Northern Plains

“The Northern Plains of Costa Rica is one of the most visited regions by international tourists for nature, adventure, and ecotourism. Protected forests, lakes, lagoons, volcanoes, rivers, and waterfalls abound here. Over the last 10 years, there has been a boom in the development sites and adventure tourism services in the region. Thanks to frequent rains, the jungles and fertile plains are always lush and green. These natural sanctuaries for waterfowl, reptiles, mammals, and the prehistoric fish, the gar fish, are important sites for nature lovers.

Volcano and Lake Arenal, Chato Volcano (Cerro Chato), Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, the Sarapiquí area, Tenorio Volcano National Park, and Braulio Carrillo National Park attract visitors from all over the world to experience their unique attributes. The region is a magnet for adventure and nature enthusiasts, with mighty rivers that are very popular for rafting and kayaking, and nature watching – including the Peñas Blancas, San Carlos, Toro, Celeste, Puerto Viejo, and Sarapiquí rivers.”

With its perfect cone shape, Arenal Volcano is one of the most visited volcanoes in the world and a major tourist destination in Costa Rica. Located near the town of La Fortuna, Arenal is the third most active volcano in Costa Rica. The 12,016-hectare Arenal Volcano National Park features several hiking trails through the surrounding forest, and viewpoints to observe the volcano’s lava flows and craters. In fact, there is a second volcano in the national park – the extinct Chato Volcano (Cerro Chato). Chato’s crater collapsed years ago, and in its place is a beautiful emerald lake.

Caño Negro is a spectacular site of internationally designated wetland preservation, and of vital importance for maintaining the environment of the northern region of Costa Rica. Its habitat sustains a wide variety of flora and fauna, many of which are unique or endangered species. Lying very close to the border with Nicaragua in northern Costa Rica, Caño Negro is an 800-hectare freshwater lagoon. During the dry season, the refuge is a key provider of food for thousands of migratory waterfowl arriving from the north. The wetlands are home to rare birds such as northern jacanas, ibises, jabiru storks, anhingas, cormorants, and roseate spoonbills, as well as jaguars, pumas, ocelots, giant anteaters, caimans, river turtles, iguanas, basilisks, and rare fish like the prehistoric gar fish.

The dormant Congo Volcano and three beautiful lakes – Congo, Hule, and Bosque Alegre – are the main features of the Bosque Alegre National Reserve. The habitat consists of primary and secondary tropical wet forests. There is an organized ecological community that cares for the conservation of the refuge.

Famous for its winds, the area around the town of Tilarán – at the southern end of Lake Arenal – has become in recent years an important center for wind turbines generating electricity. Rows and rows of these gigantic wind towers are quite impressive. There are four particular projects in the area, in addition to the large “Tejona” wind farm, owned by the Costa Rica Electric Company (ICE).

Less than 1 km north of Lake Arenal is Lake Cote, a 3-square-kilometer, very deep lake shaped like a heart that is actually an extinct volcanic crater. It has a diameter of approximately 1 km and is a popular destination for fishing.

Flowing naturally from the Arenal Volcano through a series of springs and natural thermal tributaries, the Tabacón River has become world-famous for the Thermal Resort Tabacón Grand Spa that has developed this wonderful resource. Tabacón’s hot springs are one of the main attractions in La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano. The volcano-heated river, with an average temperature of 37 degrees Celsius, flows through waterfalls into steaming pools surrounded by an oasis of tropical gardens. These mineral waters will relax muscles, soothe the skin, and relieve stress. Tabacón Spa Resort is world-class and award-winning.

Just east of Arenal Volcano National Park, the Venado Caves are a unique geological wonder. These limestone caves were formed 15 to 20 million years ago and are a strange and exciting underground world of stalactites and stalagmites, caverns, rivers, fossils, and curious underground creatures. Exploring these caves on an adventure tour is a must for adventurers and nature lovers.

Centuries ago in Costa Rica, the Maleku tribe was divided into 23 villages. Over the last 100 years, the population has decreased, and today only the villages (called “palenques”) of Sol, Margarita, and Tonjibe remain, located 6 km from the town of San Rafael de Guatuso, an hour north of La Fortuna. The current numbers on the Maleku Tribe are 600, making it one of the smallest indigenous groups left in Costa Rica. Their economy is mainly based on indigenous art: carvings, paintings, and musical instruments. Excursions are offered to one of their villages to learn more about their culture, language, and traditions.

On the road from Vara Blanca to San Miguel de Sarapiquí, the Angel Waterfall can be observed from a point along the road. You can get closer to the waterfall by following a path parallel to the Angel River on the outskirts of the Cariblanco community. The Angel Waterfall has a height of approximately 100 meters, but only its top portion is visible.

This lake is located about 8 km northeast of San Miguel de Sarapiquí at an altitude of 400 meters. It covers an area of 40 hectares and has a depth of approximately 75 meters, making it the deepest natural lake in Costa Rica. Scientists suggest that the lake occupies the crater of an inactive volcano. In combination with rich biodiversity, the area holds significant geological, biological, and tourism interest.

The La Paz Waterfall is located between the communities of Vara Blanca and Cinchona on the road to Sarapiquí. The waterfall cascades into a pool right next to the Alajuela road leading to the northern plains, and it is a favored spot for travelers to stop and take photographs. The waterfall is of extraordinary beauty, with two levels and lush tropical jungle all around. Upstream is the La Paz Waterfalls and Peace Lodge, a luxury hotel and adventure park, where you can observe different species of local fauna, as well as walk along trails past four more stunning waterfalls.

The San Fernando Waterfall is a panoramic view from the road near the community of Cinchona on the route from Vara Blanca to San Miguel de Sarapiquí. A ribbon of white cascading through dense forest, part of the Braulio Carrillo National Park, the waterfall drops approximately 70 meters.

Although traditionally the main activities of the city revolved around agricultural activities such as coffee, corn, cocoa, cardamom, citrus fruits, bananas, palms, fruit trees, and livestock, today pineapples and tourism are its main activities. Tourists are attracted to the lush nature of Sarapiquí, the forest, and the friendliness and warmth of its inhabitants. Sarapiquí is an important site for tropical scientific research and ecotourism. Adventure tours are also very popular, especially in the pristine and picturesque whitewater rapids of the Sarapiquí River. The Sarapiquí flows into the San Juan River, which is the northern border of Costa Rica in this area with Nicaragua, and eventually to Barra del Colorado and Tortuguero.

Located in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí, at the confluence of two large rivers, La Selva Biological Station is a remarkable international Neotropical biological research station. It comprises 1,600 hectares of tropical rainforest and reclaimed lands. Created and managed by the Organization for Tropical Studies, La Selva Biological Station annually hosts over 250 scientists and researchers from 26 different countries. The area is home to an incredible array of animals. There are over 120 species of mammals, including jaguars, tapirs, agoutis, bats, and three species of monkeys. Along 57 km of trails, one can spot over 420 species of resident and migratory birds – almost half of the bird species that exist in Costa Rica. There are 500 species of butterflies, approximately 2,000 different types of vascular plants, and according to recent studies, over 400 species of ants have been found to live here. Thousands of arthropod species are currently being documented in La Selva. The area is one of the rainiest in Costa Rica, with an average of 4 meters per year.