Located 3 hours north of San Jose sits one of Costa Rica’s best adventure towns. La Fortuna is a lush jungle escape sitting at the base of Volcan Arenal. Its name translates to “fortunate” because when the Arenal Volcano erupted in 1965, this area around the base was spared from the lava flow. This town is a thriving tourist destination for so many reasons including its natural beauty, exotic wildlife, and abundant outdoor activities.
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The best things to do in La Fortuna
Relax in the La Fortuna thermal pools
One of the best things to do in La Fortuna is to experience the magic of the many thermal pools within the region (also referred to as hot springs). Heated by the Arenal Volcano, these thermal pools sit at the perfect temperature to sit in and relax.
There are many ways to visit the thermal pools and there is an experience for every budget. La Fortuna has a free roadside spot where the heated river runs alongside the street. There are also privately owned resorts that have perfectly manicured grounds and provide access to more resort-style thermal pools.
Read more about this experience- Ultimate Guide To Visiting The La Fortuna Thermal Pools
Whichever option you choose, this is a must-do while visiting La Fortuna!
La Fortuna Waterfall
In the middle of the Costa Rican jungle sits the incredible La Fortuna Waterfall. In reality, this place is not very far at all from the town center, but it feels so remote! The waterfall plunges an impressive 246 feet (76m) and is a thrill to see in person.
To get to the waterfall, park your car in the office’s parking lot, pay the entry fee, and then walk down 500 steps to the base of the falls. The walk down only takes about 10 minutes and the stairs are very well maintained. No hiking boots necessary here! Swimming is allowed but please be careful as the currents can be strong. Follow the water down a few feet from the falls and you will find some very still, turquoise waters that are perfect for swimming. Be warned- the water is freezing!
The hike up can be challenging for some, but if you take your time and rest along the way, you should be totally fine. Expect the hike up to take about 15-20min.
Hours and entry fees
The waterfall is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. An entry ticket costs $18 USD per person and includes access to their bathrooms, free parking, and their beautiful orchid garden!
Plan to spend at least an hour here on your itinerary!
Tip: Get here early! We did not experience many crowded places in La Fortuna, but this place was packed by 9 am with large tour groups.
Arenal 1968 Lava Flow Trail
This hiking trail is part of the Volcan Arenal National Park which is a short drive from La Fortuna. Hiking this trail is one of the best ways to see the Volcano and the dried lava rocks from its last eruption.
This specific trail is about 2.5 miles (4km) long and is considered moderate. There are many other trails within the park, but this has one of the best views of the Volcano you will ever see.
If you have time, continue onto the Forrest 1968 path, a more difficult extension of the lava flow trail.
Hours and entry fees
The park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm (the last entry is at 4 pm). An entry ticket costs $25 USD per person. There is a safe parking lot, bathrooms, a restaurant, and water stations available for visitors.
If you are only hiking the lava flow trail, plan to spend around 2 hours here!
Go ziplining through the jungle
For those who love adrenaline and adventure, La Fortuna is one of the best places in Costa Rica to go ziplining. It is quite a bit cheaper to do this activity here than in the United States, with prices hovering around $80 – $90 USD per person.
Ziplining through the canopy of the lush Costa Rican rainforest is a must-do! Arenal Mundo Adventura has an incredible 7 line tour that gives epic waterfall views.
Mistico Hanging Bridges
The Mistico Hanging Bridges Park is a very unique experience and unlike anything we had done before. Walking across the jungle on bridges that are suspended as high as 148 feet in the air is something that any traveler will get a thrill out of.
This luscious nature park offers a scenic hike (more like a breezy walk) through dense rainforest, incredible volcano views, and chances at seeing some local wildlife. This was one of our favorite activities in La Fortuna and we highly recommend that you visit this park! The trails are all very well maintained and no hiking boots are necessary.
Hours and entry fees
The park is open daily from 6 am to 3:30 pm (last entry). A single ticket costs $28 USD for adults. You can hire a wildlife guide for an extra fee.
Plan to spend about 2 hours inside the park!
Rio Celeste
Rio Celeste is another gorgeous waterfall located an hour and a half away from La Fortuna. If you are staying more than a couple of days here, it is worth taking the trip to see this turquoise paradise. Note that swimming in the falls is not permitted. The path down to the waterfall takes about an hour to walk and is extremely scenic and beautiful.
