Things to Do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica: Ultimate Guide  

La Fortuna is a popular tourist destination in the heart of Costa Rica’s lush rainforest, known for its stunning landscapes and adventurous outdoor activities. Whether you are an adventure seeker or someone who enjoys exploring nature, this charming small town has something for everyone. So I’ve rounded up some of the top things to do in La Fortuna and Arenal to plan out the best trip. 

How to Get to La Fortuna from San Jose Airport 

The closest airport to La Fortuna is San Jose (SJO), and the journey takes around 3 hours by car or shuttle. If you don’t rent a car, I recommend booking a shared or private shuttle service. This will provide you with door-to-door pick-up and drop-off and will save a lot of time. Also, check with your accommodation to see if they offer any types of transport services too. We used Holiday Taxis and RideCR for our shuttles throughout Costa Rica, and I recommend using them. They offer competitive prices, good communication and were reliable each time. 

Best Things to Do in La Fortuna

Take a Dip in the Natural Thermal Hot Springs 

La Fortuna is famous for its natural hot springs, heated by underground volcanic activity from the nearby Arenal Volcano. The best way to experience the springs is by staying at a thermal resort, buying a resort day pass, or heading to a spot on the river.  

Many resorts offer hot spring pools with different temperatures alongside spa packages with stunning volcano views. We chose to stay at the adults-only Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort, and it was a truly tranquil experience. But you can also purchase a resort day pass. The day passes allow access to some larger resorts like the luxurious Tabacon, family friendly Baldi and natural Ecotermales. Visitors can relax, spend the day there enjoying the thermal facilities and grab a bite to eat. It can be a more affordable option than staying at a resort. 

Check out my full review on our stay at the luxury Royal Corin Thermal Water & Spa Resort

However, if you’re on a budget or looking for a free option, head to the river. The closest spot to town, and one the locals frequent, is across the street from the Tabacon resort. Enter: “Free Natural Hot Springs River” into Google Maps to find it. Most people park up on the bank at the side of the road. It does get busy, but you’ll find a spot to enjoy the therapeutic thermal waters, so it’s all good. 

Go Hiking in the Arenal Volcano National Park 

No trip to La Fortuna would be complete without visiting one of the most iconic landmarks in Costa Rica, Arenal Volcano. Its presence looms over the entire area of Arenal/La Fortuna, and you can’t miss it, unless the clouds roll in. Visitors can hike around its perimeter through lush rainforests and hardened lava flows. The Volcano is in what is known as a resting phase, so hiking to the summit is not allowed due to the various toxic gases. The last eruption occurred in 1968.  

You can visit on your own and do a self-guided hike, but going with a guide provides an opportunity to learn more about the wildlife, geology of the area, and the flora and fauna. We chose to do the self-guided option as the weather was cloudy during our visit. It depends on what type of experience you would like.  

Within the Arenal Volcano National Park are two hiking areas, the Main Sector and La Peninsula. The Main Sector is the most popular as you’ll see the famous volcano views and lava flow hike. La Peninsula has paved trails around Lake Arenal and is less crowded. Many trails are relatively short, so depending on timing, you can explore a few in one day.   

Another option is to visit the Arenal Volcano during a group tour. Many day tour itineraries stop here alongside popular sights like La Fortuna Waterfall, Hanging Bridges and Hot Springs. 

Explore Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park

One of the most famous activities in La Fortuna is to visit a hanging bridges park. We chose to go to Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, and being suspended high above the rainforest floor surrounded by nature was an incredible experience. There are 15 bridges in this park, of which six are hanging suspension bridges. The 2-mile trail takes 2-3 hours, depending on how fast you walk, and visitors must wear closed-toe shoes. The ticket prices start at $32 USD per person for the self-guided tour. There is an option to go round the park with a guide for further knowledge about the wildlife, birds and their habitats.   

We did the self-guided tour, and for such a busy park, we saw so much wildlife! Two types of monkeys swinging around the canopy, a mama sloth and her baby chilling, lots of colourful birds, butterflies and hungry coatis. I was a little nervous to begin with on the suspension bridges, but I soon got the hang of it. It was an unforgettable day. 

Travel Tip: Bring a rain jacket or poncho with you! The weather can change at any minute in the rainforest.

Discover La Fortuna Waterfall 

Within the lush rainforests of Arenal Volcano National Park, and 3-4 miles from the town of La Fortuna, lies La Fortuna Waterfall. Cascading down from a staggering height of 75 meters (246 feet), this stunning waterfall is a sight to behold. It also offers visitors a chance to swim in the crystal-clear pools below.  

