La Fortuna travel guide
La Fortuna, Costa Rica: volcano views, waterfalls and hot springs
La Fortuna is one of those places we kept recommending even though, on paper, it’s not really our vibe. It’s busy and touristy, but the scenery is ridiculous.
There’s something for everyone, and it’s the perfect jungle stop on a first Costa Rica itinerary. Some places are popular for a reason, and this is one of them.
By Sarah & Thomas, calling Costa Rica home since 2016
Region
Fly into
San José (3.5 hours) or Liberia (2.5 hours)
Best time
December to April for the clearest volcano views
Temperature
21 to 32°C (70 to 90°F) by day
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About La Fortuna
The La Fortuna vibe
La Fortuna sits at the foot of Arenal Volcano in the Northern Mountains. The town itself is small and walkable, with most hotels, hot springs and activities spread out 20 to 30 minutes around it.
It looks close to Monteverde on a map, but Lake Arenal is in the way, so the drive between them takes about 3 hours.
Who it’s good for
Getting there
How to get to La Fortuna
Fly into San José (SJO) for a 3.5-hour drive, or Liberia (LIR) for about 2.5 hours. More airlines are adding Liberia routes, so check both.
We recommend renting a car for the most flexibility, since most activities are outside town.
⭐ Our number one pick
Rental car
Adobe is our favorite local rental company, with 10% off for our readers. They deliver to your hotel within 12 miles of their office.
Easiest
Shuttle or private transfer
Door to door from San José, Liberia and most beach towns. Use code SARAHMC5 on Bookaway.
From Liberia
Flying into LIR?
Liberia is closer than San José, and the drive is pretty. We cover every option in our Liberia guide.
Weather
La Fortuna weather and best time to visit
Temperature and rain by month
Swipe to see all months →
Average daytime highs and rainfall in La Fortuna. Bars show relative rainfall. Sunrise and sunset are for the 15th of each month.
December to April
Dry season
Hot and sunny with the clearest volcano views. This is peak season, so book hotels early.
May to November
Rainy season
Mornings are usually clear with rain in the afternoon. Fewer tourists, lower prices and still very warm.
Pro tip
Ignore the forecast
In rainy season, don’t trust all-day rain forecasts. Mornings are almost always dry and perfect for outdoor activities.
Daytime high
21 to 32°C / 70 to 90°F
Nighttime low
16 to 21°C / 60 to 70°F
Sunrise
Around 5:30am
Sunset
Around 5:45pm
Where to stay
Where to stay in La Fortuna
Most activities are 20 to 30 minutes from downtown, so staying outside town often gives you better value and volcano views. Stay in town if you want to walk to restaurants without a car.
Luxury
Amor Arenal
Intimate and beautiful, with hot springs, volcano views and exceptional service.
Adults only
Nayara Springs
Private plunge pools and a world-class spa. Often ranked among the top hotels in Central America.
Family friendly
The Springs Resort & Spa
Multiple pools, a wildlife sanctuary on site and enough activities to keep everyone busy for days.
Nature lovers
Arenal Observatory Lodge
The closest hotel to the volcano, with private trails, incredible bird life and big volcano views.
Walkable
Suwa Villa Arenal
A modern, minimalist boutique hotel right in town. Great if you don’t want to rent a car.
Budget
Viajero La Fortuna
A lively, social hostel for solo travelers and anyone on a budget who still wants a fun base.
For more options, we suggest VRBO. Browse La Fortuna rentals on VRBO →
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Things to do
Things to do in La Fortuna
You could easily fill a week here. These are the highlights we’d plan around.
Hike
Arenal Volcano National Park
Hike the 1968 lava trail with close-up views of the cone. You can’t hike to the top, but the trails are spectacular.
Swim
La Fortuna Waterfall
A 70-meter waterfall plunging into a clear pool you can swim in. Get ready for about 200 stairs.
Relax
Arenal hot springs
From budget pools to full resort days, there’s an option for every budget. Some hotels have springs on site.
Adventure
Zip lining
SkyTrek for views, Ecoglide for the Tarzan swing and Arenal Mundo for waterfall scenery.
Half day
Místico Hanging Bridges
Easy trails above the jungle canopy with great volcano views, just 15 minutes from downtown.
Scenic
Lake Arenal
Kayak, take a boat ride or just enjoy the drive along the lake on the way to the volcano.
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Where to eat
Where to eat in La Fortuna
Most restaurants don’t have websites, so TripAdvisor is the easiest way to check hours. Reservations usually aren’t needed, and dress is always casual. A few we keep going back to:
Practical stuff
Good to know before you go
Money and supplies
Groceries, banks and gas
Safety
Staying safe
La Fortuna is generally very safe. Petty theft is the main concern, so don’t leave anything in your car, park in guarded lots, keep your phone off restaurant tables and avoid walking alone at night. The emergency number is 911.
