Things to Do in La Fortuna and Arenal
La Fortuna at the foot of Arenal
La Fortuna sits in San Carlos canton, Alajuela, at the foot of Arenal volcano (about 1,633 m), with Lake Arenal, a reservoir, to the west. The town is compact, and every activity below is a short drive or taxi ride away. Prices here are in US dollars, which are accepted widely alongside colones (about CRC 450 to $1), and cards work almost everywhere.
What the volcano looks like today
Arenal has been dormant since late 2010, so there is no glowing rock and no night-time lava viewing. The black fields beside the trails are hardened lava from 1968 and later eruptions. The cone and a restricted zone of about 4 km around the crater have been closed to the public since 1998 and are open only to scientists and park staff. All legal walking happens at the base, in the national park and the private reserves.
Hot springs from free to resort
The water is geothermally heated, and prices climb with the setting.
- Baldi Hot Springs: 25 pools, open daily 9am to 10pm, no reservation needed. Adults pay $51 for the springs alone and children $38; one meal brings that to $75 and $56. Children under 5 are free.
- EcoTermales: about $49 for adults and $30 for children aged 5 to 11, for a morning or evening session, or about $81 and $46 with lunch or dinner.
- Tabacon: a lunch or dinner day pass runs from about $170 for adults. Dates sell out, so book ahead.
- The free river spring: a public section of the hot river below Tabacon, beside the bridge on Route 142. Go in daylight, wear water shoes and leave nothing in your car.
La Fortuna Waterfall
The ADIFORT waterfall costs about $20 for foreign adults, and young children get in free. Expect about 500 steps down to the base and the same back up, so allow time and carry water. Swim only in the calm pool at the base. Stay out of the water under the plunge, do not jump from rocks, and leave the river quickly if it rises after rain.
Bogarin Trail and Mistico bridges
The Bogarin Trail is a 2.5 km forest walk on the edge of town, open 6am to 8pm. Self-guided entry is $20, a guided walk about $45, and a night walk $60 for about 2 hours. Sloths and other wildlife are possible but never guaranteed, and the rule is look, never touch or feed.
Mistico Arenal has a 3.2 km trail with 16 bridges, six of them hanging, up to 45 m above the forest floor. Self-guided entry starts at $32 plus tax and guided at $44. It opens at 6am and closes at 3:50pm, and closed-toe shoes with good grip are required.
El Salto and Lake Arenal
El Salto is a free swimming spot with a rope swing on the Rio Fortuna, about 1.5 km from the centre along Route 702. It has no lifeguard and no facilities, the current is strong after rain, and informal parking charges are reported. Treat it as an at-your-own-risk local spot.
Stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking are offered on Lake Arenal, best in the calm of the morning with the volcano behind you. Ask the operator what is included.
Practical tips
- Car break-ins at roadside parking are the usual crime, so take valuables with you.
- Zip-lining is often excluded from travel insurance, so check your cover and use an established operator.
- Hours and prices change, so check the venue before you go.
Read more: Sightseeing in La Fortuna and Day trips from La Fortuna .
Official details: Baldi day pass , Bogarin Trail and Mistico Park .
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