Monteverde is a mountain, with a cool climate and ONE, rough road leading into it. Its main feature is clod forest--people that enjoy nature and birdwatching find it amazing. There's no night life, you get up at 5am to enjoy nature. They have one of the best zipline tours in the country, and you can do a lot of hiking. Rafting is better option in Arenal or Manuel Antonio. You can even get adventure connection tour between Arenal and Manuel Antonio that includes door -to-door transport and a rafting tour.
Manuel Antonio is set on the Central Pacific, and National Park has great beaches, and lots of wildlife as well. There's plenty of restaurants there, and activities in the area. You have mountains in the background, National Park on one side, and beach/ocean in front of you. But, MA is one of the most crowded places in Costa Rica as well. Depending on the time of the year you are traveling, this can really become a snag.
Are you a beach person or a nature person. If you want beach then Manuel Antonio is the place because you also have a cool (but tiny) national park to visit.. However if you want more outdoor activities and the coolness of the mountains go to Monteverde. In a week you really don't have the time to do what Douglas suggested unless you move all the time.
Neither. Go to Braulio Carrillo and Guaba National monument-Lancaster Gardens-Irazu.Then go to Rio Celeste-Tenorio after stopping in La Fortuna( erroneously called " Arenal" by 'murkinz.The other option is straight to the OSA Peninsula-Drake Bay.
Beaches ? San Juan Del Sur (Nicaragua) or Montezuma-Nicoya Peninsula. These are the REAL Costa Rica.
Hi. I would recommend Manuel Antonio because it is a huge wonderful national park with the most beautiful beaches you can visit in costa rica.
Monteverde is wonderful for zip lineand hiking opportunities but there isn't any rafting particularly near. You can do that near Arenal though.
You can do rafting, zip lining and hiking in Arenal.
Monteverde is a tightly packed touristy village on a mountain top full of activities related to a cloud forest.
Manuel Antonio is a well traveled area of hotels near a beautiful park on the pacific coast.
Do you want a cloud forest in the mountains or sunny beach?
If it were me I'd do a few days in Arenal, one night in Monteverde and then a few days and then the rest in Manuel Antonio. Either 3, 1, 3 or 2,2,3.
I'm spending 7 days in Costa Rica and I'll be landing in San Jose.
I thought about going to Arenal for a couple of days and then to either Monteverde or Manuel Antonio. Which do you recommend? I want to go rafting, ziplining, hiking.
Thanks!
