La Fortuna is one of the best destinations in Costa Rica for visitors.
This friendly local town near Arenal Volcano offers a plethora of fun outdoor adventure, stunning natural beauty, abundant wildlife and delicious local food.
For those of you who plan to visit La Fortuna and are not sure what to do, this post will help you put together an epic itinerary whether you have 2, 3 or 4 days.
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We have been visiting La Fortuna for over 15 years together and have put together a ton of different types of itineraries for friends, families and readers.
La Fortuna Know Before You Go
Location: In the Alajuela province.
Distance from international airports: ~3 hours from Guanacaste Airport and San Jose International Airport by car. 4×4 not required.
How to get there: Direct public bus from San Jose, domestic flight from San Jose Domestic Terminal, private or shared shuttle, driving or a taxi-boat-taxi from Monteverde.
Also can arrive as an interconnection from a Pacuare whitewater rafting tour from San Jose or Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the Caribbean coast.
Airport: La Fortuna has its own domestic airport, 10 minutes outside downtown
La Fortuna Weather
La Fortuna follows the typical tropical Costa Rican climate with a dry and rainy season, hot and humid all year round.
Dry season is December through April, rainy season is May through November.
However as tropical rainforest, it can rain any time of the year in La Fortuna whether it’s a light sprinkle in March or heavy downpour in September.
Average day time temperatures are 80-85° F (26°-29° C). Average night time temperatures are low 70s° F (21° C).
Be prepared: Get our full Costa Rica packing list and free packing check list here.
IMPORTANT: Sunrise and sunset is at 530 AM and 530 PM every day of the year, respectively.
La Fortuna 3 Day Itinerary
With so many awesome things to do in La Fortuna, you should definitely stay at least three nights to have two full days.
Ideally, it would be best to have four nights to have three full days if you can fit it in your itinerary.
I recommend four nights if you will be in Costa Rica for at least 10 full days.
Get our Two Weeks in Costa Rica Itinerary, 8 Days in Costa Rica Itinerary, 11 Days in Costa Rica Itinerary and 13 Days in Costa Rica Itinerary that includes La Fortuna to plan your Costa Rica vacation.
Traveling with kids? This itinerary works perfectly well with kids, but for kid specific tours, check out our Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids post for specific details.
The itineraries below will show you to spend 1, 2, 3 and 4 days in La Fortuna with a rental car and without a rental car.
Recommended Hotels in La Fortuna
There are a ton of accommodation options at all price points.
Here are just a few of our recommended hotels.
Los Lagos Hotel: A great hotel for families. They have their own hot springs and pools and amazing views of Arenal Volcano. Standard rooms and one large villa available.
Amor Arenal: Gorgeous hotel for couples and honeymooners as it’s adult friendly (13 minimum age). Has luxury rooms and suites surrounded by rainforest and stunning views.
Xilopalo: Budget friendly hotel near downtown with a pool, hot breakfast, and friendly staff.
Day 1 of This La Fortuna 3 Day Itinerary: Hanging Bridges, National Park, Hot Springs
Click to get our La Fortuna tours discount to save some $$!
Buenos dias La Fortuna!
For your first day, you’re going to do several activities and it’s going to be an active day, so get a good breakfast!
What to bring: Day pack, insulated water bottle, snacks, hat, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, completely closed comfortable walking shoes, camera, sunglasses, rain jacket if visiting during rainy season.
You will not return to your hotel until the late afternoon.
Morning 8 AM: Hanging Bridges Walk
After breakfast, head to Mistico Park (also known as Arenal Hanging Bridges Park).
This private reserve has a 3.2 km (1.98 mile) trail with fixed and hanging bridges up in the rainforest canopy so that visitors can immerse themselves in nature.
On the trail, it is possible to see wildlife like howler monkeys, butterflies, snakes, birds and sloths, just to name a few.
We love this park, the trail is not very difficult and it is a wonderful introduction to La Fortuna and its natural beauty.
This trail is apt for children and seniors, as there is a 1.5 km universal trail (.93 mile) and a 250 meter (.15 miles) accessible trail. The park also offers electric scooter and stroller rentals.
If you do not have transportation., book the Arenal Hanging Bridges tour that includes transportation, entrance fee and bilingual guide.
If you have your own rental car, book the guided Arenal Hanging Bridges walk directly without transportation.
