10 things to see and do in La Fortuna (Costa Rica)

La Fortuna: Located in the province of Alajuela, the small town of La Fortuna is one of those must-stop places in Costa Rica, not so much because of the town itself, but because of the number of impressive places that surround it.
With a much less touristy past than the current one, the town was placed on the tourist map after, in 1968, the Arenal volcano roared and spewed lava flows, causing one of the most remembered volcanic eruptions in the country that unfortunately caused the deaths of almost 90 people and numerous damages. This situation kept residents and travellers in suspense for the next 42 years, as the volcano continued to spew lava from its crater intermittently, becoming one of the country’s great attractions for many travellers.
Although today this activity has decreased greatly and you can no longer see lava sliding down the slopes of the volcano or practically any gas emanation, travelers continue to come to La Fortuna, attracted by the image of the imposing Arenal Volcano and all the things to see in La Fortuna.

Based on the days we spent in this area during our trip to Costa Rica and included in this route through Costa Rica in 15 days, we leave you with a selection of things to do in La Fortuna to fully enjoy this incredible place. Let’s start!

The Fortune

La Fortuna, the main gateway to the Arenal Volcano, is also a great base from which to carry out all these visits, making it a perfect place in terms of communications since it is well connected by car and public transport with San José, Tortuguero, and Monteverde, which are the destinations from which travellers usually access this area.

Although we will talk about this aspect later, it is important to know that to enjoy all the things to do in La Fortuna that we include in this post, you will need an average of 3–4 days. In case you don’t have that much time, don’t worry, with 1-2 days, you will be able to enjoy the most important points and get the best image of this area, which is undoubtedly one of the most impressive places to visit in Costa Rica . one of the best excursions from San José.

What to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

1. Arenal Volcano National Park

Without a doubt, one of the things to do in La Fortuna is visit the Arenal Volcano National Park, one of the best national parks in Costa Rica and one of the most incredible places in the area, as well as one of the best locations from which to see the volcano.
It is important to know that the park has two sectors that can be visited, although the best known is the Volcano Sector, where you can walk 3 trails ranging from 500 metres to 3 kilometres. In addition to these trails, you can go by car or on foot to a viewpoint with unique views of the volcano.

• Heliconias Trail: This trail passes through the lava flow that was formed in the 1968 eruption and is about 600 meters long.
• Coladas Trail:  with a length of 1.7 kilometers, it ends at the lava flow that emerged from the volcano in 1993, with unique views of the volcano.
• El Ceibo Trail: This trail is 2.3 kilometers, and halfway down you can see a large ceiba (tree) that is more than 400 years old.

In addition to this sector, there is the Peninsula Sector, with a couple of trails, that run very close to Lake Arenal. It is important to know that the entrance to the park is valid for one day, and with it, you can visit both sectors.
The visit to the volcano sector, if you do the 3 trails and go to the viewpoint, will take you about 3 hours more or less, and if you also want to add the peninsula sector, we recommend that you dedicate the entire morning since, in addition, on the way from one to the other, you can stop at a viewpoint.

2. La Fortuna Waterfall

Known for being one of the most beautiful places to see in La Fortuna, this waterfall is practically a must-see in Costa Rica.
Located just 5 kilometres from the town of La Fortuna and 70 metres high, this waterfall is one of the most famous in the country, and to get to the base, you must go down (and then climb) the more than 500 steps that save the unevenness from the entrance to the waterfall bathing area.
It is important to know that although you can bathe, it is not advisable to do so right in the place where the water breaks, as it is dangerous. It is also recommended to wear booties since the rock area is very slippery.

The entrance price to the enclosure is 18 dollars for international visitors and 9 dollars for national visitors, and the enclosure includes free parking, bathrooms, dressing rooms, showers, lockers, a souvenir shop, a couple of viewpoints, a path that runs through an orchid garden, and restaurant service.

Although we only stayed for a couple of hours, we saw a lot of people who came to spend the entire day, something that justifies the high price of admission a little more. Despite this, even if you don’t have much time, if it is within your budget, we have to say that the view of the waterfall from the viewpoints is a spectacle.

