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How Much Do Arenal Volcano Tours Cost?

Arenal Volcano tours cost about $58 to $211 per person. The price mostly comes down to how long you’re out and what’s included. A simple guided hike is the cheapest, and full-day combos with lunch and hot springs cost the most.

Here’s how the 10 tours below compare:

Tour	Price per Person	Time
Waterfall, volcano and hot springs	About $95 to $105	10 to 11 hours
Day tour from San José	About $165	About 14 hours
Canyoning and rappelling	About $84	About 3 hours
Night walk	About $60	2 to 2.5 hours
ATV tour	About $105 per ATV	About 2 hours
Arenal Mundo Aventura zipline	About $104 to $107	About 3 hours
Horseback riding	About $94 to $99	About 2.5 hours
Safari float, waterfall and hike	About $211	About 9.5 hours
Volcano hike expedition	About $58	3 to 4 hours
Jet ski on Lake Arenal	About $129 per jet ski	About 1.5 hours

These are “from” prices on Viator and GetYourGuide, so they shift a little with the date and group size. Park fees are included on most tours, but it’s worth checking each listing.

1. La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs Day Tour

This is the one to book when you only have a day and want the highlights without any planning. It covers the waterfall, a volcano walk and a hot spring soak, with lunch in the middle.

Time: 10 to 11 hours | Price: from about $95 | Includes: La Fortuna pickup, lunch, park and waterfall entry, hot springs

The day starts at La Fortuna Waterfall, where about 530 steps take you down to the pool. Bring a swimsuit. The water’s cold, but it’s hard to resist.

Then comes a guided walk in the volcano area, through forest and old lava fields. Your guide spots sloths, toucans and frogs along the way. The Viator version also stops at a butterfly garden.

The day ends with a soak at Relax Termalitas hot springs and a cocktail. Groups top out at 12 people, which keeps it from feeling crowded.

2. Arenal Volcano Day Tour From San José

Based in San José with no time to stay over? This day trip squeezes Arenal into one long day, so you don’t have to change hotels. It’s a lot of hours in a van, but the stops break it up nicely.

Time: about 14 hours | Price: from about $165 | Includes: San José pickup, coffee and snacks, lunch, dinner, entry fees, Paradise Hot Springs

Pickup is around 6:30 AM. On the way, you stop for coffee. Next is a lookout over San Fernando Waterfall near Cinchona, where hummingbirds buzz around a small garden.

After lunch in La Fortuna and a short Indigenous culture stop, the afternoon is all about Paradise Hot Springs. Dinner comes on the way back to San José.

Kids can join from age 5. It’s a long day, so it’s best when you really can’t spend a night in La Fortuna. Our guide to one day in San José covers the city side.

3. Arenal Volcano Canyoning and Waterfall Rappelling

This one’s for anyone who gets bored in a hot spring. La Roca Canyoning takes you down a jungle canyon near Arenal, and you’ll be soaked within the first few minutes.

Time: about 3 hours | Price: from about $84 | Includes: transport, gear, guides, buffet lunch, towels, showers, photos

You do four rappels of 15 to 28 meters down rock walls next to waterfalls. There are also two ziplines across the canyon and three jumps into natural pools.

No climbing background is needed. The guides walk you through each drop, and the first one is the only one that really gets your heart going.

It ends with lunch at La Roca’s own restaurant, and the hot showers are a nice touch. Bring a swimsuit, shoes with grip and a dry change of clothes.

4. Night Walk Near Arenal Volcano

Arenal’s forest gets louder and stranger once the sun goes down. This guided night walk takes you along the El Silencio trails with a flashlight and a naturalist. You look for the animals that hide during the day.

Time: 2 to 2.5 hours | Price: from about $60 | Includes: pickup in central La Fortuna, entry, guide, flashlight

Frogs are the stars. Red-eyed tree frogs, blue jeans dart frogs and see-through glass frogs are the ones everyone hopes for. Guides are also good at spotting vipers and boas from a safe distance.

Groups are small, up to 15 on Viator and 8 on GetYourGuide. Dinner isn’t included, so eat early or plan a late meal in town.

Wear long pants and closed shoes, and bring bug spray. It’s an easy add-on for an evening with nothing else planned.

5. Arenal Volcano ATV Tour

ATVs are everywhere in La Fortuna, and this one from Outback keeps most of the ride on private land. That means more mud, more river crossings and more volcano views, with less time on paved roads.

Time: about 2 hours | Price: from about $105 per ATV | Includes: pickup within about 3 km of town, guide, helmet and gear

The price is per ATV, and each one seats two, so a couple pays once and shares the ride. You need a driver’s license to drive, and kids from age 5 can ride as passengers.

Expect to come back muddy. Our guide to ATV tours in La Fortuna compares more options and the rules.

6. Arenal Mundo Aventura Zipline Near La Fortuna Waterfall

Most ziplines give you treetop views. This one, at Arenal Mundo Aventura, adds a cable across the canyon in front of La Fortuna Waterfall. That’s what makes it stand out.

