Costa Rica is well known as a top adventure destination and the La Fortuna area is famous for the best outdoor adventures. There are so many fun activities for all ages and travelers that it can be a bit overwhelming at first when you’re trying to decide what to do!
So to help narrow it down, here is our list of the best things to do in La Fortuna. With a lush rainforest, waterfalls, rivers, volcano and lake, you’re guaranteed to have a blast discovering the Arenal Volcano area.
You can also find a map, our hotel recommendations, sample itineraries and tour discounts below. Don’t forget to get our La Fortuna tours discount!
Canyoning
Jump down 200 foot waterfalls and tall cliffs deep into the rain forest on a adventure canyoning in La Fortuna. Canyoning, or waterfall rappelling may seem a bit intimidating, but once you start your journey down surrounded by the sights and smells of a lush rain forest, you’ll leave all your fears behind.
This is an adventure for those who don’t mind getting down and dirty, as you’ll end up leaving a lot more wet than when you started. But it’s all worth it, as you experience the rain forest in a unique and exciting way.
You can see more pictures and watch a video of our Canyoning Arenal adventure.
Venado Caves
Only 45 minutes from La Fortuna are the Venado Caves where you can take a tour to explore and go spelunking. You’ll see various stalactites, stalagmites, bats and other insects on the tour. You’ll climb and walk through various caves, passages and rock walls and learn about the history and importance of the caves. A different type of activity to your typical adventure tours but still very cool!
Rio Celeste Hike
See the magical blue river in Costa Rica on a day trip from La Fortuna. You’ll hike through the rainforest of Tenorio Volcano National Park along side the stunning Rio Celeste. There is a gorgeous waterfall, a hanging bridge and many view points.
At the end of the hike, you can see where the two rivers come together to create the spectacular sky blue color. It’s one of the most beautiful places in Costa Rica and well worth a day trip from La Fortuna! It is a 1 hour and 45 minute drive from La Fortuna to Rio Celeste.
SkyTrek Ziplining
There are many zipline (canopy) tours in Arenal but our favorite is Skytrek. You get the most spectacular views of Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano when you’re flying 2000 feet through the air, 600 feet high.
You’ll never feel closer to being a bird than on this zipline tour, as you’re soaring over the rain forest with the lake in front of you and the volcano next to you.
If you’re not quite that ambitious, there are other canopy tours such as Athica, Arenal Canopy Tours and Ecoglide that aren’t as high or fast, perfect for those who have never ziplined before or little kids.
The canopy tour at Sky Adventures costs $80 for adults and $60 for kids. You can also book it with tour companies who provide transportation.
If you rented a car, you can drive to the adventure park entrance and pay for the tour there but make reservations. This place gets packed December – April and July.
Rio Frio Safari Float (Pure Nature)
Soak in the splendid nature on this pure safari float down Rio Frio, a slow moving river in the Cano Negro Wildlife Reserve. This area is considered one of the best for wildlife as it’s home to animals like toucans, three toed sloths, caimans, kingfishers and more.
You float down the river for about 2 hours on a raft, using paddles to move along. This also allows you to get up close with the wildlife. All you hear is the soft lap of the water as it brushes up against the raft and the sounds of a dozen birds gliding above your head. It is truly a pure nature experience.
Find out more about the Pure nature Rio Frio safari here.
Another option if you don’t have a full day for the safari float it is to do the Penas Blancas Safari Float since it’s only 30 minutes from La Fortuna. The safari float rides are one of the best things to do in Costa Rica with kids since it’s a very easy going, laid back way to see wildlife and nature.
Hot Springs
No trip to Arenal and La Fortuna is complete without a visit to the hot springs. It’s the best way to relax and wind down a busy day. Soak in the hot thermal pools to soothe your muscles while enjoying the fresh night time air.
Many hotels and resorts have their own hot springs with day passes available. Some of the most well known ones are Tabacon, Baldi, the Springs, Titoku, Kalambu, Ecotermales and Paradise. There are also a few hotels also have their own exclusive hot springs like the Kioro. One of the benefits of staying at a hotel with their own hot springs is that you can go anytime during your stay and enjoy the pools as much as possible!
You can read more about the different Arenal hot springs here.
One of the cheap things to do in La Fortuna is to visit the public entrance of Tabacon river where all the locals go. This is the free hot spring in La Fortuna and it’s across from Tabacon Resort. There is a small parking lot and you can walk down the river from there.
Mistico Hanging Bridges
Explore the rain forests of Arenal in an eco-friendly way with the hanging bridges, which sits on 600 acres (243 hectares) of private land by the lake. It is an easy 3.1 kilometer (1.9 miles) trail with 16 suspended and hanging bridges, so that visitors can get different perspectives of the rain forest.
Along the way it’s common to spot wildlife like bats, snakes and birds. Though the hanging bridges are one of the more popular activities in Arenal, you’ll still get a true sense of the forest when you’re that high up!
