Top 20 Unusual Things to Do in La Fortuna

Discover the best activities and attractions in La Fortuna, from hiking volcanoes to spotting sloths, in this concise list.

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Home to bubbling hot springs, thundering waterfalls, and scenic hikes through volcanic landscapes, La Fortuna is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the country. Here, you can hike around the base of the active Arenal Volcano, spot sloths in protected nature reserves, zip line through rainforest canopies, and cruise on Lake Arenal, the largest lake in Costa Rica. Whether you’re a wildlife lover like us or looking for a thrilling adventure, you’re not going to want to miss these best and unique things to do in La Fortuna.

What to do in La Fortuna

As a major tourism hub, there are loads of fun and unique things to do in La Fortuna. From free sites to paid attractions, there’s something for every budget. We’ve compiled a full list of the best things to see and do in La Fortuna, for every kind of travel interest, below.

The best things to do in La Fortuna

Whether you’re planning to stay in town or explore further afield, there are loads of activities and attractions on offer in La Fortuna. Here’s what we’d recommend adding to your itinerary.

1. Explore La Fortuna town

While La Fortuna is often used as a base by nature enthusiasts to see the surrounding volcanic area, the town itself is worth exploring too. From almost all parts of the centre, you can see stunning street views of Arenal Volcano (on a clear day).

The town is a hub of activity with top-quality bars, restaurants, and cafés. There’s also a small church and town square, which is lovely to sit in and people-watch.

2. Hike to waterfalls

Due to its geothermal nature, there are several free-flowing rivers near La Fortuna that produce some impressive waterfalls.

La Fortuna Waterfall is the most iconic waterfall in La Fortuna. A 70 metre (230 ft) cascade, La Fortuna is accessed by a 3.4-mile (5.5 km) round-trip hike. There’s a (quite expensive) entrance fee of $20 but visitors are rewarded with a deep swimming hole at the base of Chato Volcano. If you’re keen to explore more of Arenal at the same time, it’s a good idea to join a La Fortuna waterfall tour which includes hiking in Arenal Volcano National Park, as well as entry and time to swim at La Fortuna Waterfall.

Other popular waterfalls in La Fortuna include Rio Chollin Waterfall, Danta Waterfall, and El Canto Waterfall.

The El Salto Rope Swing is also a popular river spot that technically has a tiny waterfall as the river flows through a narrower rocky section. Here you can swing into a deep swimming hole in the middle of the Fortuna River. It’s also completely free and super close to La Fortuna Waterfall.

3. Explore Arenal Volcano National Park

La Fortuna is the gateway to all things to do with Arenal Volcano, including the stunning national park. A large protected area near La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano National Park is home to two volcanoes, the active (but currently dormant) Arenal Volcano and the smaller, extinct Chato Volcano.

Arenal Volcano National Park is popular with outdoor lovers and contains some of the best hikes in La Fortuna and Arenal. It’s also a popular wildlife-watching spot near La Fortuna due to its unique climate and habitat.

4. Go wildlife spotting and birdwatching

Seeing native animals is one of the biggest draws to Costa Rica due to its incredible biodiversity. La Fortuna is surrounded by lush rainforest which is the perfect habitat for a wide range of animals.

Taking a guided wildlife tour in La Fortuna will maximise your chances of spotting elusive animals like sloths and quetzals and is one of the best things to do during your stay. Animals you might see on a wildlife tour in La Fortuna include sloths, monkeys, agoutis, kinkajous, coatis, snakes, frogs, spiders, and deer.

If you’re a keen birder, it’s worth booking a birdwatching tour in La Fortuna where you can spot many of the country’s 850 species of bird, including Costa Rica’s endangered resplendent quetzal.

5. Relax in geothermal hot springs

Arenal Volcano has produced a stunning geothermal landscape that has resulted in the natural heating of pools and rivers. Where warm water heated by underground magma bubbles to the surface, visitors can relax in these natural hot springs.