It is best to visit Rio Celeste with your own rental car as there is no direct public transportation. You can also book a day trip with a tour company. Some even offer further exploration of the river with tubing and swimming opportunities.
Check out some tours on GetYourGuide
Hours and entry fees
The park is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm (the last entry is at 2). A single ticket costs $12 USD for adults. Parking is an additional $5 USD per car.
Plan to spend the full day getting to, exploring, and coming back from Rio Celeste!
Take a coffee & chocolate tour
Costa Rica is widely know for their delicious coffee! Something that you may not have known is that the country also grows and produces amazing chocolate. Taking a tour of a local plantation is a fun and immersive experience as well as a great way to learn about coffee and chocolate production in Costa Rica!
Click here to book the tour that we joined!
A coffee and chocolate tour usually takes 2 – 3 hours!
El Salto rope swing
Wanting a taste of the local life in La Fortuna? The El Salto rope swing and “secret” swimming spot is one of the few free things to do in La Fortuna. Located along the Rio Fortuna, this spot is one mile south of downtown and is known as a local hangout area for kids and families.
When is the best time to visit La Fortuna?
La Fortuna falls in line with the same weather patterns as the typical Costa Rican climate. November – April is the dry season, and May – October is the rainy season. Since so many activities in La Fortuna are outdoors, it is best to visit during the dryer months of the year to avoid the rain interrupting your plans. We visited at the beginning of the rainy season in June and only experienced a few afternoon showers. The rain never got in the way of our activities, but this is mainly because we were very active in the mornings when it does not rain very much even in the rainy season.
It is important to note that Costa Rica can be a bit more budget-friendly during the rainy season when accommodation, flights, and activity costs are significantly lower.
Tip: If you plan to visit during the rainy season, try to avoid outdoor activities between 2 pm and 4 pm. Costa Rica often experiences afternoon showers. Try to avoid the months of September and October altogether.
How expensive is La Fortuna?
La Fortuna is not quite as affordable as other destinations in Central America, but it can still be very budget friendly if done the right way. Airbnbs here offer great value for money compared to hotels. Hostels are also very abundant and are a great way to save money on accommodation. Try to eat at local Costa Rican sodas if you are on a budget. Western food is less expensive than in the U.S. and Europe, but not by a huge amount.
How long do I need to visit La Fortuna?
To be able to experience everything on this list, we would recommend you to stay for at least 5 full days. The highlights of this list can be completed in 2 or 3 days depending on how much you want to pack into one day’s schedule.
How to get to La Fortuna & how to get around
La Fortuna is located 2 1/2 hours away from the San Jose airport by car. We do recommend renting a car to get to and travel around La Fortuna and the Arenal area.
It is possible to take a bus to get there as well. This option is definitely more affordable, but once you are here, it can be difficult to get from place to place without a car.
Find out more about renting a car in Costa Rica!
Places to stay in La Fortuna
We stayed in a boutique resort booked through Airbnb. Although we did not spend much time at our rental, this accommodation was absolutely lovely and had everything we needed. The grounds were stunning and they had super nice amenities such as a pool, waterslide, hot tub, kitchen, trails… etc. We even saw howler monkeys from our balcony.
Other recommended accommodations:
Budget: Selina Hostel, Rio Danta, Arenal Sloth Hostel
Mid: Villa Airbnb, Bungalow Airbnb, Hotel Arenal Lodge
Luxury: Tabacon Thermal Resort, The Springs Resort Arenal
Places to eat in La Fortuna
La Fortuna has many restaurants in and around the town. You will be able to find almost all types of cuisine here from local Costa Rican sodas to cutely decorated cafes perfect for remote workers. These are a few of the places that we tried in La Fortuna.
– Chante Verde 4/5 Western food, cute vibe
– Arabigos Coffee House 5/5 Good breakfast, open earlier than most places
– Restaurante Cafe Pizza Mediterranea 5/5 A huge Italian menu, great food and service
– Organico Fortuna 2/5 Poor, slow service, cold food, not the best experience but came highly recommended
– Soda La Hormiga 4/5 Authentic cuisine, local feel, cheap, friendly
Comment your La Fortuna tips and experiences below! 🙂
