The Best Hikes in La Fortuna and Arenal
Everything you need to know about the 40 best hiking trails in La Fortuna, from Arenal Volcano National Park paths to waterfall walks and wildlife trails.
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La Fortuna is a major tourism hub in the north of Costa Rica known for the stunning Arenal area. Home to volcanoes, thermal hot springs, powerful waterfalls, and a variety of wildlife, La Fortuna and Arenal boast some of the best hikes in Costa Rica. With over 40 hiking trails to choose from, it can be hard to know which path is best to choose. We’ve compiled a complete list of all the best hikes in Arenal, including a breakdown of the trails (Sendero) and viewpoints (Mirador). If you’re keen to hike in La Fortuna, then this guide is for you.
Hiking in La Fortuna and Arenal at a glance
More from La Fortuna
Where can you hike in La Fortuna and Arenal?
There’s a huge variety of places in Arenal where you can go hiking. From private reserves to national parks, some of the best trails for scenery and wildlife are found in protected areas. Other hikes in the surrounding natural areas also offer some of the same benefits as these maintained trails.
Hiking is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna. The town is known for its sloth trails, walks through reserves specifically set up to protect sloth habitats from development. Waterfall trails are popular with anyone looking for a refreshing swimming spot to cool off in the heat. Hanging bridges are also another popular way to add a sense of adventure to your hike.
Here are some of the best places to hike in Arenal and La Fortuna:
La Fortuna and Arenal Hiking Map
Use the filter function on the left-hand side to see all the best trails in La Fortuna and Arenal.
The best hikes in La Fortuna and Arenal
Hikes in Arenal Volcano National Park
Arenal Volcano National Park is a large protected area surrounding the active Arenal Volcano and the smaller, extinct Chato Volcano. Hiking trails in this area traverse volcanic landscapes, through petrified lava fields, with stunning views of both volcanoes and Cerro Chato’s green crater lake.
While hiking to the summit of Arenal Volcano is both illegal and dangerous, there are plenty of hiking trails in the national park for you to enjoy.
Volcano Sector Trails
The Volcano Sector (Sector Volcan) is the main section of Arenal Volcano National Park. It covers an area around the base of Arenal Volcano. There are four trails in the main sector of Arenal Volcano National Park.
1. Las Coladas (The Lava Flow Trail)
Las Coladas Trail is the main hiking trail in Arenal Volcano National Park. It leads through fields of frozen lava to the main volcano viewpoint. You can see how the native forests have recovered from historic eruptions as plants push their way through the lava rock. It’s a relatively flat trail with a slightly steep climb up the stairs that takes you to a lookout with views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. To get to this trail, you first follow the 600-metre track from the visitor centre to the start of the Las Coladas trail.
2. El Ceibo (The Rainforest Trail)
This is a side trail that connects to Las Coladas Trail, allowing you to explore deeper into the rainforest. The El Ceibo Trail passes through lush rainforest, which is where it gets its name. Ceiba trees are huge tropical trees (also called kapok trees) that you can wander among on this trail.
3. Las Heliconias (The Connector Trail)
Las Heliconias Trail is a connector trail from the visitor centre to the start of Los Coladas Trail. It’s a well-maintained path that ends at the second car park. If you continue straight, rather than turning right, you will instead follow the Vehicle Trail uphill.
4. Camino Vehicular (Vehicle Trail)
The final trail in Arenal Volcano National Park is Camino Vehicular, the Vehicle Trail. This route can be walked or driven – but only in a 4×4. It leads to a viewpoint at the base of a volcano. To get to this trail, you first follow the 600-metre track from the visitor centre.
If you want to thoroughly explore all four trails, it takes about 2 hours to hike out to the main viewpoint along the Las Coladas Trail and return via the El Ceiboo rainforest detour. It’s about 4 miles (6.7 km) if you do both hikes, starting and ending at the visitor centre. Adding the Vehicle Trail would be another 30 minutes.
Peninsula Sector Trails
The Peninsula Sector of Arenal Volcano National Park (Peninsula Sector) stretches to Lake Arenal. There are two hiking trails in the peninsula sector.
5. Los Miradores (The Viewpoint Trail)
This is the main trail in the Peninsula Sector of Arenal Volcano National Park. It’s a fairly flat, paved route that passes through forest to a viewpoint of Lake Arenal. There’s a viewing tower about halfway along with gives panoramic views of the surrounding scenery, lake and Arenal Volcano.
6. El Tororoi Trail (The Antpitta Bird Trail)
This trail connects to the Miradores Trail and can be added as an extension to your hike. It descends steeply through the forest before re-joining the Miradores Trail. The trail is named after the antpitta bird, a small, plump bird found in Central and South America.
