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

Costa Rica · La Fortuna & Arenal

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.

7 places

  1. Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park1

    Photo: Panegyrics of Granovetter, CC BY-SA 2.0

    NatureOpen

    Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park

    Day trip: about 73 km by road northwest of La Fortuna46.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    $13.56
    Hours
    8:00 to 14:00
    Booking
    Required

    A day trip to the turquoise river: a 3 km linear trail passes the roughly 20 m waterfall, the blue pool, the fumaroles and the Teñidero, where the water changes colour.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $13.56 non-residents and $5.65 children, VAT included. Private parking extra.
    Hours
    Entry 8:00 to 14:00; you can stay until 16:00.
    Booking
    Tickets only online at serviciosenlinea.sinac.go.cr; capacity 1,200 people per day.
    Time needed
    About 6 km round trip, around 3 hours.

    Tip: Entering the river inside the park is not allowed, nor are drones or single-use plastics.

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Volcán Tenorio · Costa Rica Vibes – Río Celeste (act. 30 sep 2026)

    Find tours
  2. Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge2

    WildlifeOpen

    Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

    Day trip: about 91 km north of La Fortuna, by road49.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    $5.65
    Hours
    8:00 to 16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A Ramsar wetland near the Nicaraguan border explored by boat through lagoons and channels; one of the country’s best places for waterbirds, caimans and monkeys.

    Source: SINAC – Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Refuge entry $5.65 (foreigners, VAT included). A full-day tour from La Fortuna costs about $76 adults and $53 children 4 to 11, plus tax (2026).
    Hours
    Refuge 8:00 to 16:00.
    Time needed
    Full day (about 7.5 h); the boat trip lasts about 2 hours.

    Tip: Birds concentrate more in the dry months, when the water drops.

    Sources: SINAC – Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Caño Negro tour (act. 19 ago 2026)

    Find tours
  3. Catarata del Toro waterfall3

    Photo: Steve Jurvetson, CC BY 2.0

    NatureOpen

    Catarata del Toro waterfall

    Bajos del Toro, Route 708, about 2 h from San José47 km from the centre

    Entry
    $15
    Hours
    7:00 to 17:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A waterfall of about 90 m dropping into an old volcanic crater, in a private reserve with a hummingbird garden; you view it from above or by descending about 350 steps.

    Source: Catarata del Toro – Tickets · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $15 adults (13+) and $7.50 children 4–12. A combo ticket with Blue Falls is available.
    Hours
    Monday to Saturday 7:00 to 17:00; closed on Sundays.
    Time needed
    About 90 minutes including the descent.

    Nearby: Blue Falls of Costa Rica (Bajos del Toro) (0.8 km) · Rafting on the Toro River (class III-IV) (5.8 km) · Poás Volcano (crater viewpoint) (7.4 km)

    Sources: Catarata del Toro – Tickets · Catarata del Toro – official site

  4. 4

    WaterOpen

    Jeep-boat-jeep to Monteverde

    Boarding at El Fósforo, El Castillo area12.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    From $45
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A combined transfer to Monteverde that crosses Lake Arenal by boat: van to El Fósforo, boat to Río Chiquito and van up the mountain.

    Source: Desafío – La Fortuna to Monteverde boat transfer · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $45 per person (Desafío, 2026), minimum 4 passengers.
    Hours
    Departures at 7:30 and 14:00.
    Time needed
    About 3 hours.

    Tip: Travel light: you carry your luggage at each transfer, so a backpack beats a large suitcase.

    Nearby: Kayak and SUP on Lake Arenal (0 km) · Butterfly Conservatory (El Castillo) (0.5 km) · The Hand of Arenal (1.6 km)

    Sources: Desafío – La Fortuna to Monteverde boat transfer

    Find tours
  5. 5

    WildlifeOpen

    Proyecto Asís wildlife rescue

    San Isidro de Peñas Blancas area, about 26 km southeast of town, by road14.8 km from the centre

    Entry
    from $35
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Required

    A rescue and rehabilitation centre for injured or confiscated animals; on the visit you learn their stories and, in some programmes, help as a volunteer.

    Source: Proyecto Asís (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Sloth tour from $35; wildlife tour from $40; wildlife + volunteering (2.5 h) from $60.
    Hours
    Monday to Saturday at 8:30, 10:30 and 13:30. Closed Sunday.
    Booking
    Booking required online; arrive 15 minutes early. Tours in English; Spanish with 24 h notice.

    Nearby: Sloth’s Territory (12.2 km) · Canyoning and waterfall rappelling (12.5 km) · Iguana bridge (Muelle) (13.6 km)

    Sources: Proyecto Asís (oficial)

    Find tours
  6. 6

    WaterSeasonal

    Windsurfing and kitesurfing on Lake Arenal

    Western end of the lake; Tilarán is about 74 km from La Fortuna, by road30.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    The lake’s western end, near Tronadora and Tilarán, gets steady winds that make it one of the world’s best-known windsurf and kitesurf spots.

    Wind-dependent: the strong season runs November to April at the lake’s western end. Outside those months, switch to kayak or SUP.

    Source: Wikipedia – Lake Arenal · 2026

    Practical details and sources

    Nearby: Lake Arenal (5.6 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Lake Arenal

  7. 7

    WaterOpen

    Lake Arenal

    West of the volcano; Nuevo Arenal is about 46 km from town, by road25.4 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    The country’s largest lake, about 85 km², created by enlarging a natural lake with the 1979 dam; the old towns of Arenal and Tronadora lie beneath it.

    Source: Wikipedia – Lake Arenal · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Booking
    There is no single entry point or fee: it is a reservoir with many private operators (boats, kayak, paddleboard and windsurf).

    Tip: Wind is strongest from November to April at the western end, windsurf and kitesurf season. It is also fished for rainbow bass (guapote).

    Nearby: Windsurfing and kitesurfing on Lake Arenal (5.6 km) · Venado Caves (12.6 km) · Sangregado Dam (Lake Arenal dam) (12.6 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Lake Arenal

More guides for this destination