Your Ultimate La Fortuna, Costa Rica Travel Guide for First Timers

Planning a trip to Costa Rica and wondering if La Fortuna should make your itinerary? Let me tell you, it’s the adventure capital of the country, and once you arrive, you’ll never want to leave.

Think epic waterfalls, rainforest hikes, hanging bridges, volcanic hot springs, and adrenaline-filled adventures like canyoning and ziplining, all set against the dramatic backdrop of Arenal Volcano.

When I spent two weeks here, I dove into it all: standing in awe at the base of the thunderous La Fortuna Waterfall, crossing the Mistico Hanging Bridges with monkeys overhead, soaking in dreamy hot springs like Tabacón, descending the stairs to the epic La Fortuna Waterfall, and even indulging in a chocolate tour that left me grinning like a kid.

In this detailed guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know: how to get there, how to get around, the best tours, where to eat, the top hotels (many with their own hot springs), and of course, all the unforgettable things to do in La Fortuna.

*This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full disclosure for further information.

Where is La Fortuna, Costa Rica?

La Fortuna town and Arenal Volcano National Park (including Lake Arenal) are located in the verdant jungle of the northern Alajuela Province. La Fortuna San Carlos can be reached within 3 hours of the major airports of San Jose and Liberia in Costa Rica.

Click on the La Fortuna map below to interact with Google Maps.

About La Fortuna Town + Arenal Volcano National Park

Upon starting my research about things to do in La Fortuna, confusion set in. How is La Fortuna or Arenal different? I saw so many interchangeable references. So, to set things straight, La Fortuna is the main town of the Arenal region. 

The Arenal region includes Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal and La Fortuna town. La Fortuna town acts as a great base to explore all of the top things to do in Arenal. All in all, there isn’t much to do in terms of activities in downtown La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

If you have a rental car (which I highly recommend you do!) it’s also a nice experience to book a few nights at a hot springs resort in the rural areas of the region. 

About Arenal Volcano

Sitting prominently in the region, the symmetrically beautiful Arenal Volcano is a top attraction for visitors to La Fortuna Costa Rica, with many hiking its surrounds. Until October 2010, the stratovolcano spewed lava and rocks, much to the enjoyment of onlookers.

My mom still talks about standing on the side of the road enjoying a Costan Rican beer and witnessing its magnificence.

Today, Arenal Volcano sleeps. But, that doesn’t take away from its magic, with many of the top things to do in La Fortuna and Arenal National Park Costa Rica centred around its immense grandeur, like the many luxurious thermal hot springs.

Lake Arenal

Situated at the base of Arenal Volcano and straddling the line between Alajuela and Guanacaste provinces, Lake Arenal in Costa Rica is the largest land-locked body of water in the country.

Growing in size due to hydroelectric dams constructed in 1979, Arenal Lake is now an important source of electric energy for Costa Rica, contributing an astonishing 12%.

WIth a strong dependable wind, Lake Arenal Costa Rica provides consistent conditions for great windsurfing amongst other activities like fishing, boating and kayaking. The Lake spans 33 square miles (85 square kilometres) and a depth of 200 feet. 

Town of La Fortuna, Costa Rica

wIth Arenal Volcano as its backdrop, the once sleepy farming town of La Fortuna Costa Rica is now the beating heart of adventure for the entire country of Costa Rica. With one main drag and a small enchanting park at its centre, La Fortuna boasts 16,000 residents. 

The town itself swells with tourism during the high season months of December-April and acts as the main base for people visiting the Arenal region. 

Tenorio Volcano National Park

Neighbouring the north of Arenal Volcano National Park is Tenorio Volcano National Park. Made famous for its alluring bright blue Rio Celeste waterfall, the park can be reached from La Fortuna on an epic day trip.

The National Park is located at the northernmost end of Alajuela Province.

Best La Fortuna Hotels

Okay, let’s take a look at where to stay in La Fortuna Costa Rica. The town of La Fortuna is the best base for your adventures around the Arenal region, but you can also book La Fortuna hotels with hot springs in the outskirts of town nestled in the jungle. 

Most hotel La Fortuna options and Arenal hotels include spacious suites, some with shared pools and volcano views and great amenities. You can definitely find the comforts of home in most of the La Fortuna Costa Rica hotels. 

