After living in Costa Rica for a little over 2 years, there is one place I KEEP coming back to.
I have explored so much of this country that I often believe that I know it better than the Ticos who have lived here their whole lives.
But there is something magical about La Fortuna.
There’s still so much that I haven’t seen/done, but here are some of my favorite experiences:
Hiking:
Volcano La Fortuna
Hiking up to the summit of La Fortuna volcano is technically illegal, but in my defense I did not know the first time I did it haha.
It is QUITE the climb up this active volcano. You can easily find a ton of guides in the area if you just ask around.
But since it can be a dangerous activity, I recommend going with someone reliable. Not just any person who wants to make some extra cash. Most locals will know the route. But not everyone is smart about it.
It takes about 10 hours to go up and down, plus time to stop and take pictures.
The top is really hot since it is active and there is steam. Go during dry season for the sunrise!
It cost me $35 to pay a local guide. Bring your own food and water and a good attitude. It is HARD and you may not see the sunrise if it is cloudy, like it was with us!
Make sure to have a flashlight and hiking boots. There are snakes. We have seen them several times on night hikes.
Cerro Chato
Cerro Chato used to be an active volcano, but now it is dormant and has an awesome lagoon you can swim in.
It is also illegal to summit this, due to it possibly being dangerous with snakes and people getting lost.
This is a lot easier than La Fortuna and I like it a lot more because of the factor of swimming in the Lagoon!!
Because of its position, it is not a great place to watch the sunrise. But there is a cool lookout place the first couple of kilometers to watch the sun rise.
It cost $20 a person for a local guide, with snacks included.
We started at 3 AM and finished at 10. This included swimming, taking a lot of pictures, and relaxing at the top.
Be careful, if you choose to swim in the lagoon, watch for the clouds to roll in. They come in quick and you will get completely lost in the thick clouds while swimming. Scary.
La Fortuna Waterfall
I put off coming to the La Fortuna waterfall for a while because it is on every bucket list, and I try to stay away from tourist traps.
But on my 5th time to La Fortuna I finally went, and it was so worth it!
Not only is it an INCREDIBLY well cared for park, you can swim very safely in the river around the waterfall!
I heard if you cross the water and hike longer, there is another waterfall hidden in the back. I gotta check this out next time 🙂
It costs $18 but you have access to the park, a butterfly garden, and some pretty trails.
It takes about 15 minutes to walk down to the waterfall and 20 to climb back up.
Arenal Observatory
This may be the hidden gem of hidden gems in La Fortuna!!!!!
It only costs $10 for tourists and you could literally spend all day here.
It is also a hotel, but I cannot speak for the prices/experience because we only spent the day on the trails.
We spent 5 hours there, and didn’t even see it all.
There are waterfalls, views of the volcanos, beautiful trails, animals, and amazing open skies.
At the end, you can relax on the patio where there is a restaurant and hotel and enjoy the views.
We saw an ant eater, a ton of birds, butterflies, coati, and other animals just in 5 minutes of sitting. And the sound of the birds was AMAZING.
I would recommend this place 100%. I hope it doesn’t get too popular. When we went we felt like we were the only ones in the park.
It was amazing.
Mistico Hanging Bridges
If you come to Costa Rica, you really have to see the hanging bridges.
And Mistico is the biggest hanging bridge park I have been to.
There are some that are more rustic, but I would say that Mistico has it all.
There are 7 large hanging bridges and at least 10 smaller ones, as well as waterfalls and a garden.
It is very touristy, but if you don’t mind manicured trails and handrails and tourist prices, I don’t think you can find a better hanging bridge park.
It costs $28 for tourists and you need at least 2.5 hours here to enjoy all of the trails.
There is also a fantastic restaurant and gift shop at the end with a wonderful view of the volcano, if you are lucky!
Every time I go I get Javier to give me a discount. Hopefully he keeps working there! 🙂
1968 Trail
Kind of crazy to think that this volcano erupted only about 50 years ago.
It was silent for about 400 years and then all of the sudden erupted for several days, covering several square miles in ash and lava.
At the end of it all, almost 90 people had died.
It kept spewing rocks and ash until 2010, which was not that long ago!
