I can’t wait to come back to La Fortuna, Costa Rica. We visited La Fortuna during October. My group included myself, my husband, and my 11-year-old. This was our first trip to Central America and I am ready to return!
We opted to stay in La Fortuna instead of doing a roadtrip because there was so many things to do in La Fortuna and nearby (less than an hour away). Read on to learn about the best things to do in La Fortuna!
19 Best Things To Do In La Fortuna
La Fortuna is a 2.5 to 3 hour drive northwest of San José. The town has about 15,000 people. Arenal Volcano National Park is about a 30 minute drive from La Fortuna.
La Fortuna has something for everyone. It is a great place to visit for families, couples, or solo travelers of all ages. On our group tours there were retirees, honeymooners, and other families with kids (middle school or high school age). All of this makes La Fortuna a great fall break destination.
There are many resorts in the area. We stayed in La Fortuna because of its proximity to so many things to do.
We were usually back to our hotel sometime between 3 and 5 pm. We would shower and then walk to dinner. There were numerous restaurants downtown La Fortuna. It did rain every day of our trip, but was usually during the time where we were back at the hotel.
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1. Hanging Bridges and a Nature Hike
I never thought I would hike through the jungle, but we did it! We took the Sky Adventure combination tour that began with a 2.2 mile guided hike. The combination tour included ziplining, a nature hike with hanging bridges, and a tram.
The trail was long (2.2 miles) and had some spots that were uneven and involved going up and down a bit. We saw two pit viper snakes, a couple of tarantulas, and other wildlife. We heard howler monkeys, but did not see any.
Our tour guide was great! He was very knowledgeable and friendly. My daughter had a wildlife guide with her and was thrilled to see our guide using the same one! I highly recommend bringing along a wildlife guide for any nature-lovers on your trip.
✅Pro tip: Be sure to bring along bug spray, a water bottle, and sunscreen.
You need to have reservations for Sky Adventures in advance. The combination tour (hike, ziplining, and tram) will take all day. Sky Adventures is about a 30 minute drive from La Fortuna.
🎫Book your Sky Adventure combination tour by clicking here!
2. Zipline and a Tram
Our Sky Adventure included a break for lunch after the hike before taking a tram to go ziplining. The views were amazing. My husband and daughter loved ziplining. I did not love ziplining. I get motion sick occasionally and felt like I was going to throw-up a couple of times.
I loved the views and I am glad I tried ziplining, but it is not something I plan to do again.
Kids must be a minimum of 5-years-old to zipline, but ziplining seven lines down a mountain is a lot for a kid. My daughter was 11 at the time and rode the zipline with a guide. She loved it and would do it again. However, I do not think I would have taken her on this zipline if she were much younger.
The guides were very professional and I felt safe the entire time. There was a spot to take a break midway down the mountain.
You can just take the tram ride and not zipline. If ziplining is not for you, you should at least take the tram for the views. You need your reservation for any activities at Sky Adventures in advance. Sky Adventures is about a 30 minute drive from La Fortuna.
🎫Book your Sky Adventure zip line and tram tour by clicking here!
4. Sloth Tour 🦥
Many people who visit Costa Rica want to see a sloth! We took a sloth watching tour, which did not disappoint! You can take a day or night tour and we opted for the day tour.
The tour guide had a telescope and binoculars. Our guide was very knowledgeable and good at making sure we could see the sloths in the treetops. We saw a couple of sloths, several (tiny) poisonous frogs, and a common basalisk (i.e., Jesus Christ lizard).
Where is the best place to sloth tour La Fortuna?
I am not linking to the tour we took. After reading more reviews, I do not feel comfortable in recommending this tour because it seems the sloths were likely relocated to this plot of land and are not able to leave based on the terrain surrounding this spot.
Instead, I suggest visiting Proyecto Asis — an animal rescue. You should see sloths and other native animals that have been rescued.
Proyecto Asis is about a 30 minute drive south of La Fortuna. Plan to spend 2-3 hours here and be sure to get your tour reserved in advance.