The Best La Fortuna Hotels: A Detailed Guide

There is definitely something for everyone here, on any budget. Popular La Fortuna hostels like Selina and Arenal Poshpacker offer more economical and social La Fortuna lodging. You can also find some really great options for family-friendly La Fortuna resorts.

If you are of the more adventurous persuasion, camping La Fortuna is also common.

Here are my top recommendations for the best hotels in La Fortuna Costa Rica and the entire Arenal Volcano region:

Luxury La Fortuna Hotels

Mid-range Hotels in La Fortuna Costa Rica

Budget La Fortuna Costa Rica Hotels

Best Things to Do in La Fortuna,
Costa Rica

A few of the top Costa Rica attractions can be found in La Fortuna and the surrounding Arenal Volcano region. 

Top things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica and top things to do in Arenal Costa Rica are one and the same. My favourite activities in the region were La Fortuna waterfall, Arenal Volcano hike, Mistico hanging bridges and a day trip to Rio Celeste waterfall. 

Best La Fortuna Costa Rica Tours

Some of the best Costa Rica excursions can be found in the Arenal region surrounding the town of La Fortuna. The top two La Fortuna tours include an easy hike around Arenal Volcano National Park, and a stop at La Fortuna waterfall. 

Then, you can choose from additional activities like  Mistico hanging bridges, visiting one of the many amazing hot springs in Costa Rica (most located here, like Tabacon) or choose to take a Costa Rica sloths tour or chocolate tour.  

A day trip to Rio Celeste waterfall is also a must thing to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica. 

Top Picks for La Fortuna Tours
Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall + Hot Springs Tour
La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano Hike + Hanging Bridges Tour
Canyoning + Waterfall Repelling Tour

Other Cool Things to Do in La Fortuna
Full-Day Rio Celeste Tour
Sloth Tour La Fortuna
Rainforest Chocolate Tour

How to Get to La Fortuna

You’ve made a great choice in visiting La Fortuna Costa Rica. Now, how do you get there? For most of your travels throughout Costa Rica, I highly recommend a rental car (did I say highly?). 

I use and recommend Discover Cars. If a rental car or flight isn’t in your future, I’ve outlined other more economical ways to get to La Fortuna below, including public bus, shuttle, and boat.

Arriving in La Fortuna Costa Rica from San Jose International Airport (SJO) and Liberia Airport(LIR) is most common, but I’ve also provided information on how to get to La Fortuna from other popular towns in Costa Rica like Monteverde and Tamarindo, so the research is done for you.

How to Get From San Jose to
La Fortuna

Distance from San Jose Costa Rica to La Fortuna

BY ROAD | ~120km (75 miles): 2.5-3 hours driving by rental car, shuttle or bus

BY AIR | ~30 min (direct flight)

READ MORE | How to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna: Full Guide

Flights to La Fortuna Costa Rica from San Jose Airport (SJO)

If you land at the San Jose International Airport (SJO) and you aren’t picking up a rental car or don’t want to fuss around with bus routes, you can fly direct to La Fortuna town. La Fortuna has its own small local airport that accepts flights from Sansa Airlines once a day.

A San Jose La Fortuna flight takes 30 minutes.

Car Rental in Costa Rica San Jose Airport

For convenience’s sake, you can pick up your rental car at the San Jose International Airport, but there are a couple of important things to note. 

First, all rental car companies in Costa Rica are located away from the airport property requiring you to either take a shuttle (sometimes provided by your car rental company) or grab a taxi.

Second, because you are technically picking your car up at the airport, you will be charged an airport tax of 13% on the total of your Costa Rica car rental duration. 

I personally use and recommend booking through Discover Cars. Whether you are looking for a budget Costa Rica car rental or looking to rent a 4×4 in Costa Rica, this platform has you covered. 

What’s great about Discover Cars is they compare local, national and international rental companies to give you the best price. Plus, they give you full insurance coverage for only $7USD a day (30% lower than booking directly with the local company). 

Driving in Costa Rica

Generally speaking, driving in Costa Rica is quite safe. The roads to most of the main tourist towns are well maintained and do not require a 4×4 vehicle. I can recommend renting a car in Costa Rica with high clearance and AWD.