3. Enjoy the hot springs, another thing to do in La Fortuna

Without a second’s hesitation, one of the best things to do in La Fortuna is to enjoy its famous hot springs that flow throughout the area thanks to the geothermal activity of the Arenal Volcano.
To enjoy them you have two options: do it in a private area or a free one. Our experience was in a private enclosure, where we also stayed for a couple of nights, and the truth is that we can only recommend it since we found it to be one of the most impressive places in the world.

We leave you some examples of hot springs in La Fortuna, with their characteristics, so you can choose the one that best suits your tastes:

Private hot springs in La Fortuna

• Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa: if you are looking to enjoy a unique and unforgettable experience (and it fits your budget), we recommend that you stay one night in this paradise that would be the closest thing to Eden you can imagine. The room price also includes access to the hot springs, which are one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica, breakfast, and access to a private thermal area for guests.
  Keep in mind that the price is not particularly cheap, the average per night is about 450 euros, but we assure you that the experience is worth every penny.
  If it is not in your budget, you can choose to reserve entry to the hot springs for about $80 per person, although it is important to know that capacity is limited and this is limited to rooms that are not reserved that day to ensure good performance. experience for both guests and visitors.
  You can check prices and make your reservation at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa here
• Baldi: We have read that these are the largest hot springs in the world. Whether true or not, it is a fantastic alternative if the previous ones are not in your budget or you cannot find availability even though we warned you, at times it can have a theme park feel.
  They have 25 thermal pools, located in the middle of the vegetation of the humid tropical forest and the entrance price is 39 dollars for international visitors and 22 dollars for residents.
  In addition to the hot springs, the facility has accommodations, a restaurant, spa service…etc. It is important to know that these, being cheaper than Tabacón, tend to be much more crowded, so if you are looking for a quiet experience, we recommend paying a little more and going to the first ones.
• Ecothermal: with 8 pools with temperatures ranging from 32° to 41° and despite not being a natural place, the pools are artificial, they are a good alternative to the previous one since it is less known and usually receives fewer people, especially in high season.
  The price is $44 for the day and you have the option of paying $72 with lunch included.
• Termites del Arenal: known for being an economically accessible place and for being very frequented by local families, these hot springs are perfect if you also want to bring your food since the rest of the facilities do not usually allow it. The price is 8 dollars and they have extra towels and lockers service.

Free hot springs in La Fortuna

If you are looking for a free option, we recommend going to the Chollín Hot Springs, with waters that gush at 38 degrees and are located very close to Tabacón. It is important to know that since they are free, there are no services of any kind, so we recommend that you bring a waterproof bag to store valuable things and always carry them with you.
Furthermore, these hot springs are usually always full and do not have parking, so it is important to go first thing in the morning if you want to find a place at the entrance.

4. Visit the town of La Fortuna

Nobody has any doubt about the statement: La Fortuna is no longer what it was. Little remains of that small town nestled on the slopes of the volcano that has adapted to tourists after the eruption of the Arenal Volcano in 1968, and little by little it has become the gateway and base for many travelers who They come here in search of great adventures.
Although it does not have many attractions, beyond Central Park and the church, from where you can see the silhouette of the volcano on clear days, we recommend getting lost for a while in the parallel streets to be able to live, even if it is while you make time to eat, what life is like beyond tourism.

Keep in mind that the town is the perfect base to visit the surrounding area or make stops for lunch and dinner in case you don’t want to stay in a hotel closer to the volcano. Another quieter alternative is El Castillo, a small town located on the opposite side of the lake.

5. Mistico Park

You’ve probably heard of the suspension bridges in Costa Rica, bridges through which you can feel yourself flying over the treetops.
Although there are many options in the country, these are normally located in private areas. One of the most famous is located in the La Fortuna area: Mistico Park.
This private reserve, built by a family on land that they had inherited from their parents on the slopes of the Arenal Volcano, is one of the most recommended places to see in La Fortuna, especially if you want to spend a few hours in an impressive forest, with some views that we are sure, you will not easily forget.

It is important to know that in Mistico Park you can also take night tours, guided tours in a bird sanctuary, guided tours… etc. although our experience is reduced to a free tour along the paths crossed by hanging bridges and that is what we can recommend. In this case, the complete trail is 3.21 kilometers, it includes 16 bridges, a tunnel, and a waterfall and the duration of the tour is about 2 hours or so.