🦥Book your Proyecto Asis tour by clicking here!
5. Hot Springs
La Fortuna has several hot springs nearby. Many of the hot springs are accessed through hotel resorts. You can stay at a resort with access or purchase a day pass.
We bought a day pass for the Baldi Hot Springs, which is about a 10 minute drive from La Fortuna.
Baldi Hot Springs has 25 thermal pools. The temperature and depth are posted for each pool. The resort has a towel rental (refundable) and locker rentals (non-refundable). They have pools geared toward childern with water slides and pools that are more adult-friendly with swim up bars.
La Fortuna hot springs are not to be missed. They are a fun and relaxing way to spend the day or afternoon after more adventurous days of hiking.
🌺Reserve your day pass for Baldi Hot Springs by clicking here!
There is a free option for hot springs: the Tobacon River. There is a resort, but there is public access to the hot springs river across the street. I have not visited this option, and reviews are mixed.
The price is right, but there is no place to change, you will need to pay to park, and it tends to be crowded.
6. Chocolate and Coffee Tour
Be sure to add a coffee and cacao (chocolate) tour to your trip. You will have a new found appreciation for coffee and chocolate after completing this tour.
Our tour was highly interactive. We had a knowledgeable tour guide who answered our questions and left us with a strong appreciation for the challenging work that goes into coffee and chocolate production.
On our tour, everyone got to make their own chocolate bar and hot chocolate. We also got to try the coffee. Some of the activities included riding in an ox cart, the chance to grind coffee beans using a bicycle, and tasting cacao strait from the pod.
If you are lucky, you may even spot a sloth on your tour!
A tour takes about two hours and is suitable for all ages. The pathways are also covered, so even if it rains, you should still be able to go on a tour! Don Juan Tours is in La Fortuna.
🍫Reserve your tickets for a coffee and chocolate tour by clicking here!
7. La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall is in the Arenal Volcano National Park and is a 10 minute drive from La Fortuna. You will climb down about 530 steps from the entrance to the bottom of the falls where you can view the waterfall and enjoy the water. There are places to rest along the way and it is shaded.
You can swim in the water under the waterfall and nearby. Be sure to bring everything that you need for your time near the waterfall because you will not want to climb back up the steps more than once.
🎫Reserve skip-the-line tickets to La Fortuna waterfall by clicking here!
8. River Float
The La Fortuna Wildlife Safari Float Tour was a pleasant suprise. We left one day in our trip unplanned and decided to go on this tour on our last day. The tour will pick you up at your hotel before driving to the river. Overall, the tour was about 3-4 hours.
The float took about two hours. The rest of the time was for transport and food at the end of the float.
The float was very peaceful and surprisingly relaxing! There was no one else in our group — likely because we traveled during shoulder season (October).
Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. We saw common basalisk, several kinds of birds, and … American crocodile and howler monkeys!! We had no idea we could potentially see crocodiles, so that was a fun surprise! We had heard howler monkeys on other hikes and seen signs of them, but this was the first time seeing them!
The tour ends at a farm where you can try fresh pressed Costa Rican coffee, handmade tortillas, and other food. The meal was a welcome surprise as it was much more than just a snack.
I really enjoyed the safari float and so did my family. I would definitely go on a float in Costa Rica again!
We did not white water raft. This was a more relaxed float. You did have to paddle occasionally, but we all were able to manage.
La Fortuna Wildlife Safari Float Tour begins with a hotel pick-up and then a 20 minute drive to the starting point. The float is about two hours. Overall, this activity takes half a day.
🎫Get your tickets for La Fortuna Wildlife Safari Float Tour by clicking here!
9. White Water Rafting
If you want a more adventurous water tour, you can also go white water rafting. White water rafting will likely take a full day by the time you factor in transportation and then rafting. Some of the tours include lunch.
I have been white water rafting before, but not in Costa Rica. White water rafting is fun, but I’m not sure that I would want to add it to my next trip to Costa Rica.
🌊Get your white water rafting tickets by clicking here!