Places like Santa Teresa, Nosara and even Monteverde, all located in the Guanacaste and Puntarenas Provinces, may require 4×4 at some points in the road. Each of these destinations has large portions of gravelly dirt roads.

Driving in Costa Rica at night is not something I recommend unless you are very used to driving in the country. Street lighting is intermittent and not guaranteed, and during the rainy season of May-October, you can expect the roads to be slick and a bit dangerous.

Shuttle from San Jose to La Fortuna Costa Rica

A shuttle from San Jose to La Fortuna can be booked in advance for a smooth transition from the San Jose Airport to your La Fortuna hotel or your Arenal hotel. This shuttle to La Fortuna is private, giving you plenty of space to sit back and relax after a long flight.

Buses from San Jose to La Fortuna Costa Rica

If you are arriving at the San Jose International Airport, you can take a quick 7-minute taxi to the town of Alajuela’s North Bus Station and hop on a public bus to La Fortuna from here. 

If you are travelling through Costa Rica already, you can find a bus from San Jose to La Fortuna from Terminal 7-10 in central downtown San Jose. The bus station has a few buses leaving between 6:30AM and just before noon that head towards La Fortuna. 

You can buy the bus ticket at the station for around $5-10 USD. Do note, that most public buses in Costa Rica including a bus from San Jose to La Fortuna,  do not offer air conditioning so make sure to arrive early (30-45minutes early) and snatch that coveted seat by the window. 

Best Costa Rica Tours from San Jose to La Fortuna

If you are staying in San Jose and want to take a day trip to La Fortuna rather than fussing over booking a La Fortuna hotel, you can plan a guided day tour. 

The most popular day trips from San Jose to La Fortuna Costa Rica include some time at Arenal Volcano and soaking in hot springs. Depending on your priorities, choose from the two highly recommended day trips below.

Each tour is 14 hours in length so make sure to get a good sleep beforehand. You are in for an epic day filled with the top things to do in La Fortuna!

Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour with Lunch + Dinner from San Jose (top pick!)

• Drive San Jose to La Fortuna Scenic Route
• Costa Rica Coffee Tour
• La Paz Waterfall
• San Fernando Waterfall Look-out Point
• Hummingbird Gallery
• Traditional Costa Rican snacks
• Iguana Centre
• Sloths in the Wild
• Ziplining through Arenal Jungle
• Rapelling over Arenal River
• Paradise Hot Springs

Arenal Volcano Full-Day Experience from San Jose (without Ziplining/Rapelling)

From Liberia to La Fortuna

Landing at Liberia Airport is another common way to enter Costa Rica. Firstly, I recommend renting a car in Costa Rica for your travels, especially around the La Fortuna area because attractions are relatively far apart. 

But, if that’s not an option for you, you can reach La Fortuna by booking a private shuttle from Liberia Airport to La Fortuna. Alternatively, if you are on a budget, you can take the 4 public buses from Liberia Airport > Liberia City Centre > Canas > Tilaran > La Fortuna. Costing about $10USD in total and taking 6 hours.

From Monteverde to La Fortuna

If you are already travelling in Costa Rica, it’s likely you will find yourself in the hilltop adventure region of Monteverde. 

If you are venturing to La Fortuna next, the best way to get from Monteverde to La Fortuna is via a boat transfer, commonly called Jeep/boat/jeep. 

Read the Full Guide on How to Get from La Fortuna to Monteverde

The company will pick you up at your Monteverde hotel, load you in a van with fellow travellers, drive a couple of hours and drop you off at a small passenger boat that will take you across the scenic Lake Arenal. From here, take a short van trip to your La Fortuna hotel. 

Some of the best views I experienced in my two months spent in Costa Rica, were on this van/boat/van transfer from Monteverde to Arenal region.

How to Get Around in Costa Rica
La Fortuna

Best Way to Get Around La Fortuna + Arenal Costa Rica

Yes, the town of La Fortuna Costa Rica can be travelled by foot with a walk of about 15 minutes getting you from end to end of town. But, it’s important to note that most La Fortuna activities are not located within the town. For this reason, I recommend renting a car in Costa Rica La Fortuna. 

Transportation in La Fortuna Costa Rica

The public transportation in La Fortuna is also known to be slow and doesn’t service all of the areas you may be planning to explore, including the cool things to do in La Fortuna like the La Fortuna waterfall and Arenal hot springs. 