Don’t want a guide? Book a self guided ticket to walk the trails at your own pace.
11 AM: Arenal Volcano National Park (15 minute drive)
After the hanging bridges walk, you’ll visit Arenal Volcano National Park, about a 15 minute drive away.
You will visit the main visitor center to walk a trail through the lava rocks and up to a couple of view points of Arenal Volcano.
The trail you will walk is “Las Coladas” which is 2 km (1.4 miles) total and will take you around 1-1.5 hours. At the end of this trail, there are two viewpoints.
One of them has a very cool observation platform and you can get some epic views of the volcano super close.
What to know: The national park is open everyday from 8 AM to 4 PM. Purchase park tickets upon arrival, credit card only ($15 + tax per adult, $5 + tax per child).
There is free parking. 4×4 not required to the main parking lot.
If you do not have a rental car, you can book a tour that combines both hanging bridges and the volcano hike. If you book a tour, most companies will go to Arenal 1968 reserve instead of the national park but the hike is very similar and with nearly same views.
If you have a rental car, you can add on a visit to the Peninsula Sector for a nice shortish walk through the rainforest to see amazing views of Lake Arenal.
Go to the Peninsula sector first after the hanging bridges, and you can use the same park ticket for the Visitor Center.
The drive between the two sectors is ~10 minutes. The trail in the Peninsula sector is 1.8 kms (1.1 miles) total on a flat, concrete path.
Lunch
After all that walking, you’re bound to be hungry and now it’s time for lunch.
Head to Cafeteria y Restuarante Rain Forest Arenal, which is road side on Route 142 going towards La Fortuna. They have delicious coffee, desserts, local food, sandwiches and empanadas.
Our favorite is their stuffed empanadas with cabbage, a cup of coffee and then a piece of cake for dessert.
If you booked the tour with the hanging bridges and volcano hike, a traditional Costa Rican lunch is included.
Hotel
Head back to your hotel, by now should be in the late afternoon or so. You’ll shower, rest, relax, nap and freshen up.
Night: Hot Springs
Tonight, you’ll enjoy one of the best things about La Fortuna: the natural hot springs.
If your hotel does not have their own hot springs and pools, you can purchase day passes to the many hot springs resorts open to the public.
You can check our post on Best Hot Springs in La Fortuna in the link to get our recommendations.
Personally, we love Ecotermales, Tabacon, Hot Springs Pura Vida and The Springs Resort and Spa. Baldi is really fun too, but it can get a bit loud on long weekends and holidays.
Tabacon is a luxury hot springs resort with many natural river pools and waterfalls. MUST book your passes EARLY for Tabacon! This resort is so photogenic with meticulously landscaped waterfalls and gardens.
Ecotermales has a few natural pools and one river section, a very lovely hot springs resort. It’s not that big but they have lush gardens and a well lit, well maintained path throughout the property.
The Springs Resort has a huge hot springs property with two separate hot springs sections, many natural and man made pools and a fun water slide. We have a small discount for The Springs Resort Hot Springs Pass to save some $$.
Hot Springs Pura Vida: Have access to the naturally warm Tabacon River, one hot pool, and a cafeteria. One of our favorites!
All of these hot springs resorts are within a 15 minute drive from downtown La Fortuna. If you do not have a car, you can call an Uber.
Dinner
Tabacon, Ecotermales and Baldi offer an option to add dinner to their hot springs pass.
If you do not opt for their dinner pass, you can grab dinner somewhere else in La Fortuna.
Recommendations: Kenkos, La Fortuna Pub, Travesia, Restaurante Fortuneño. Nice places for families and adults alike, moderate prices.
Day 2 of This La Fortuna 3 Day Itinerary: Safari Float, La Fortuna Waterfall, Night Walk
Today is a day of nature and wildlife! Get to see some of La Fortuna’s most prized animals.
What to bring: day pack, rain jacket if rainy season, hat, mosquito repellent, sunscreen, swimsuit, towels, comfortable clothes, comfortable walking shoes/closed toed hiking sandals and water shoes.
You will not return to the hotel until late afternoon.
Morning 8 AM: Peñas Blancas Safari Float
In the morning, you’ll get picked up to go on a safari float down the Peñas Blancas river. This is a leisurely 3 hour excursion to see wildlife and nature.
