Northern Plains Attractions

LAKES, RIVERS AND VOLCANOES

Not many other areas in the country offer such a wide array of scenery for your cameras as does the northern plains of Alajuela and Guanacaste: active volcanoes, hot springs, lakes, lagoons, rivers, waterfalls, emerald forests and colorful wildlife.

The northern plains of Costa Rica enriches the knowledge of those who are passionate about nature, in particular the rainforest. Because the rain is ever present, the rainforests are intensely green and the plains are fertile. These environments provide wonderful sanctuaries for a variety of water birds, reptiles, mammals and fish, including the prehistoric Gaspar fish. This is a paradise for wildlife lovers, and a good place to go horseback riding, explore in all-terrain vehicles, take boat rides, join a birdwatching excursion, or just take a self-guided walk on a nature trail.

TILARAN

Tilaran, one of the 11 districts in the Guanacaste province, is called the “port of many waters.” It is a picturesque mountain community with wide streets, rural architecture and very comfortable weather. At an altitude of 561 meters above sea level, the temperature is cool in the Tilaran valley and in the surrounding mountain range; the scenery is lovely due to the irregular topography, a characteristic that contrasts with the lowland regions of Guanacaste province. Blue and green tones predominate in this scenic landscape.

Tilaran is a port without an ocean, but there are many rivers and lakes and a wide variety of tourist services. From Tilaran you can access many interesting tourist sites, such as the hills of San Jose and Pelado Volcano, where you can view the grandiose Guanacaste prairie. Tilaran is a departure point for Monteverde, La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano and Lake Arena (a reservoir), and the rest of the northern provinces of Alajuela and Guanacaste.

Traveling from Tilaran north to the Arenal valley, you will not only see the Arenal dam and hydroelectric plant but also that many hills are covered with tall, white metallic windmills, which catch the strong winds flowing over the continental divide and Lake Arenal to generate electrical energy. In recent years the development of wind-generated electricity has expanded. The gigantic towers and blades are an impressive sight, a futuristic version of ancient windmills.

LAKE ARENAL

What does a windsurfer do in the middle of the Tilaran Mountains, so far from the ocean? Head for the impressive Arenal Reservoir; this artificial lake at the foot of Arenal Volcano measures 87.8 square kilometers (33 square miles) and is 546 meters above sea level. The strong winds, averaging 72 kph (120 mph) make this a prime location for windsurfing. Visitors also enjoy cruising around the reservoir in large tourist boats, fishing or waterskiing on this amazing lake, surrounded by rolling green hills with scattered oak groves.

COTER LAGOON
This small, peaceful lagoon is north of Lake Arenal at 680 meters above sea level with a diameter of about one kilometer. Some local scientists believe that this is an ancient volcanic crater judging from its geological characteristics. The lagoon is ideal for swimming, kayaking, fishing and birdwatching.

RIO TABACON
Perhaps the biggest attraction near Arenal Volcano is the hot springs on the Tabacon River that flows from the sides of the volcano. The average temperature of the spring is 37 degree Celsius, and the curative powers of the mineral-rich thermal waters relax muscles, cleanse skin and eliminate stress; spending time in the mineral springs is possibly the best remedy for bodies and spirits that are worn out by the ups and downs of daily life. Several tourism companies have developed facilities and services to enhance enjoyment of the mineral springs, such as pools of various temperatures interspersed among beautiful gardens and surrounded by the lush rainforest.

LA FORTUNA WATERFALL
One of the characteristics that define the residents of this area is their awareness of the natural wealth in their region. In this case, fees are collected from visitors to the La Fortuna Waterfall located 5.5 km from the town of La Fortuna. Caretakers created a very steep trail here to help visitors climb to the top of this impressive 70-meter high waterfall.

LA FORTUNA

This small, picturesque town is situated 253 meters above sea level, and is blessed with residents of great business spirit and motivation. They have converted this isolated agricultural region of northern Alajuela province into a thriving commercial area that now offers many tourism services. The greatest attractions here are the majestic, perfect cones of Arenal Volcano and its dormant but inseparable companion volcano, Cerro Chato, which rise abruptly from the flat plains and rolling green hills. As often happen to towns that are meeting places and point of departure to other tourist destinations, La Fortuna offers a wide range of tourist accommodations. From here visitors can head off to the Cano Negro wetlands, the Venado Caverns, Tilaran, Monteverde and other popular points of interests.