Time: about 3 hours | Price: from about $104 | Includes: pickup in central La Fortuna, guide, gear

There are 12 cables over the canyon and the forest, some fast and some long, with views of Arenal on clear days. Between lines, guides point out birds and plants.

The minimum age is 7, and there’s a weight limit of 120 kg (264 pounds). Food and photos cost extra.

7. Horseback Riding Around Arenal Volcano

Horseback riding is the slow, relaxed way to see the countryside at the foot of the volcano. No engine noise, no rush, just farms, forest and views of Arenal between the trees.

Time: about 2.5 hours | Price: from about $94 | Includes: pickup from selected hotels, guide, helmet

Groups top out at 15 people. Long pants and closed shoes make the ride far more comfortable, and a rain jacket helps May to November.

The GetYourGuide option is a different ride that adds the Montaña de Fuego hot springs for about $80. It’s not for kids under 10, though.

8. Safari Float, Waterfall and Arenal Volcano Hike Day Tour

This full day with Rainforest Explorers packs three of La Fortuna’s best activities into one, at an easy pace. It’s pricey, but it saves you booking three separate tours.

Time: about 9.5 hours | Price: from about $211 | Includes: pickup, park fees, lunch, tips

It starts at 7:30 AM with a calm safari float on the Peñas Blancas River. There are no big rapids, so it’s all about spotting monkeys, iguanas and herons from the raft.

Next comes La Fortuna Waterfall and lunch at a family farm, then a hike near the base of the volcano to finish. Groups are capped at 10, with at least 2 people per booking.

9. Arenal Volcano Hike Expedition

This is the simplest, cheapest way to hike Arenal with a guide, and it fits into half a day. It’s a good pick when you want the volcano without a long, packed day.

Time: 3 to 4 hours | Price: from about $58 | Includes: pickup, guide, water, entry

Tours leave at 7:30 AM or 2:30 PM. The trail runs about 1.5 km through forest to a viewpoint over the Green Lagoon and Lake Arenal. On a clear day, the volcano is right above you.

Guides talk you through the 1968 eruption and point out birds and monkeys along the way. Hot springs aren’t included, so book an evening soak separately. Or pick the GetYourGuide combo, which adds the waterfall and a hot spring for about $96.

10. Jet Ski Tour on Lake Arenal

Not much of a hiker? This guided jet ski tour on Lake Arenal swaps trails for water, with the volcano in the background the whole time.

Time: about 1.5 hours | Price: from about $129 per jet ski | Includes: jet ski, helmet, life jacket, guide

There’s no pickup, so you meet at the Outback office in El Castillo, on the south side of the lake. You’ll need a car or a taxi to get there.

A quick safety briefing comes first, so first-timers are fine. The minimum age is 5.

Which Arenal Volcano Tour Should You Book?

With only one day, book the waterfall, volcano and hot springs tour. It covers the big three at a fair price, and someone else handles the driving.

On a budget, the $58 hike expedition gets you a guide on the volcano for half a day. For thrills, canyoning or the zipline are the picks, and the night walk is the best way to see Arenal’s wildlife.

Coming from San José, the day tour works, but a night or two in La Fortuna is much better. Our 3-day La Fortuna itinerary shows how to fit it all in. So does our guide to the best things to do in La Fortuna.

Arenal Volcano Tours FAQ

Can You Still See Lava at Arenal Volcano?

You can’t see lava at Arenal Volcano anymore. It erupted almost daily after 1968, then went quiet in 2010, and it’s been dormant ever since.

It’s still closely monitored, and hiking to the top isn’t allowed. The trails stay on the lower slopes and old lava fields, where you get the classic views of the cone.

How Long Do Arenal Volcano Tours Take?

Most Arenal Volcano tours take 2 to 4 hours for a hike, a night walk or an adrenaline activity. Full-day combos with the waterfall, lunch and hot springs run 9.5 to 11 hours.

Day trips from San José take about 14 hours door to door, with a 6:30 AM pickup.

How Much Do Arenal Volcano Tours Cost?

Arenal Volcano tours cost about $58 to $211 per person. A guided hike is the cheapest, at about $58, while full-day combos cost about $95 to $211.

Canyoning and ziplining run about $84 to $107, and the jet ski costs about $129 per machine.

Do You Need a Guide for Arenal Volcano National Park?

You don’t need a guide for Arenal Volcano National Park. The trails are marked, and entry is $15 plus tax, paid by card at the ranger station.

A guide does make a big difference for wildlife, though. They spot sloths, snakes and birds you’d walk right past, and they know the story of the 1968 eruption.

What Should You Pack for an Arenal Volcano Tour?

Pack closed shoes with grip, a rain jacket, sunscreen and bug spray for any Arenal Volcano tour. The weather changes fast, even in the dry season.

Add a swimsuit and towel when your tour includes the waterfall or hot springs. Bring a dry change of clothes for the ride back, too.

Is It Safe to Hike Around Arenal Volcano?

Hiking around Arenal Volcano is safe on the marked trails. The volcano is monitored, the park keeps people on the lower slopes, and guided tours stick to approved routes.

Watch your footing on loose lava rock, stay on the trail and keep your distance from snakes and other wildlife.