It’s no secret that we LOVE Costa Rica. After our first trip here back in 2015, we were sold. Costa Rica has everything you want in an ultimate adventure vacation–beautiful and diverse scenery (seriously, there isn’t one ugly area in this country!), wildlife galore, amazing accommodations, delicious food, and enough outdoor activities to keep you busy for months. One of our favorite areas to return to in Costa Rica is the La Fortuna area, otherwise known as “Arenal”. We’ve done quite a few things here now, but narrowed them down to the 10 best outdoor activities in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.
How long should you stay in La Fortuna? Our advice is spend at least 3-4 days, but you could honestly stay a full week here and be plenty content and entertained.
First of all, let’s discuss where to stay in La Fortuna first. We’ve stayed at two different places in La Fortuna now and liked them both, however without a doubt our top pick would be Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa. It’s a bit of a splurge, and we aren’t usually ones to spend more on accommodations (we would rather put our budget towards experiences), but trust us, it’s worth every penny.
Tabacon is one of those places that you just have to witness with your own two eyes. With natural hot springs, gently cascading waterfalls, and lush flora and fauna everywhere you look it will remind you of the Garden of Eden. Normally we don’t hang out at resorts much, however this is one place that you will want to stay put, even for just a day. Besides relaxing in the beautiful hot springs, Tabacon also has a pool and slide (perfect for the kids!), an adults-only area (for that quiet, romantic getaway), and a spa area to schedule a massage or other services.
The food is incredible with a couple different restaurants (even a buffet option!) and if you don’t plan to stay at Tabacon, you can elect to purchase a day pass here which includes a meal or two. This is great option and also worth the price!
Getting to and from La Fortuna (if you’re flying to either San Jose or Liberia) is best done by a shuttle service like Costa Rica Shuttle and about 3 hours one way. Or if you have the budget (or are short on time), you can take a puddle jumper flight via Sansa Air. As far as getting around La Fortuna, if you plan to do mostly guided excursions, you won’t need a rental car as the tour companies pick you up from your hotel. And if you do need a car on occasion, you can always just get a taxi or rent a car for a day.
Now, let’s get to the good stuff: what to do in La Fortuna. First of all, there is NO shortage of recreational fun in this area of Costa Rica. In fact, they even call La Fortuna the adventure capital of Costa Rica. And while that is true, we have compiled a list of the 10 best outdoor activities in La Fortuna, Costa Rica (in no particular order).
1. Go canyoneering
This activity is definitely a MUST if you’re in La Fortuna. We’ve done it twice now with Pure Trek and LOVED it both times. The reason why we chose Pure Trek over other companies in the area is they allow kids over the age of 6. Most tour operators require a minimum age of at least 10 or even 13! The guides are awesome and fun, they are big on safety, and the entire experience is a blast.
We chose to do the Ultimate Waterfall Rappel which includes 4 rappels off waterfalls (the tallest is around 200 ft!), a “Monkey Drop” into a pool, rock climbing and a relatively easy hike through a gorgeous canyon. This is a great half-day adventure which also includes lunch and transportation. When you’re done, you can call it a day and go back to your resort and relax, OR you can combine it with another adrenaline-pumping adventure like whitewater rafting (which is what we did). Pure Trek has that combination tour too if you chose that option.
2. Paddleboard on Lake Arenal
This is actually the one outdoor activity in La Fortuna that we haven’t tried yet due to weather, but if you love the water and love to paddle, this is a great half day option. Desafio is a reputable company in Costa Rica that offers the Stand Up Paddle on Lake Arenal. Try to go on a sunny day if you can, so you can enjoy spectacular views of the lake and of Volcano Arenal!
3. Hike to La Fortuna Falls
You can’t come to Costa Rica without seeing some spectacular waterfalls. La Fortuna has many, but in particular, La Fortuna Falls is not to be missed. You can hire a taxi to take you there and it’s a short, steep hike down to the falls where there is a beautiful pool you can swim in. Downstream there is a river where you can also explore and swim. Be prepared to pay admission, which is around $18 per adult and $5 per child. We would also suggest to go in the morning when it’s less crowded as afternoons tend to get busy.
When you’re done hiking, you can also visit the famous rope swing in La Fortuna (see below) and/or relax at some FREE hot springs near Rio Chollin. A perfect way to end the day!
4. Go zip lining
Zip lining is another must-do if you come to Costa Rica, and La Fortuna has some of the best zip lines in the country! (We also really LOVED Selvatura Park in Monteverde.) This is one activity that the whole family will enjoy and yes, young kids can go too! We have zip lined in La Fortuna with two different companies now, but we especially loved our experience with Arenal Mundo Aventura because you get to zip line over two waterfalls, one of them being La Fortuna Falls!