CIUDAD QUESADA
This bustling commercial center, at an elevation of 656 meters, is also the administrative center of the San Carlos district in Alajuela province, and the main point of entry to the northern region of the country. It is located 100 km northwest of San Jose over a winding mountain road which offers scenic views of the Central Valley to the south and the San Carlos plains to the north. The geographical location of Ciudad Quesada has facilitated its development as a regional center, making it the most influential community in the northern region for commercial, social and political activities. Being a popular point of departure to other tourist attractions in the region, there are many places for breakfast and lunch, and the Municipal Market is an interesting place to visit where shoppers can find handcrafted items and everyday articles.                                                                                  

LA MARINA ZOO, PALMERA
Located in the Palmera district of Alajuela midway between Ciudad Quesada and Aguas Zarcas; there are more than 200 species of birds, mammals and reptiles in this private zoo, where they are developing programs for the protection and reproduction of endangered animals.

RIO CUATRO LAGOON
This appears to be a simple lagoon, but it has enormous geological, biological and recreational interest because of its rich biodiversity. The lagoon is found at 400 meters above sea level, about 8 km from San Miguel de Sarapiqui on the road to Venecia de San Carlos. The lagoon has a surface area of 40 hectares and a depth of approximately 75 meters. Some scientists argue that the lagoon covers the crater of an extinct volcano.

CHATO VOLCANO
The smaller Chato Volcano (dormant for the last 3500 years) is an inseparable companion of its huge neighbor, Arenal Volcano. With an elevation of 3739 feet, or 1140 meters above sea level, Chato’s lake filled summit crater has a diameter of 550 meters. This beautiful lagoon is bordered by exuberant vegetation. Although it takes a lot of effort to climb up to the lagoon, the incredible view of the surrounding forest and the northern plains is well worth it.

INDIGENOUS AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

Traveling north along National Highway 143 from Lake Arenal where the small town of Nuevo Arenal is, one can get to several interesting rural and indigenous communities:

SAN RAFAEL DE GUATUSO
San Rafael is the administrative center of the Guatuso district. This community, located on the banks of the Rio Frio at 50 meters above sea level, serves as a departure point with numerous tourist services for ecotourism sites such as Cano Negro Wetlands, the indigenous territories of Margarita, Tonjibe and El Sol.

THE TOWN OF LOS CHILES
This town, with an elevation of 43 meters above sea level, is settled on the banks of the lower Rio Frio near the Nicaraguan border, and has developed good commercial and general services. Boats can be rented here for touring the Cano Negro Wetlands or traveling on the river or fishing, which is excellent in this area. From Los Chiles eastward on the Rio San Juan leads to El Castillo, an old Spanish colonial fort hidden in the jungle on the banks of this large river that forms the boundary between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

VENADO CAVERNS
There are some experiences that make one feel a little like Indiana Jones and this is one of them: descending into the Venado Caverns 3 km from the community of Venado. The caverns, discovered in 1962, have an underground system that is approximately 2000 meters long, with unique geological characteristics. Many of the cavern’s passageways have not been explored yet. Walking inside these caverns is an overwhelming experience that has become a required stop for adventure seekers. It is now possible to enjoy such an adventure without much difficulty thanks to the tour agencies in the area.

MALEKU INDIGENOUS RESERVE
Hundreds of years ago the Malekus - linguistic branch of the Chinchas – were divided among 23 villages. During the last 100 years or so, the population has declined and today there are settlements only in El Sol, Margarita and Tonjibe, all within 6 km of San Rafael de Guatuso. In general, the Guatuso Indigenous people conserve their unique language and have their own burial rites, songs and ways of preparing food and raising children. They can be easily identified on the roadways from the unique way they haul cargoes. They continue to use their homemade drums, bows and arrows and are very adept at making hammocks and bags woven from plant fibers. The community also engages in artistic traditional dances with the dance music provided by flutes, drums, maracas and singing. Interestingly, the flutes they use for these occasions are different from those used in their funeral ceremonies.

RIO CELESTE
The journey to Rio Celeste is a combination of adventure, nature observation and geological activity. At a location called El Tenidero, transparent water emanates from two sources and join together to naturally ‘dye’ the water an intense turquoise blue; this phenomena is attributed to the chemical composition of the water, something one must see to believe. The visit can be complemented by a hike through the rainforest that leads to the Rio Celeste Waterfall, an astonishing sight not to be missed.

RIO SAN CARLOS
Although this river is 148 km long, only about 60 km are navigable. Historically, riverside communities have benefited from the economic activities carried out along the course of this river, and tourism has become a very important component, which has led to some beautiful routes being defined, such as from Boca Tapada to Rio San Juan, where visitors observe birds, caimans, crocodiles and a few rural communities.