When you’re looking for a quiet, isolated town to while away the time on your vacation in Costa Rica, you’re looking for a place like El Castillo. Tucked back in the mountains, far from bustling La Fortuna, El Castillo provides a romantic and undisturbed view of the lava flows from nearby volcanoes. You’ll not only find eco-wonders here, but you’ll also sample great food and great service at the hotels and restaurants. El Castillo is home to the Arenal Rainforest Reserve, the El Castillo-Arenal Butterfly Conservatory and the Jardin Zoológico de Serpientes del Arenal—all working to protect the delicate habitats of Costa Rica.

Sightseeing
The Rainforest Reserve includes an aerial tram that whisks visitors across lava flows and also provides canopy hiking trails and bridges, for those that prefer to experience nature on foot. The Butterfly Conservatory hosts a ranarium, seven different habitat gardens to protect each variety and style of butterfly, a medicinal garden and botanic garden trails where you can get your nature fix with hundreds of loose butterflies. The Conservatory also includes a rare insect museum as well as river walk that provide excellent relaxation time. The Jardin Zoológico is not for the faint hearted, especially those with a fear of snakes, since the zoo is dedicated not to the furry friends you might expect, but to dozens of frogs, turtles, lizards and of course, slithering snakes.