Top 10 Things to Do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Sitting at the base of Arenal Volcano is the small town of La Fortuna. Lush rainforests, soothing hot springs, lava fields, and hanging bridges combine perfectly to create one of Costa Rica’s most thrilling destinations. Ziplining, canyoning, whitewater rafting, and hiking around the volcano are all adventurous things to do in La Fortuna, but visitors can also relax in the hot springs, search for sloths on guided tours of the hanging bridges and rainforests, and day trip to nearby destinations.

We spent a week here and loved every minute of it. Our days typically started with something more adventurous, such as canyoning (so much fun!) or hiking, and ended with an afternoon relaxing in the hot springs. One of the things that makes La Fortuna special is its perfect balance of thrilling adventures and tranquil relaxation.

Top 10 Things to Do in La Fortuna

Did You Know? La Fortuna was originally a quiet farming village, but after the Arenal Volcano’s dramatic eruption in 1968, it transformed into one of Costa Rica’s top travel destinations. Despite the eruption’s devastation, the town itself was miraculously untouched, hence its name, La Fortuna, which means “The Fortune” in Spanish.

1. Visit a Private Reserve at the Base of Arenal Volcano

Seeing the old lava flows and getting a view of Arenal Volcano is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna.

To do this, you have several options. One option is to visit Arenal Volcano National Park. We did this, and yes, it is interesting, but the private reserves offer a better overall experience and can be cheaper. We have information about the national park later in this guide, but we do not think it is one of La Fortuna’s top 10 experiences.

There are several private reserves where you can go hiking, get a great view of the volcano, spot some wildlife, and even dine with a view of the volcano.

Arenal Volcano Park 1968

When Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968, it created lava fields around the base of the volcano. This park has a network of trails that run through these lava fields.

Why You Should Visit this Reserve: This was Tim’s favorite hike in La Fortuna. The trail is very interesting, you get to walk across the 1968 lava flow, all while getting great views of Arenal Volcano. There is also a café with panoramic views of the volcano, the perfect spot for a cool, refreshing drink at the end of the hike. However, it was the most expensive reserve we visited.

At Arenal 1968, there are three trails which run through the lava fields:

• Green Trail: This short loop hike takes you to a view of the lava fields.
• Yellow Trail (3 km): This trail starts off as a flat walk through a forest and then climbs up into the lava fields. After walking through the lava fields, the trail loops back to the café and park entrance. This trail is easy to moderate.
• Red Trail (5.6 km): This trail follows the yellow trail to the lava field. It then goes farther into the lava field and to a small lake, where sometimes alligators can be seen.

We followed the yellow trail and felt this was sufficient. The views of the lava field, Arenal Volcano, and Lake Arenal are all very nice from the high point of this trail. If you do the yellow trail, it takes about 40 to 60 minutes to do the hike. Leave time for the café at the end of the trail, as the views from here are wonderful as well.

How to Visit Arenal 1968: From La Fortuna, it is a 20-minute drive to get there (Arenal Volcano View and Lava Trails on Google Maps). The entrance is very close to the Arenal Volcano National Park. Get updated hours and pricing here.

Mirador El Silencio

Mirador El Silencio is a large private reserve with a series of hiking trails that lead to panoramic views of the volcano and old lava fields.

Why You Should Visit this Reserve: This was my favorite hike in La Fortuna. The trail is bit more challenging, but I also thought it was more interesting than Arenal 1968, with its great views of the volcano and rugged trail, particularly at the highest viewpoint of the volcano. This park is the cheapest private reserve to visit, and cheaper than the national park.

To visit Mirador El Silencio, it is about a 17-minute drive from La Fortuna. At the entrance, park, pay your fee at the entrance booth, and snap a photo of the trail map. There are several hiking trails that start next to the entrance booth, but our recommendation is to skip these, get back into your car and drive up the road to the upper parking lot. From here, hike trail #6 to the scenic viewpoint of the volcano.

