls are spectacular<\/h3>\n\n
There\u2019s no denying that the waterfalls in and around La Fortuna are totally worth the hype. My two favorites were La Fortuna and R\u00edo Celeste. Both of them were insanely beautiful and about the same size, but you can\u2019t swim under R\u00edo Celeste like you can at La Fortuna.<\/p>\n
Monteverde has some waterfalls, but they\u2019re not nearly as impressive as those near La Fortuna, and the only one that could potentially stack up is a 2.5-hour drive away. If you\u2019re super pumped about swimming and chasing waterfalls, La Fortuna might be the best pick for you.<\/p>\n
There are better chances to see mammals and reptiles<\/h3>\n If you want to see sloths in the wild, you\u2019re far more likely to in La Fortuna, as opposed to Monteverde. There are even tours dedicated to spotting them in their natural habitat. La Fortuna is also better for catching howler monkeys and other mammals, many of which come out around twilight (see them on this tour).<\/p>\n
There are more restaurants and nightlife<\/h3>\n La Fortuna is a bigger town than Monteverde, so there are more restaurants to choose from and a far more exciting nighttime scene. Unlike Monteverde, which seemed to shut down at 10pm, La Fortuna stayed awake, with small bars and late-night bites as options. As a solo traveler, it was easier for me to meet other travelers in La Fortuna, as the atmosphere was more social overall.<\/p>\n
Drawbacks of La Fortuna<\/h2>\n\n
It\u2019s much more touristy<\/h3>\n This was a huge downside for me, as I prefer more low-key spots. Even though I visited during the rainy season in July, La Fortuna was packed. Everywhere I went, it was difficult to find a moment to simply be in nature without so many people around. Some travelers don\u2019t mind this, but I was hoping it would be more laid-back. If you visit during the high season (December through April), make sure to book your activities and accommodation well in advance.<\/p>\n
Generally, it\u2019s more expensive<\/h3>\n Overall, I noticed that prices were higher in La Fortuna for almost everything. The most notable difference was for accommodation, with even the most basic hotel rooms starting around $60 per night. For reference, my beautiful cabin-style room in Monteverde was only around $30 a night. Prices at restaurants were slightly higher here, too. Since many of the activities in La Fortuna are more extreme, they tend to be more expensive as well. A night tour, for example, that offered almost the same experience was $55 in La Fortuna compared to Monteverde\u2019s $28.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not exactly the \u201creal\u201d Costa Rica<\/h3>\n La Fortuna felt more like a resort than a Costa Rican town. I noticed that everyone, from the bus drivers to the wait staff, spoke perfect English and were well trained to cater to tourists. I experienced wonderful hospitality during the entirety of my trip to Costa Rica, but here it felt less authentic and more forced. If you\u2019re hoping to learn about Costa Rican culture, La Fortuna isn\u2019t set up to give you that kind of experience.<\/p>\n
So, Monteverde or La Fortuna?<\/h2>\nThe answer to this question depends on a few key things: your budget, what activities you want to do, and how much solitude you\u2019d like. If you want to save a couple bucks, do some more chill activities, and have a slice of nature to yourself, go to Monteverde. If you don\u2019t mind splurging a little for some added luxury or you want to dive into some heart-pounding activities, La Fortuna is your best bet.<\/p>\n
Both of these destinations are completely worth visiting, so if you have time to fit both of them into your itinerary, do it!<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Now that you have everything you need to choose Monteverde or La Fortuna, which one made the cut for you?<\/p>\n
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