Arguably the most visited waterfall in the whole country, La Fortuna waterfall has attracted travelers from all over the world for years. Dropping 75 meters into a bright blue pool, La Fortuna waterfall in Arenal paints a perfect postcard of the Costa Rican jungle and is usually one of the highlights of an Arenal trip for its beautiful views and scenery.
Sitting just 6 km outside of the town of La Fortuna and at the base of the Cerro Chato volcano, the waterfall makes for a great day trip for travelers of all ages. The water is fed by the Tenorio River that goes through the rainforest in the Arenal area until it reaches a cliff to create this waterfall. Visitors can get several different views as they make the somewhat arduous hike from the visitor’s station to the base of the fall.
We’ve visited this waterfall several times but it never ceases to amaze us every time we visit. It’s one of those natural attractions that really take your breath away!
Location of La Fortuna Waterfall
The waterfall is 1 kilometer south and 4 kilometer west of church in La Fortuna town.
Entrance Fee and Hours
$15 for adult foreigners, $5 for children.
Hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, open every day. They have a big parking lot and there are bathrooms, a small cafe and souvenir store at the entrance.
Visiting the Waterfall
At the entrance office, you walk across the bridge to get to the trail head.
They’ve been building a new platform to make it easier to hike down and I have to say, it is really convenient! The first time we went it was pretty much a dirt path shaped into steps but the new platform is incredibly nice and sturdy with hand rails.
There are several view points so my advice is to go slow and take the time to observe the various trees, flowers and plants, listen to the many insects and birds and take in all the beauty of Costa Rica.
Down to the left is a lovely calm water pool area that is better for swimming and more suitable for little ones.
Tips for Visiting La Fortuna Waterfall in Arenal
- This popular waterfall fills up with people once it hits about mid-morning so to enjoy it with less people, get there early
- There are facilities so you can bring a swimsuit/clothes to change into
- There is a restaurant and souvenir shop at the trail head
- Wear good shoes. You don’t want to be climbing up those steps in flip flops! If you plan to swim or go in the water, wear water shoes or hiking sandals like our KEENs
- Make sure to bring water (there are water dispensers in the gift shop too)
- The climb back up can be tough, so take it slow. Be advised that this hike doesn’t have a handicap trail
- If you don’t have a car, you can get there by taxi or go with a tour company. If you need recommendations for tour companies, feel free to contact us or leave a comment below.
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Want to read about other waterfalls in Costa Rica? Check these out!
Nauyaca Waterfalls (Dominical area)
Catarata Llanos de Cortes (Guanacaste)
Catarata del Toro (Central Valley)
Hi The waterfall is located around 5 Kilometers from the park, I have read that a taxi charges around $20 one way to the waterfall from Arenal so it will be a bit less from La Fortuna Park, make sure they use a meter
Thanks for the article. The waterfall’s website says it is $15 for adults, $8 for nationals, kids are free (up to age 8).
I was wondering about the parking lot… is it safe, is there a parking fee? I will be traveling with my luggage since we will be coming back from the beach to Grecia.
Thanks!
There is no parking fee but it’s not exactly secure (no guard/gate) but it is pretty busy cause it’s a popular waterfall so there are always a lot of cars and tourism vans going in and out. I’d put everything in the trunk and don’t leave anything in the car, take all your valuables with you.
Hello!
We are going here next month. Wanted to know if we should just go ourselves or book a tour to see this? Also are we able to go inside the water near the waterfall? I v seen lots of pictures where people are in the water but dont see any mention of it .
You don’t necessarily need to go on a tour, if you have a rental car you can drive yourself or take a taxi if you don’t. It’s a pretty straightforward walk down to the waterfall. It is possible to swim in it but we didn’t because the water was too strong. In rainy season the fall is really full and strong and it’s dangerous if you swim too far in the pool. During dry season it’s not as full but we preferred not to go in, but you can swim in the pool if you want. Just be careful because there are a lot of rocks.
hi there,
How much can we expect to pay for a taxi one way from town?
THank you.
Hi! Can we bring our dog on leash?
I don’t believe so – I have never seen any dogs there and it’s on a private property.
taxi’s cost 3500 colones each way if you go with just a local driver guy. a bit more 7 or 8 dollars if you go with a taxi driver in the red cabs. there is a phone at the entrance to call taxis when your done if you need.
Thanks for the info!
They have raised the price and it is now $14.00 for foreigners. The waterfall was beautiful but I thought the price was a bit steep, especially just having been to Llanos De Cortez. The water was to rough to swim by the waterfall so people were swimming in the small pool.
Hi Delilah! Thanks for the update. I totally agree, the price is quite a bit especially compared to some other awesome waterfalls in Costa Rica. It’s not even a long hike either, the waterfall is beautiful but unfortunately it seems because it’s so touristy they’ve raised the prices.
Hi there,
Do the arenal/mistico hanging bridges automatically lead to the La Fortuna waterfall? Is that a long hike? In that case, would you park at the entrance to the bridge park and hike there and back? Thanks for the great summary!
Hi Kelli, no the Mistico hanging bridges are near where the lake are and the waterfall is about a 20 minute drive away so you need to visit them separately.
Thank you for this write up! I’m headed there next week and looking forward to it. I was wondering too how much time the hike took.
Thanks
It depends on how long you want to stay there, the walk down is short, 400+ steps sounds like a lot but it’s really not. It takes around 15 minutes to go down, maybe a bit longer depending on how many people there are and if you stop to take pictures. You can stay as long as you want at the waterfall if you want to swim, just relax, chill. The walk up takes bit longer since it’s a lot of steps up – it took us around 10 minutes to run up the entire way (we did it for fun). The waterfall is great for a half day trip, most people just stay for about an hour or so.
How much time does it take approximately to visit the waterfall? Is it the walk to the fall really long?
Hi Alice, you can stay for an hour or two, depending how long you want to swim and relax. And yes, the walk is really 400+ steps down so I suggest taking your time coming back up since it’s a lot of steps.
Looking to visit Saturday with a group of 5. Looking for the cheapest option to get us there and back.
If you don’t rent a car, you’ll have to taxi or shuttle it. You can also go with a tour company who will take you on a guided hike. I recommend asking your hotel how much a shuttle or taxi would be.