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Best Things to Do in la Fortuna, Costa Rica

There are plenty of reasons to consider yourself lucky if you get to visit La Fortuna, Costa Rica. It’s a beautiful area that has enough amenities to keep you comfortable and enough natural beauty to make sure you never forget your trip.

The jungle landscape makes it home to more animal species than almost anywhere else. You’ll see monkeys, sloths, and so much more. It’s also famous for its volcano, hot springs, and waterfalls.

Like and subscribe to ViewCationfor more of its most impressive features. Keep watching to learn about the best things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

Venado Caves

These beautiful caverns stretch for nearly over 8,800 feet. They’re filled with stalactites and stalagmites and are a haven for bats. Bring a swimsuit and a change of clothes along with you. It’d be a shame not to enjoy the ancient seabed and underground rivers that you’ll pass through.

La Fortuna Waterfall

This is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna if you’re prepared to get wet. It’s over 230 feet tall and has a 75-foot drop into a beautiful blue pool. There are over 500 steps to go up and down, but it’s worth the trek.

The waterfall has 2 swimming areas. One is the 100-foot spot where Rio Fortuna flows into the waterfall. It’s got beautiful blue pools of varying depths. You can also go to the base of the waterfall to cool down. 

The entrance fee is $18, and taking a taxi to get there is about $20. You can choose from a range of tours that vary in price and the number of activities they offer.

Don’t come during the rainy season. Try to get there by the time the entrance opens at 7 am to avoid the crowd, and be sure to get there before it closes at 4 pm.

Selvatura Park

This 850-acre cloud forest near Monteverde is full of natural beauty. You’ll see butterflies, hummingbirds, hanging bridges, and more. 

Hot Springs

One of the main reasons that visiting a hot spring is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna is that there are so many to choose from.

Baldi Hot Springs is one of the more popular. It has waterfalls and 25 thermal pools. You can even have a meal or snack while you relax in the beautiful waters.

Tabacon is another great option. It’s attached to Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa, a 5-star resort. You can buy a one-day pass even if you aren’t a guest. They range from $75-110 and include at least one meal.

Relax Termalitas only costs $18. It offersseveral pools of different sizes and heat levels to choose from.

Baldi Hot Springs offers day passes that start at $40. It has a wider selection of pools.

Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges

This 600-acre park is one of the best places to see La Fortuna’s iconic hanging bridges. There are 16 of them, and 6 of them hang over a beautiful rainforest.

The hike to see the bridges is only about 1.9 miles. You can explore it all and see the beautiful wildlife, waterfalls, and other natural wonders in approximately 2-3 hours on your own or as part of a guided tour.

Club Rio Outdoor Center

The Springs Resort and Spa has its own adventure park, and it’s one of the best things to do in La Fortuna for families. The most affordable option is a hot springs day pass.

The other option is a multi-adventure package. Transportation, lunch, and 2 days at the hot springs are included. You can also choose from two of the following activities; horseback riding, tubing, kayaking, climbing a rock wall, or going on a guided nature walk.

Ziplining

There’s nothing quite like flying through the jungle on a zipline. It’s one of the most memorable experiences you can have in La Fortuna, and there are plenty of places to try it.

Sky Limit lets you have a full day of adventure. You can go on the zipline, try the Tarzan swing, go on the rope bridge, and more.

Arenal Mundo Adventures is an affordable option and lets you choose the best cable for you. AMA Extreme Tours lets you choose from 7 lines and includes transportation and a tour guide for $54.

SkyTrek is here for those who want to take their experience to the next level. You’ll go 600 feet off the ground and fly for 2000 feet. You’ll also get the best possible views of the wildlife, volcano, and rainforest below you. It’s one of the more popular options, so remember to make a reservation.

Rafting and Tubing

Rio Balsa is a perfect place for rafting or tubing down rapids from classes 1-4. Rio Balsa. Rio Pacuare is another great option, and you may get a chance to see a few toucans along the way. Many tours include equipment and meals, and there are also places to stop for a swim.

Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more of the best Costa Rica has to offer. Keep watching to learn about more of the best things to do in La Fortuna, including havens for wildlife and places to relax after a long day.

