6 FUN Things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
When I planned my trip to Costa Rica, I felt like I had a blank canvas. Usually, when I fly into a country, I spend most of my time in a major city. But, I knew I didn’t want to devote my Costa Rica time just to San Jose. So, as I did some research, I realized two things:
- I needed to come back to Costa Rica.
- I would start with La Fortuna.
There is just too much to see in Costa Rica to fit it all into a 3-day trip. Sure, I was renting a car, but I didn’t want to spend my time driving all over the country.
After reading other blogs, I landed on La Fortuna as my home base for this trip. And I am SO glad I did! As I read the blogs, there seemed to be so many fun things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica!
La Fortuna is a small town that sits in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano. This village offered a nice break from the busy cities I’m used to. Plus, there are so many opportunities for outdoor adventures around La Fortuna!
So, if you are also thinking about spending time in La Fortuna, keep reading. In this post, I will share the best things I did in the region.
Ready to go? Let’s check out these 6 unforgettable things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica!
6 Unforgettable Things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica!
Tour a Chocolate Farm
Who doesn’t like chocolate? Ok, even if it isn’t your thing, seeing a chocolate farm should be on your Costa Rica bucket list. Chocolate has played an important role in the country’s history. The Chorotega people in Costa Rica even used cocoa beans for currency.
The chocolate tour tops my list because it was my favorite experience in La Fortuna. I signed up for this tour through Airbnb Experiences. My husband and I visited during the rainy season, so we were the only guests on the tour. During the tour we learned about cocoa pods, sampled the fruit, and even made our own chocolate drinks & truffles. While on the tour, the guide pointed out their resident sloth (which ended up being the only one I saw in Costa Rica).
Cross the Hanging Bridges
When you are in the rainforest, you need to experience it from above. Many people choose to zip-line through the forest, but another option is to cross the hanging bridges.
At the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, you can cross 20 bridges, 6 of which are hanging. Before my trip, I struggled with the decision to visit this park. For one thing, the ticket costs $26 for adults. I also had trouble deciding if I should do a guided tour or explore on my own. Not to mention I’m afraid of heights.
Ultimately, I decided to go to the park on a self-guided tour. It rained the entire time (I was in the rainforest during rainy season after all) but I still had a blast. Honestly, besides not bringing my camera with me, the rain didn’t impact my experience at all. I was still able to take in the view and for some reason, the bridges didn’t really bother my fear of heights. I didn’t see too many animals here, but I’ve heard that some people spot sloths, snakes, or tarantulas at the park. I did see a toucan which was really exciting for me (hey, I’ve never seen a wild one before!)
Relax in the Hot Springs
La Fortuna is known for its hot springs. And trust me, you are going to want to check these out. The only question is which one(s) should you visit?
There are a bunch of hot springs to choose from, but I narrowed it down to Baldi, Tabacon, and Ecotermales. After some research, I went with Ecotermales, and I’m so happy I did!
I haven’t spent a lot of time in spas or hot springs, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I recently visited the Blue Lagoon in Iceland and thought this experience might be similar. Well, the experiences were actually pretty different and Ecotermales was much more relaxing. I opted for an evening package + buffet dinner. I read that this spa limits the capacity to 100 guests, but it seemed like there were less than 40 people here during my visit. The hot springs include multiple pools of varying temperatures, a pool-side bar (yes you can bring the drinks into the water with you), and a buffet restaurant. My husband and I had an incredible time relaxing in the warm waters. My only regret was that I didn’t book a second day at the hot springs!
Explore La Fortuna
Give yourself some time to explore the charming village of La Fortuna. On a clear day, you can see Arenal Volcano in the backdrop of the town. I spent an afternoon wandering through the town, taking pictures and stopping in a few shops.
Check out the ChocoMuseo, where you will get a free tour. As soon as I entered, a guide started a brief, but comprehensive, history of chocolate. This was a nice refresher after my tour of the chocolate farm. You can enjoy free samples at the museum and buy and type of chocolate souvenir you might want to bring home.
When you need a break, find yourself in Fortuna Park. This small park is in the center of town and features a beautiful church and fountain. If you need a pick-me-up or a great place for breakfast, you have some great options in La Fortuna. Two of my favorite cafes were MyCoffee and Rain Forest (no, not the American chain restaurant).
Hike in Arenal Volcano National Park
You can get a nice view of the volcano from La Fortuna, but head to Arenal Volcano National Park for an up-close view. This park is about a 30-minute drive from La Fortuna and it costs $15 to enter the park. Once you get to the park, a guide will give you a map and explain the trails.
I followed the 2km Coladas trail. This trail is leafy and home to a bunch of wildlife (I saw a bright yellow eyelash viper at the beginning of the hike). At the end of the trail, you can climb over lava rocks to get a unique view of the Volcano. There are also a few trails in the Sector Peninsula part of the park. This is near Lake Arenal and a great option if you want to hike down to the water.
Admire the Rio Celeste Waterfall
Rio Celeste is a stunning waterfall located in the Tenorio Volcano National Park. It is about a 1.5-hour drive from La Fortuna, but trust me, it is worth every second. Rio Celeste was a major reason why I ended up staying in La Fortuna.
The pictures don’t lie, the water is a striking shade of blue. The blue water is created by a natural optical illusion. Basically, the way the light reflects a certain mineral in the water gives it a magical blue appearance. Apparently, after a rainstorm, the minerals are washed away and the water looks brown. Luckily, even though it had rained the night before, the water was back to normal during my visit.
Although you can’t swim in Rio Celeste, you can hike down to the waterfall and follow additional trails in the park. The less than 4-mile trail brings you to the waterfall, Blue Lagoon and Tenideros (the spot where two rivers meet, mix minerals, and allow for the blue waters to appear). Oh, and keep an eye out for wildlife. I saw two coatimundis during my hike!
I hope you enjoyed this guide to the 6 best things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Have you been? What else would you add to my list?
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