Arenal Volcano Tours
COSTA RICA TOURS AT LEAVES AND LIZARDS
- At Leaves and Lizards, your tours are personalized and can be customized to meet your needs. We believe in creating high quality, safe and memorable experiences for our guests.
- Our horseback riding tours are not typical nose-to-tail type rides. We keep a stable of well trained and cared for horses. We have a variety of horses appropriate for the novice rider to the very experienced rider. We are considered a horseback riding destination. Part of the proceeds from our horseback riding tours support Vinculo con Caballo, our therapeutic horseback riding program. This program is for individuals in our community that benefit from this type of therapy.
- Rates for tours not based at Leaves and Lizards are set by the vendor. We carefully select our outside tour providers based on safety, value and experience.
- Part of the proceeds from our community based tours go back into the community.
- Some of our tours require 24 hour advance reservation.
- Once a tour is scheduled and our guide is arranged, a cancellation fee of ½ the tour rate will be charged if the tour is canceled with less than 48 hours notice.
- Rates and service are subject to change at any time.
- Weather conditions may limit tour availability.
- If you don’t see what you are looking for, just ask! We can make arrangements for most any type of activity.
- Leaves and Lizards is located in a village outside the busy tourist center of La Fortuna, San Carlos.
- Remember to leave some time in your vacation to just sit and relax! Just hanging out is a great way to spend a day too!
- Transportation is not included in most cases. Ask about options.
- Fun stuff to do for free or almost free: Swimming down at the river, farm chores in the morning, hiking, visit local farmers markets, local soccer games, go shopping at a local market, Tabacon River hot springs, get your hair cut and nails done for under $30 at the local beauty salon, hammock time....!
- Tours operated by Leaves and Lizards are part of our rural tourism project. Rural tourism
promotes community involvement and cross cultural exchanges between locals and our guests.
ADVENTURE CHALLENGE COSTA RICA
Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Adventure Challenge trips create a competitive but friendly environment for individuals or groups to explore Costa Rica. Participants will experience the real Costa Rica; discovering the biodiveristy, the culture of Costa Rica while having the adventure of a life time. Click HERE for more information!
CANOPY ZIP LINE
Experience one of the safest, highest and longest canopy tours in Costa Rica! After detailed safety instructions you will hike through primary rainforest in this 1200 acre nature preserve to reach the first platform. After 3 practice zip lines over pristine jungle, you will zoom over two waterfalls 300 feet above the ground. This really is a safe adrenaline rush! There are a total of 10 zip lines; the longest is nearly 1 kilometer. This tour includes a tour of a butterfly garden, frog garden and a visit to a traditional Maleku Indian Village. Transportation is not included.
Operator: Mundo Aventura
Time: Allow 4 hours, offered three times daily at 8:00AM, 10:30AM and 1:30PM. NEW! EXTREME ZIP LINE Shorter version (60 min.) with a BIG Thrill OR Dare the Combo Zip line with a 300 foot Rapel down the Penas Blancas Waterfall!
Cost: Regular Canopy Zip at Mundo Aventura-Adult: $60, Student: $48, Child (<12): $40. EXTREME Adult: $40, Student: $36, Child: $32. Combo: Adult: $105, Student: $80, Child: $65.
Degree of difficulty: Moderately strenuous, you may take the option of having a "taxi" on the zip lines, a guide will link his harness to yours. He does all the work and your hands are free to snap one of a kind photographs. Please Note: It is often better to wait until you get here to make these reservations. Weather conditions can often affect planned activities. Some Commercial operators will not offer refunds with a less than 48 hour notice. We are happy to help make the reservations upon your arrival.
FISHING LAKE ARENAL
The English speaking captain knows all the secrets of fishing in this 20 mile long lake with an unbeatable view of the Arenal Volcano. Two of the commonly caught fish are similar to Large Mouth Bass, with a mild taste and they are delicious. You’re welcome to bring your catch back to the lodge and we can cook them up for supper! Transportation is not included. The photo shows Capt. Ron with client Norma Scherrer and her first guapote!
