Experiences and local guides in La Fortuna · Arenal

Nature

La Fortuna lives at the foot of Arenal volcano (1,670 m), a perfect cone that erupted from 1968 to 2010 and now sleeps above an 85 km² lake. Around it, rainforest with sloths, monkeys and toucans, La Fortuna waterfall dropping 70 m into a turquoise pool, the Río Celeste with its mineral-blue water on Tenorio volcano, and dozens of hot springs bubbling out of the ground at 40 °C.

Activities

• Trails of Arenal National Park and the Místico hanging bridges, with naturalist guides
• La Fortuna waterfall and Río Celeste (Tenorio park) on day trips
• Rafting on the Balsa and Sarapiquí rivers (class II to IV), canyoning down waterfalls, kayaking and paddleboarding on Lake Arenal
• Night walks to see frogs, snakes and sloths, birdwatching at dawn
• Tabacón and Ecotermales hot springs and the free pools of the Chollín river, horseback riding and cycling to the lake

When to go

All year, with rain possible any day. February to April is driest and clearest for seeing the volcano's cone; May to November brings afternoon rain, full waterfalls and fewer people. Arenal is often cloudy early morning and in the afternoon.

How to get there

From San José (SJO airport), 3 hours by road in a shared shuttle or rental car; public buses from the 7-10 terminal (4 hours). From Monteverde, the jeep-boat-jeep link across Lake Arenal (3 hours). From Liberia (LIR), 2 h 30. Volcano, waterfall and Río Celeste trips leave from town with transport.