Trail #6 is roughly 1.2 km long. It’s hilly in spots but it leads to a portion of the 1968 lava flow. Seeing the lava flow, and the view of Arenal Volcano from this point, is the highlight of the park.

There are other trails lower on the mountain which are good for forest views and spotting wildlife. If you are doing other sloth walks in La Fortuna or visiting the Mistico Hanging Bridges (which you should!) then it might not be worth hiking these trails, unless you have a lot of time in La Fortuna (more than one week). 

Get hours and pricing on the official website.

Arenal Observatory Lodge

This is one of La Fortuna’s hidden gems.

Arenal Observatory Lodge is the most remote of the private reserves. It’s a 35-minute drive to get here from La Fortuna, and the last part of the drive will be on a hilly, rough, gravel road. But once here, it’s awesome. The views of the volcano are spectacular and if you are into birdwatching, this place is not to be missed.

Why You Should Visit this Reserve: No hiking required. In fact, you can have lunch at the lodge or a drink on the deck, with a panoramic view of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. This is our favorite view of the volcano. Plus, there are bird feeders that attract some very interesting birds, including the Montezuma Oropendola.

To get here, drive to Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails. It’s recommended to have an SUV or 4×4, since the final part of the drive is on a rough, potholed gravel road. The entrance fee is paid at the gate. Once on the reserve, the roads are paved, there is abundant parking, and lots of amenities.

For the quickest visit, go right to the observation deck. There is a large outdoor deck with views of the volcano, the bird feeders, and Lake Arenal. Right next door is a restaurant. We had lunch here, and the food was good, but the views were better. I loved photographing the birds at the birdfeeders.

Montezuma Oropendola

There are several trails to hike on the property. There is a short trail which leads to an indoor observation tower, which is really just a room on an upper floor of one of the lodges.

For the best view, walk out to The Nest. It’s 146 steps to the top of this wobbly observation tower. Your reward is 360° views of the area.

We also walked trails to the frog pond and were able to spot the Montezuma Oropendula birds multiple times. Seeing their nests was very interesting, but nowhere near as interesting as watching and hearing their call.

The Arenal Observatory Lodge offers a lot more than a deck with a view and a few hiking. This is also a lodge and hotel. Some rooms have a great view of the volcano. There is also a spa onsite and guided hikes of the property.

2. Go Canyoning

Canyoning (which is sometimes also called canyoneering), is rappelling down waterfalls.

Of all the things we did in La Fortuna, canyoning was my favorite experience. This was a first for me and Tim and we loved every minute of it. It’s adventurous, it’s refreshing, and it can take you a bit outside of your comfort zone. We even got to see some howler monkeys, a nice bonus.

Tim put in a lot of research to the best places to go canyoning in La Fortuna. I am going to first list who we used, plus a few more recommended companies.

Maquique Adventure

This is the company we used and had a fantastic experience. On our tour, it was me and Tim plus two guides.

Why Pick This One: Maquique Adventure offers a nice mix of touch the wall and non-touch rappelling. There are 3 waterfall rappels, 2 dry rappels, 2 ziplines, and 1 monkey drop into a pool of water. It’s a great choice for newbies. Plus, we had a great personal experience with Maquique. They have a YouTube video so you know exactly what to expect.

Our Experience

The experience starts off with a short hike through the forest to the first rappel. The first rappel is very short, a good place to practice the basics of rappelling and to get a feel of what it is like to do that drop.

The rappels got gradually longer and more challenging, with a few in waterfalls, along with several monkey drops into pools of water. The longest rappel was 200 feet, next to a waterfall. Our guides were tons of fun, taught us a lot, and kept us safe.

Tickets can be purchased on the official website. Small group and private tours are available and include transportation. They also offer whitewater rafting tours. Tickets can also be purchased on GetYourGuide, which has a 24 hour cancellation policy.