The price for the Hanging Bridges trail is 26 dollars per person, Mistico Park’s hours are from 6 am to 4:30 pm and you can buy tickets directly at the box office although it is advisable to book in advance, especially in the high season, holidays, and weekends. of week.
In addition, at the entrance, there is an impressive viewpoint with views of the Arenal Volcano, which if it is clear, will leave you speechless.

6. Rafting and Zip Line in Arenal

Do you like adventure sports? Then you are in luck as these are some of the most recommended things to do in La Fortuna. Adventure in its purest form!
Additionally, these activities are perfect to do if one of the days you are in La Fortuna dawns cloudy and you cannot see the volcano.

We leave you some of the most recommended tours in La Fortuna so you can choose the one that best suits your tastes (or desire for adventure):

• Rafting on the Sarapiquí River
• Rafting and rappelling on the Balsa River
• Canyoning
• Zipline over the Arenal volcano

7. Route through the best viewpoints of the Arenal Volcano

If there is something that travelers look for when arriving in La Fortuna, it is to enjoy the best views of the Arenal Volcano. Although there are many options in the area to delight you with its silhouette during clear days, we want to leave you the ones that were for us, the best viewpoints of the Arenal Volcano :

• Arenal Observatory Lodge: even if you don’t want to stay, we recommend paying 10 dollars to access the viewpoint and do one of the trails.
• Arenal Volcano National Park: without a doubt, one of the best images of the Arenal Volcano. We recommend that you visit the two sectors to have views from various perspectives.
• Mistico Park: right next to the entrance there is a spectacular viewpoint and also, from one of the hanging bridges, you have views of the volcano on clear days.
• La Fortuna (town): from Central Park, you have unique views of the volcano.
• Arenal 1968 and Mirador El Silencio (private areas): in case you want to access another private area, these are two highly recommended options with a good network of trails and good views.
• Roads: yes, we recommend that you keep your senses very alert while driving. First because of how necessary it is when driving, and second because of the views of the volcano that you have from the vast majority of them. Of course, be very careful if you want to stop to take a photo to do so in areas where you do not disturb other drivers.
• Lake Arenal: from the lagoon, you can have some of the best views of the volcano. We recommend that you go around it on the way to Monteverde (we will talk about this a little later).

8. Cerro Chato

If you are one of the travelers who likes hiking and challenging yourself, the excursion to Cerro Chato, the inactive companion of the Arenal Volcano, is one of the things you should do in La Fortuna. It is important to know that although a large part of the walk is relatively accessible, the final part is done through a steep slope until you reach the crater area at 1100 meters above sea level, where you can see an incredible lagoon. The total route is about 3 kilometers and about 5–6 hours (round trip) and you must go to the Arenal Observatory Lodge where you must pay 10 dollars to access and where they will register your security entry. Remember that it is important to bring water, some food, and, above all, appropriate clothing and footwear since it is an area where it usually rains often and the weather is unpredictable.

9. Lake Arenal

Located 18 kilometers from La Fortuna, this artificial lagoon of almost 90 square kilometers is another of the places to see in La Fortuna. Depending on the time you are going to be in the area you can spend a couple of hours traveling the road, if your next destination is Monteverde, we recommend leaving this route for the journey since you will have to border the lake to do the route. Contrary to what it may seem on the map, to get to Monteverde from La Fortuna, you will have to border Lake Arenal and then take a mountain road until you reach Monteverde. If this is your plan for the route through Costa Rica on your own, just as we did, we recommend that you get up early so that you can make some stops at the viewpoints and areas with good views of the volcano in addition to enjoying the surroundings of the road. , in fairly good condition, where you can see several small restaurants, galleries, accommodations, and numerous plots of land for sale waiting for some tourist to fall in love with the place and make Lake Arenal their future home.

