La Fortuna Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best La Fortuna tours, the adventure heart of Costa Rica beneath the iconic Arenal Volcano: hikes across old lava fields, soothing natural hot springs, swaying hanging bridges through the rainforest canopy, the plunging La Fortuna Waterfall, thrilling ziplines and white-water rafting, sloth and wildlife encounters, and day trips to the turquoise Rio Celeste. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Costa Rica trip.
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Explore La Fortuna by interest
Whatever brings you to La Fortuna — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Arenal Volcano
Lava fields and cone.
ExploreHot springs
Volcanic thermal pools.
ExploreLa Fortuna Waterfall
Jungle cascade swim.
ExploreZiplining & canyoning
Canopy thrills.
ExploreWildlife & rafting
Sloths and rapids.
ExploreHanging bridges
Canopy walkways.
ExploreRío Celeste
Turquoise waterfall.
ExploreCoffee & chocolate
Farm tastings.
ExploreTop attractions in La Fortuna
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Arenal Volcano
The iconic cone.
Hot Springs
Volcanic thermal pools.
La Fortuna Waterfall
Jungle cascade.
Hanging Bridges
Canopy walkways.
White-Water Rafting
Rainforest rapids.
Río Celeste
Turquoise waterfall.
Ziplines
Canopy adventure.
Arenal National Park
Lava trails.
La Fortuna in 1 day
- 1Arenal hike & bridges
- 2La Fortuna Waterfall
- 3Hot springs soak
- 4Volcano views
La Fortuna in 2 days
- 1Day 1: volcano & springs
- 2Day 2: ziplining & rafting
- 3Canopy adventure
- 4River rapids
La Fortuna in 3 days
- 1Day 1: volcano & springs
- 2Day 2: adventure
- 3Day 3: Río Celeste
- 4Volcano, thrills & nature
La Fortuna with kids
- 1Hanging bridges
- 2Wildlife float
- 3Hot springs
- 4Chocolate tour
1.5 hrs awayRío Celeste
Turquoise waterfall.
3 hrs awayMonteverde
Cloud forest.
2 hrs awayCaño Negro
Wildlife wetlands.
Near town awayLa Fortuna Waterfall
Jungle cascade.
Near town awayHot Springs
Volcanic pools.
Near town awayArenal Volcano
National park hike.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every La Fortuna visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
December to April is the dry season, with the sunniest weather and clearest volcano views — the prime time for La Fortuna, though it’s the busiest.
Dry season (Dec–Apr)
Warm and mostly sunny, ideal for hiking, adventure and clear Arenal views; book tours and hotels ahead.
Green season (May–Nov)
Lush and quieter with afternoon rains and lower prices; mornings are often clear, and the rainforest is at its most vibrant.
Rafting season
Rivers run higher in the green season, making for exciting rafting, while the dry season offers gentler family runs.
Wildlife
Sloths, birds and frogs are seen year-round; the green season brings the most active rainforest.
Volcano views
The iconic cone is often cloud-topped; early mornings, especially in the dry season, give the best clear views.
One day
The volcano, waterfall and hot springs.
Two days
Add ziplining, canyoning or rafting.
Three days
The sweet spot: volcano, adventure and Río Celeste.
Four days
Add Monteverde, Caño Negro or more wildlife.
Costa Rica loop
La Fortuna pairs well with Monteverde and the beaches.
Travelling with kids
Mix bridges, wildlife floats and springs.
On foot
La Fortuna’s compact town centre is walkable, with restaurants, shops and tour operators close together.
Tours & transfers
Most attractions are reached on tours with hotel pickup, the easiest way to explore the volcano, waterfalls and springs.
Taxis & shuttles
Taxis and shared shuttles run to nearby sights and connect La Fortuna with other parts of Costa Rica.
Jeep-boat-jeep
The scenic jeep-boat-jeep transfer crosses Lake Arenal to Monteverde, a popular and beautiful route.
Rental car
A rental car offers freedom to explore the area at your own pace, though some roads are rough.
Getting there
La Fortuna is about 3–3.5 hours from San José; private and shared transfers are widely available.
Dollars and colones
Costa Rica uses the colón, but US dollars are widely accepted for tours; carry some local cash for small purchases and tips.
Pack for rain & sun
Bring a light rain jacket, quick-dry clothes, sturdy shoes and swimwear — you’ll likely encounter sun, rain and water in one day.
Combine attractions
Combo tours bundling the volcano, waterfall and hot springs save time and money over booking separately.
Bring binoculars
Binoculars help spot sloths, birds and monkeys on hikes, bridges and wildlife floats.
Pura vida pace
Costa Rica is relaxed and safe; allow buffer time, as tours run on “tico time” and roads can be slow.
Book in dry season
Hot springs and combo tours fill up December–April — book ahead.
Hot springs
Popular resort springs sell out — book ahead.
Volcano & bridges combos
Combo tours fill up in peak season — reserve early.
Ziplining & canyoning
Adventure tours are in demand — pre-book.
Río Celeste
Day trips have limited spots — book ahead.
Monteverde transfer
Jeep-boat-jeep transfers fill up — reserve early.
Dry-season peak
December–April is busy — plan ahead.
Volcano & bridges
Around €40–80 for an Arenal Volcano and hanging bridges tour.
Hot springs
About €50–90 for a hot springs resort visit, often with dinner.
Waterfall
Roughly €40–70 for a La Fortuna Waterfall tour.
Ziplining/canyoning
Around €60–100 for a zipline or canyoning adventure.
Río Celeste
About €70–120 for a Río Celeste day trip.
How to save
Book combo tours, travel in the green season, and join group departures.
La Fortuna through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Clear views, hiking.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal; book ahead.
- Best for
- Lush, fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Afternoon rain.
- Best for
- Rafting, value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wettest months.
- Best for
- Green, quieter.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Rains easing.