Arenal National Park

This is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna because it has many of the area’s most important sites, including its famous volcano and lake. It also has over 500 birds and plenty of wildlife to see.

You’ll trek past lava rocks and trails as you make your way up Arenal Volcano either on your own or with a guide. The views from the top are worth it, and you can also get up high on an Arenal Canopy tour.

Lake Arenal is famed for being the largest lake in Costa Rica at 33 square miles. It sits 10 miles outside of La Fortuna. A dam was built there in the 70s to create hydroelectric power. It’s now a popular spot for water activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing.

Caña Negro Wildlife Preserve

Visiting Caña Negro is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna if you came to see wildlife in its natural habitat. It isn’t covered with tourists to disturb them.

Monkeys, fish, lizards, caiman, and turtles, are only a few of the multitude of animals who live here. Going on the relaxing Rio Frio or Penas Blancas Safari Float is the best way to see them all.

Catara Del Toro

This is another ecological reserve that isn’t well-known but is worth visiting. It has two waterfalls. One bears the reserve’s name and sits 300 feet above its rich jungles.

The other one is known as Las Gemalas or the Blue Falls. It’s actually a combination of two. One is turquoise and one is emerald green. They each have their own canyon. There’s also Poza Azul, a beautiful blue pool to swim in.

You’ll have to pay $15 to see the main waterfall and $25 to see them both. The park is open from 7 am-5 pm Monday-Saturday.

Tortugero National Park

This is another one of the best wildlife-spotting spots in Costa Rica. It’s home to jungle favorites such as monkeys, toucans, and crocodiles. You can even watch sea turtles nest on its beaches if you come between July and October.

Tenorio Volcano National Park

This national park is smaller than Arenal but still worth the trip for wildlife lovers. The beautiful Rio Celeste flows through it. There’s also an impressive waterfall.

One of the most impressive sites here is called El Tenidero and also known as God’s Paintbrush. A chemical reaction gives it a unique color. Local legends say it’s where God cleaned his paintbrush when coloring the sky.

Bogarin Trail

This trail used to be farmland, but the man who owned it has been restoring it since 2000. It used to be home to only one sloth, but it now has over 25. It’s the best place in La Fortuna to see these lovably lazy animals.

There are 1.5 miles of walking trails here. They’re home to a wide range of other animals, including birds, toucans, hummingbirds, frogs, and snakes. You can walk through them without a guide for $15 or go on a group tour for $50.

La Fortuna Town

This charming town is the place to go if you want to sample local restaurants. You can get a treat at Chocolate Fusion, try the seafood at Snappers, enjoy the cafe scene at Lava Rocks, or get a drink at La Fortuna Pub.

Coffee and Chocolate Tours

Coffee is an important part of South American culture. You can take a tour to see the plants used to make the beans and how they get turned into your daily fix. You’ll even get to taste a cup or two.

If chocolate is your passion, there’s also a La Fortuna tour for you. Bananas were once Costa Rica’s primary crop. Cacao took its place and became so common that it was even used as currency until the 30s. A tour will show you how these bitter beans become a delicious treat.

The Don Olivio Chocolate Tour costs $25 per person. You’ll get to see how this locally-owned farm grows fruit, chocolate, and coffee. You can also try the Rainforest Chocolate Tour for $30 a person and make your own treats at the end.

You don’t have to choose between coffee or chocolate, either. You can get a combination tour if you love them both or add other activities such as waterfall hikes.

El Salto Rope Swing

This is one of the best things to do in LA Fortuna for adrenaline junkies who are on a tight budget. It may not be the easiest to find, but it’s worth the effort because it’s completely free.

Go to the bridge by Road 702 to reach the El Salto Waterfalls. They got their name from the Spanish word for jump. The rope swing is tied to a tree and will take you from rocky cliffs into the cool blue water. Watching locals or family members jump in is also worth the trip.

Where’s your favorite place to go to spot exotic wildlife? Let us know in the comments below. Like and subscribe to ViewCation for more South American travel guides.

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