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How Much Do Things Cost in La Fortuna?

La Fortuna isn’t the cheapest town in Costa Rica, but it works on most budgets. Park and waterfall fees are on the low end, and guided tours with transport cost the most, often close to $100.

Here’s a quick look at what each activity costs and how long it takes, so you can plan your days:

Activity	Price per Adult	Time Needed
La Fortuna Waterfall	$20	2 to 3 hours
Arenal Volcano National Park	About $17 with tax	2 to 3 hours
Mistico Hanging Bridges	$28 to $32, plus tax	About 2 hours
Hot springs	Free to about $115	2 to 4 hours
Ziplining	$55 to $105	2 to 3 hours
White water rafting	$73 to $113	Half a day
Rio Celeste day trip	$89 to $141 on a tour	7 to 8.5 hours
Coffee and chocolate tour	$30 to $45	About 2 hours

Prices are for foreign adults, and many tours add 13% tax on top. In the dry season, December to April, it’s worth booking the popular tours a few days ahead.

1. Swim at La Fortuna Waterfall

La Fortuna Waterfall is the first stop for most people, and it’s easy to see why. It’s only 10 to 15 minutes from town, and the 70-meter falls drop into a deep green pool surrounded by forest.

Getting down is part of the fun. About 530 steps take you through the forest to the bottom, and you’ll hear the falls long before you see them. The climb back up is the hard part, so bring water and take your time.

Swimming is allowed in the marked areas, with lifeguards keeping watch. After heavy rain, staff close the pools, since the current picks up fast.

Entry costs $20, kids under 8 go free, and you can pay by card or cash. It’s open 7 AM to 5 PM, with the last entry at 4 PM.

There’s no bus out there, so take a taxi for about $10 to $15 each way. Go early in the morning for cooler air and fewer people on the stairs.

2. Hike Arenal Volcano National Park

You can’t come to La Fortuna and skip the volcano. Arenal Volcano National Park has the best trails close to it, about 25 to 30 minutes from town. On a clear day, the views are hard to beat.

The Volcán sector is the one most people go for. Its trails, like Las Coladas and El Ceibo, cross old lava flows. The Península sector is easier, with short paved paths and views over Lake Arenal.

Entry is $15 plus tax, about $17, and the ranger station takes cards only. The Volcán sector is open 8 AM to 4 PM, with the last entry at 2:30 PM.

You can’t hike to the top, and the trails stay on the lower slopes. For a longer walk over the 1968 lava flow, try the private Arenal 1968 reserve. It charges about $25 to $28 and stays open until 5 PM.

Go early when you can. Clouds often cover the summit by midday, and mornings are cooler for walking. Our guide to Arenal Volcano tours covers the guided options.

3. Walk the Mistico Hanging Bridges

The hanging bridges are the easiest way to get up into the rainforest canopy, where much of the wildlife spends its day. Mistico is the classic choice near La Fortuna, and it works well for families too.

The 3.2 km loop crosses 16 bridges, and 6 of them are long suspension bridges that sway a little underfoot. It sounds scarier than it is, and the views into the treetops make up for any nerves.

Self-guided entry costs $32 plus tax in the morning and $28 plus tax in the afternoon. A guided tour costs $44 plus tax, and it’s worth it, since guides spot sloths, snakes and birds you’d walk right past.

The park opens at 6 AM, the last entry is 3:50 PM, and the loop takes about 2 hours. It’s 25 to 30 minutes from town, near the Arenal dam, and a taxi costs about $30.

Not set on Mistico? Sky Walk in El Castillo is the other option, at $46 plus tax, with fewer bridges on a 4 km trail.

4. Soak in the La Fortuna Hot Springs

After a day of hiking, there’s nothing quite like sinking into warm water with a drink in hand. The hot springs are what La Fortuna does best, and there’s one for nearly every budget.

Tabacón is the splurge, at about $80 to $115, with a hot river running through landscaped gardens. It’s the prettiest of the lot, and it books up, so reserve ahead.

Baldi has 25 pools and waterslides for $47 to $51, so it’s great with kids. EcoTermales costs about $47 to $49 and keeps things calm by limiting guests per time slot.

Then there’s El Choyín, the free hot river under the Route 142 bridge near Tabacón. It’s lovely, but there are no facilities, theft is a known problem, and informal parking guards ask for ₡3,000 to ₡5,000. Leave your valuables at the hotel.

Our guide to the best hot springs in La Fortuna compares them all, with prices and hours.

5. Swing Into the River at El Salto

El Salto is where locals cool off on hot afternoons. It’s a free swimming hole under the Route 702 bridge, about a 20-minute walk from town. You’ll find a rope swing, rocks to jump from and cold, clear water.

It’s a fun, easygoing spot, and a nice break from paid tours. Parking is free on the street, or ₡1,000 in the attended lot. Bring a towel and some snacks.

