La Fortuna/Arenal

What to do in Arenal / La Fortuna

La Fortuna de San Carlos is a major tourist destination in Costa Rica. Located in the northern highlands of the country, the city of La Fortuna is approximately 2 ½ hours from the international airport in the capital of San José. There is a variety of things do in the Arenal / La Fortuna area. You can decide to explore it on your own or to take one of the many tours.

Arenal Volcano

Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna, Costa Rica Credits : dconvertini

Dominating La Fortuna’s landscape is the Arenal Volcano which can be seen from almost every part of town.

The volcano stands 1,633 m (5,358 ft.) tall. Arenal hasn’t had a major eruption since 1968 when it spewed out lava for 15 days straight, but it is still an active volcano although it hasn’t erupted since 2010.

To get a closer look at the volcano you can hike the two sections of the Arenal Volcano National Park. There is an entrance fee for adults; children 6 and under are free, this is a must of the things to do in La Fortuna and Arenal area.

Trail maps are provided at all of the ranger stations, but guided tours are also available for a small fee. Hike the entire trail in the main section of the park and you will cover 4 km (2.5 miles). The easy to follow trails wind through forests and lava flows.

The La Peninsula area has spectacular views of Lake Arenal and has 1.3 km (0.8 miles) of paved trails which are especially good for young children or those with limited mobility.

La Fortuna Waterfall

La Fortuna Waterfall, Costa Rica. Credits : dconvertini

La Fortuna Waterfall (La Catarata de la Fortuna), another one in the list of the activities to do in La Fortuna.

La Fortuna waterfall is located near Arenal Volcano National Park, 5.5 km (3.4 miles) from the city of La Fortuna.

Many people decide to walk from the city to The waterfall, it gives you the opportunity to discover the sorounded areas of La Fortuna, take that chance if you feel you are in good health conditions for walking.

Set in tropical rainforest, the waterfall plunges 70 m (229 ft.) to the pool below. You can hike around the falls or take a relaxing dip in the pool.

However, be prepared for walking; reaching the falls requires descending about 500 steps. There is an entrance fee for the waterfall area to be paid at the adjacent visitors’ center.

Hot Springs

This is one of the more laidback activities in La Fortuna and also one of the most famous things to do in Costa Rica. Visiting its hot springs  heated by thermal energy from the Arenal volcano is an experience you will enjoy.

Choose to stay in one of the all inclusive resorts in La Fortuna or take a dip in the Chollin river for free. Favorite places to relax and be pampered are Tabacón Hot Springs, Baldi Hot Springs, Arenal Springs, and The Springs Resort.

Arenal Lake

Arenal Lake sits across from the Arenal Volcano. Its surface covers nearly 33 square miles and a 200 feet depth (60 m).

For watersports lovers, Arenal Lake is excellent for windsurfing, padleboarding and kayaking, especially from December to April. You can do your activities in the lake while you enjoy of the incredible view of Arenal Volcano. 

Fishing enthusiasts will be happy to find many local freshwater fish biting in the lake.

 

Ziplining and Hanging Bridges

Tours in Arenal / La Fortuna offers plentyful aerial adventures for all ages.

You can enjoy  spectacular views of the volcano, waterfall and rainforest canopy from above. The choice is yours whether to experience this from a zipline or from a hanging bridge. Get connected with nature and create an unforgettable memories. Hanging bridges is one of the top things to do in La Fortuna for families.

Hotels in Arenal / La Fortuna

Whether your interest is nature, recreation, or relaxation, there is a wide variety of things to do in Arenal / La Fortuna with tours, activities and excursions for everyone.

Hotels in the area offer a variety of choices for all budgets and preferences.

Many boutique hotels and all inclusive resorts in La Fortuna offer luxury accommodation with spas and access to the hot springs.

You can also find more modestly priced hotels in La Fortuna downtown,  available with the necessary amenities to make your stay comfortable.

Restaurants in Arenal/ La Fortuna

You are sure to find a restaurant to please any palate with over 100 to choose from!

There are a big variaty of restaurants, we can mention costarican traditional cuisine, steak houses, grill houses, gourmet and international fusion cuisine.

Hotels in Arenal / La Fortuna offer high-end dining. The town has many smaller restaurants with local fare as well as a number serving international cuisine.

 

 

Whether your interest is nature, recreation, or relaxation, there is a wide variety of things to do in Arenal / La Fortuna with tours, activities and excursions for everyone.