The Peñas Blancas safari float tour is an awesome tour for families and adults alike. Kids must be 4 years of age to participate.
You’ll have opportunities to see animals like howler monkeys, white face monkeys, iguanas, caimans, bats, river birds and sloths.
After the float, you’ll stop by a local house for some tasty snacks and fruit juice.
You will return back to La Fortuna around 11 AM.
Check out the different La Fortuna safari float options to see which one is right for you.
1130 AM: La Fortuna Waterfall
Next, you’ll visit La Fortuna waterfall. From downtown La Fortuna, the waterfall is a 10 minute drive (5.3 km or 3.3 miles) and it has free parking.
For those without a car, call an Uber which costs ~$5 USD per way for Comfort.
If you are a little hungry after the float, grab a few empanadas from Empanadas Argentinas “El Buen Guesto” or pastries from Panaderia La Principal La Fortuna in town.
As one of the gems in the entire Arenal area, La Fortuna waterfall is the quintessential postcard perfect waterfall in the jungle.
What to know: There are changing rooms and bathrooms so you may bring your swimsuit to change into. Towels are not provided, bring your own. $20 USD entrance fee. Lockers available for a fee.
To get to the waterfall pool, you must walk about 500 steps down.
Go slow and enjoy the walk. If you’re not in the best shape, there are hand rails and places to rest along the way.
Strollers not permitted. Babies/infants must be in a carrier.
You will spend about 1.5 hours at the waterfall.
Alternative option: If you are on an extremely tight budget, you can visit the free rope swing in the La Fortuna River. You do not see the waterfall, but it’s the same river from the waterfall.
The highlight is the rope swing. It’s called “El Salto (Rope Swing) on Google Maps. But please be VERY careful, as the pool current is strong, do not swim right inside the pool.
130 PM Lunch
Recommended lunch options are Organico Fortuna (veg/organic options), Soda La Hormiga (cheap local food), Soda Cinco Tejas (cheap local food) and Restaurant Garra Pata (great Costa Rican barbecue restaurant).
Hotel
Now you’ll head to your hotel to rest before the night time activity: a night walk.
530 PM Night Walk
Tonight you will experience the jungle come alive when the sun goes down.
As the La Fortuna has primary and secondary rain forest, it is a great place to see nocturnal animals such as frogs, snakes and insects.
Our partners run an exclusive night walk on their private reserve, great for frogs and snakes.
ids must be 6 years of age for this tour.
If you have kids younger than 6 years, make a night walk reservation with Ecocentro Danaus as they allow young children. 8 minute drive from downtown La Fortuna.
Walking through the rainforest in the pitch black, with nothing but your local guide and a flashlight to guide you is a wild experience!
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and knew exactly how to handle every encounter with each snake, as we saw quite a few.
Must bring: Long pants, completely closed shoes, rain jacket in rainy season (although I recommend it in dry season too, to protect against mosquitoes). The guide will give you a flashlight.
Duration: 2.5 hours. Return back to hotel around 8 PM.
Dinner
Head to Mercadito Arenal. They have sushi, burgers, tacos, pizza and ice cream. Something for everyone. They close at 945 PM.
Day 3 of This La Fortuna 3 Day Itinerary: Canyoning and Cooking Class
Day 3 is a day of fun and yummy food!
You’ll go waterfall rappeling in the morning and then learn all about Costa Rican cuisine in a cooking class in the afternoon.
Morning: Canyoning
One of our favorite adventures is the La Fortuna canyoning tour.
This is a waterfall rappelling tour that is SUPER fun! Jump down four waterfalls, deep in the rainforest. I LOVE this tour when it comes to adventure because it is non stop fun!
Kids must be at least 5 years old to participate on this tour. Transportation included. Click to get our La Fortuna canyoning discount!
This is a half day tour with pick up around 730 AM and return around 1130 AM. Lunch is included which will be after the tour in the morning.
Want more adventure?
Then check out Rainforest Falls, an even more adrenaline filled river tour! Rappel down two waterfalls, jump into 4 pools ranging from 1 meter to 11 meters and climb up a river canyon!
Book Rainforest Falls with our discount here!
Lunch/Brunch
If you decide not to do anything in the morning, Cafe and Restaurant Raul Castaño Fortuna Mirador is a nice spot for lunch with a view. Free parking on site.