The Mistico Hanging Bridges are near the bridge/dam and you can go by yourself if you have a car or book it with a tour company. I recommend booking it with a company so you will have a guide who can point out wildlife. It’s worth it!
Read more about the Arenal Hanging Bridges.
La Fortuna Waterfall
If you’re itching to visit waterfalls in Arenal, the best and biggest one is La Fortuna. This is one of the top things to do in La Fortuna as this waterfall is stunning. Dropping 75 feet, the emerald La Fortuna waterfall impresses visitors with its postcard perfect rainforest views.
The entrance fee is $18 USD per adult and it is only a few kilometers from La Fortuna town. You can take a taxi which will cost about $20 USD one way or go as part of a tour. This is one of the cheap things to do in La Fortuna and you can spend as much time as you like at the waterfall if you go on your own.
Read more about visiting La Fortuna waterfall here.
White Water Rafting
There are a couple of rivers for white water rafting in Arenal but our favorite is the Rio Pacuare. Raft your way through one of the best rivers in the world for white water rafting one Class 3 and 4 rapids. Paddle under waterfalls, swim in the calm pools and see toucans on this exciting rafting adventure.
If that sounds a bit too exciting for you, there are other rivers with Class 2 and 3 rapids such as the Balsa River rafting. It’s still a fun day trip from Arenal and La Fortuna that is fun for the whole family. In case you don’t want to be in the car that long, Sarapiqui also offers Class 2 and 3 and 3 and 4 rapids and it’s only about a 1.5 hour drive from La Fortuna.
One of the awesome things about the Rio Pacuare rafting is that you can make the rafting trip your transportation method to and from San Jose or Puerto Viejo. Many companies, like Rios Tropicales pick up at La Fortuna and can drop you off in San Jose or Puerto Viejo (2 passengers minimum) so instead of sitting in a bus or shuttle, you get to river raft your way over!
Want to book the Rio Pacuare white water rafting? Get our Pacuare rafting discount!
Horseback Riding
Venture into the country side of Arenal by way of horseback, one of the best to discover the intricate corners of the land. You’ll ride through rivers, under trees and up to stunning viewpoints of the valley and surrounding hills, places you can’t reach by car and foot.
On a clear day, you can horseback ride with Arenal Volcano as your backdrop. Not a bad view while sauntering though the open country! This is a half day activity but you can also combine it with something else like ziplining or ATV.
See more photos and read what it’s like to go horseback riding in Arenal.
Lake Arenal
The biggest lake in Costa Rica is actually man made and initially created to produce hydro electric power. However, it’s is also a place for recreation. Take a sunset boat ride, go fishing, jet ski, water ski, stand up paddle board, kayak, sail, windsurf or boat across to Monteverde.
If you don’t have time to do activities on the lake, you can drive around it for some beautiful views. There are also several hotels around Lake Arenal for those who want a nature experience.
Club Rio Outdoor Center
The Springs Resort and Spa has their own on-site adventure park open to outside guests and it’s a wonderful place for families. They offer hot spring day passes and a multi adventure package.
The multi adventure package includes transportation, lunch, hot springs (2 day pass) and 2 of the following activities: horseback riding, tubing, kayaking, rock wall and guided nature walk. Enjoy the hot springs, go on an adventure and visit one of the most beautiful properties in La Fortuna!
We have a partnership with Club Rio to give discounts to our readers. Read our review and get $10 USD off the Club Rio Costa Rica multi adventure package here!
Arenal Volcano Hike
Go on your own or take a guided hike to see Arenal Volcano. You can hike in the national park to see the original lava rocks and lava trails from the big eruption. The trails aren’t too long but it gives you a nice opportunity to see the lasting effects of the volcano eruption.
There is also a nice viewpoint where you can see both the volcano and lake. Since the trails aren’t too difficult, this is a great hike for families. The national park is $15 USD for adults and you can hike it on your own or go with a guide. This is a great cheap activity in La Fortuna and you get beautiful views of the volcano.
Read our Arenal Volcano National Park guide.
You can also hike in the private reserves near the national park such as Arenal 1968 for equally as impressive views. The reserve opens until 6 PM and is open everyday.
Bogarin Trail (La Fortuna Sloth Trail)
If you really want to see sloths in La Fortuna, then you have to walk the Bogarin Trail. It’s right in La Fortuna and an easy walk for all ages to see sloths and birds. We saw 6 sloths, toucans, hummingbirds and frogs!
The trail used to be all farmland many years ago. The man who currently runs the trail is a local Costa Rican who worked with the owner to restore the land and he has been working on it since 2000!
When he first started restoring the forest, he said there was one sloth. Now there are over 25 and is one of the best places in La Fortuna to see sloths.
Sample Itineraries
If you’re not sure what activities to do or when to schedule them, here are some ideas. For the tours, make sure to scroll down to the end of the post to get our discount!
2 full days in La Fortuna: hiking, nature, wildlife, relaxation
Day 1: Arenal hanging bridges in the morning, La Fortuna waterfall, lunch and then Arenal Volcano hike. End the day at the hot springs at night with dinner. You can book this as a tour or go on your own (but we recommend to book as a tour so you can have guided walks and they provide lunch, transportation and arrange dinner for you).