10. Arenal Lava Flow Trail
Arenal Volcano erupted from 1968 to 2010 and is now dormant. Arenal 1968 is about a 22 minute drive west of La Fortuna.
At Arenal 1968 you can walk along a lava flow trail from the eruption. There are two trails. We went on the shorter Colada trail which is 2.4 miles long. The trail is challenging at times, but my whole family was able to complete it (two adults and one 11-year-old).
Be sure to bring sunscreen, bug spray, plenty of water, and close-toed shoes. Arenal 1968 is a 21 minute drive from La Fortuna.
🌋Buy your tickets for Arenal Lava Flow Trail by clicking here!
11. City Center
I really enjoyed staying in La Fortuna. Our hotel was a couple of blocks from the main street with lots of restaurants, street food, souviner shops, and the town center. We ate every dinner in La Fortuna. Our lunches were often at a tourist attraction.
One day we had lunch in La Fortuna and we were surprised to see a parade! There were several marching bands and dancers. I was in marching band in high school and found it so facsinating how these bands marched with more kinds of percussion instruments than we did. The music was great and the dancers were beautiful.
It was such a treat to stumble upon this parade!
12. Arenal Observatory Lodge for Wildlife and Trails
Arenal Observatory Lodge has accommodations, but you can also visit the lodge and purchase an entrance pass or day pass. The property has several easy trails, hundreds of bird species, a waterfall, and more.
We saw many different kinds of hummingbirds. The real treat, however was seeing the coatis. We stumbled upon many in the forest and even in more open areas. They did not come up to us, but they did come near us. We saw dozens of juveniles and adults.
Unfortunately, we did not see any monkeys or toucans here, but all of the other wildlife made this stop worth it!
The entrance pass is $20 per person and gets you access to all of the trails, observation tower, observatory museum, and more. You do not need an advance reservation, but you can purchase in advance.
The day pass is $40 per person and gets you access to everything on the entrance pass plush lunch at their restaurant. You should make your reservation in advance.
🏨Book your room at Arenal Observatory Lodge by clicking here!
Hiking
- El Saino Trail is about 0.5 miles and is paved. This trail takes about 30 minutes to complete. El Saino Trail goes to the frog pond.
- La Hormiga Trail is about 0.28 miles and is not paved. It takes about 45 minutes to complete.
- Los Monos Trail is another short trail (about 0.15 miles) that takes you to the observation tower. During the early morning or late afternoon, you may see monkeys. We visited mid- to late morning and did not see any monkeys, but we did see signs of monkeys (partially eaten fruit on the ground).
- Danta Waterfall Trail is about a 30 minute walk from reception (so an hour roundtrip). The trail is not paved and uneven. There is a railing to get to the waterfall view point.
- Los Cangrejos Trail is about 1.5 miles long. It is about 1.25 miles from reception and then goes into the jungle for about 0.3 miles. This trail will take about two hours to complete.
- River Trail is a challenging hike that goes from the observation tower to the Agua Caliente River. This hike will take about 40 minutes.
- La Culebra Trail is a short 20 minute walk. The trail is paved, but the pavement is somewhat uneven.
Guests at the lodge can take guided hikes that depart twice a day. The lodge also offes a tractor ride to guests to view the property. The tractor ride requires an advance reservation.
The Observation Tower (The Nest)
The observation tower is 92 feet high (28 meters) and free to visit. There are 146 steps to reach the top. The climb to the top was worth it for the panaromic views of Arenal Volcano, Arenal Lake, and more.
Bird Watching
Arenal Observatory Lodge is a place to visit if you want to see some of the many birds living in Costa Rica. They have at least 500 bird species on the property. We did not take a formal tour, but still saw numerous kinds of hummingbirds and other birds.
🦜Get your bird watching tour tickets by clicking here!
Observatory Museum
The Observatory Museum covers the natural history of the area and about how the lodge began. The lodge began as a research station for volcanologists. The museum even has a seismograph that you can observe!