This hike is a trail that goes around the base of the volcano. You can see some of the hard lava and some of the trails it made years ago, as well as the new flora and fauna that have formed as a result.
Hot Springs:
Baldi
Baldi is the all-around best hot springs park in my opinion.
It is not too expensive ($30 for a day pass), has pretty good food ($20 extra), has a ton of CRAZY water slides for the adrenaline junkies, a kid park for the kids, and super hot pools.
There are a ton of pools, so there is plenty for everyone in the family to choose from.
This is the one that we always recommend to families and bring guests to.
Tabacon
If you are wanting a more relaxing/luxury experience, try out Eco Termales, Tabacon, or The Springs.
Of those 3 options, we have tried Tabacon.
It is the most well-known luxury thermal experience in Costa Rica and for good reasons.
It genuinely looks like paradise. The food is AMAZING (some of the best I have had in Costa Rica), and the atmosphere is so amazing.
Our son was one of only 2 kids when we went. And we felt like it wasn’t the best place for him.
There is also a very fancy hotel, though I can’t speak for it because we have never stayed.
Secret: There are free springs flowing from the same river right outside the property, under the bridge. It is where all of the locals go, and the water is a wonderful temperature.
Adrenaline Tours:
Rafting
If you are in Costa Rica and you like adrenaline/adventure, you HAVE to do rafting.
Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of us on the raft, but there are several good companies in the area, including Desafio and Arenal Rafting.
They are usually around $85 and are a half day tour with lunch included.
Sarapiqui is the river with class 3 and 4, while Balsa has class 2 and 3. We did Sarapiqui and can’t recommend it enough!
Zip Lining
Zip lining is another must-do for adventure lovers in Costa Rica. I don’t know how many places I have gone zip lining but my favorites are for sure in La Fortuna and Monteverde.
La Fortuna has my favorite all-inclusive adventure tour.
Sky Limit with Sky Adventures has a tour that includes 4 zip lines (including one with superman), a canopy tram, a tarzan swing, rapel, and ropes course. It is absolutely amazing.
I don’t get afraid a lot, but this tour gave me moments when my heart was racing!
Tip: When you rappel down the waterfall, try to go sideways and jump under the falls!
Caving
Venado Caves is a place not a lot of tourists know about and I hope it stays that way!
These amazing caves are about 45 minutes from La Fortuna on a private property that was found by deer hunters years ago (hence the name).
The tour consists of some pretty cool information, plus the option to crawl through some pretty tight spaces with water in the tunnel.
We had a BLAST! And the guide will even take pictures for you for an extra cost.
Informative Tours:
Cocoa or Cafe Tour
There are ton of different coffee and chocolate tours all around Costa Rica, and La Fortuna is a good place to find one.
The tour we went on also showed us the process of sugar cane juice, which was a fun add on!
Lodging:
Cabañas Del Rio
This place is AMAZING. We found it kind of by accident and try to return and stay there every time now.
The owner, Leo, is so passionate about what he does. He offers free bird watching and night tours on the property at night.
The rooms have 3 king beds, a kitchen, amazing wifi/air, and they bring you fresh fruit when you arrive.
Leo is so knowledgeable and gives amazing tips about the area.
And the price can’t be beat. We also hope this place doesn’t get discovered.
Natura Costa Rica
We love the beautiful hot pools and yummy free breakfast on this property, but what makes it so special is the free access you have to the animal sanctuary next door.
You can visit butterflies, birds, and several other types of typical Costa Rican animals, including crocodiles!
We recommend this place a lot.
Las Cabañitas de Sammy
I stayed at this hidden gem with some friends after summiting volcano La Fortuna.
The best thing about this place is the view on a clear day. The pool is so refreshing and you are all by yourself, so if you want to escape, this is the place.
We ordered pizza in town and brought back our food to the place. There is a kitchen, a giant queen bunk bed with a pull out bed, and a hot shower.
This is a really fun place if you have a family or group of friends. Or really for anyone 🙂
Side note: It basically shares property with Mistico Hanging bridges.
Restaurants:
Red Frog
I am not someone who almost EVER repeats restaurants. But I make an exception for Roy’s restaurant, “Red Frog”.