There are a variety of ways to experience La Fortuna’s hot springs. Many luxurious resorts have developed in the area, offering day passes to on-site spas and even rooms to stay in. Some of the best hot spring spas in La Fortuna include:

There are some smaller establishments which offer access to hot springs at a more affordable price. These include:

It’s also possible to experience La Fortuna’s hot springs for free. These are normally swimming holes and shallow river spots where the thermal heat makes the waters warm. While these can be secluded spots, they can also be very busy, especially in dry season and on weekends when the locals use them. Some of the best free hot spring spots in La Fortuna include:

6. Go stargazing at night

La Fortuna is situated in a remote part of Costa Rica. Its dark skies and minimal light pollution are perfect for stargazing. The best time to stargaze in La Fortuna is from December until April, which coincides with the dry season, as there is a lower chance of cloud cover.

Many resorts offer the opportunity to stargaze with telescopic equipment, providing you the chance to see constellations and star clusters. Alternatively, you could book a nighttime wildlife safari and tick off two bucket list items at once – wildlife watching and stargazing.

7. Enjoy white-water rafting

There’s not much more thrilling than navigating the turbulent waters of the Rio Balsa, Rio Reventazon, or Rio Pacuare in a raft. Working as a team, you can tackle Class II-IV rapids, suitable for beginners to experienced rafters, surrounded by lush rainforest. If you go La Fortuna river rafting, your guide will provide instructions and equipment, ensuring a fun and safe experience.

8. Try canyoning and rappelling

For a more exciting way to experience La Fortuna’s waterfalls, consider canyoning. You’ll be taught to descend safely down thundering cascades and traverse rocky canyons along fast-flowing rivers. Join a waterfall rappelling and canyoning tour in La Fortuna to see more of the stunning natural areas with a pump of adrenaline. Your expert guide will lead you through lush rainforests, pointing out hidden waterfalls and swimming holes as you go. You may even encounter some native animals too.

9. Zipline through the trees

Feel the wind in your hair as you whizz through the forest canopy while ziplining in La Fortuna.

Arenal Mundo is an adventure park in La Fortuna offering ziplining with stunning views of the Arenal Volcano, as well as hiking, rappelling, and canyoneering. It has 15 lines spanning 2 miles (3.5 km) and the longest zipline is 760 metres (2493.5 ft) long.

Go Adventures also offers rainforest ziplining, as well as white-water rafting, canyoning, and rappelling. Its 10 ziplines are slightly shorter and closer to the ground than Arenal Mundo, so it’s a great option for anyone new to ziplining or travelling with kids.

Sky Adventures Arenal is the place to go for all things adrenaline in La Fortuna. Also known as Sky Walk or Sky Trek, this adventure park in Arenal features suspension bridges, 15 zip lines, a tree-climbing course, and an aerial tram. Its zip lines are the longest and highest, at 850 metres (2788.7 ft) long and 150 metres (492 ft) high for the longest and tallest lines. If you want to experience a combination of thrilling activities, you can book a Sky Tram and Sky Trek Arenal Hanging Bridges Tour.

10. Walk over Hanging Bridges

Some of Costa Rica’s best hanging bridges are located in the La Fortuna and Arenal areas. There are two hanging bridges parks in La Fortuna: Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges and Sky Adventures Arenal Park. There are also more parks that are closer to Monteverde. While it would technically be possible to do these in a day trip from La Fortuna, we’d recommend spending a few days in the area to experience the best things to do in Monteverde too.

Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is one of the best parks in La Fortuna. With three hiking trails, visitors can explore a lush rainforest and cross 16 bridges offering panoramic canopy views. From the vantage point of a hanging bridge, you can spot animals that you wouldn’t normally see from the forest floor, including sloths, monkeys, and birds.

11. Cruise on Lake Arenal

Nestled in Costa Rica’s northern highlands, Lake Arenal is around 30 minutes’ drive from the town centre and is popular for water sports and sunset cruises. Originally a natural lake, it was tripled in size and is now the largest lake in Costa Rica with a depth that ranges from 30 to 60 metres (98 to 197 ft) deep. You can take a cruise on the glassy surface, rent a kayak and paddle out into the lake, or even just chill on the banks and swim in the shallows.

12. Explore hiking trails

With unparalleled jungle, lava fields, and stunning views of Arenal Volcano hiking in La Fortuna is a top activity for nature lovers. While Arenal Volcano National Park offers six diverse trails, you can also explore the beautiful natural areas around Arenal Volcano in private reserves including El Silencio and the 1968 Lava Trails.

Some resorts, such as Arenal Observatory, also have their own hiking trails, which are free for guests to explore, while day visitors can pay a one-off entrance fee for access.

