At the base of an active volcano lies a picturesque Costa Rican town with an adventurous spirit.

La Fortuna is a small town with a big fanbase. This Costa Rica hotspot has drawn travellers to its volcanic trails and hot springs for years, but despite its rise to fame, this quaint farming town has held on tight to its roots. La Fortuna is a lover of the great outdoors, with natural wonders at every turn. Its superstar attraction is the almighty Arenal Volcano. Marvel at it from afar or venture closer to Arenal Volcano National Park for epic hiking, hanging bridges and wildlife.

Days in La Fortuna are fuelled by peaceful stays in boutique hotels and hearty gallo pinto brunches, served with freshly-roasted cups of Costa Rican coffee. Just right, before an afternoon ziplining through the rainforest and trekking to jungle waterfalls. Later, you can wind down in one of the swimmable hot springs of La Fortuna and Arenal. You have options here, from the more rustic, natural hot springs to the more luxurious, high-end thermal pools. Some of our hotels even have their own.

Talk to us today for a La Fortuna adventure that’s right for you.

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La Fortuna & Arenal Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in La Fortuna & Arenal

Nayara Gardens

Eco-conscious and family-friendly Nayara Gardens is a wildlife-rich escape from the ordinary.

Nayara Springs

At the base of the iconic Arenal volcano sits a Relais & Chateaux lodge that’s surrounded by a wi...

Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

A famed rainforest eco-resort of bubbling hot springs at the foot of Arenal Volcano.

ORIGINS Luxury Lodge

Join parrots, toucans and monkeys high up on the mountainside for an experience of a lifetime in...

Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa

This is one of the closest hotels to Arenal Volcano and you get spellbinding views of it from eve...

Nayara Tented Camp

This glamorous safari-style camp combines nature-immersed adventure with sophisticated creature c...

Amor Arenal

Ravishing rainforest retreat overlooking Arenal Volcano, where wellness takes priority and the wo...

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Arenal Volcano National Park

Spend a morning exploring the geological wonderland of Arenal Volcano National Park. This tour starts with a short boat ride across Arenal Lake Dam – an artificial lake that reflects the volcano on its surface. You’ll hike through the forest, following well-marked trails that lead to lookout points to appreciate the majesty of the Arenal Volcano. You’ll continue into an area destroyed by volcanic activity and witness its regeneration. A second hike takes you across former lava fields, and as you go, the nature, geology and the volcano's history will be explained by your guide.

• Daily departures from La Fortuna (excluding ORIGINS Lodge)
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Sunset Birdwatching on Lake Arenal

Spend an afternoon and Golden Hour on Lake Arenal, spotting Costa Rica’s famous birdlife. Lake Arenal was built in 1974 and is the largest water reservoir in Costa Rica. It provides hydroelectric energy for the country, but it’s also where you can find some of Costa Rica’s colourful birdlife and have the chance to see the imposing Arenal Volcano. This tour departs in the afternoon, taking you to a spot in the Arenal Volcano National Park, where the birds are most active in the afternoon. Spot tropical birds such as toucans, parrots, oropendolas, colourful tanagers and parakeets. Your guide will also look for Royal Flycatchers, White-fronted Nun Birds, Cinnamon Woodpeckers, different species of herons and other less commonly seen species. You’ll board a two-hour boat ride staying close to the lake shore to maximise bird spotting and continue to way the volcano’s front area to get a fantastic view of the volcano at sunset.

• Daily departures from La Fortuna (excluding ORIGINS Lodge)
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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1968 Arenal Volcano Hike

Spend an afternoon hiking the Arenal 1968 Trail across the lava stream of the volcano’s late 60s eruption, followed by a soak in the hot springs. Lace up your hiking boots to embark on the 2.5-hour volcano hike along the base and flanks of Arenal Volcano and the Arenal 1968 Park. The trail takes you across the lava fields of the eruption and over rocky terrain. Along the route are impressive views of Lake Arenal, the mountains of Monteverde, and the looming Arenal Volcano. En route, spot birdlife and mammals that make this fascinating place home. After the hike, continue to the hot springs for a muscle-soothing soak.

• Daily departures from La Fortuna (excluding ORIGINS Lodge)
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Mistico Park Hanging Bridges

Walk through the tree canopy of Mistico Park, following a series of six hanging bridges suspended over 50 metres in the air. From your lofty vantage point, appreciate this verdant area's sights, sounds, and biological diversity. There’s the chance to spot birds, monkeys, coatis, and sloths, explore the undisturbed forest canopy, and enjoy nature at its best.

• Daily departures from La Fortuna (excluding ORIGINS Lodge)
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

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Get to know La Fortuna & Arenal and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT -6 hours

CURRENCY

Costa Rican Colón

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

11 hours

RELIGION

Christianity (majority Roman Catholic)

LANGUAGE

Spanish; five indigenous languages are also spoken

Where are La Fortuna and Arenal?
La Fortuna is a small town in the Northern Highlands of Costa Rica, backed by the magnificent Arenal Volcano. The drive from San José’s international airport takes around two and a half hours, and the cloud forest mountains of Monteverde make a great next stop – approximately three hours away by car.

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La Fortuna & Arenal Wildlife
La Fortuna is an idyllic spot to scout out some of Costa Rica’s most extraordinary wildlife, from crocodiles to howler monkeys. Here for the sloths? La Fortuna’s Sloth Watching Trail will guide you through the rainforest in search of these sleepy creatures, often found snoozing on tree branches. You can head out on night-time nature treks to look out for nocturnal wildlife like the famous red-eyed tree frog, or wake up early for birdwatching hikes. More than 500 bird species soar through the skies around La Fortuna, with toucans, tanagers, parrots and parakeets frequently sighted.

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Natural wonders
Nature weaves its way around every corner of La Fortuna, with Arenal Volcano the centrepiece of this striking town. It’s a naturalist’s playground. One day you’ll be following a guide on a hike through Arenal Volcano National Park, listening to toucans singing in the rainforest, and the next you’ll be in the jungle, bathing in the soothing thermal waters of La Fortuna’s hot springs. You can explore Lake Arenal by kayak and picnic on its banks, or swim in the emerald pools of the spectacular La Fortuna Waterfall – formed by the lava flow of the now extinct Cerro Chato volcano.

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Activities
There is so much to see and do in La Fortuna, especially if you’re outdoorsy and adventurous. There’s ziplining, white-water rafting, canopy trekking, hiking, abseiling and exhilarating treetop walks across the hanging bridges of Mistico Park and Arenal Volcano. Prefer food to thrills? Treat your tastebuds to a chocolate tour, where you can visit an organic cocoa ranch and learn all about how it’s grown and made while sampling the different varieties. Some tours even invite you to make your own, or swap chocolate for coffee and head out on a caffeine-boosting plantation tour. Lots of our hotels run their own local sightseeing tours, or talk to us and we can secure you a place on some of our favourites.

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Food & drink
The foodie scene in La Fortuna is another reason to fall for this charming town. It’s alive with buzzing breakfast joints, authentic al fresco restaurants, and Insta-worthy cocktail bars. If you want to live and dine like a local, pull up a chair at one of La Fortuna’s open-air sodas (a small family-run restaurant). You can start your day with a traditional order of eggs and gallo pinto (rice and beans), then tuck into a casado for lunch. This mouth-watering plate of meat, rice, black beans, salad and a tortilla is a much-loved local staple. For dinner, try olla de carne (beef stew) or sopa de mariscos (seafood soup), or head to one of La Fortuna’s tasty pizzerias or fine dining restaurants.

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