The entrance fee costs $20, and there is a well-maintained hiking trail from the entrance area down to the waterfall. It takes around 15-20 minutes to walk down. One of the ways to enjoy the scale and surrounding nature is to take a dip in the water around the waterfall. There are rocks and strong currents in certain areas, but there are pools and shallower areas to hang out. However, once it’s time to return, the hike back up is 530 steps, and let me tell you it’s a workout. Once back up at the top, there are changing rooms, bathrooms, a gift shop and a bar/restaurant.   

Being so close to La Fortuna town, we decided to grab an Uber and visit the waterfall on our own. If you have a car rental, it’s only a short drive away. The waterfall is included in many guided tours around the area and is worth factoring in if you know you’d like to visit. We’d been advised to arrive early, around 7 am, to avoid the crowds and tour groups. But we ended up visiting 2 hours before it closed (3 pm). There were plenty of people around, but not as crowded as I expected. It gave us plenty of time to enjoy the waterfall and its surroundings. 

We also saw people waterfall rappelling and ziplining from the top of the falls. Two fun activities for the thrill-seeking visitor. 

A Day trip to Rio Celeste Waterfall 

We didn’t have time to go to Rio Celeste Waterfall, but this full-day trip from La Fortuna crops up on any top activity list. Located within the Tenorio Volcano National Park, this breathtaking waterfall offers vibrant blue waters and a hike through lush rain and cloud forest trails. The vibrant blue colour is a unique chemical reaction between volcanic minerals and sunlight, resulting in a beautiful blue pool below.  

Rio Celeste Waterfall is around 1 hour and 30 minutes away from La Fortuna. If you have a car rental, this is one of the easiest ways to get there. But make sure you buy tickets in advance, or you won’t be allowed in. Enter: “Parqueo del Parque Nacional Tenorio” as your destination into your GPS. Another option is to take a group shuttle, this way everything is taken care of such as transport and entrance tickets. The hike itself takes around 1 hour each way, but add a bit of extra time if it has been raining. The first part of the trail is relatively flat, with around 200 steps down to the waterfall.  

Try Ziplining Through the Rainforest

Experience an adrenaline rush on a ziplining adventure through the dense rainforest canopy surrounding La Fortuna. Sky Adventures Arenal Park offers packages where visitors can choose to zipline above treetops, cross hanging bridges, take on a challenge course and enjoy an aerial tram ride. The park has seven zipline cables and is one of the best in the area.  

Enjoy Heart Pumping Whitewater Rafting  

The rivers near La Fortuna offer excellent opportunities to do some whitewater rafting. Enthusiasts of all levels can take on Class II to IV rapids on stretches of river surrounded by stunning scenery and wildlife. The two main rivers accessible from La Fortuna are the Sarapiqui River and Balsa River. Each one offers a different class of rapids. Balsa is more suited to beginners, and Sarapiqui has more advanced whitewater rafting. Whichever you choose, this activity is one of the most adrenaline-pumping things to do in La Fortuna. 

Relax on a River Safari Float

If whitewater rafting isn’t your thing, a River Safari Float might be for you. These tours start around a 20-minute drive from the town of La Fortuna. Guests board an inflatable raft and float down the calm Penas Blancas River for 2-hours, looking for wildlife and enjoying the rainforest from the water. Be on the lookout for monkeys, sloths and various tropical birds.   

Where to Stay in La Fortuna, Arenal

We chose to stay at The Royal Corin Thermal Spa & Resort, an affordable adults-only 5-star resort hotel. We were looking for a resort with thermal pools, a spa, volcano views and a convenient location for exploring the area. The Royal Corin checked these boxes. All rooms have pool and volcano views, and the rate also includes breakfast, which is an incredible choice every morning. We found the value for money compared to resorts in the surrounding area couldn’t be beaten. I highly recommend checking it out. 

If you’re looking for a place with your own kitchen, a home-from-home or a tropical treehouse, Vrbo has a great selection of places to rent in La Fortuna to suit any budget. 

Where to Eat in La Fortuna

There are so many restaurant options in La Fortuna but, I’m sharing our favourite spot. Just a little bit out of town is El Chante Verde, an organic restaurant that caters to several dietary requirements. The cute decor, music and friendly staff also add to the ambience. We ordered the seabass ceviche and lomo saltado (beef strips with peppers, rice and an egg), paired with a local beer and Spanish red wine. The food was so delicious, I wish we could have eaten there again. 

We also tried a great handcrafted cocktail place called Voodoo Bar in Mercadito Arenal. It’s in a food court/market, but the cocktails were all delicious and reasonably priced. The market is also a good place to grab a bite to eat as it has various options and vendors and located in town.

Thanks for reading. I hope I’ve inspired you to check out some of the best things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. From exploring the iconic Arenal Volcano to soaking in natural hot springs, this tropical paradise destination checks the boxes for bucket list experiences. Visited already? Let me know of any other activities or sights you’d recommend in the comments below, or over on Instagram.   

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