Operator: Captain Ron's Lake Arenal Fishing Tours
Time: Half or Full-day tour
Cost: $225 half day and $325 full day for 2 adults, $70.00/extra person up to 4.
Degree of difficulty: Easy, fun for all ages!
CANYONING
Trek through the forest on magical trails that lead to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica, a place very few people get to experience, then rappel down the beautiful and pristine canyon.
Operator: Pure Trek Costa Rica or Desafio
Time: Trips offered several times during the day. Ask for current times sechedules
Cost: $90.00 to $98.00, includes lunch, transportation is not included.
Degree of difficulty: Moderately strenuous, no experience necessary, kids welcome*. The Desafio trip is the more strenuous and has minimum and maximum age requirements. Please Note: It is better to wait until you get here to make these reservations. Weather conditions can often affect planned activities. Some Commercial operators will not offer refunds with a less than 48 hour notice. We are happy to make these reservations upon your arrival.
COWBOY FOR A DAY
Ever dream of living the life of a rancher or cowboy? Spend the day with a real Costa Rican rancher. The activities in this tour vary; depending upon what work needs to be done. The typical tour starts early, with your Costa Rican Cowboy mentors. You may move the cattle into a corral for routine care, give medications, inspect them for any needed medical care, help with branding and separate the young or females ready to calf from the large herd. Then move them to another location, often through rivers, over hills through the beautiful countryside. Our professional bilingual guide accompanies this tour. Our host rancher would like at least a 3 day notice to prepare for this tour.
Operator: Leaves and Lizards
Cost: $Varies, includes meals, professional bi-lingual guide.
Time: Full-day tour
Degree of difficulty: Moderately strenuous, previous horseback riding experience is recommended. This tour is part of our community/rural tourism project! Not recommended for children under 16.
WHITEWATER RAFTING
If you are ready for exhilarating fun consider a whitewater rafting trip. You will be paddling your day away as you roar through lush canyons and sneak under waterfalls traveling through large expanses of tropical rainforest. The rivers vary from an easy Class II and III rivers to adrenaline pumping Class IV whitewater.
Operator: Wave Expeditions
Cost: $65.00 Balsa River Class II and III; $85.00 Toro River Class III and IV, includes lunch. Students less 10%.
Time: Full Day
Degree of difficulty: Moderately strenuous
PROFESSIONAL GUIDE FOR A DAY
One of our most popular tour options, our professional, bilingual, naturalist guide will accompany you for the day. Tour the country side or pick a National Park to explore; you never know what you will discover! The perfect option for bird watching or discovering the secrets of the rainforest.
There are unlimited options for this tour. Immerse yourself in the culture, go to places where tourists rarely tread. Discover the Rainforest with one of our professional bilingual guides. Favorites include: Arenal National Park, Rio Celeste, Cerro Chato, Arenal Hanging Bridges,
, El Silenco Reserve, Bird Watching and Orlando’s Primary Forest.
Operator: Leaves and Lizards
Time: Full day: 8 hours OR Half Day: 4 hours
Cost: Full day: $120 OR Half Day: $80 Please Note: Park entrance fees not included. Transportation is not included.
Degree of difficulty: You set the activity level, fun for all ages!
PARADISE ON A PLATTER
Culinary Tour! Experience the fresh tastes of Costa Rica! Learn traditional cooking techniques, with hands-on participation. Prepare authentic cuisine with fresh, tropical ingredients. The day begins with a trip to the local markets. You will proceed to a beautiful farm, where our hostess, a local Costa Rican woman, will open up her kitchen and show you it how it’s done, Tico style! This tour offers a rich, cross-cultural experience. As all tours that are part of our rural tourism program, it is very flexible. At the end of the day share a delicious meal with your new Costa Rican friends! Or enjoy the less formal version of this tour and help our cooks make lunch at the Lava Lizard. Learn to prepare a variety of traditional Costa Rica recipes.
Operator: Leaves and Lizards
Time: Full day
Cost: $65.00 per adult Kids $45 each - Informal Lava Lizards option $25/pp.
Degree of difficulty: Easy