Things to Bring: Closed-toe shoes, clothes that can get wet, a dry change of clothes, insect repellent, hair tie. We carried our iPhones in a waterproof sleeve with a strap that we wore cross-strap across our bodies. This was mostly in a forest, so sunscreen was not a must-have.

ABC Canyoning

This is a company that we also highly considered using. With a 230-foot waterfall rappel, ABC offers the highest waterfall rappel in La Fortuna. However, it was our first time canyoning, and some reviews stated that the final waterfall rappel was very intense, and they ended the day with cuts and bruises. So, we went with Maquique instead.

Why Pick This One: Pick this company if you want to focus solely on water rappelling, and bragging rights for completing the highest waterfall rappel in the area. But it is not for everyone, reviews mention that the strong force of the water at the big waterfall is intense and powerful. And people have walked away with cuts and bruises after rappelling it.

This one still looks like tons of fun, and now that we have a little experience under our belts, it would be the one we’d sign up for next.

Learn more on their website. Tickets can also be purchased on GetYourGuide.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: GetYourGuide offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund for many tours and tickets (it’s a good idea to check the fine print). We booked most of our entry and tour tickets in Costa Rica through GetYourGuide, because we just had to input our credit card information into one website, rather than a long list of websites. Plus, all of your tour tickets are saved in one app, making it easier to keep track of your travel plans.

Desafio Adventure Company

Desafio offers several tours. Canyoning in the Lost Canyon is a tour with several waterfall rappels (the highest being 60 meters/200 feet) and swimming in the El Salto swimming hole. Learn more on their website and GetYourGuide.

The Extreme Gravity Falls Waterfall Jumping tour is a mix of waterfall rappelling and waterfall cliff jumping, with the highest jump being 7.6 meters/25 feet. Learn more here and on GetYourGuide.

Pure Trek

Pure Trek is a family friendly adventure company. They use a special technique to slowly lower children, where the guide has total control over the rappelling. Their tour includes 3 waterfall rappels, 1 rock rappel, and 1 monkey drop (a zipline into a pool of water at the base of a waterfall). Get the full details on their website.

3. Go Ziplining

Ziplining, also called Canopy Tours, is another one of La Fortuna’s more adventurous activities.

Ziplining tours are offered throughout Costa Rica, so if you also have plans to visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest or Manuel Antonio, you also have the opportunity to do this here. We did not go ziplining in La Fortuna, since we had already done it twice, earlier on our trip. There were things that stood out in those tours (100% Aventura in Monteverde has the longest zip line in Costa Rica, plus you can do it superman-style and El Santuario Canopy Adventure in Manual Antonio has the longest dual zip line in Costa Rica).

So, if you have plans to visit more than La Fortuna on your trip to Costa Rica, consider where else you are going. There are some great ziplining tours in La Fortuna, but your time here could be better spent in the hot springs, canyoning, or day tripping to a place like Tenorio Volcano National Park.

4. Take a Guided Tour of Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges

Featuring a network of suspended bridges and trails that run through a rainforest canopy, this park is one of the best places in La Fortuna to view wildlife, the jungle, and even get views of Arenal Volcano.

If you don’t have plans to visit the Monteverde Cloud Forest, this is well worth it, as you get a similar experience walking the hanging bridges and spotting wildlife. Even if you have plans to visit Monteverde, Místico is still worth it, especially if you take a guided tour. We saw a lot of birds and wildlife we didn’t get to see in other parts of Costa Rica.

Things to Do at Místico Hanging Bridges:

Walk the hanging bridges. There are 6 hanging bridges in the park, some of them quite long. From some bridges, you get a spectacular view of Arenal Volcano (if the skies are clear…they were not during our visit).

Rainforest wildlife. We saw a lot of exotic birds, spider monkeys, pit vipers, giant banded anole, howler monkeys, toucans, tarantula dens, and heard quite a few poison dart frogs. It is also possible to see sloths and capuchin monkeys.