Tips
The property entrance is open to day guests from 5:30 am until 5:30 pm.
Be sure to view the trail map to plan your hikes. Pack bug spray, suncreen, and plenty of water. Most of the trails are are close to reception, so you can get more water and use the bathroom throughout your visit.
The Arenal Observatory Lodge notes that there are people near the entrance that will try to trick you into going to other trails. We did not have this happen to us, but be prepared.
We did not stay at Arenal Observatory Lodge, but there is so much to do here that I would strongly consider staying here. Arenal Observatory Lodge is a 35 minute drive from La Fortuna.
🏨Book your room at Arenal Observatory Lodge by clicking here!
13. Relax with a Massage
Many people visit Costa Rica for rest and relaxation. Besides taking it easy in the hot springs, you can also visit a spa for a massage, facial, and more. I’ve already planned that I’m going to get a massage while my family ziplines the next time we go to Costa Rica. 😊
💆Reserve your stay at Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa by clicking here!
14. Frog Watching Night Walks
There are several options for guided night walks for frog watching and other nocturnal animals. We did not go on a night walk tour because we traveled with our 11-year-old and set aside the nights for rest.
We also stayed at the Monte Real Hotel which had a nature area near a stream, which has frogs. Though we did not see any frogs at our hotel, our daughter did spy a river otter in the stream!
If you want to go on a frog watching night walk, one option is the Arenal Oasis Frog Watching Night Walk. The Arenal Oasis ponds are home to at least 28 species of frogs. The tour provides hotel pickup and the hike is about two hours.
🐸Get your tickets to a Frog Watching Night Walk by clicking here!
15. Butterfly Conservatory
If you go on any trail near La Fortuna, you will probably see a butterfly. But, if you want guarantee you see plenty of butterflies then make time to visit the Butterfly Conservatory in El Castillo. El Castillo is about a 34 minute drive from La Fortuna.
🦋Buy your tickets for a guided tour of the Butterfly Conservatory by clicking here!
16. Waterfall Rappelling
Costa Rica canyoneering (or canyoning) involves waterfall rappelling. I have not gone canyoneering, but the activity is promoted as family friendly and gets you up close to waterfalls.
If I were doing this activity with kids, I would probably seek out a local rock climbing wall and have them try that before committing to waterfall rappelling.
As I mentioned, I did not enjoy ziplining because I tend to get motion sick. However, I do think that I would enjoy waterfall rappelling and plan to add this activity to my itinerary the next time I visit Costa Rica.
🥾Get your tickets for waterfall rappelling by clicking here!
17. Lake Arenal
There are several lake-based activities you can do: boat tours, kayaking, paddleboarding, jetskiing and so on. We did not do any lake-based activities on our trip. However, I would try paddleboarding Lake Arenal. When I looked more closely at the different activities available, paddleboarding rose to the top because it is quiet, peaceful, and something I’ve never done before.
🌅Get your Lake Arenal Paddleboard Experience ticket by clicking here!
18. Costa Rican Cooking Class
One of the best ways to learn about a new culture is through food — eating and cooking food. You can learn how to cook Costa Rican food on a farm-to-table cooking class.
The cooking class may take about two hours and you can get one where you learn to make empanadas!
🥟Get your Farm-To-Table Cooking Class ticket by clicking here!
19. Bike Arenal
There are several tour options for biking ranging from multi-day tours, to a few hours, to rides good for families. I have never done a bike tour, but it something I’ve been very curious about.
I think a Costa Rican bike ride sounds fund because it is adventurous, but slower paced so that you can take in the views and see wildlife, too.
🚵♀️Book your tickets for a bike tour around Arenal by clicking here!
Best Time To Visit
December through April is the dry season and May through November is the rainy season. Therefore, most people travel during the dry season. However, don’t be detoured by the rainy season.
We visited in October during the rainy season (the second wettest month with an average of 17 inches of rain!). It rained everyday, but it was pretty predictable during our trip. The rain came in the late afternoon, usually between about 4 and 5 pm. We were never rained out of any activities.