Please take care here, though. There are no lifeguards, and people have drowned at El Salto, including in recent years. Check the depth before you jump, don’t swim alone, and stay out after heavy rain, when the current picks up.

6. Walk Around La Fortuna Town

Downtown La Fortuna is more practical than pretty, but it’s a nice place for a slow afternoon. The central park and church line up with the volcano, and on a clear day it’s the best photo in town.

Lunch at a soda is a must. These small, family-run restaurants serve casados for far less than the tourist spots. A casado is a plate of rice, beans, salad and meat or fish. Soda Víquez is an easy pick.

Afterward, browse the shops for coffee or chocolate to take home. A couple of hours in town is plenty.

In the evening, the main street fills up with people booking the next day’s tours. It’s a good time to compare prices and ask questions face to face.

7. Take a Day Trip to Rio Celeste

Rio Celeste is the best day trip from La Fortuna, and the photos don’t lie. The river really is that bright blue, and it runs through Tenorio Volcano National Park, about 1.5 to 2 hours away.

Plan ahead for this one. Tickets cost $13.56 with tax and are sold online only, through SINAC, so you can’t buy them at the gate.

The hike is about 6.4 km round trip, past the waterfall to the spot where the river turns blue. Swimming isn’t allowed in the park, but there’s a free pool by the bridge just outside.

A tour from La Fortuna costs about $89 to $141 with pickup, lunch and the park fee. Driving yourself works out cheaper for a group. Our Rio Celeste guide covers it all.

8. Crawl Through the Venado Caves

The Venado Caves are for anyone who doesn’t mind getting dirty. They’re about 45 minutes from La Fortuna. The tour takes you deep underground, squeezing through tight passages and wading through cold streams.

Along the way, you’ll pass bats on the ceiling and rock formations lit only by your headlamp. It’s dark, wet and muddy, and a lot more fun than it sounds.

Tours with transport cost around $90 to $115 and take about 4 hours, with 2 of them underground. If you drive yourself, the caves charge $35 plus tax. Helmets, lights and a guide come included.

Wear clothes you don’t mind ruining, and skip it when tight spaces make you uneasy. Minimum ages run 5 to 8, depending on the company.

9. Go Ziplining in La Fortuna

Ziplining in Costa Rica is a classic for a reason, and around Arenal you get volcano views from the cables. It’s fast, fun and a lot easier than it looks from the ground.

Sky Trek in El Castillo costs $93 plus tax for adults, with a tram ride up the mountain included. There are seven cables, the longest over 750 meters. It’s the big one, with wide views over the lake and volcano.

Arenal Mundo Aventura has a 980-meter cable on its 7-cable course, which costs $65. Its 12-cable course costs $83. Ecoglide has 11 cables and a Tarzan swing, for $78 with transport included, or $54 without the swing.

Kids can join at age 5 at Sky Trek and age 7 at Arenal Mundo Aventura. Book a morning slot, when the volcano is more likely to be clear.

10. Go White Water Rafting Near La Fortuna

Rafting makes a great half day near La Fortuna, and there’s a river for every level. You’ll paddle hard, get soaked and probably laugh the whole way down.

The Balsa River, 30 to 60 minutes away, has Class II and III rapids. They’re bouncy enough to be fun but fine for first-timers and kids from age 8. Trips cost about $73 to $85 plus tax.

For bigger rapids, the Sarapiquí and Toro rivers have Class III and IV, about an hour away, for about $85 to $113. Expect a minimum age of 12 or 13 on those.

Most trips take half a day, with transport, gear and a meal included. On the calmer stretches, guides often point out birds and iguanas along the banks.

11. Try Canyoning in La Fortuna

Canyoning is the one for thrill seekers. You rappel down waterfalls inside a jungle canyon, with a guide controlling your rope, so you don’t need any climbing background.

The first drop is the hardest part, mostly in your head. Once the rope holds and you’re walking down the rock with water pouring around you, the nerves fade fast.

Pure Trek charges $99 plus tax for four rappels of 12 to 50 meters, and the tour takes about 4 hours. Desafío’s Lost Canyon tour costs about $105.

You’ll get soaked, so wear quick-dry clothes and shoes with grip. Minimum ages run 5 to 8, depending on the company.

12. Go Horseback Riding in La Fortuna

Horseback riding is the slow, relaxed way to see the countryside around Arenal. You ride through farms and forest, with the volcano in view on clear days, at a pace that lets you look around.

A 3-hour ride costs about $75. Some rides go to La Fortuna Waterfall, and with the entry fee and lunch included, those start around $146.

You don’t need to have ridden before. Guides match beginners with calm horses, and long pants make the ride much more comfortable. It’s a nice pick for families too.