Day 2: Go stand up paddle boarding on Lake Arenal in the morning, have lunch and then visit the Bogarin Trail in the afternoon for an easy guided walk to see sloths and wildlife. Relax at the park in the evening or head back to the hot springs. You can also do a night walk in La Fortuna for more nature and wildlife.
If you plan to eat dinner out in town, check out Soda Nenes for local food or La Fortuna Pub for craft beer and a fun night out. Don’t forget to get an ice cream at the Chocolate Fusion sweet shop in downtown for dessert!
2 full days in La Fortuna: adventure, relaxation, wildlife for families
Day 1: Go canyoning in the morning with Pure Trek or go ziplining. For families, Ecoglide, Athica and Arenal Canopy Adventure are great zipline options. Then go back to hotel, shower, rest, go to the hot springs and get dinner at the hot spring resort. Another option is to visit Club Rio for the day which includes hot springs and two adventures.
Day 2: Sleep in, rest and get ready for the safari float in the afternoon. You can go to Peñas Blancas for a shorter drive or the Pure Nature (Rio Frio) for a more exclusive experience. You’ll return around 5-6 PM and when you get back, shower, rest and then go out for dinner in town or at your hotel. If you go to Club Rio on day 1, you can go back to their hot springs on day 2 for free.
If your kids can get up early on day 2, you can go for a wildlife watching walk at Bogarin in the morning. Or you can do the safari float in the morning and do a chocolate/coffee/sugar cane tour in the afternoon.
3 full days in La Fortuna: a little of everything
Day 1: Today is an adventure day! Go white water rafting and for the ultimate rafting trip, book the Pacuare River rafting tour. Families can go if kids are older than 14. If not, there is a Class 2 and 3 rafting for kids over 8. To do more adventure in one day, you can do the Class 2 and 3 rafting and ziplining/canyoning in one day.
Day 2: Today is a hiking day! Visit the hanging bridges in the morning, have lunch and then go to the Arenal Volcano National Park for more hiking. End the day at the hot springs. For those on a budget, you can visit the free hot springs at Tabacon river. If you don’t want to hike that much, you can do a horseback riding or ATV tour in the morning instead.
Day 3: Today is an easy day to see wildlife. Go for a safari float in the morning, rest in the afternoon (or visit the Bogarin Trail) and at night, go for a night walk to learn about the jungle when the sun goes down.
Map of Things to Do in La Fortuna and Arenal
Where to Stay in La Fortuna and Arenal
- Hotel Las Colinas – Cute hotel in the middle of town across from the park. They have a terrace where you get a great view of Arenal volcano. Basic, comfortable rooms. Rooms start at $60 USD
- Arenal History Inn – Nice mid-range hotel a little outside downtown La Fortuna. Bungalows with a volcano view and pool. Rooms start at $65 USD.
- Selina – Hostel for digital nomads and backpackers.
- Arenal Observatory Lodge – The only hotel actually in the national park with the closest view of the volcano. This lodge has a huge property with their own trails. Rooms start at $120 USD
- Arenal Kioro: This high end hotel has a spa, their own private hot springs, a Jacuzzi in every room and a stunning view of the volcano with floor to ceiling windows. Rooms start at $250 USD
- Airbnb: We’ve stayed at an Airbnb in Arenal before. It’s a huge house perfect for families, only 5 minutes from Fortuna town. Read our review here.
Arenal Tour Discount
We have a partnership with Jacamar Naturalist Tours to give 7% off tours in Arenal in the link!
Read other things to do in Costa Rica below
Cheap things to do in Costa Rica
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Janel Olson says
Your site is great, a ton of useful information to help narrow things down. Thank you! Do you have any experience with a day visit to the Arenal Observatory Lodge?
Thank you!
Janel
Sammi says
I’m glad you enjoy the blog! We have stayed there before but outside guests can pay an entrance fee to their hiking trails and their property is incredibly nice.
AJ says
Hi. I’m a female solo traveler and don’t feel comfortable driving on my own so I’m looking for tour advice. Can you recommend a company to get me from Dominical to Arenal? Thank you!
Sammi says
I would check with Easy Ride or RIde CR.
Steph says
Hi! I doing a solo trip to Costa Rica and for 3 nights i’ll be staying at an airbnb in La Fortuna. Is this a safe city for a female solo travelller?
Sammi says
Hi Steph, La Fortuna is a great town for tourists, it’s one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica so you can find pretty much everything there and you will see lots of other tourists. As for Airbnb, we’ve had good experiences with Airbnb but I would read carefully through all the reviews on Airbnb and then see if you can find more reviews of the place on Google, Facebook or any other website. Then make sure you know exactly where the Airbnb is located and communicate with your host a little bit so you can see if they are responsive or not and ask for details about the place (what’s around, who takes care of the property, if anyone will be on the property with you, etc.). For solo travelers, I usually recommend to find a place to stay closer to town than further or at least not like remote and in the middle of nowhere but at least in a neighborhood with other houses and is in short walking distance to town.