Alternatively, you can grab a red taxi or Uber, which is available in La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano region.

TIP | If taking a taxi, make sure to ask for the meter to be turned on. It is required by Costa Rican law that taxis use the metre. If they refuse, don’t get in.

Best Time to Visit La Fortuna
Costa Rica

Like most places in Costa Rica, the best time to visit La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano National Park is in the dry season of December-April.

Because La Fortuna is centred in verdant rainforests, the surroundings remain green throughout the year, adding to the beauty of your trip. La Fortuna and Arenal are one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica and can be visited year-round, though. 

Visiting La Fortuna Costa Rica in November is the sweet spot. The wet season is over, the sun is shining and the jungle is lush. Plus, the high season of December-April hasn’t started yet, giving you more choices in terms of La Fortuna hotels at better prices. 

September and October are the wettest months.

La Fortuna Weather

Disclaimer: La Fortuna Costa Rica weather can only be characterized as unpredictable all year round. So, no matter when you plan to visit La Fortuna and the Arenal region, you can expect days of bright sun and clear skies and days of socked in clouds and rain.

This is the nature of a living, breathing rainforest and what makes this region so special.

Temperatures during the dry and wet season in La Fortuna remain pretty consistent averaging 80°F (27°C). 

Dry Season (December-April)

Weather in La Fortuna Costa Rica in the dry season from December-April offers mainly sunny days with moody cloudy moments in the afternoon where the cloud will sink in and blanket Arenal Volcano for a few hours at a time with scattered showers. 

Unfortunately, it’s very hard to predict what weather you will receive along your Costa Rica itinerary, but know that most La Fortuna activities will not be spoiled by rain and a few clouds. 

Wet Season (April-October)

La Fortuna Costa Rica weather in the wet season can be quite muggy and gloomy. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t exclude it if you happen to be visiting Costa Rica during the wet season.

You can still soak in thermal hot springs, hike around Arenal Volcano or day trip to Rio Celeste (albeit a bit muddy), and stroll through the Mistico Hanging Bridges.

Travel Insurance for La Fortuna

La Fortuna Costa Rica is known for adrenaline-packed adventures, and with that, comes the risk of fall, injury or accident. Don’t be left with huge hospital bills and protect yourself with the right travel insurance.

Travel insurance is one of those things I hope you never have to use. But in case you do, you’ll want reliable insurance on your side. Plus, it’s such a small cost for peace of mind. Please, don’t leave home without it!

I used HeyMondo insurance on my trip to Costa Rica and can recommend it.

What’s great about HeyMondo:

• No out-of-pocket fees
• 24/7 doctors available through their handy app to answer all of your questions
• Covers travellers from any country in the world
• Offers short-term, long-term and multi-trip annual plans (I recommend single-trip insurance for Costa Rica)
• Covers trip cancellation – very useful these days!

>>> Find the perfect travel insurance for you. (and get an exclusive 5% discount for being my reader!)

How Many Days in La Fortuna
Costa Rica

Gosh, there is much to do in La Fortuna and the Arenal region of Costa Rica, you could spend a couple of weeks here and not be bored (that’s what I did!) So, the longer you can stay in La Fortuna, the better.

If you are travelling to Costa Rica during your 10-day or 14-day holiday, make sure to spend a solid 2-3 full days in La Fortuna Costa Rica. 

I’ve included a sample 3 day La Fortuna itinerary below leaving evenings open for whatever suits your fancy. Note, that most of what I suggest in this La Fortuna Costa Rica itinerary below are organized and guided day tours for visitors without cars.

If you have a rental car, you can follow the itinerary with the added flexibility of your own transportation.

A Simple 3 Days in Costa Rica La Fortuna Itinerary:

Day 1 in La Fortuna, Costa Rica:

La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano + Hanging Bridges Tour

Day 2 in La Fortuna, Costa Rica:

• Sloth Tour La Fortuna
• Canyoning + Waterfall Rappeling Tour
• Rainforest Chocolate Tour
• Arenal Hot Springs (I loved the Tabacon Hot Springs with lunch)

Day 3 in La Fortuna, Costa Rica:

• Day Trip to Rio Celeste Waterfall
• Transfer to Monteverde or San Jose or stay one more night in La Fortuna

NOTE | If you only have 2 days in La Fortuna Costa Rica, you can choose to forgo the day trip to Rio Celeste waterfall

I took every single one of these day trips and recommend them all. Spending two weeks in La Fortuna, I was able to experience most of the top attractions in the region and these experiences were the highlights for me.