Afternoon 230 PM Cooking Class
Today you’ll learn how to be a Costa Rican cook for a day.
You’ll spend a couple hours touring an organic farm and learning about important Costa Rican crops and sustainable farming practices.
Then you’ll pick your ingredients, bring them to the kitchen and start the fire!
You will be making a traditional Costa Rican dish, called the casado. It’s made up of rice, beans, salad and a protein, for this class it will be chicken.
Vegetarian options available.
Three tours to add to your La Fortuna trip
Pura Vida Cooking Class in La Fortuna
Harvest fresh produce from a local organic farm and learn to cook a classic Costa Rican dish.
Check out this tour
Pure Trek Canyoning Tour
Waterfall rappels, jungle trails, and refreshing natural pools on this safe, guided canyoning adventure
Check out this tour
Exclusive Night Walk in La Fortuna
See the rainforest at night and spot frogs, snakes, & insects on this educational night walk.
Check out this tour
Minimum age to join this class is 3 years. If you have children younger than 3, you can book this as a private tour and all the little ones can join the fun.
Click here to book the Pura vida cooking class.
The afternoon cooking class ends around 530 PM. You will get to eat your yummy dish at the end so that’ll be like an early dinner.
Cooking portion is outdoor, under roof. Farm tour is completely outdoors.
Bring a rain jacket, closed toed shoes, comfortable clothes. Transportation included.
Evening/Night
Tonight, you have a free night. Here are our recommendations.
The Central Park Downtown: We love this little park. Many locals go there to hang out after work and school, hang out with family and friends, walk their dog and just wind down the day.
Grab an ice cream from Chocolateria Fusion or Pops and people watch in the park.
Hot Springs: You can go back to the hot springs if you want. Highly recommend it!
Massage: La Fortuna is a hub for wellness and there are many local spas in town. Many of them close between 7- 8 PM.
One of our favorites by the park is Asiel Spa, they normally run a $35 USD for 1 hour relaxing massage promo and they are super nice.
Day 4 of This La Fortuna 3 Days Itinerary
Here are our ideas for the fourth day.
Morning 10 AM: 3 Hour ATV Tour
Gear up for some adventure!
Rev up your engine and ride through muddy rainforest trails and backcountry roads for epic views of Arenal Volcano on this 3 hour Arenal Volcano ATV tour.
Children with a minimum age of 5 years will ride with a guide. Must be 16 to drive own ATV. If you have little kids, we recommend the 2 hour Arenal Volcano ATV tour instead.
Must bring: Wear your swimsuit if you want to swim in the river, towels, camera, adventure camera with mount, closed toed shoes. A neck covering like Buff will be helpful in dry season.
Transportation is included. You can also drive yourself to the ATV headquarters, 12 minute drive from downtown La Fortuna.
Book the Arenal ATV Tour here!
Alternative Option: Ziplining
If you aren’t planning to go ziplining anywhere else in Costa Rica or if you are not interested in the ATV tour, then you should go ziplining in La Fortuna.
There are so many ziplining tours, perfect for any age and any level.
You have family friendly ziplining tours like at Arenal Canopy Adventure and then the extreme ziplining at Sky Adventures.
All of them are super fun and you’ll get to experience the rainforest from a birds eye view!
Lunch
The Open Kitchen. They have a sandwiches, shawarma, souvlaki, hummus, shakshuka, salads, soup and all day breakfast.
They also have one in Monteverde.
Afternoon
Take the last afternoon to relax, go souvenir shopping in downtown La Fortuna, walk around the park and just chill.
If you want to do some shopping, we really like the stores Wandering, Bam Bam Boo and Lava Collective Travel Gifts Shop.
Dinner
Travesia. Best to make reservations. Excellent Costa Rican-fusion food.
End of Your La Fortuna 3 Day Itinerary
And your 2 and 4 day La Fortuna itinerary!
We hope this post La Fortuna 3 day Itinerary helps you plan your trip.
You do not have to follow this itinerary exactly, you can switch activities depending on what you want to do because believe me, there is a LOT to do in La Fortuna!
That is why we highly recommend the very least, three nights in La Fortuna to have two full days.
Even with two full days, it really isn’t enough to experience all of La Fortuna but you will have a great time nonetheless.
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