It may be more fun to stay at a hostel for solo travelers though because tour companies don’t always pick up at Airbnbs and you can meet people by staying closer to town or in hostels and you can also split things like cab fare or something.
Sammi says
Rincon de la Vieja and RIo Celeste are the closest (about 2 hours from RIU) but Monteverde and La Fortuna is pretty far (4, 4.5 hours each way) so I’d just choose one or book it as a day trip so that you have a guide and don’t have to worry about driving. Or else that is a loooooot of driving.
For waterfalls, I’d also check out Catarata Llanos de Cortes
Diana says
Hi! I have to say how helpful your website is. I found it so much better than Trip Advisor, so thank you!
My husband and I will be in CR for 10 days in Feb at Riu Guanacaste. We are renting a car for 6 of those days and wanted to get your opinion on some excursions and if they are all doable in the time we have. Also, if you think we could combine any into 1 day that would be great.
Rio Celeste
Monteverde Cloud Forest (zip lining, bird watching)
La Fortuna Waterfall and Mistico Arenal Bridges
Rincon de La Vieja.
I was thinking we would use 3-4 full days to see these, but on separate trips, driving back to the hotel after each. Any advice on what we should/shouldn’t do? Any other waterfalls that you think we could see as well.
Thank you!!
Chris says
Hello,
I have found your blog to be very help and well done. THANK YOU! I’m planning a trip to Arenal and want to do the sky adventure tour. I will be taking my father. I was wondering if you information on how long and strenuous the sky walk is? Thank you for your help in advance.
Sammi says
Hi Chris, on the Sky Adventure website you can see all the exact details (since I’m not positive) of how high and long it is. We haven’t done the Sky Walk in Arenal, only the one in Monteverde.
Max says
Hello,
My wife and I are going to be in Costa Rica from 2/21 – 3/1. We are trying to decide if we should spend 4 nights in Manuel Antonio and 4 nights in Arenal or 3-4 nights in each and 1-2 nights in Monteverde.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Sammi says
I’d add Monteverde if you can!
Anne says
If you had to pick between doing things around La Fortuna or Monteverde which would you pick? Coming for a wedding forced to stay at a resort for half the trip looking to get the best bang for my buck for 2/3 days.
Sammi says
Depends on what you want to do – Monteverde has nicer hiking and birding. Arenal has more variety and more things to do for adventure, nature, volcano and wildlife. I’d personally go with Arenal to see the volcano but if that’s not like a huge deal and you are more of a hiker/birder, Monteverde for the cloud forest and extreme ziplining.
Debbie Buckley says
Hello, I am beyond excited to have discovered your site! I am traveling alone, departing in Feb and you have saved me tremendous leg work!!! I cannot think of anything that you haven’t covered and I feel “safer” already just reading all your information!! I will be staying near the Turtle Cove area (about 90 miles from Liberia Airport. Also at your recommendation I will rent a car from Adobe vs. Sixt (which some other bloggers spoke of). I will figure out the tour and discounts (rental) shortly! I’m confident that I will feel safe on the drive from the airport out to my destination and the LaFortuna area. Thanks again!!!!
Sammi says
Hi Debbie, I’m so glad that the blog has been helpful for your trip planning 🙂 Lake Arenal is beautiful and I’m sure you will love it. Let us know if you have any further questions!
Melissa says
I wanted to leave a note of thanks! We used your blog and resources for our recent trip to Costa Rica (Tamarindo & La Fortuna) and found it to be the most comprehensive and helpful of all we reviewed. We rented from Adobe (great service, explained the process really well), used many of your activity suggestions, and had an amazing experience on our vacation.
Thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Melissa, I am very happy to hear you had an excellent experience in Costa Rica and that the blog was helpful for your trip. One of the reasons why we work hard on our blog and partnered with Adobe is because we want to make sure every visitor has a good experience not just renting a car but in Costa Rica in general so we are glad to hear you had a good trip.
Thank you for reading Mytanfeet 🙂
Sanit says
Hi there!
You’re website has been extremely helpful for planning our family trip so first, I want to say thank you!!!
We will be traveling to Costa Rica in October. We are taking my parents who are elderly (80 years old) and my toddler (3 years old). My parents are in good health and active but we want to make sure we plan out activities that are age appropriate for them.
Can you recommend any activities/tours in La Fortuna or the Guanacaste for Seniors/Toddlers?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Sanit
Sammi says
Hello Sanit, I would recommend the safari floats (Penas Blancas safari float or Rio Frio safari float) in La Fortuna and in Guanacaste, a sailing cruise (you can find some in the area you will be going in Guanacaste).
You can read more about Things to do in Guanacaste
Just also keep in mind that October is our rainiest month so be prepared for Costa Rica rainy season and try to do all your activities in the morning but also be flexible if you can with activities.
Sammi says
Hi Gaurav, I have lots of ideas for things to do in this post or you can check our itinerary posts that include La Fortuna for ideas.