Spider Monkeys

Walk the Main Trail. The main trail through the park is 3.2 km/2 miles long, hilly in spots, and crosses the 6 hanging bridges. It takes 1.5 hours without a guide, about 2.5 hours with a guide. There is a shorter, more accessible trail for those with mobility issues.

Guided or Self-Guided? What’s the Best Option?        

We took a guided tour and I’m very glad we did. Our guide was incredible, not only in finding and pointing out wildlife, but also teaching us about the animals that live in this park, and about Arenal Volcano. Without a guide, we would have seen very little in terms of wildlife.

Taking a guided tour is more expensive and takes longer, but it’s worth it, to spot the wildlife that camouflages themselves in the rainforest canopy.

We took this guided tour and had a fantastic experience.

Entry Tickets: Whether you plan to take a guided or self-guided tour of the park, it is best to book your tickets online in advance. This can be done on the official website. The official website also offers tickets on GetYourGuide, if you prefer to use this platform to manage your tickets and tours in Costa Rica.

If you don’t have plans to rent a car, this guided tour also includes transportation from La Fortuna.

When to Go: The park opens at 6 am. If you want the park to yourself, go early. We heard that it gets very crowded mid-morning. Our tour started at 7 am, and at that hour, there were only a few other visitors at the park. At the end of our tour (9:30 am) the park was very busy. 

5. Relax in the Hot Springs

Visiting the hot springs is one of La Fortuna’s top experiences. The geothermal activity from nearby Arenal Volcano heats the mineral-rich water, offering a relaxing and therapeutic experience.

There are a LOT of hot springs to choose from. These range from hot springs at luxury resorts with big price tags to more budget-friendly options. We visited five hot springs in La Fortuna, and here is our overview of each of them.

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

Why Pick This One: This was the most luxurious and naturally designed hot spring we visited. It’s a good pick for couples and adults who want a quieter, more natural experience. But it’s also one of the most expensive, as we paid roughly $100 per person to enter.

The hot springs resorts throughout La Fortuna look like swimming pools with added waterfalls, and sometimes even water slides. Tabacón was designed to look a lot more natural, with flowing rivers, secluded pools of water, and cascading waterfalls. It has a beautiful setting, with walking trails and loungers tucked away in the trees. There is also a spa, a swim up bar, and a restaurant that serves very good food.

Website: Learn more and get updated pricing and hours on the official website. They also offer accommodations and with a room reservation, guests get complementary access into the hot springs.

Baldi Hot Springs

Why Pick this One: With secluded pools, caves to explore, multiple swim up bars, an onsite restaurant and areas for kids to play, you could easily spend all day here. It’s the most family friendly hot spring in La Fortuna, with water slides and a kids’ play zone. It is also the most affordable luxury hot spring (roughly $50 per adult).

This is the largest hot springs resort in La Fortuna, and one of the most popular. There are 25 thermal pools, ranging in size and temperature of the water and there is even a cold-water pool, if you need to cool off.

This park is huge, with lots of places to explore and spread out. There are small, quieter pools to relax in, as well as larger pools surrounded by lounge chairs. If you are looking for a hot spring with a lot of variety, this is good one to visit.

Website: Explore more of Baldi on the official website and take a tour via their photo gallery.

The Springs Resort Hot Springs

Why Pick this One: The view of Arenal Volcano from the swim up bar is a big highlight. There are three areas of hot springs, which makes the expensive day pass worth it, if you plan to spend all day here. However, it is the most expensive on the list, roughly $130 per person for a day pass.

This is our favorite hot spring in La Fortuna, mainly because we loved the view of Arenal Volcano from the swim up bar. We had lunch here, sitting in the warm waters of the pool, dining on salads and tacos and indulging in a few tropical cocktails. The food is nothing special, but the view is unbeatable.

There are three areas of hot springs. The Las Lagunas Pools section is located near the entrance and has several large pools surrounded by lounge chairs, plus the swim up bar.

The Perdido Springs section is a short walk from Las Lagunas, is sheltered by trees, has smaller pools and a slide, and feels a lot more secluded and quieter.

