Things to do: the La Fortuna–Monteverde lake crossing

The jeep-boat-jeep crossing links La Fortuna to Monteverde in about 3 hours: a minibus to the Lake Arenal dock, a boat ride of roughly 30 to 40 minutes across the lake, then a second minibus up to Santa Elena. Tickets run from around 25 to 45 USD per person, well under the cost of a private transfer. The alternative is the direct road, which takes 3.5 to 4 hours and includes a long stretch of unpaved track on Route 702 that is rough in the green season from May to November. The boat is not just cheaper, it is also faster than driving.