He just knows how to get the food right.
It is amazing, it is delicious, and it is a good price.
We go every time. And the last time we went twice.
There is also a gift shop and a cool coffee tour inside. Roy is an awesome guy.
Tip: BEST PLATE is chalupa. I’ve tried almost everything there. And all of the fruit drinks are amazing, but guanabana and mango are something extra special.
Soda Viquez
La Hormiga is probably the most popular soda in La Fortuna, but we love Viquez.
The portions are large and the food is good.
If you are looking for cheap typical Costa Rican food, this is it.
And they have the best coconut drink I have had in all of Costa Rica.
Animals:
Butterfly Conservatory
This one and the La Paz gardens is my favorite butterfly garden I have seen in Costa Rica.
There are a ton of rooms and the butterflies are everywhere.
There are also some trails outside, and we were able to see monkeys and a ton of birds.
It’s a quiet place and kind of off of the beaten path, so you feel like you truly are in nature!
Night Tour
There are a ton of night tours offered around La Fortuna, but the one we love is the free one when you stay at Cabañas del Rio. Leo knows his stuff and is passionate.
The important thing to know is that sometimes you are lucky and see a lot and sometimes you see nothing.
We have been on several night tours and some of them we definitely have seen more! It depends on the moon, the rain, the time of year, and the restlessness of the animals.
The Sloth Trail
I personally think this is a big fat tourist rip off, but I know some people are obsessed with the chance to see sloths, so here ya go!
We did not see any but we also went when we first moved to Costa Rica, when we had no idea how to find them, or when to go.
If you go, go early in the morning, and go with a guide! I do not often recommend a guide but if you are dead set on finding a sloth, the guides know how to find them.
We saw mostly ants and birds and for me, the $15 just did not seem worth that!
La Natura
Cute park with lots of typical Costa Rican animals. Free if you stay at the hotel!
Free:
El Salto
Before I feel good about recommending this place, I must say, this is a place our 3 year old son almost died.
Some locals jumped in to save him and one boy was successful. But he would have died without them (even though he had a lifejacket).
This is a huge local swimming hole with a CRAZY rope swing. Everyone comes here on the weekend.
But it can be very dangerous depending on the water level and the current.
This is not a place for little children or not strong swimmers.
And even if you are a strong swimmer, don’t swim if locals aren’t there and you haven’t seen how it works.
I don’t want to scare you, but 5 people have died recently there and I know 2 people personally that have had a bad experience.
It’s a fun place to watch the locals do some crazy tricks on the rope swing, but you must respect the water.
If you don’t feel like swimming, you can always hang out in the shallow part of the water, people watch, or sun bathe on the rocks.
La Fortuna Central Park
In the center of the town is a beautiful church and a lovely park.
Kids and couples flock there in the evenings and on weekends and it is a fun place to grab an ice cream and people watch.
Local artists will play music and you can enjoy some shops surrounding the park and look at local art.
Find the best view of volcano Arenal
One of my favorite things to do is just drive around Lake Arenal and visit all of the little towns around.
I love finding different angles of the volcano.
Recently I explored El Castillo and Nuevo Arenal and want to explore them more.
The National Park has 2 entrances, and one of the sectors has an amazing view of the volcano.
But some of the best views are free, just along the road. You just have to explore 🙂
Observe the flora and fauna and wild animals
La Fortuna is FILLED with wildlife. Especially if you wake up early and get out of the center, you will find it.
You will see Coati EVERYWHERE, but please do not feed them human food (though it is so tempting because they come in hoards!). It is bad for them, and causes them to run into the road and get hit by cars.
One of my favorite places I have seen the wildlife in its natural habitat is the Arenal Observatory.
Explore the Lake
There is a ton you can do in Lake Arenal- from SUP and kayaks to weird paddle bikes on platforms and sunset cruises with dinner and drinks.
But my favorite thing to do is just run and jump in, or sit by the lake and watch the sun set.
On a good day, La Fortuna has some amazing sunsets.
The entrance by Mistico Hanging Bridges has a good place to park safely and on the weekends locals rent out kayaks and boards.
You can always bring a picnic and enjoy the breeze and the views.