Gaurav Modi says
Hello Sammi,
We are planning to stay in La Fortuna for 2 and half days.
Could please let us know what all we can cover in 2 days.
Thank you
Mich says
Hi! I love all your blog posts. They’re very helpful!! I’m deciding between Sky Trek in Arenal vs Sky Adventure in Monteverde vs Selvatura in Monteverde. I see that you’ve visited all three. Can you please let me know which one you’d recommend? Thanks!!
Sammi says
Honestly you can’t go wrong with any of them. Just decide your plan for La Fortuna because if you don’t have the time to do everything you want including ziplining in la Fortuna, you can do it in Monteverde instead. Selvatura and Sky also offer hanging bridges in their park so you can go ziplining and bridges so that’s something else to consider if you want to do hanging bridges.
Dominique says
Hi! I have been literally reading your blog all day today. We took the plunge and planned a vacation for Easter this year with our two adventurous kids, age 13 and 11. We are interested in beginning at the west coast (flying into Liberia) and then heading towards Monteverde and La Fortuna. When I do a Google map to figure out travel time, it doesn’t appear that there is a direct route from Monteverde to La Fortuna. What do you recommend is the order we travel from the coast to the interior? We fly out of San Jose when we leave. Thanks so much for putting together this amazing resource!!
Sammi says
Hi Dominique, you will have to drive around Lake Arenal from Monteverde to La Fortuna via 606 to 145 and 142 (up north west around the lake). If you aren’t planning to rent a car, you can book a shuttle or take the taxi boat across Lake Arenal.
Sammi says
Hi Marianne, we don’t book the taxi boat across Lake Arenal but you can ask your hotel or any of the tour operators in the area to do so.
Marianne Rotert says
I’m still planning my trip details, and plan on using your shared shuttles on our trip in 2 months. Do your arrangements from La Fortuna to Monteverde use the boat to go across Lake Arenal? As I get motion sickness, and much prefer less time in the van anyway, I’m hoping they do. If not, do you suggest any other company. And thanks again for all your useful advice on your blog!
Also, how soon do I need to reserve those shuttles? I’m still working out exactly what we’re doing and when.
Lori says
We are flying into Liberia in a couple of weeks, planning 2-3 days in the La Fortuna area then heading west to El Coco for 2-3 days. We have always vacationed in the Dominical/ Quepos area, never been north. What would you say are must do’s for our group? Two 50 year olds and two 30 year olds. Should we rent a car or just use hotel transportation (staying at The Springs and El Mangroove)? Hiking, hot springs, boating, fishing are all on our list! We have a chef in the group so are looking for great local cuisine as well. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Sammi says
You can read our posts on things to do in La Fortuna here: Things to do in Arenal and La Fortuna and things to do in Coco here: day trips from Playas del Coco
In Coco, our favorite and must do activity is boating around the Gulf, which you can read more about here: Boating in Playas del Coco
We also have a 10% discount for tours in La Fortuna here: Arenal and La Fortuna tours discount. For just a couple days in La Fortuna, I’d recommend doing a combo tour like the 4 in 1 with hot springs, or the three main hikes (hanging bridges, fortuna waterfall and volcano hike).
For just 2-3 days in both areas, you don’t necessarily need a car because you don’t have a lot of time to explore. All tours in La Fortuna include transportation so that makes it super easy and in Coco, you can book tours if you like or just spend a day relaxing in town and the beach, and the other boating around the Gulf (this is a must, it’d be a huge shame if you didn’t because Coco is not a very nice beach and you have to take a boating tour to get to the beautiful white sand boat access only beaches and snorkel spots in the Gulf of Papagayo).
jeri mckeeken says
Sammi,
My husband and I will be traveling to CR for the first time this month. We will be staying in Tamarindo from Jan 10-20. My husband and I would like to see La Fortuna/Arenal. We will have a car for a few days and are thinking of driving to LF, and staying in a hotel for one night. We would leave early morning then come back in the afternoon the following day. Obviously, staying for such a short time doesnt give us much time to see and do everything we would otherwise like to do. The hotel im looking at has hot springs, so we can do those in the evening. I would love to hear your idea of the best activity for our limited time (ie, the river float). Would it be better to just take a one day tour with multi activities that includes transportation from Tamarindo? Thank you for your blog. It has been extremely helpful.
Sammi says
Hi Jeri, if you stay just for one night, you could get a couple activities in. So for example if you arrive by noon or something, you could straight away go to the national park and go for a hike, or go to the Bogarin Trail downtown and do a guided walk. Then that night, check out Fortuna town and enjoy the hot springs at your hotel. The next morning, you can do a half day morning activity like the safari float and just check out early and leave your luggage with your hotel and then drive back to Tamarindo that night.
I’d definitely recommend staying overnight in La Fortuna. The day trip is nice because you don’t have to drive but you really don’t get to experience as much, compared to even if you stay just one night. A typical one day trip is lunch in La Fortuna, a short hike in the national park or a reserve, hot springs and then go home. You don’t really even get to see La Fortuna town and if it’s cloudy, Arenal Volcano. If you stay one night, you can drive to La Fortuna town that night, have more chance to see the volcano and pick more activities.