Budget for Costa Rica La Fortuna

Costa Rica is known for being a relatively expensive country. Why? There are several reasons. With a relatively stable government (rare for Central America), Costa Rica enjoys higher quality labour laws, a better national health system and generally speaking, higher quality of life. 

It’s important to note, that Costa Rica’s top earning economy is tourism, and the majority of that tourism comes from the USA. Given that, the government decided to price tourism related amenities closer to American prices. 

Also, the government puts a lot of money into preserving the biodiversity of Costa Rica, making the rainforests in Costa Rica some of the best maintained in Central America. 

You most definitely can do Costa Rica on a budget, just make sure you have extra time built into your Costa Rica itinerary to deal with multiple bus transfers.

Costa Rica uses both the Costa Rican Colones (CRC) and the American Dollar (USD).

Daily La Fortuna Costa Rica Budget (for Couple)

*excludes international flights

• La Fortuna Hotel: ~$70-90USD Nightly
• La Fortuna Car Rental: ~75 USD Daily
• La Fortuna Tours: ~$100 USD Daily per Person
• La Fortuna Food: $30 USD Daily per Person

Total Daily La Fortuna Costa Rica Budget (for Couple): ~$405 USD Daily Budget (or $200 USD excluding day tours)

Daily La Fortuna Costa Rica Budget (for Family of 4) 

*excludes international flights

• La Fortuna Hotel: ~$120 USD Nightly
• La Fortuna Car Rental: ~75 USD Daily
• La Fortuna Tours: ~$100 USD Daily per Person
• La Fortuna Food: $30 USD Daily per Person

Total Daily La Fortuna Costa Rica Budget (For Family of 4): ~$715 USD Daily Budget (or $315 USD excluding day tours)

Best Restaurants in La Fortuna
Costa Rica

La Fortuna restaurants come in all shapes and sizes and cater to most dietary needs. Whether you are toting along a full family, here on a honeymoon with your partner, or backpacking with a group of friends, La Fortuna restaurants have something for you.

Depending on your preferences, you can enjoy a healthy salad bowl at Organico Fortuna, dig into a local casado at Soda La Hormiga, scoop up a smoothie bowl from Jungle Bowls or cut into some amazing steak at Don Rufino Fine Dining. For variety, head to the artisanal food court at Mercadito Arenal.

Read the full guide on Best Restaurants in La Fortuna

La Fortuna Costa Rica Packing List

Generally speaking, the dress code in Costa Rica is comfortable and casual. In La Fortuna, with its humid rainforest climate, I would recommend clothing that is quick-dry or moisture-wicking. 

I lived in athletic shorts, a cotton tank top and light linen cover up most of my trip in Costa Rica, but especially in La Fortuna. You also couldn’t find me without a trusty ball cap to keep the sun off my head. Even when it’s cloudy, you can still be affected by UV.

A packing list for Costa Rica also always includes mosquito repellent and sunscreen.

TIP | Don’t wear flip flops in La Fortuna. A solid waterproof hiking shoe will do the best along volcano hikes and waterfall climb

La Fortuna Costa Rica Practical Information

Suite-style accommodations with a kitchenette in La Fortuna Costa Rica are common for longer-term travellers. If you find yourself in need of some light groceries (don’t forget to indulge in Costa Rican fruit!), or some cash to have on hand, I have you covered. 

I used all of the following La Fortuna amenities more than twice while in the town and can recommend them.

Cash | ATM at Banco Nacional
Fruits + Vegetables| Sarchisenos Fruit Stand 
Groceries | Super Rosvil Grocery Store

La Fortuna or Monteverde

Researching where to go and stay can be a little overwhelming, especially when you only have 7 or 10 days in Costa Rica. La Fortuna and Monteverde may seem a bit similar from the outside, both are adventure centres, both have zip lining and hanging bridges.

But, here are the main differences to make your choice between Monteverde or Arenal La Fortuna easier (if you really have to choose):

Where to Next After La Fortuna?