From the hotel, visitors can take a shuttle to the Club Rio section, which has more thermal pools, river tubing, inflatable river kayaking, and even horseback riding.

This is an expensive hot spring to visit, but the day pass is good for two days, and there is a lot to do here, if you also visit the Club Rio section.

Cool Fact: Both The Bachelor and Keeping Up with the Kardashians have been filmed here.

Website: Learn more about the resort on the official website. The Springs is also one of the top luxury resorts in La Fortuna and if you stay here, the hot springs are included.

Ecotermales Hot Springs

Why Pick This One: If you want a luxury experience without paying a small fortune, entrance fees are roughly $50 per adult. This is a small, lovely hot spring with waterfalls and several restaurants.

This is a small hot spring and looks more like a large swimming pool, divided into several sections, and surrounded by lounge chairs and restaurants. One of the perks is you get food and drink service right from your lounge chair.

We thought this hot spring looked nice, but it lacks a big view (like Springs Resort), secluded smaller pools to escape the crowds (like Baldi), and a natural setting (like Tabacón). But its lower cost is a big advantage and still get the luxury experience.

Website: See the list of amenities and learn more on the official website.

Mid-Range and Budget-Friendly Hot Springs

Paradise Hot Springs: A smaller, less crowded option with beautifully landscaped pools and a relaxing atmosphere.

Los Laureles: A family-friendly, affordable option with both hot and cold pools, water slides, and beach volleyball, perfect for a casual visit.

Relax Termalitas: One of the cheapest hot springs to visit, but the quality of facilities is mediocre and it gets very mixed reviews.

Free Hot Spring

Sitting next to Tabacón resort is a river with naturally heated waters. It is free to visit but lacks amenities such as bathrooms, changing rooms, or lockers. Parking is alongside the road and the attendant will ask you for a small tip.

6. Go on a Sloth Walk

Sloths can be spotted in the trees around La Fortuna. There are a few nature parks with trails that weave through the forest, that increase your odds of spotting one of these animals. If you haven’t spotted a sloth yet on your trip, it is best to hire a guide. But you can walk the trails unguided, testing out your sloth spotting skills.

The Bogarin Trail

This was our favorite sloth walk in La Fortuna. 2.5 km of trails run through the forest, creating two loops. We did this unguided, spotting a Keel-billed toucan and a sloth. It is also possible to see lizards, frogs, and Yellow-throated toucans.

One of the best parts of this park are the birdfeeders next to the entrance. These birdfeeders attract lots of different birds, including hummingbirds, tanagers, and honeycreepers.

Bogarin Trail is located in La Fortuna, has free parking, and there is no need to book tickets in advance. Learn more on the official website, which also has information about how to take a guided walk, if you want to increase your chances of seeing sloths and other wildlife.

La Fortuna Hikes and Trails

This park is a short drive from La Fortuna and feels a little more wild and remote than the Bogarin Trail. There are no birdfeeders here, but the walking paths are beautiful and run past a few small ponds, which makes it more likely to see frogs and lizards. We saw a basilisk (aka Jesus Christ lizard) run across the surface of the pond, which was a wild sight to see!

This park puts flags in the ground where sloths have been spotted recently. Either the sloths moved, or we are just terrible at spotting sloths, but we never saw any here, even with the “helpful” flags.

Even so, I really liked this park, with its lush foliage, ponds, and more remote feel to it.

Learn more on the official website. They also make their guided tour available for purchase on GetYourGuide, if you prefer to book your tours and tickets on that platform.

Sloth’s Territory

We drove out to this one (it’s the farthest from La Fortuna but you get gorgeous views of Arenal Volcano on the drive) but learned that they only offer guided tours of their park, so we could not fit this into our schedule. If you are up for a guided tour, this sounds like a great one. It’s common to see two-toed and three-toed sloths, toucans, tanagers, flycatchers and sometimes howler monkeys. Here is the link to their website so you can learn more.