This particular company offers a canopy tour called Big AMA Ride, which takes you soaring over the rainforest below Volcano Arenal on 12 different cables including the longest cable at nearly 1,000 feet! Kids ages 6 and up are welcome to join and will be accompanied by a guide on some of the longer cables (where they don’t weigh enough to get across!). The tour also includes transportation to/from your hotel in La Fortuna, as well as lunch.
5. Play on a rope swing (plus, it’s FREE!)
and a rope swing.
The last time we visited Costa Rica, a local told us about a place along the El Salto River in La Fortuna, where there is a great rope swing and rocks to jump off into the swimming hole. We spent a few hours here after hiking to La Fortuna Falls and had so much fun! It is easy to get there too–found on the same road as La Fortuna Falls!
Basically, once you leave the falls drive down the road for about 1 mile to the La Fortuna bridge. You will probably see some other cars parked there and people hanging out by the river. You will take a short hike under the bridge from the side of the road, and there you will see the rope swing and swimming hole! Or if you’re not coming from La Fortuna Falls, just put “El Salto rope swing” in your Google Maps.
6. Take a wildlife boat safari in Cano Negro
If you are looking for something to do that is a little more “mellow” in La Fortuna, this is a great option. Near to the Nicaragua border (about 1.5 hours away from La Fortuna), you will embark on a safari boat ride on Rio Frio, which is part of the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge and one of the most important wetlands in the world.
Admire the rich flora and fauna and a variety of native and migratory birds, 3 different species of monkeys, iguanas, sloths, turtles and even caimans. Lunch is included on this tour as well. This is a great option in the La Fortuna area, especially for nature and wildlife lovers!
7. Hike or horseback ride to Volcano Arenal
If you’re lucky, you will get to witness Volcano Arenal on a sunny day while visiting La Fortuna. It’s a majestic sight, as this volcano is a perfect cone-shaped volcano surrounded by lush rainforest. Years ago Arenal used to be super active (the last major eruption was in 1968) and you would regularly see flumes of smoke or even magma spewing out of the top. These days the volcano is a bit more quiet. One of the best ways to experience this volcano is to take a hike in Arenal National Park or even go on a horseback trip.
You can also hike on your own and just pay the park entrance fee ($15 for adults and $5 for children), or you can go on a guided hike. There are several short trails that offer great views of the volcano, as well as the vegetation and wildlife of the area. We suggest trying one or more of these trails: Main Lookout, Los Heliconias, Los Miradores or El Ceibo. All are 2 km or less and easy to moderate.
8. Go whitewater rafting
One of the best outdoor activities in La Fortuna is going whitewater rafting. There are 3 major rivers converging in the area (Balsa, El Toro and Penas Blancas) and depending on the season you visit, you can experience some SERIOUS rapids. Wet season is from June-Nov, so if you want bigger thrills, this is definitely the time of year to visit for whitewater rafting.
I mentioned this earlier, but we did a combination tour of canyoneering and whitewater rafting and it was one of our favorite experiences in Costa Rica. Or if you prefer to just do a half-day or full-day whitewater rafting adventure, Wave Expeditions was seriously phenomenal to go with! They offer several guided trips, but if you have young children, make sure to check the age requirements as some of the more intense rivers have stricter limitations.
9. Explore the Arenal Hanging Bridges
If you are a nature or wildlife lover, you have to make a pit stop at the Mistico Hanging Bridges in La Fortuna. They offer self-guided tours, as well as guided tours that include bird watching or natural history. There are 16 bridges in total, 6 of them hanging bridges as well as tunnel and a waterfall. The length of the entire trail is about 2 miles and takes about 1.5 hours on your own or 2.5 hours with a guide. Here you can admire birds of all kinds, tropical plants, lizards and sloths, snakes, and if you’re lucky, even a sloth.
10. Take a day trip to Rio Celeste
If you really want to see an amazing waterfall, the falls at Rio Celeste are not to be missed if you’re in La Fortuna. The color of the water is the color of gatorade! This amazing shade of blue is due to the sulfur that is emitted by the volcanic activity in the park. Then, the vibrant hue appears when the sulfur mixes with calcium carbon. Pretty nifty!
Rio Celeste is part of Tenorio National Park, located a couple hours from La Fortuna. You can either rent a car to get there or go on a guided tour. Admission to the park if you’re going on your own is $12 per person. There are several trails to explore once you’re inside the park, but we recommend not missing the Rio Celeste trail which takes you to the waterfall.
You can also take the same trail to the creek above the waterfall which is equally as beautiful! Plan on taking at least 3 hours for the whole loop, as you will want to admire the views, as well as the lush rainforest!
In conclusion, La Fortuna is a destination you should definitely put on your agenda, especially if you love adventure! These outdoor activities in La Fortuna are bound to make your vacation unforgettable! If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, make sure to check out our other helpful guides to include Best Outdoor Adventures Near Tamarindo and our epic 10 Day Itinerary on Costa Rica’s Southern Pacific Coast.