To make the most of your visit, book a guided hike in Arenal and take advantage of expert local knowledge to discover hidden gems and spot elusive wildlife.

13. Walk along Sloth Trails

If you’re wondering where to see sloths in La Fortuna, look no further than the town’s sloth trails. These private reserves protect portions of sloth habitat that would otherwise have been erased in the development of the town.

You can pay a small fee to enter La Fortuna’s Sloth Trails and wander the trails in search of one of the world’s most beloved animals. They’re completely wild and free to move where they like, so you may want to hire a guide, who will know all the most popular and recent spots where sloths have been seen.

If you’re keen to see a sloth for free, try wandering through the Rio Danta Biological Corridor, as sloths can sometimes be spotted in the treetops there.

14. Take a wildlife safari boat trip

While some animals can be seen on hiking trails and even hanging bridges, others require a more adventurous method of wildlife watching: a safari boat trip. Explore wetlands and river habitats as you cruise alongside thick jungle in a boat. You’re not only likely to spot iconic animals like monkeys and sloths, but animals that are found in wetter areas like kingfishers, egrets, and sometimes even crocodiles too.

15. Join a coffee and chocolate tour

Taking a coffee and chocolate tour in La Fortuna provides the chance to try locally produced chocolate from world-renowned cocoa beans and delicious coffee blends from coffee beans that are recognised as some of the best in the world. You’ll also learn lots about the production process, as well as the cultural and historical significance of chocolate and coffee in the region.

16. Take a cooking class

Try your hand preparing authentic Costa Rican dishes like gallo pinto and empanadas in a cooking class led by a local. This is a great way to immerse in local culture while simultaneously learning skills to impress your friends back home and putting money back into the local community.

17. Walk a rescue dog

This one’s for the animal lovers out there! Volunteer at Costa Rica Dog Rescue and walk a dog rescued from the streets. Not only are you helping out by exercising one of the rescues, but it’s a great way to pamper a pooch in need while getting your fix of puppy love.

The best La Fortuna day trips

Many people also underestimate the amount of time it takes to drive around Costa Rica. The following suggestions are technically possible to visit in a day, but we’d recommend spending a few nights in the local area to really get the most out of your visit.

18. Rio Celeste

Rio Celeste is a bright blue river inside the Tenorio Volcano National Park. It takes about an hour to hike to the beautiful waterfall and you’ll be rewarded with views of an iconically milky turquoise pool. Rio Celeste is an hour and a half drive from La Fortuna and is one of the most popular attractions in Costa Rica. Alternatively, you can book onto a Rio Celeste Day Trip from La Fortuna and explore Tenorio Park too.

19. Monteverde

Monteverde Cloud Forest is a huge 10,500-hectare (26,000-acre) protected reserve. Located in tropical or subtropical mountainous areas, cloud forests are characterised by a persistent cover of clouds, usually at the canopy level. This wet environment creates the perfect habitat for a whole range of animals and plants, making Monteverde one of the most biodiverse parts of Costa Rica.

It’s great to spend some time hiking the various trails within the park where you can see birds like toucans, macaws and motmots. It’s also common to see monkeys, sloths, and other land mammals. Adrenaline junkies shouldn’t miss the ziplining and hanging bridges parks, which offer visitors some of the most thrilling experiences in the country. Monteverde is also a rich chocolate and coffee-producing area, so this is a great place to sample some local delights and learn more about the production process.

20. Children’s Eternal Rainforest

The Children’s Eternal Forest (Bosque Eterno de los Niños) is a large protected area of cloud forest between Monteverde and La Fortuna. Established in 1987, it was initially created to counteract agricultural development as local scientists spread awareness of threats facing the forest through school presentations. The children who received these presentations raised enough funding to declare the area a protected reserve. The rainforest is about an hour’s drive from La Fortuna and is a great place for wildlife and birdwatching.

La Fortuna Travel Information

Now you know the best things to do in La Fortuna, you may be wondering about the logistics of planning your trip. We’ve covered everything you need to know about visiting La Fortuna in our traveller’s guide to the city, from the best hotels and restaurants to transportation information and useful tips.

Read next:

A Traveller’s Guide to La Fortuna

20 Best Places to See Sloths in La Fortuna

A Complete Guide to Arenal Volcano National Park

The Best Hikes in La Fortuna and Arenal

How to Visit Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges

Sloth Spotting on the Bogarin Trail

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