7. La Fortuna Waterfall

This is La Fortuna’s most famous waterfall. It’s located right in La Fortuna, so it’s easy to get here. But to actually see the waterfall, be prepared to put in those steps.

To get to the base of the waterfall, you’ll walk down roughly 530 steps. Once in front of the waterfall, there are a few viewpoints, plus several swimming areas.

The waterfall opens at 8 am. We got here right at opening time and were one of the first ones at the waterfall. It did not take long for the parking lot and walking path to fill with people. By 8:30 am, the tours were rolling in.

So, for the best experience, get here early.

Tickets can be purchased on the official website or through GetYourGuide. There is a max number of 3,000 people (I can’t imagine what it would look like with 3,000 people on the trail and the base of the waterfall). There is a restaurant, bathrooms, showers, and gift shop at the entrance. Get hours and pricing on the official website before you go.

8. River Trips: Whitewater Rafting & Float Tours

La Fortuna is one of the best places to go white water rafting in Costa Rica. There are several sets of rapids in the nearby Balsa River, perfect for beginners or those with more experience.

Arenal Rafting Company offers this tour, which takes rafters on class 2 and 3 rapids (great for beginners) and this tour, which takes rafters on class 3 and 4 rapids (better for those with more experience).

If white water rafting is not your jam, there are also more relaxing safari float trips. These take place on the Peñas Blancas River and they are a great way to spot wildlife on a tranquil float downriver.

This tour includes your transportation from La Fortuna and includes 2 hours on the river. Another option is to take a twilight float trip, which is similar to taking a night tour, only on a river.

9. Take a Chocolate and Coffee Tour

Chocolate and coffee tours are offered throughout Costa Rica, and La Fortuna is no different.

Don Juan is one of the biggest producers of chocolate and coffee. They offer tours which get rave reviews and are located just north of La Fortuna.

North Fields is a small plantation near the La Fortuna waterfall that offers chocolate and coffee tours on their property.

Rainforest Chocolate is a very small plantation, also near La Fortuna waterfall. Their tour focuses on a hands-on approach so you get to participate in the production process. Plus, their gift shop is stocked with a variety of chocolate from Costa Rican manufacturers. This was our favorite in La Fortuna.

10. See a Red-Eyed Tree Frog on a Night Tour

Night tours provide a unique perspective of the rainforest, revealing a hidden world where nocturnal creatures come to life. This is the perfect time to spot red-eyed tree frogs, opossums, raccoons, armadillos, and snakes.

Night tours are offered at Night Tour La Fortuna, Mirador El Silencio, and Místico Hanging Bridges.

Go Deeper: More Things to Do in La Fortuna

1. Arenal Volcano National Park

Arenal Volcano National Park is one of the most popular things to do in La Fortuna. It’s easy to get to and easy to visit, plus the hiking trails are easy to do. But all of that “easiness” doesn’t necessarily add up to being a great experience.

If you like the idea of hiking trails on Arenal Volcano, we think it is a better overall experience to visit a private reserve. But I think it is important to cover what there is to do at the national park, because for some, a visit here is still worthwhile.

Things to Do at Arenal Volcano National Park

There are two sections to the national park: the Volcano section, where you get views of the volcano and the old lava flows, and the Peninsula section, which is located next to Lake Arenal.

In the Volcano section, there are a series of hiking trails that wind their way through the forests to the lava flows.

Trail 4 (Las Coladas): This trail is 2 km/1.4 miles long, mostly flat, and takes about an hour to hike. The trail itself is uninteresting but the views of the lava field and the volcano at the very end of the trail are nice.

Trail 5 (El Ceibo): This is a trail that connects to Trail 4 in two places. It is flat and on this trail you can see several Ceiba trees.

Trail 6: This is a vehicle trail that leads to a viewpoint of the volcano. If you have a 4×4, you can drive this short trail to the parking area in front of the viewpoint.

