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Arenal Volcano with a cloud over its summit, framed by rainforest.

Costa Rica · La Fortuna & Arenal

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.

12 places

  1. 1

    FoodOpen

    Chocolate tours

    Around town, about 3 km away, by road1.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    Cacao farm tours where you see the full process, from pod to bar, with the history of cacao in Mesoamerica and a tasting.

    Source: Rainforest Chocolate Tour (oficial) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Time needed
    About 2 hours; Rainforest Chocolate Tour departs at 8:00, 10:00, 13:00 and 15:00 according to Arenal.net.

    Tip: Verified operators: Rainforest Chocolate Tour and North Fields (combines coffee, cacao and sugar cane). Neither publishes prices online: ask when booking.

    Nearby: El Salto (river pool and rope swing) (1 km) · Arenal Oasis night frog tour (1 km) · Bogarín Trail (sloths and night walk) (1.5 km)

    Sources: Rainforest Chocolate Tour (oficial) · Arenal.net – Rainforest Chocolate Tour

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  2. 2

    FoodOpen

    Coffee, cacao and sugar-cane farm tour

    North Fields, about 1.2 km from the centre0.5 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    9:00 to 18:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A family farm near town where you walk the coffee plantation, see roasting and cacao processing, and taste freshly pressed sugar-cane juice.

    Source: North Fields Coffee & Chocolate (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Monday to Saturday 9:00 to 18:00.
    Booking
    Book by email or WhatsApp; ask for the price.
    Time needed
    2 to 2.5 hours.

    Nearby: Rafting on the Balsa River (class II-III) (0 km) · Peñas Blancas River safari float (0 km) · La Fortuna central park and church (0.1 km)

    Sources: North Fields Coffee & Chocolate (oficial)

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  3. 3

    FoodOpen

    Costa Rican cooking class

    In La Fortuna town0.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    $72
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A hands-on class to cook typical Costa Rican dishes, which some operators combine with dance lessons; a good option for a rainy afternoon.

    Source: Desafío Adventure Company – tours en La Fortuna (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Desafío’s cooking + dancing combo: $72 plus tax.
    Time needed
    About 4 hours.

    Nearby: La Fortuna central park and church (0.1 km) · Rafting on the Balsa River (class II-III) (0.2 km) · Peñas Blancas River safari float (0.2 km)

    Sources: Desafío Adventure Company – tours en La Fortuna (oficial)

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  4. 4

    AdventureOpen

    Venado Caves

    Venado village, north of the lake; about 24 km by road from La Fortuna16.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    From $35
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Required

    Limestone caves with an underground stream, stalactites and narrow passages, explored with a guide, helmet and headlamp.

    Source: Cavernas del Venado (operador) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $35 per person, with guide and equipment (other 2026 sources give $30 to $45).
    Hours
    Departures at 8:00, 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00.
    Booking
    The guide is mandatory and included; helmet, headlamp, boots and mask are provided. Book ahead; free cancellation with 24 h notice.
    Time needed
    About 2 hours.

    Tip: Wear clothes that can get wet and muddy, bring a change and a towel. Swimming in the underground stream is not allowed.

    Nearby: Mistico Hanging Bridges (7.5 km) · Horseback riding at Arenal (7.5 km) · El Chollín (Choyín) River: free hot river (8.7 km)

    Sources: Cavernas del Venado (operador)

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  5. 5

    WildlifeOpen

    Butterfly Conservatory (El Castillo)

    800 m uphill on El Castillo’s main road, about 23 km from town, by road13 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    10:00 to 16:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    An educational centre with butterfly houses, frogs, the area’s largest insect collection and trails through regenerated forest with volcano and lake views.

    Source: Butterfly Conservatory El Castillo (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Daily 10:00 to 16:00, all year.

    Nearby: Kayak and SUP on Lake Arenal (0.5 km) · Jeep-boat-jeep to Monteverde (0.5 km) · The Hand of Arenal (1.8 km)

    Sources: Butterfly Conservatory El Castillo (oficial)

  6. 6

    WildlifeOpen

    Bogarín Trail (sloths and night walk)

    In town, under 1 km from the central park, by road0.9 km from the centre

    Entry
    $20
    Hours
    6:00 to 20:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A private trail a few minutes from the central park, known as an easy place to see sloths; it offers self-guided, guided, night and birding visits with local guides.

    Source: Bogarín Trail (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Self-guided $20; guided $45; night walk $60; birding $80 (per adult).
    Hours
    Daily 6:00 to 20:00.
    Time needed
    About 2 hours (birding, 3 hours).

    Nearby: Costa Rican cooking class (0.5 km) · La Fortuna central park and church (0.5 km) · Rafting on the Balsa River (class II-III) (0.6 km)

    Sources: Bogarín Trail (oficial)

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  7. 7

    WildlifeOpen

    Arenal Oasis night frog tour

    About 3 km south of town, by road2.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    From $50
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A guided night walk on a farm with forest and ponds, focused on frogs, including the red-eyed tree frog, plus snakes and insects.

    Source: Arenal Oasis (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    From $50; children 5 to 11 get 30% off. It also has a sloth tour (from $67.80) and a butterfly garden (from $15).