Getting around
Car, taxi or tour
Packing: bring a light layer for the evenings, since it cools down after sunset, plus rain gear and shoes you can hike in. See our Costa Rica packing list →
FAQ
La Fortuna FAQ: your questions
Can you hike to the top of Arenal Volcano?
No. Hiking to the summit isn’t allowed, but the trails in Arenal Volcano National Park, including the 1968 lava trail, get you close-up views of the cone.
How far is La Fortuna from San José?
About 3.5 hours by car. From Liberia Airport it’s about 2.5 hours.
Do I need a car in La Fortuna?
It helps. Downtown is walkable, but most activities are 20 to 30 minutes away. If you don’t drive, most tours include transportation.
Is La Fortuna safe?
Generally, yes. Petty theft is the main concern, so keep valuables out of sight and don’t leave anything in your car.
What’s the weather like in La Fortuna?
Warm all year, with 21 to 32°C (70 to 90°F) days. December to April is driest. From May to November, mornings are usually clear and the rain comes in the afternoon.
Every guide
All our La Fortuna guides
Keep exploring
Nearby and worth the trip
Monteverde
A misty cloud forest town about 3 hours away, perfect for wildlife lovers.
Río Celeste
A bright blue river and waterfall, an easy day trip from La Fortuna.
La Fortuna or Monteverde?
Can’t fit both? Here’s how to decide which one fits your trip.
Planning more of the region? See our full Northern Mountains guide.
Hello!
My husband and I are going to Costa Rica the first week of May for our honeymoon. We are staying two fulls days in Arenal and two full days in Monteverde and one day that is up in the air. We know that the weather at this time is pretty uncertain. Can you suggest some activities that are good to do when it is raining. I like to plan ahead and know that we have options if the weather isn’t great. Any other suggestions are welcome as well! Thanks so much!
Hi Vanessa! You actually should be ok in early May. It will be just the start of rainy season, so you may have an afternoon rainstorm in La Fortuna, but you might get lucky and not have anything. In Monteverde, it is almost always raining but it is such a light constant rain that we just continue along with our normal activities and try not to let it bother us.
However, if it does rain in La Fortuna but isn’t thundering we like to go to the hot springs. You will be wet anyway and even when it rains it will still be hot in Fortuna at that time of year.
Also, definitely go ziplining in either fortuna or Monteverde. That is a must do activity in those places.
Let me know if you think of any other questions 🙂
Is there a night life in LaFortuna? Restaurants and shops stay open late? Bars? Thanks so much!
Hi Stephanie,
Most bars and restaurants with bars tend to be open until about 11pm. There are also a few clubs, but I’m not sure how safe they are. I would stick with the bars and restaurants if possible.
Just a quick question. Do you need cash to get into the falls or do they also take visa. mastercard, debit? Also is it a problem taking a taxi there?
Thanks Sandy
Hi Sandy, I’m sorry for the late reply. I somehow missed this. You can definitely take a taxi there. The problem will be coming back. I cant recall seeing taxi drivers waiting around the airport. If you have a working cell phone it might be best to ask your taxi driver for his number so you can call him when you are done. I am not 100% positive but I am about 80% sure that they take credit cards at the La Fortuna waterfall.
Let me know if you have nay other questions!
Hello,
Just wanted to thank you for your blog, it has definitely helped our family plan our upcoming vacation. I did have one question, we need transportation from San Jose airport to Tabacon resort in La Fortuna. We decided not to rent a care b/c we will do so when we drive out to Tamarindo. What mode of transportation do you suggest from airport to resort? I hear uber is a pretty good option. The quote Tabacon resort gave me for 3 of us was 190.00 US dollars. I feel that’s a little pricey. We welcome any suggestions you may have.
Hi Evelyn! It is a bit pricey but I think you Uber will probably cost you more. I’ll check for you though! My phone is getting fixed this morning but when I get it back this afternoon I will input Tabacon and see how much it costs. I live pretty close to the airport.
There are private shuttle companies but those are also expensive. I would suggest checking with Interbus. That tends to be the go-to shuttle company here. https://www.interbusonline.com/ However, it seems that the shuttle would be even more expensive.
Honestly, your best bet might be to rent a car for a day. I just checked prices with our Adobe discount and it seems like this will be much cheaper for you. I would rent an SUV for comfort but you can definitely do the drive in a small car and will be fine if you want to save money. We have done the drive with a little Hyundai Grand without any problems. You can input San Jose Airport as your pick up and return in Fortuna. You can make a note that you are staying at Tabacon and Adobe will pick up the car from your hotel for free. https://www.costaricavibes.com/renting-a-car-in-costa-rica/
Let me check on Uber this afternoon and let you know though!