13. Kayak on Lake Arenal

Lake Arenal is the biggest lake in Costa Rica, and a few hours on the water make a nice change from hiking. The dam is 25 to 30 minutes from La Fortuna, with the volcano right there in the background.

A guided kayak tour costs about $68 and takes about 4 hours, and kids can join from age 6. Stand-up paddleboards are for rent in El Castillo too.

On windy days, the far end of the lake is popular for windsurfing and kitesurfing. Calm mornings are best for paddling.

The lake is also part of the jeep-boat-jeep transfer, the fastest way to Monteverde. Our La Fortuna to Monteverde guide explains how it works.

14. Take a Night Walk or Wildlife Tour

La Fortuna is great for wildlife, and a night walk is where things get interesting. Once it’s dark, the forest fills with frogs, snakes and insects you’d never find on your own.

Guides carry strong flashlights and know exactly where to look, so you’ll see far more than you’d expect. Guided night walks cost about $54 to $67, plus tax.

For a daytime walk, the Bogarín Trail is under 1 km from the central park, and sloths are common there. Self-guided entry is $20, and a guided walk is $45 plus tax.

Bring a flashlight, bug spray and long sleeves. For a daytime sloth tour, our guide to sloth tours in La Fortuna compares the options.

15. Take a Coffee and Chocolate Tour

Coffee and chocolate tours are the easy, low-key pick for a rainy afternoon, and they’re more fun than they sound. You walk the farm, see how the beans are grown and processed, and taste plenty along the way.

Most tours are hands-on, so you’ll get to grind cacao, try fresh chocolate and sip coffee straight from the farm.

North Fields charges $38 plus tax for a 2.5-hour tour with transport, and Don Olivo starts around $30 for 2 hours. Most tours cost $30 to $45.

They’re family-friendly, and you’ll probably leave with a bag of coffee or a chocolate bar for home.

Where to Stay in La Fortuna

Where you stay changes your trip more than you’d think. Stay in town to walk to restaurants and tour pickups. Or stay on the road toward the volcano for quiet nights and better views.

These are three good picks for different budgets:

• Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort: a big resort with hot springs, waterslides and a spa.
• Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails: close to the volcano, with big views and its own trails.
• Arenal Poshpacker: a clean, budget-friendly hostel.

Our list of the best hotels in La Fortuna covers more options.

Best Things to Do in La Fortuna for Your Trip

With so much on the list, it helps to start with the basics. With 2 or 3 days, do the waterfall, Arenal Volcano National Park, the hanging bridges and one hot spring. That covers the big four.

Then add one big activity, like rafting, ziplining or canyoning, depending on how brave you feel. With a fourth day, Rio Celeste is the best use of it.

On a tight budget, El Salto, El Choyín and the Bogarín Trail keep costs down without missing much.

Our 3-day La Fortuna itinerary puts it all into an easy day-by-day plan.

Things to Do in La Fortuna FAQ

What Is the Best Time to Visit La Fortuna?

The best time to visit La Fortuna is the dry season, late December to April, when you get the clearest volcano views. It’s also the busiest and priciest time of year.

May to November brings afternoon rain, but also greener forest and lower prices. Mornings are often clear, so plan your hikes early.

Are There Free Things to Do in La Fortuna?

There are plenty of free things to do in La Fortuna. You can swim at El Salto, soak in the El Choyín hot river or just walk around town. The central park has a great volcano view on a clear day.

Keep an eye on your things at El Choyín, and remember El Salto has no lifeguards. Most parks and the waterfall charge $15 to $20.

How Many Days Do You Need in La Fortuna?

Three days in La Fortuna is enough for the waterfall, the volcano, the hanging bridges and a hot spring. You’ll also have time for one bigger activity, like rafting or ziplining.

Four days gives you time for Rio Celeste or the Venado Caves without rushing, plus a buffer for rainy days.

Is La Fortuna Good for Families?

La Fortuna is great for families. The hanging bridges, Baldi’s waterslides, horseback rides and Balsa River rafting from age 8 all work well with kids.

Ziplining at Sky Trek starts at age 5, so younger kids can join in too. Save the bigger rafting rivers for teens.

How Do You Get to La Fortuna From San José?

You can get to La Fortuna from San José by car in about 3 hours. A shared shuttle costs about $50 to $65, and the bus is about $9.

Direct buses leave Terminal Atlántico Norte in the morning, with 8:40 AM the most popular time. Our guide on how to get from San José to La Fortuna compares every option.

How Do You Get From La Fortuna to Monteverde?

The fastest way to get from La Fortuna to Monteverde is the jeep-boat-jeep, which crosses Lake Arenal by boat. It costs about $35 to $45 per person and takes 3 to 3.5 hours door to door.

Shuttles that drive around the lake take 3.5 to 4 hours. Our La Fortuna to Monteverde guide covers all five ways.