Note: There are no trails that lead to the peak of Arenal Volcano. The only trails visitors can hike are those at the base of the volcano (both in the national park and at the private reserves).

At the Peninsula section, there is a trail that leads to an observation tower, with views of Lake Arenal.

Is Arenal Volcano National Park Worth It?

We liked the hikes and the views from the private reserves much more than those at Arenal Volcano National Park. The hikes in the national park are not all that exciting, and some of the views aren’t much different from what you get from other places around La Fortuna. But for those who like hiking, a visit here is worth it, for the views of the volcano and to see the Ceiba trees.

How to Visit Arenal Volcano National Park

To get here, drive to Arenal Volcano National Park Visitor Center and at the entrance gate, pay the fee. There is a parking lot next to the entrance gate but we recommend driving farther down the road to the larger parking lot. This is where the hiking trails begin. A visit here lasts about 2 hours. Get updated pricing and hours on the SINAC website.

2. Maleku Indigenous Cultural Exhibition

For those who want to learn more about the Maleku indigenous people, a 1-to-2-hour presentation of traditional dance and culture is offered at the Ecocentro Danaus Biological Reserve. This reserve is also home to mammals, reptiles, and exotic birds, with self-guided walking trails and guided tours. Learn more on the official website.

3. Visit a Butterfly Garden

There are several butterfly gardens in La Fortuna. We visited La Fortuna Butterfly Garden, which is located in town, so it is easy to get to. Tim liked the idea that a smoothie was included in the price. Compared to other butterfly gardens we visited in Monteverde and Manuel Antonio, there wasn’t anything special about this one. However, the butterflies loved landing on Tim…maybe it was the smoothie…

Other options are Ecocentro Danaus Biological Reserve (a private reserve with a butterfly garden, located in La Fortuna) and the Butterfly Conservatory (located in El Castillo, a 30-minute drive from La Fortuna).

4. El Salto Rope Swing

This is free, fun, and located right in town. On Rio Fortuna, next to a one-lane bridge on Route 702, is a swimming spot with rope swing. This is a popular spot for locals to go swimming. When we were here, there was a parking attendant, so bring some cash to pay the attendant (parking is next to the one lane bridge).

Day Trips from La Fortuna

Tenorio Volcano National Park & Rio Celeste

This is the most popular day trip from La Fortuna. Seeing the vibrant, milky-blue river and its gorgeous waterfall is the main attraction in Tenorio Volcano National Park.

Getting Here: The national park is located in the Guanacaste Volcanic Mountain Range. From La Fortuna, it is a 1 hour 30-minute drive. It is paved the entire way, but there were a few sections of road that were heavily potholed. There are large parking lots next to the park. Bring cash to pay the attendant (we paid $6). If you don’t have transportation, this tour includes transportation, a guide, and lunch at a local restaurant.

Tickets & Hours: Purchase your ticket in advance on the SINAC website. The number of visitors per hour and per day is limited and these can sell out in advance. The park is open from 8 am to 4 pm, with the last entry at 2 pm.

Rio Celeste Waterfall & the Hiking Trail

There is one trail that runs through the park. This takes you to a viewpoint of the Rio Celeste Waterfall and then continues along the river. The full hike is 5 km/3.1 miles, easy to moderate in difficulty, and takes 1 to 2 hours.

From the park entrance to the viewpoint of the waterfall, it is a wide, flat trail that runs through the forest. It’s possible to see snakes and other wildlife on this part of the walk and it takes 20 to 30 minutes to get to the waterfall, depending on how fast you walk.

Once you get to Rio Celeste Waterfall, there are 250 steps to descend to get to the lower viewpoint. You don’t have to go all of the way down, however. We think the best views of the waterfall are from about ¾ of the way down the staircase.

Climb the steps to return to the hiking trail. The trail continues past the waterfall, running alongside the river. This trail is much more rugged, with roots and rocks to dodge, and several staircases thrown in here and there. There are a few views of the milky-blue water along the way. The trail ends at the confluence of two rivers.

