Costa Rica
ESMy trip
Arenal Volcano with a cloud over its summit, framed by rainforest.

Costa Rica · Northern Zone

La Fortuna
& Arenal.

A volcano, waterfalls and hot springs

See what to do (57)Destination map

Photo: Javier Cadillo Chandler

Before you go,
understand the place.

At the foot of Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna packs trails, a waterfall, hanging bridges and hot springs into a short radius. It is one of the easiest bases for a first visit to Costa Rica.

Best time to go
The dry season runs from mid-December to April, and January to March are the months with the best chance of a clear cone. From May to November it rains more, peaking in September and October; mornings are usually fine and afternoons cloud over. Because La Fortuna has Caribbean influence, it can rain even in the dry season.
Getting there
About 130–150 km and 3 to 3.5 h by car from San José, via San Ramón or Ciudad Quesada. Direct buses leave from Terminal Atlántico Norte (Terminal 7-10 stopped working as a bus hub on 30 April 2025) and take about 4 h. There are also shuttles of 4 to 5 h and SANSA flights of about 30 minutes.

Seven ways to explore

Themed guides

Places grouped by theme, to plan your day.

  • 12 places

    La Fortuna hot springs

    From the resort with a hot river to the free river: day-pass hot springs ordered from best known to lesser known, plus one that only admits guests.

    Open the full guide
  • 12 places

    Adventure: rafting, canyoning and ziplines

    Adrenaline activities around the volcano; most require a minimum age of 8 and include transport from town.

    Open the full guide
  • 12 places

    Volcano trails and viewpoints

    All the permitted walks around Arenal, from the national park to private reserves, and the best spots to see the cone and the lake.

    Open the full guide
  • 13 places

    Free or nearly free

    Plans with no ticket or under $25: rivers, swimming holes, simple hot springs and the national park trails.

    Open the full guide
  • 12 places

    For rainy days or after dark

    Tours under cover or that don’t need a clear sky, and night outings to see frogs, snakes and sloths.

    Open the full guide
  • 7 places · 1 outside this destination

    Day trips from La Fortuna

    Places 1 to 2 hours away by road that you can visit and return from in a day, on your own or with a tour.

    Open the full guide
  • 5 places

    Closed, prohibited or restricted

    Places that still appear in old guides or on social media but cannot be visited today, or only under conditions; each one says what to do instead.

    Open the full guide

The place, in context

Everything you can do

Closed or restricted places are included and flagged, so you know what to expect.

Showing 57 of 57 · 4 closed or restricted, flagged

Nature and jungle · 34

Lakes, rivers and waterfalls · 6

Volcano and mountain · 12

Living culture · 2

City and food · 3

La Fortuna & Arenal · Practical guide

The essentials

  1. Arenal’s continuous activity began with the 1968 eruption (78 deaths) and ended in December 2010, when the volcano went dormant. It is still monitored.
  2. Arenal Volcano National Park was created on 30 September 1991. SINAC cites the 1992 lava flows and a ceiba tree more than 400 years old.
  3. The La Fortuna waterfall is about 70 m high and reached by going down 500–530 steps, at about 520 m elevation. It is run by the community association ADIFORT, which reinvests ticket income in local projects.
  4. Lake Arenal, about 85 km² and up to 30 km long, is the country’s largest; the 1979 dam nearly tripled its original size and still generates electricity.
  5. Along Route 142 there is an unusually dense cluster of volcanic hot springs, from large resorts to day-pass sites.

La Fortuna & Arenal · Practical guide

Suggested itinerary

  1. Day 1Morning at Arenal Volcano National Park; afternoon at the waterfall and a hot-spring soak at sunset.
  2. Day 2Hanging bridges or the Venado caves in the morning; an easy afternoon by Lake Arenal.

La Fortuna & Arenal · Practical guide

Where to stay

La Fortuna town
Lively and walkable, with restaurants, shops, banks, tour offices and shuttle pickups around the central park. Parking is limited. Works if you have no car.
Route 142 corridor (toward Tabacón)
The main hotel and hot-spring zone, curving around the volcano 3 to 15 minutes from town. Properties are large and far apart, so you need a car or taxi.
El Castillo and the Arenal Observatory side
A forest setting, quiet and remote, about 35 minutes from town, with close views of the cone and wildlife.
Nuevo Arenal and Lake Arenal
A small, rural lakeside town about an hour west of La Fortuna, with fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding and cloud-forest trails.

La Fortuna & Arenal · Practical guide

Practical tips

  1. Arenal Volcano National Park does not sell tickets online: you buy them at the park ticket booth on the day, and SINAC states that cash is not accepted, only credit or debit cards.
  2. Climbing the Arenal cone or Cerro Chato is prohibited. Clandestine tours are offered on social media; they are illegal, have no safety conditions, and authorities stop people at checkpoints. Do not book anything that promises to reach those summits.
  3. La Fortuna waterfall: open daily from 7:00 to 17:00, with last recommended entry at 16:00, and free parking. It is about 530 steps (20–30 min down) and the climb back depends on your fitness. Bring closed shoes, swimwear, a towel and water. There is no bus to the entrance; a taxi from town costs about $10.
  4. The Venado caves can only be visited with the operator’s guide (included): the tour lasts about 2 h, with departures at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00. Wear clothes that can get wet and muddy; a narrow section is optional.
  5. Hot-spring day passes are limited: booking ahead is recommended. At Tabacón, for example, children under 6 enter free, children under 16 must be accompanied and water shoes are recommended.

Safety and precautions

  • Arenal is dormant, not extinct: the summit zone is off-limits and it could reactivate. Follow park rules and OVSICORI notices.
  • Theft from parked rental cars is the most common problem for tourists. The US State Department (level 2, 2 April 2026) warns that even locked cars are targeted. Leave nothing in sight and use attended parking.
  • At the base of the waterfall the current can be strong: stay inside the marked swimming area. The 500-plus steps are strenuous on the way back up.
  • The Venado caves are wet and muddy, with a tight section; the operator advises against the tour for severe claustrophobia, heart or back problems, or limited mobility.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still see lava at Arenal?

No. The volcano’s continuous activity, which began in 1968, ended in December 2010 and it has been dormant since. On clear mornings you can see the cone, but there is no lava or night glow.

Can I climb Arenal or Cerro Chato?

No. Access to both cones is prohibited; SINAC and MINAE restated this in 2017 and again in July 2025. Inside the national park there are authorised trails: Heliconias (about 610 m), Coladas (about 1.7 km) and El Ceibo (about 2.3 km), plus the Peninsula sector viewpoints.

How long does the La Fortuna waterfall take, and is there a bus?

The official site gives 20 to 30 minutes for the descent of the 500–530 steps; the climb back takes longer depending on fitness. There is no bus to the entrance, but a taxi from town costs about $10 and parking is free.

La Fortuna & Arenal · Practical guide

Sources consulted

Information checked in . Prices, hours and rules change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.

  1. SINAC – Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal2026
  2. SINAC – Comprar entradas (Arenal)2026
  3. MINAE – Alerta sobre tours ilegales al volcán Arenal y cerro Chato2025
  4. Catarata Río Fortuna – Preguntas frecuentes (oficial)2024
  5. Mistico Park (oficial)2026
  6. Cavernas del Venado (operador)2026
  7. Tabacón – Thermal experience (políticas oficiales)2026
  8. Wikipedia – Arenal Volcano National Park2026
  9. La Nación – Dónde se ubican las nuevas paradas de los buses2025
  10. Costa Rica Vibes – Weather in La Fortuna by month2026

Other destinations