Sammi says
You can definitely do it! The hike is not too long (7 kilometers total, 4.3 miles) and it’s a beautiful hike, no elevation gain or anything so the kids can definitely do it. Here is our post on things to do in Guanacaste and our favorite activity in the Papagayo Gulf is beach hopping/snorkeling on a private boat tour. We work with a private tour operator who runs boat tours and it’s our favorite thing to do to see beautiful white sand beaches and nice snorkel spots.
Yana Kondak says
Such great info here! We will be in La Fortuna in February for 4 days with an almost 11 year old & 8 1/2 year old. On our hit list is hanging bridges, volcano hike, La Fortuna waterfall and I would love to do the rio Celeste hike! Do you think that hike is too ambitious for those age children? We missed it last time due to lack of time and would hate to miss it again. We will also then be in papagayo bay for 3 days. Any must dos there? Ty!
Sammi says
Hi Michelle and fellow Washingtonian! Our partner, Jacamar, actually offers sunset cruises on Lake Arenal! W
As for renting kayaks without a tour, I don’t know of any personally since we haven’t done it but I have seen signs around the lake that have lake activities available so there may be some locals or people renting kayaks on the lake. You can go down to the lake entrance where the hydroelectric dam, bridge and entrance to the Mistico hanging bridges is and talk to the locals there, or I can ask Jacamar but they do guided tours on the lake.
Michelle says
Thank you for your response and sharing your discount for a sunset cruise on Lake Arenal!
I have one more question…to make the most of our one full day in Arenal I’m hoping to go ziplining with SkyTrek and do the Mistico Hanging Bridges. We will be in Costa Rica mid-November and from what I’ve read this season often brings rain in the afternoon. What time does it usually begin raining?
If we want to do both activities in the morning (or one before lunch and one after lunch) so that we have most of the afternoon open (3:00pm and later) for hot springs or just relaxing or hiking around Arenal Volcano – is there a recommended order? I see that both places offer tickets starting at 8:00am. Given that both ziplining and the hanging bridges are about 2.5 hours each, it may be too much to do both before lunch. I’m just wondering which one would best to do first, especially if it does start raining.
It looks like both of these activities take place west of La Fortuna. Is there a place you’d recommend to eat between ziplining and hanging bridges without driving into town?
Thanks again!
Sammi says
When it comes to weather, it’s hard to say… November is the start of our transition time to dry season so I can’t say when it will start raining since transition months are more sporadic, it may rain in the morning, it may rain a bit at night, it might rain all day or might not rain at all. Generally it will rain in the afternoon/evenings but La Fortuna is the rainforest so it could rain during the day. We visited once in November and had some pretty nice clear mornings so you could do either activity first… I’d do the ziplining first though personally to take my chances on no rain in the morning so you have the chance for a better view.
Michelle says
Hi Sammi, I’ve really appreciated your blog as we are preparing for our first trip to Costa Rica (from your home state of Washington!). We will be in Arenal for only a day and half. We’re planning on doing the ziplining with Sky Trek and a guided tour of the Mistico Hanging Bridges.
I’d like to do something on Lake Arenal in the late afternoon/early evening and wondering if you have recommendations for dinner cruises on the lake or places to rent kayaks (without participating in a group tour)? Since our morning will be adventure packed, I’d like to spend the evening more leisurely, yet still enjoying the views of the volcano. Would love to hear what you recommend!
Thank you!
Caroline Lewis says
Hello
Loving the blog it’s a life saver for Costa Rica!! We are just in San Jose right now and planning to go to monteverde and la fortuna in the next few days. But I’m confused on public transport between the 2 as it seems a long bus ride. It’s almost easier to go back to San Jose in between?? Can you advise at all?
Thanks
Caroline
Sammi says
Hi Caroline, to get from Monteverde to La Fortuna, the most popular way is actually taxi-boat-taxi if you don’t have a car. By bus, the best way is to bus from Monteverde to Tilaran, then Tilaran to La Fortuna but the taxi boat taxi across Lake Arenal is the most popular. It’s around $25 per person and you can book it at your hotel or any tour company in Monteverde/La Fortuna.
Prin says
Hello Sammi, is it true there are taxi boats to take you and your car across Arenal Lake?
Sammi says
Hola! No there isn’t sadly. You have to drive around the Lake if you want to get to Monteverde.
Sammi says
Hi Amy! I’m glad the blog has been helpful. You can read our guide to La Fortuna for more information for nightlife and things like that: La Fortuna
La Fortuna is the biggest and main city near Arenal Volcano and is the main tourism hub. Arenal volcano is I think about 20 kilometers from La Fortuna.