    Nearby: Chocolate tours (1 km) · Bogarín Trail (sloths and night walk) (1.5 km) · Costa Rican cooking class (1.9 km)

    Sources: Arenal Oasis (oficial)

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  8. 8

    WildlifeOpen

    Natura Eco Park (formerly Arenal Natura)

    About 7 km west of town, by road6.1 km from the centre

    Entry
    from $41.99
    Hours
    8:30–16:30
    Booking
    Not stated

    An ecological park with trails and enclosures where you see frogs, butterflies, snakes, crocodiles and sloths; guided day and night tours.

    Source: Natura Eco Park (oficial; arenalnatura.com redirige aquí) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Self-guided entry from $41.99; guided Natura Plus from $54.99; night walk from $55.99.
    Hours
    Self-guided 8:30–16:30; Natura Plus at 8:00, 9:30, 10:00, 12:30, 14:30 and 15:30; night walk at 18:00.
    Time needed
    About 2 hours for guided tours.

    Nearby: Volcano Lodge hot springs (guests only) (0.2 km) · Los Lagos hot springs (0.9 km) · Los Laureles hot springs (1.6 km)

    Sources: Natura Eco Park (oficial; arenalnatura.com redirige aquí)

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  9. 9

    WildlifeOpen

    Ecocentro Danaus

    About 4 km east of town, by road3.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    7:00–17:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A private biological reserve near town with trails, a pond, a butterfly garden and bird feeders; it offers day, birding and night frog-and-reptile tours.

    Source: Ecocentro Danaus (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Hours
    Self-guided pass 7:00–17:00 (last entry 15:00); guided day tours 8:15–17:15; night tours at 17:30, 18:30 or 20:00.
    Time needed
    About 2 hours per tour; the day + night combo, about 4 hours.

    Tip: It does not publish prices online: ask when booking. It also offers a private cultural experience with the Maleku people.

    Nearby: Sloth’s Territory (1.9 km) · Rafting on the Balsa River (class II-III) (3.3 km) · Peñas Blancas River safari float (3.3 km)

    Sources: Ecocentro Danaus (oficial)

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  10. 10

    WildlifeOpen

    Sloth’s Territory

    About 5 km east of town, by road4.3 km from the centre

    Entry
    $45
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A private refuge of regenerating forest where you look for free-living two- and three-toed sloths; it runs day, night and birding tours in groups of 10.

    Source: Sloth’s Territory (oficial) · 2026

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Sloth tour $45; night tour $60; birding $60.
    Hours
    First sloth tour at 7:50; night tour from 17:30; birding at 6:00.

    Nearby: Ecocentro Danaus (1.9 km) · Rafting on the Balsa River (class II-III) (4.6 km) · Peñas Blancas River safari float (4.6 km)

    Sources: Sloth’s Territory (oficial)

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  11. 11

    WellnessOpen

    EcoTermales Fortuna

    About 5 km west of town, by road4 km from the centre

    Entry
    $47
    Hours
    9:00–10:00
    Booking
    Required

    Capacity-limited hot springs surrounded by forest, with a few pools from 37 to 41 °C and a quiet atmosphere; there is no kids’ area.

    Source: Costa Rica Vibes – Arenal hot springs and day pass prices (act. 30 sep 2026) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    $47 adults and $28 children 5 to 11; with a meal $77 (September 2026 guide). Other 2026 listings give $49 and $30.
    Hours
    Two sessions: daytime (from 9:00–10:00 until 16:00) and evening (16:00–17:00 to 21:30); sources differ on the exact times.
    Booking
    Booking required: capacity per session is limited (sources say 100 to 150 people).

    Nearby: Termalitas del Arenal (0.4 km) · Kalambú Hot Springs (0.4 km) · Titokú Hot Springs (0.6 km)

    Sources: Costa Rica Vibes – Arenal hot springs and day pass prices (act. 30 sep 2026) · Costa Rica Travel Blog – EcoTermales review (act. 28 may 2025)

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  12. Baldi hot springs12

    Photo: John Menard, CC BY-SA 2.0

    WellnessOpen

    Baldi hot springs

    Route 142, about 5 km west of town, by road4.6 km from the centre

    Entry
    $47
    Hours
    9:00 to 22:00
    Booking
    Not stated

    A large, busy complex with 25 thermal pools at different temperatures, waterslides, swim-up bars and a kids’ area.

    Source: Costa Rica Vibes – Arenal hot springs and day pass prices (act. 30 sep 2026) · 2026 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Springs only: $47 adults and $34 children per a September 2026 guide; another 2026–2027 rate source gives $40 plus 13% tax ($29 + tax for children 6 to 10). Under 5–6 free.
    Hours
    9:00 to 22:00; the kids’ area and slides close at 18:00.

    Tip: It usually does not need a booking, but it gets crowded. Locker about $6 and towel with a refundable deposit.

    Nearby: Paradise Hot Springs (0.2 km) · Titokú Hot Springs (0.2 km) · Kalambú Hot Springs (0.5 km)

    Sources: Costa Rica Vibes – Arenal hot springs and day pass prices (act. 30 sep 2026) · Two Weeks in Costa Rica – Baldi Hot Springs entrance (tarifas 2026–2027)

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