10. Rio Celeste

Although it is not in La Fortuna and it is not exactly close either about 68 kilometers, we cannot fail to include this place in the selection of things to see and do in La Fortuna since most travelers visit it on the way out. or return to the Arenal area.
If your next destination on the route is Monteverde, we recommend making a stop at the Río Celeste waterfall, located in the Tenorio Volcano National Park, where you can enjoy one of the country’s natural wonders. You do not believe it? We will only tell you that the legend says that when God finished painting the sky of the world, he washed his brushes in the water of Río Celeste and that is why today, this place has that characteristic blue color.
To get to the waterfall you will have to follow a fairly easy 1.5-kilometer path and go down (and then up) the 250 steps until you reach the base of the waterfall. In case you want to extend the route, something highly recommended is you continue the walk for about 5 more kilometers, traveling in a circular path and see the blue lagoon, which is a small pool of intense blue color, the boiling waters or bubbles, which are some cracks through which gases come out due to volcanic activity and the dye hole which is the exact point where the river takes on the blue color that characterizes the place.
The price is 12 dollars for non-resident visitors, ¢800 for residents and the hours are from 8 am to 2 pm.

It is important to know that the GPS will probably show you the route along Highway 4 from La Fortuna to the Río Celeste waterfall since it is the fastest (68 kilometers and 1:20 hours or so) but if you want to go around Lake Arenal To see the views, you must follow highways 142 and 143, which border the lake, increasing the distance to 90 kilometers and about 2 hours of travel.

How to get to La Fortuna

As we mentioned at the beginning of the post, La Fortuna is a place that is very well connected to both the capital and the rest of the most touristic places in Costa Rica, so you will not have any problem getting here by public transportation.

• San José: from San José, you can take a public bus, which leaves once a day (8:40 am) and takes about 4-5 hours to make the trip to La Fortuna since it stops at different places to pick up and drop off passengers. Please note that tickets cannot be reserved in advance and you must purchase them on the same day.
• Monteverde: from Monteverde you can get to La Fortuna by bus. The journey takes about 8 hours and the price is about 10 dollars. This would be the cheapest option but also the longest. In this case, we recommend opting for the bus+boat combination to cross Lake Arenal and thus save a lot of time.

Despite that, and if you are taking a route through the country, we recommend renting a car since this will allow you to have complete freedom of schedules and movements or hire this excursion to the volcano that includes a visit to a hot springs area.

How many days do I stay in La Fortuna?

Our recommendation, after the experience, is that you spend an average of 3-4 days in La Fortuna, although this always depends on the activities you want to do. In case you don’t have that many days or you don’t want to do any of the adventure activities that we include in the post, with 2 days you can perfectly explore the Arenal Volcano National Park, the La Fortuna Waterfall, spend half a day in some hot springs, do a route through the viewpoints as well as visiting Mistico Park where you can take the trail through the Hanging Bridges. These would probably be the most notable activities in La Fortuna that you could do in a couple of days.

• Day 1: La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano National Park. If it is in your budget, this day we recommend staying at the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa.
• Day 2: Tabacón Hot Springs. If it is within your budget, we recommend staying at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa or paying the entrance fee to spend the day at the hot springs. In this case, we would propose that you spend the entire day in the hot springs. If neither lodging nor spending the day suits you, you can go to one of the free hot springs in the area and combine it with a visit to Mistico Park or one of the activities that we propose in the selection such as rafting or zip lining.
• Day 3: Mistico Park and Rafting or Zip Line
• Day 4: Route through the viewpoints on the way to Monteverde or the next destination on your route.

If you want to include something else to do in La Fortuna that we included in the selection, you must extend your stay or replace it with one of the things we included in the proposal.

Where to sleep

Keep in mind that it is in La Fortuna where most of the accommodation and restaurants are located. Despite that, we recommend, if it is within your budget, to stay one night at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa and another night at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa.
In case these hotels do not fit you, these would be good accommodation options in La Fortuna, with excellent value for money:

• Arenal Xilopalo
• Selina La Fortuna
• Hotel Roca Negra Del Arenal

Where to eat in La Fortuna

Although there are many restaurant options in the area to stay, in this case, we also want to focus on La Fortuna (town) so that if you stay there, you have some recommendations of places to eat enjoying the best local cuisine that we are sure, will leave you with the best taste in your mouth.

These are some of the best restaurants in La Fortuna :

• Tiquicia Restaurant
• Chifa The Happy Family
• My Land
• Fortuneño Chicken
• Nanku Restaurant
• El Coloso Arenal Restaurant