I highly recommend canyoning it’s super fun! We have discounts for tours in La Fortuna including canyoning in case you’re interested! You can check this page: Arenal and La Fortuna tours discount
Amy says
Your website is saving my life! We land in San Jose on a Thursday. I was thinking about driving to Arenal that day. I want to wake up Friday and do one of the tours, (probably canoying). Is there any night life in Arenal? I want to go to dinner, but just wondering if there are any bars around? Arenal is close to La Fortuna right?
Kim says
What are your thoughts on driving from Jaco to rio Celeste and staying 1 night and then moving on to Arenal vs just going straight to Arenal and doing a day trip to Tenorio and rio Celeste?? Also is the drive from jack to rio celeste safe for travel in the evening?
Sammi says
You could do that but it would be easier to do Jaco – Fortuna and then day trip to Tenorio. One night in Tenorio/Bijagua isn’t really enough in my opinion, especially if you plan to hike the park since you’ll need at least 4 hours or so for the hike on average and the drive from Jaco to Bijagua is like 5 hours. You can ask your hotel to hold your luggage for you but I recommend driving from Bijagua to Arenal in daylight depending on which route you take. If you take the route with all paved roads, it could take you around 2.5 hours, if you take the other route from around the park, the road is unpaved for some sections and is not as easy/secure as the other route.
Rio Celeste is inside Tenorio Volcano National Park and the closest town to the park is Bijagua (read our guide here:Bijagua Costa Rica) about a 30 minute drive away so you will need to stay in Bijagua. The road from Jaco to Bijagua is all on paved roads but it’s quite long.
Sammi says
Hi Thomas, you can fly into either as they are both about a 3.5 hour drive to Arenal and La Fortuna. LIR would be easier to fly into as its not as busy as San Jose and the driving is a lot easier in Liberia than San Jose as well. If San Jose is more expensive, then you can definitely fly into there as well. There are a few options to get there, you can rent a care, book a private/shared shuttle or even fly. We do like recommending renting a car as that gives you a lot more freedom and flexibility to travel in Costa Rica, especially for long drives it’s way more comfortable. But if you don’t want to drive, shuttles are great and all tours in Arenal/La Fortuna include transportation.
We offer discounts for car rentals, shuttles and tours in Arenal you can check out here: Costa Rica car rental discount, Costa Rica shuttles and Arenal and La Fortuna tour discounts
Thomas says
I’m looking to visit in the early part of April 2018. Would it be easier/quicker to fly into Liberia or San Jose? Should I rent a car or look to hire a car. My friend and I want to go river rafting, zip lining, and canyoning in the day time and relax at night. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers,
Thomas
Sammi says
Hi Lisa, definitely a hike and hot springs! Then if you want some adventure, canyoning is one of our favorite things to do there.
Lisa says
Hi – we’re only there for two days in October before heading to the west coast. What are some must do activities that we can fit in two days?
Janice says
Hi Sammi and Yeison! Would like to pick your brain…. we are planning to drive from Monteverde to La Fortuna, is it ok to do this trip in one day if we start in the morning? Also, any places on the way worth stopping at and exploring? Love your blog, thank you!
Sammi says
Hi Janice! Yes you can definitely do it in one day, we have driven that route a couple of times but do leave early in the morning to enjoy the views and avoid the rain as much as possible if you’re traveling in rainy season. There are some nice viewpoints along Nuevo Arenal and the Lake, Cafe Macademia is a nice place for a coffee and nice view if you go by way of Tilaran. If you guys are up for a little difficult but short hike, there are some nice waterfalls that are on the way to Monteverde by way of Tilaran called Viento Fresco. It does require a 4×4 to go all the way up to the top waterfalls or you can leave your car in the first one and walk up.
yeison says
Hello Rachel, every company has a different age, weight and height limit. I have seen 7 years old kids doing all the tours you mentioned and for the smallest and youngest kids, they go with the guide so I think that you will be ok. All the companies are very responsible and they will never put any member of your family on risk. Most of the companies will write what the age limit is on their website too.
All these companies open 7 days a week and you can either reserve in advance or even the same day.
Rachel Abel says
Hi! I LOVE the blog!! We will be traveling with kids ages 7,11, & 13. Are there any age/height/weight restrictions for zip lines, bridges, canyoning, and horseback riding? Are these attractions open 7 days a week? Do we need to reserve in advance? Also, are there any tours with guides that package this? We are traveling in July.
Thanks
Rachel
Sammi says
Stroller friendly is very hard because most of the places aren’t like the national park, La Fortuna waterfall or the hanging bridges. A chocolate tour would be really fun for kids to learn about how they make chocolate, there is a company called Rainforest chocolate tour, La Fortuna that does them. The Baldi hot springs has a great kids area. The hanging bridges walk isn’t super long so that could be something if your little one would like to see some wildlife, but I’d say it’s at least a few kilometers. You don’t have to walk the whole thing though.