Keep in mind that when it rains it pours, so pack an umbrella and a rain coat (or some ponchos).
La Fortuna is hot and humid, but it is cooler than the coast. During October, the highs are in the low-80s and the lows are in the low-70s and upper-60s (check the monthy averages). So, yes, La Fortuna is hot and humid in October, but also the heat isn’t too bad.
By traveling during the rainy season we avoided crowds. For every tour, there were only one or two other groups with us. We also never had to wait for a table at a restaurant. Overall, traveling during October worked great for us.
Where To Stay Near La Fortuna
La Fortuna has something for everyone, including hostels and luxary resorts. You will have several decisions to make.
Do you want to stay in La Fortuna and be within walking distance of restaurants or do you want to be more secluded with views of Arenal Volcano, wildlife, and hiking trails? Do you want easy access to hot springs and other spa amenities? Or do you want someplace just to sleep? Whatever it is, you will find it in La Fortuna.
📍Budget Option: We stayed at the Monte Real Hotel which is one and a half blocks from the city center, restaurants, and souvenir shops. The rooms have large balconies on the back, large bathrooms, air conditioning, and plenty of storage. There is a restaurant onsite that is included in the price. There is also a pool.
📍Mid-Range Option: The Arenal Observatory Lodge and Trails is also a good choice. The hotel includes numerous trails, an observation tower, restaurant, pool, and more. You are sure to see plenty of wildlife here including coati and several varieties of birds.
📍Luxury Options: Noah’s Forest Hotel by Tifakara looks like a great place tucked into the jungle yet only 0.9 mile from downtown La Fortuna. It has a jacuzzi, outdoor pool, restaurant, pool table, and more.
If you want to stay outside of town, the Arenal Manoa Resort & Hot Springs looks amazing. You can even get a suite with a private pool The hotel has views of Arenal Volcano, a restaurant, air conditioning, and more.
FAQs
There are plenty of amazing things to do in La Fortuna. You may find it hard to decide how long to stay or whether you should cut your time short in La Fortuna so you can see other parts of Costa Rica. Like most things, it all depends. I’m happy with using La Fortuna as a base and would love to go back and spend more time there.
How much time do you need in La Fortuna?
Our trip was six days total including two travel days. We had four full days in La Fortuna, which felt like the right amount of time.
How long you stay, however, depends on the rest of your trip. If you are exploring more of Costa Rica, then you might just stay 1-2 nights because you may be doing similar things elsewhere. For example, if you have five days to stay, then you could split your trip between La Fortuna and one other destination like Monteverde.
What is the driving time from La Fortuna, Costa Rica to Monteverde?
La Fortuna is about a three hour drive to Monteverde. You can visit the Children’s Eternal Rainforest and the Cloud Forest in Monteverde.
What is the distance between La Fortuna and San Jose Aiport?
The drive from La Fortuna to San Jose Airport is about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Is a night walk tour worth it?
I have not taken a night walk tour in La Fortuna because we had pretty busy days. However, I would try a night walk tour on my next visit. I would love to go into the jungle at night.
Even if you don’t see wildlife, you will hear the night life (but many reviews of night tours talk about seeing pit vipers, anteaters, and more nocturnal creatures).
Is La Fortuna brutally hot?
La Fortuna is cooler than the coasts. It was hot and humid during our visit, but nothing intolerable. I’m from the midwest so I am used to humidity. I did not find La Fortuna to be brutally hot in October, but your experience may differ if you go during the summer.
What should I pack for La Fortuna?
La Fortuna is hot and humid, but cooler than the coast. You will likely spend time outdoors and in the jungle, so there are a few must have items to add to your Costa Rica packing list:
Conclusion
I highly recommend a trip to Costa Rica and a stay in La Fortuna. There are so many things to do in La Fortuna and there is something for everyone. You can have sky high adventures zip lining, learn how coffee is produced, and see all kinds of wildlife. Even traveling during the rainy season, like we did, can lead to a great trip even with the threat of rain.
Read More About Costa Rica Travel
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