Generally speaking, La Fortuna is either the first or last stop on your Costa Rica itinerary. Depending on your timeline, most visitors to Costa Rica move on to Monteverde, Tamarindo, Manuel Antonio or Santa Teresa. 

If it’s your last stop, I’ve outlined how to get from La Fortuna to San Jose Airport, for your convenience. 

Of course, if you’ve decided on a rental car for the duration of your trip, you can simply jump in your car, roll down the windows and enjoy the beautiful scenery along your drive.

La Fortuna to San Jose

Flight from La Fortuna to San Jose Airport

You can book a flight through Sansa Airlines departing once daily. The flight is direct and takes 30 minutes.

Check out the complete guide on how to get from La Fortuna to San Jose

Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to San Jose

A private shuttle is a great way to get from your hotel in La Fortuna to either the San Jose Airport or San Jose hotel of your choosing. The journey takes 2.5-3 hours along a scenic road. Do note, that the road has a view S-turns, so if you are a person who gets car sick, make sure to take the front seat. 

Check Prices of Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to San Jose

Shared Shuttle from La Fortuna to San Jose

You can also snag a seat on a the shared shuttle going to and from La Fortuna to San Jose. There are multiple companies providing this service, Tropical Tours is the most popular.

Bus from La Fortuna to San Jose (downtown)

There are multiple indirect busses and one direct bus running daily from La Fortuna to San Jose. All buses depart from the La Fortuna bus terminal. You can purchase tickets at the bus station, just make sure to arrive 30-45 minutes early to make sure you get on. 

The only direct bus from La Fortuna to San Jose is 2:45PM, takes 4 hours and arrives at Terminal 7-10 in San Jose by 6:45PM. 

La Fortuna to Monteverde

The absolute best way to get from La Fortuna to Monteverde is by a van/boat/van transfer. 

Read the detailed guide on how to get from La Fortuna to Monteverde

If you aren’t driving your rental car, you can take a transfer that will pick you up at your La Fortuna hotel, drive you in a van (with other travelers) to a boat on Lake Arenal. Take a scenic trip across the lake, ending on the other side with another van trip through the mountains surrounding Monteverde. 

A great way to experience the Costa Rican countryside!

Boat Transfer from La Fortuna to Monteverde

La Fortuna to Tamarindo

Private Transport from La Fortuna to Tamarindo

The best way to get from La Fortuna to Tamarindo is by private transport. This family run transfer service will have you from La Fortuna hotel to Tamarindo hotel in less than 4 hours. 

Private Shuttle from La Fortuna to Tamarindo

If you are on a budget, catch the public bus from the La Fortuna bus station, then transfer each time at Tilaran, Canas, and Liberia to reach the Tamarindo bus station in approximately 8 hours.

La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio

The cheapest way to get from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio is by bus.  You can take the bus from the La Fortuna bus station heading towards San Ramon. From here, board the bus to Puntarenas, and then transfer to Quepos. Your fifth bus (only a 15 minute bus ride) will take you from Quepos to Manuel Antonio. 

The journey will take around 9 hours and cost approximately $13-15 USD.

The best way to get from La Fortuna to Manuel Antonio is via rental car or shuttle transfer. The journey takes 4.5-5 hours.

La Fortuna to Santa Teresa

Travelling by bus from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa will require several legs. Firstly, a bus from La Fortuna to San Jose, spending 1 night in San Jose city, and then another bus ride, ferry ride and bus ride to Santa Teresa. 

Alternatively, you can take a shared or private shuttle bus from La Fortuna to Santa Teresa Beach that will leave at 8AM and arrive by 2PM.

Read the full Santa Teresa Costa Rica Travel Guide

So, Should You Visit La Fortuna, Costa Rica?

La Fortuna truly has it all. Jaw-dropping natural wonders, thrilling adventures, and plenty of ways to unwind after a busy day. Whether you’re chasing waterfalls, ziplining through the rainforest, soaking in thermal hot springs, or savoring a chocolate tour, every moment here feels unforgettable.

During my two weeks in the Arenal region, I found myself constantly surprised by how much there was to do (and how much I wanted to stay longer). If you’re planning a trip to Costa Rica, make sure La Fortuna is on your list.

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