La Fortuna 7-day itinerary

Arrive in La Fortuna and head straight to Catarata La Fortuna. Descend 500 steps through tropical forest to the thundering 70m waterfall and its emerald swimming pool. The morning light and mist create a magical atmosphere. Swim, photograph, and climb the 500 steps back up — your first Costa Rican workout.

Check into your accommodation and explore La Fortuna town. The central park offers the classic church-with-volcano photo. Browse the shops and restaurants on the main street and orient yourself. Pick up supplies at the supermarket if you are self-catering.

Head to the free hot springs along the river near the Tabacón resort. The geothermally heated water flows over natural rock formations creating warm pools of varying temperatures. Bring a headlamp, towel, and cold drinks. The experience rivals the paid springs.

Hike the Arenal Volcano National Park trails through lava fields and primary rainforest. The 3.4km main loop passes hardened 1968 lava flows being reclaimed by the forest. Hire a naturalist guide to spot toucans, howler monkeys, sloths, coatimundis, and poison dart frogs.

Drive to the Arenal Observatory Lodge — originally built as a volcanological research station — for additional trails with the closest permitted views of the volcano. The waterfall trail descends to a pretty cascade, and the main viewpoint offers an unobstructed view of the cone with explanatory panels about the eruption history.

Join a guided night walk in the forest around the volcano. Costa Rica's rainforest comes alive after dark — red-eyed tree frogs, sleeping toucans, tarantulas, kinkajous, and glowing fungi emerge as the daytime creatures rest. A good guide with a spotlight reveals an entirely different ecosystem.

Walk the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges — 16 bridges through the rainforest canopy, with the longest suspension bridge stretching 98m at 60m above the forest floor. The guided walk reveals epiphytes, orchids, hummingbirds, and sloths at eye level.

Fly through the treetops on a zip-line circuit — 8–12 cables between platforms high in the canopy with runs up to 750m long. The views of the volcano and lake from mid-cable are extraordinary. Some circuits include a Tarzan swing for an extra adrenaline hit.

Splurge on an evening at Tabacón — cascading thermal pools in tropical gardens with swim-up bars and the volcano looming above. The premium packages include a buffet dinner with the entry fee, making the overall value more reasonable.

Depart early for a full-day expedition on the Pacuare River — widely rated among the top 10 rafting rivers on the planet. Class III-IV rapids carve through a pristine jungle gorge with waterfalls streaming from the canyon walls, toucans flying overhead, and howler monkeys calling from the forest. The combination of adrenaline and natural beauty is extraordinary.

Stop for lunch on a riverside beach deep in the gorge, then tackle the final set of rapids before the take-out point. The transport back to La Fortuna takes about 2 hours — most people nap on the bus after the physical exertion of 4–5 hours of paddling.

Your arms will be tired and your spirit will be high. Head to the free river hot springs to soak away the exertion, then eat a hearty dinner at a local soda. Swap rafting stories with fellow travellers over cold Imperial beers.

Drive west to Lake Arenal and rent a stand-up paddleboard. Glide across the calm morning water with the volcano reflected in the surface, surrounded by green hills and tropical forest. The silence on the water broken only by birdsong is deeply peaceful after days of adrenaline.

Continue around the lake to the small town of Nuevo Arenal — a laid-back community with excellent restaurants, a bakery, and a different pace from tourist-oriented La Fortuna. Eat lunch at Tom's Pan or another local spot with lake views. Browse the artisan shops and enjoy the quieter side of the region.

Find a spot along the lake's western shore for sunset — the sun drops behind the hills while the water turns golden and the volcano's silhouette darkens against the eastern sky. Return to La Fortuna for a relaxed dinner.

Join a morning coffee and chocolate plantation tour. Costa Rica produces excellent arabica coffee and cacao — the combined tour covers both crops from plant to finished product. You will pick, roast, grind, and taste coffee beans, and process raw cacao into chocolate. The tours are hands-on, educational, and delicious.

Visit a local wildlife rescue centre or join a sloth-spotting guided walk. Costa Rica is home to two-toed and three-toed sloths, and La Fortuna's forests have healthy populations. A trained guide can spot sloths that are invisible to untrained eyes — hanging motionless in the canopy. You may also see toucans, monkeys, and green macaws.

Take a Costa Rican cooking class — learn to prepare gallo pinto, casado, patacones (fried plantain), and arroz con leche (rice pudding). The class typically includes a visit to a local farm or market for ingredients, followed by hands-on preparation and eating your creations.

For one final adrenaline rush, join a canyoneering (rappelling) tour that takes you down a series of waterfalls in the rainforest. Rappel down rock faces with water cascading around you, scramble through canyon slots, and jump into natural pools. It is a unique way to experience the landscape from the inside.

Take a final walk through La Fortuna town. Pick up Costa Rican coffee, hot sauce, or chocolate as souvenirs. The supermarket has excellent coffee at local prices. Visit the central park one more time for the church-and-volcano photo in the afternoon light.

Depart La Fortuna for your next destination. Regular shuttle services connect to San José (3 hours), Monteverde (3.5 hours via the famous jeep-boat-jeep route across Lake Arenal), Manuel Antonio (5 hours), and Santa Teresa (6 hours). The jeep-boat-jeep to Monteverde is an adventure in itself.