Free or nearly
free

How to use this guide

For travellers on a tight budget, or anyone filling the gaps between expensive tours. There are three levels of spending. No entry fee: El Chollín (Choyín) River, El Salto, La Fortuna central park and church, Sangregado Dam and the Iguana bridge (Muelle). Cheap: Termalitas del Arenal and El Silencio viewpoint, at about $10, and Los Laureles hot springs, at ₡5,000. Under $25: the national park, the self-guided Bogarín Trail, La Fortuna Waterfall and Río Celeste.

A full day covers a fair amount. Start in the morning at Arenal Volcano National Park (Volcano sector), when the cone is more often clear, and arrive before 14:00. Its trails are short, so the afternoon leaves room for the waterfall, with last recommended entry at 16:00, or El Chollín, which is for daylight hours only. End the day at Termalitas or Los Laureles. If you are heading west, the dam is on the way to the Peninsula sector, a good place for sunset over the lake.

With a second day, Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park is the long trip: about 73 km by road and around 3 hours on the trail. If money is tight, stick to the free places and an afternoon of hot springs; El Salto is under 2 km from the central park. If time is short, skip Río Celeste and the iguana bridge, about 28 km east, which is only worth it if you arrive or leave on that side.

Tips

• The national park takes cards only, at the booth, with no online sales; Río Celeste works the other way round: tickets online only and a capacity of 1,200 people per day.
• At El Chollín there are no lifeguards, toilets or lights, and theft is common: leave nothing on the bank or in the car, and watch the rocks, which are slippery.
• At El Salto, if the water turns brown, get out immediately: in the rainy season the river rises fast.
• At Termalitas you can bring your own food, and Los Laureles has picnic areas with grills; Termalitas gets crowded at weekends.
• At the waterfall children under 8 go free, and there is free parking, lockers and showers. Going down the steps takes 20 to 30 minutes; the climb back depends on your fitness.