This magical part of the land of pura vida is a must see for any visitor- It’s the perfect place for relaxation seekers or outdoor adventurers! Learn all my best La Fortuna, Costa Rica things to do:

Home to lush jungle, active volcanoes, waterfalls, and plenty of sloths, 🦥 it is a tropical paradise! Plus, it’s named “fortune”, but sits at the base of an active volcano- you have to love that optimism! 🌋

Whether you want to go hiking, rafting, and kayaking- or just relax in natural volcanic hot springs, you will definitely find something you love. 

I visited La Fortuna on four separate occasions over a span of five years. This is what I recommend most:

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Some links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these, I may earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you!).

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1.) Relax in the Natural Hot Springs

Easily one of my favorite activities in the whole country, this is something unique to the area and definitely very memorable!

Several springs here are naturally heated from underground volcanic activity, 🌋 and some resorts have taken advantage by building beautiful spas and hotels around them.

⇒ Read my detailed itinerary for Costa Rica 

For a fancy and more expensive experience, I highly recommend Tabacón Hot Springs! You can buy day passes to swim here if the hotel is out of your budget (like it was for me).

For a more affordable experience that’s still great, I have been to Baldí Hot Springs several times using their hotel day pass, and always loved it. 🏊‍♀️

⇒ Get your hot springs day pass here!

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2.) Kayak in front of a Volcano

Many visitors go out on Lake Arenal for views of the active Arenal volcano hovering above.🌋

The weather here is unpredictable though, and there is often cloud cover and rain.

Keeping this in mind,  maybe you will get lucky and see the volcano on a clear day like we did (photo above).

There are options to rent kayaks on your own, or you can take part in a guided tour around the lake.

⇒ Click here to book a guided kayaking tour on Lake Arenal

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3.) Hike with Volcanic Views–

Arenal National Park is the area immediately surrounding the volcano.🌋

The main hiking trail in the park is called “Arenal 1968“, named after the year this volcano last erupted, sadly killing 87 people in the town below.

This hiking trail has lots of overlooks, but it is hilly and can take a full day.

⇒ Book an organized hike in Arenal Natl. Park 🥾

If you love hiking, I would recommend it- but it may not be super rewarding in terms of views if you go on a cloudy day.

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4.) Swim at Pristine Waterfalls–

One of the most popular attractions is the hike down to the seriously impressive La Fortuna waterfall (Catarata Río Fortuna).

⇒ Click here to get your waterfall admission ticket in advance!

You walk down 400 wooden steps into a gorgeous jungle, and can enjoy incredible views and even swim in the rock pools at the bottom. 🌴

The only negative about visiting here? Hiking the 400+ steps back up to the top! 🥾

 

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5.) White Water Raft the Rio Celeste–

There are some nearby rafting places, but I honestly recommend making a day trip to Rio Celeste (about a 1.5 hour drive away).

It’s the perfect place for fun rafting that’s not too intense or scary. I found rafting here to be a great combination of adrenaline and relaxation. The water is also a stunning blue color!

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6.) Go Ziplining through the Jungle–

While I recommend going zip lining in Monteverde if possible, zip-lining in La Fortuna is better than no zip-lining at all!

There are several places to go to for zip-lining, and even if you don’t consider yourself particularly adventurous, this is a “once-in-a-lifetime” kind of experience!

⇒ Check out zip-lining options near La Fortuna

Pro Tip: When it rains, the rust from the metal will leak onto your clothing. When you go ziplining, always wear something you are okay with being stained or ruined.

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Getting to La Fortuna & Around:

The times I have been here, I came via rental car or public bus out of San Jose.

There are plenty of options, although I think renting a car is easiest.

Another convenient option is to book a private or shared shuttle into La Fortuna.

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Where to stay:

If you are able to stay at one of the many thermal spring resorts, I would recommend that first.

If it’s not in your budget however, VRBO has many great options, as well as Bookings.com

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More helpful La Fortuna travel tips:

♥ Get yourself some travel insurance– honestly, don’t go abroad without it!

♥ Find organized day trips or tours all over Costa Rica

♥ Need help packing? See my top travel essentials

♥ Discover my favorite beach towns in Costa Rica

♥ Learn why Costa Rica is the perfect study abroad destination

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Save my top things to do in La Fortuna for later!