The Arenal/Fortuna area is very big and everything is spread out so renting a car would be a lot more flexible if you want to explore but if you just want to do a couple of tours and aren’t interested in visiting Fortuna town or exploring much, you can take tours. Luckily driving around Arenal/Fortuna is pretty easy, roads are good, parking is ample and it’s a safe town so if you would like to be more comfortable, then I’d say rent a car. We have a car rental discount that also offers free baby and booster seats you can check out here: Costa Rica car rental discount
Sana says
Hi,
We are planning a trip with two kids. Age 3 years and 8 months. Which activities would you recommend are do-able with kids or are stroller friendly?
Is it worth renting a car or is it better to take tours. I understand each option has pros and cons but what would you recommend to first time travelers to the area.
Thanks.
Jayson says
I definitely suggest using the link to rent a car from Adobe. In La Fortuna you will want one and they are relatively cheap. The activities in La Fortuna are pretty rugged and in most places a stroller will be useless or a real hassle. I’d suggest a baby backpack if you really want to bring the little ones on an adventure vacation.
Sammi says
Hi Niki, you can read about the best times to go to Costa Rica here: Best time to visit Costa Rica . I would say that June/November are better options since it’s our shoulders months so not quite as many people and not as expensive. July is super crowded and expensive due to the mid winter break schools have in Costa Rica as well as the summer crowds from North America.
Niki says
Planning a 7 day trip with my 17 yr old daughter and I for later this yr. It will be our first trip flying and out of the US. Huge deal for us. Whats the best time of yr to go? My options are limited to June, July and November Thansgiving week due to school for us both.
Sammi says
It depends on what you want. If you want to be in town and be near all the amenities and services like banks, restaurants, souvenir shops, etc. then I suggest staying in La Fortuna as that is the town (read about it here La Fortuna). If you don’t really care to be in town and want more of a getaway, then stay in Arenal.
Most of the hotels around Arenal are a ways away from town and have a fairly intimate property as they are pretty spaced out. If you have a car, then you can easily drive to town if you need stuff but if you don’t, you’ll have to take a taxi or have the hotel arrange a shuttle for you every time you want to go. As for tours, if you go with a tour company then they always pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.
But if you’re not interested in doing tours, you’ll have to taxi it everywhere which can get expensive, or you need to rent a car. If you need ideas for hotels in Arenal, we have a post with recommendations: Luxury hotels in La Fortuna and Arenal
Shawna says
I highly recommend Hostel Backpackers La Fortuna if you say in the town. They are amazing, I am staying with them a second time next month, if you are new to the area and are not sure about things (or just would like someone to make the planning way easier) they do it all. The first time I just emailed them the activities I was interested in and what days I would be there and they did the rest. Saving me a bunch of money in the process. Also I didn’t have a car, so they fixed all my transport for me. And the whole staff is warm, and professional!
Sammi says
That’s great to hear you had a good experience! All hotels in La Fortuna are very good about helping their guests book tours and arranging activities/transportation for them. They make it easy to just relax and enjoy 🙂
Bekki says
Hello, just wondering if you could recommend staying in Arenal vs. La Fortuna. We have two nights in the area and are interested in activities such as canyoning, hiking, enjoying the hot springs, and relaxing! I would so appreciate any opinions you could share on this matter. Thank you so much.
Samantha says
Which of these activities cost money? I am thoroughly confused by the hanging bridges because they offer tours but I don’t know if you could just go there without having to be in a tour.
Sammi says
All of them cost money. You can pay the entrance rate at the hanging bridges and walk it yourself, you don’t need to go on a tour but most people do because they go with a guide who can point out flora and fauna to them, but it’s up to you.
Lily La says
Costa Rica looks amazing! I love how much nature there is. Zip lining, the safari and the waterfall looks beautiful! 🙂
Sammi says
It definitely is, the nature is the best thing about here 🙂
Linda Bibb says
What a great destination! Any place that has ziplining, horseback riding and waterfalls all packaged together sounds great to me. I’d imagine that one could stay there for a week and never get bored … but how long would you suggest a visitor stay if his time in Costa Rica is limited?
Sammi says
A week is good but you’d have to narrow your travels down to probably only two destinations to really get to experience it which is fine. It’s just hard to narrow down which destinations!
Samantha says
You had me at hot springs, lol. I love water and would love to see the beautiful waterfalls and sit in those amazing hot springs. Walking across that crazy bridge sounds like a fun adventure too. Costa Rica is on our list and will add these to that to do list. Thanks for a great post. You have me itching to go…
Sammi says
Haha the hot springs are the true highlight or the area! Hope you get to visit one day!
Becky Padmore says
Oh wow I need to get to Costa Rica soon! Looks fabulous!
Sammi says
It’s pretty awesome!
Danielle says
I miss La Fortuna SO MUCH! Cerro Chato was hands down the hardest hike ever but we lucked out with amazing weather and we were able to see the lagoon at the top. We did canyoning, Cerro Chato, La Fortuna waterfall, hanging bridges, zip lining and eco termales hot springs! Next time I really want to do horseback riding and class 4 rapids!
Sammi says
La Fortuna is such a great travel destination! I’m jealous you got to see the lagoon, we’ll have to go back and do it during dry season so we can actualy see something haha! Horseback riding is really fun!