Ultimate Guide To Visiting the

La Fortuna thermal pools

A must when visiting La Fortuna…

One of the best things to do when visiting La Fortuna is to experience a day of relaxing in the magical thermal pools. Imagine sitting in the volcano-heated waters that run through Arenal while enjoying the beautiful sounds of wildlife around you and admiring the lush jungle landscape. Costa Rica is the best place to experience hot springs because of the unmatched hospitality from the resorts and the incredibly diverse variety of flora and fauna! This was my favorite activity that we did during our 3 days in La Fortuna.

Free vs paid hot springs

There are a lot of different ways to experience the hot springs in La Fortuna. The good news is that if you are on a budget, this activity can be totally free to do. Another way to experience them is through privately owned property via a resort. When visiting a resort, the price can get a little expensive but it is well worth it because of the beautifully manicured grounds and phenomenal hospitality. It really just depends on your specific budget and finding the right experience to meet your preferences. In this blog, we will compare the free vs paid options and expand on our experience with Tabacon Thermal Resort!

How to visit the free hot springs:

If you are trying to save money while backpacking or just looking for low-cost activities in general, visiting the free hot springs in La Fortuna is a great option. There are some downsides to enjoying the free spot such as crowds, minimal parking, and less space to put your belongings. The location of these springs is right next to Tabacon Thermal Resort and you will have to park your car on the side of the road. There will most likely be locals hanging around requesting money for parking (5000 colones), which is not legal but most people do end up paying it. The best way to experience the free hot springs is to go as early as possible because parking will be more abundant and the chance of the parking fee collectors being there is lower. Think early morning like 6 am – 9 am.

Click here to see the location of the free hot springs!

Tabacon Thermal Resort- the best hot springs experience

One of the most popular places to experience the hot springs is Tabacon Thermal Resort. This is where we went and we loved it so much. The hospitality from the staff was top notch and the resort grounds were just stunning. They provide you with a locker to keep your belongings in, towels to carry around, and a meal to enjoy during your visit. There are also a lot of swim-up bars with yummy drinks to sip on.

Tabacon Thermal Resort is huge! There are so many different thermal pools at this resort- it can be hard to see them all. Each one is different from the last with some resembling rivers with lots of layers, to some with a more traditional pool style with cabanas and lounge areas. We bought evening passes with dinner which allows you to stay for as long as you want at the resort with a reserved dinner time. The food here was not our favorite but it wasn’t a huge deal.

The prices to visit the resort are around $80 USD per person and include a meal, towels, and lockers. There are a few weeks in December/January and mid-April where the prices are slightly higher due to “peak season”. Alternatively, you can also book a room at the hotel for your stay in La Fortuna and the hot springs are free to access during your entire stay. We both agreed that the price to come here for the evening was well worth it and we definitely recommend this resort. Check out their website to make your reservations!