Proyecto Asis

Proyecto Asis is a wildlife sanctuary that rescues and rehabilitates injured wildlife. They are a 35-minute drive from La Fortuna and offer guided tours of their facility. The money raised from the tours help support their efforts.

We did not visit this sanctuary, but we did something very similar in Manuel Antonio, visiting the Kids Saving the Rainforest, and loved the experience.

Learn more about their mission and their tours on the official website.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in northern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua. It is one of the country’s most important wetlands, known for its incredible biodiversity, especially birds, reptiles, and aquatic species.

The best way to explore the refuge is by boat, with the opportunity to see caiman, herons, storks, spoonbills, howler and spider monkeys, and sloths. This refuge is a must-visit for birdwatchers.

If you have your own transportation, this boat tour takes you through the refuge and is the best way to spot wildlife. This full day tour includes transportation from La Fortuna plus a boat tour of the refuge.

Costa Rica Travel Guide: How to Plan a Trip to Costa Rica

How Much Time Do You Need in La Fortuna?

A minimum of three days in La Fortuna gives you time to hike a trail or two around Arenal Volcano, do a sloth walk, visit Místico Hanging Bridges, do something adventurous such as canyoning or ziplining, and visiting a hot spring or two. Any additional time you can add on gives you time to day trip to the Rio Celeste waterfall or Caño Negro, add in activities such as white water rafting or more hiking, and more time for those wonderful hot springs.

We spent six full days La Fortuna. In the mornings, we would go hiking, canyoning, or take a guided wildlife walk, and in the afternoons, we would either visit a hot spring or relax in our hotel.

To maximize how much you can do in a short period of time, there are full day tours of La Fortuna that group several different activities together (for example, visit Místico Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Arenal Volcano).

Where to Eat

We did not try many restaurants in La Fortuna. We typically had dinner at our hotel and a few of our lunches were at the hot springs. Jungle Bowls serves smoothies and superfood bowls. We had awesome tacos at Chipotle’s Tex Mex. For creative cocktails, try Voodoo Bar & Cocktails. And if you want to dine in a place with a very cool, unique vibe, put Soda & Restaurante Rodriguez on your list.

Tacos at Chipotle’s Tex Mex

Drinks at Voodoo Bar & Cocktails

Where to Stay

Nayara Resorts

Voted the #1 resort in Central America for four consecutive years by Travel + Leisure, this is the top luxury resort, not only in La Fortuna, but all of Costa Rica.

We stayed here and it is amazing.

Which One is Best? Nayara Gardens is the cheapest option. Nayara Springs is perfect for honeymooners and couples who want their own, private hot spring and an amazing villa. Nayara Tented Camp is best for views of the volcano and birdwatching. Both Tim and I preferred the Tented Camp, but it is the most expensive option.

Nayara Springs

The view from our room at Nayara Tented Camp

Onsite are several restaurants, and all of them are fantastic. Asia – Luna is our favorite (sushi and Asian dishes) but the view of Arenal Volcano from Ayla is incredible. There is also a spa and private hot springs. We saw toucans, sloths, racoons, and many birds on the property.

Staying here is a splurge but absolutely worth it. This is one of our favorite hotel stays of all time, and with the large, beautifully decorated villas, impeccable service, gorgeous property, animal sightings, spa, and restaurants, it’s hard to leave the resort to go out exploring. If you stay in the Springs section, you get your own private hot spring, which is also amazing.

More Hotels in La Fortuna

If you want a 5-star resort experience, other options include Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, the Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal, Amor Arenal, and Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa.

Highly rated mid-range hotels include Los Lagos Spa & Thermal Resort Experience (on property is one of La Fortuna’s popular hot springs), Arenal Observatory Lodge, and Fortuna Retreat.

If you are traveling on a budget, we recommend Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge or Pura Vibra Hostel.

If you have any questions about the best things to do in La Fortuna or how to plan your trip, let us know in the comment section below.

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