Arenal Volcano Hike On Your Own
It’s easy to explore the hikes in Arenal Volcano National Park without a guide. There are maps at the Visitor Center that helpfully show the routes, but it’s pretty hard to get lost. All you need to do is pay for entry and you’re good to go and explore the trails.
Arenal Volcano Guided Hikes
Taking a guided hike in Arenal can enhance your hiking experience. Not only will they keep you safe and show you the way, but a guide will also be able to provide interesting insight into the landscape, as well as provide exciting wildlife-watching opportunities with the use of equipment like scopes and binoculars. We saw loads of native animals on our guided hikes around Arenal and learned lots about the area and its history.
Hikes in Arenal 1968 Reserve
Arenal 1968 Reserve is a private nature park offering a variety of hiking trails through frozen lava fields. It has a parking lot, information centre, and café.
Known as Arenal Volcano View and Lava Trails on Google Maps, there are two hiking trails Arenal 1968 Reserve.
1. Sendero Colada 1968 (The Lava Flow Trail)
This is the shorter and easier of the two trails at Arenal 1968 and is marked as the yellow path on the map. It traverses through frozen lava flows from the 1968 eruption to a viewpoint of the volcano. The route starts fairly flat and gains some elevation as you make your way to the viewpoint. This hike is known to be one of the best lava flow hikes in Arenal.
2. Sendero Bosque 1968 (The Forest Trail)
This is the longest of the two routes and is shown as the red route on the map. Its name means Forest Trail, as this path leads through dense rainforest and through meadows before passing Duke Lake (Lago Los Patos).
Hikes in El Silencio Reserve
Known for its viewpoints (miradors) that offer stunning views of lava fields and Arenal Volcano, El Silencio Reserve offers the best bang for your buck.
There are seven hiking trails in El Silencio Reserve (also called Mirador el Silencio) that can be followed in a variety of routes, depending on how long you’d like to spend walking. They range from easy to challenging, so there’s something for every fitness level.
- Sendero Los Araña (The Spider Trail)
- Sendero Los Sainos (The Peccary Trail)
- Sendero El Tabacón (The Tabacón Trail)
- Sendero Manantial (The Spring Trail)
- Mirador Lago Arenal (Lake Arenal Trail)
- Sendero Lava del 68 (The Lava 1968 Trail)
- Sendero Lago Verde (The Green Lake Trail)
Trail 6 is the highlight of Mirador El Silencio Reserve. This route passes by the frozen lava flows from the 1968 eruption to a viewpoint of the volcano. It’s a strong contender for the best Arenal Volcano hike as many people prefer to walk this route rather than the Lava Trail in Arenal Volcano National Park. For a full loop, of the whole reserve, including the lava fields and green lake, follow trails 3, 5, 6, 7, and 2.
Hikes in Arenal Observatory Lodge and Trails
Arenal Observatory is a private lodge offering laidback hotel rooms among a lush rainforest. The property owns an extensive set of trails that you can hike for free as a guest of the hotel. Alternatively, you can purchase a day pass for access to the trails.
There are seven trails in the immediate observatory grounds:
- Danta Waterfall Trail
- La Culebra (Snake) Trail
- El Saino (Peccary) Trail
- La Hormiga (Ant) Trail
- River Trail
- Los Monos (monkey) Trail
- Los Cangrejos (crab) Trail
There are seven more trails named after colours: red, yellow, brown, blue, green, orange, and pink. These paths go much deeper into the surrounding rainforest.
Arenal Observatory boasts nearly 7 miles (11 km) of trails spread over 250 hectares. 800 metres of these paths are wheelchair-friendly.
Highlights of these trials include the stunning Danta Waterfall, a medicinal garden, a frog pond, stunning primary and secondary forests, and the opportunity to spot native wildlife.
Toucan Trails
This little-known reserve sits just south of Arenal Volcano.
Toucan Trails offers two loop hikes of different lengths:
- Sendero Los Tucanes (The Toucan Trail)
- Sendero (The Old Lava Trail)
The first trail is 0.6 miles (1 km) long and takes about 30 minutes. The second trail is 2.5 miles (4 km) long and takes about 2 and a half hours to complete.
La Fortuna Waterfall Hikes
There are some seriously stunning waterfalls in the La Fortuna and Arenal areas. There’s nothing better than hopping into a refreshing swimming hole after a hot and sweaty hike. Some of the most popular waterfall walks in La Fortuna are:
La Fortuna Waterfall
Perhaps the most iconic waterfall in Arenal is La Fortuna Waterfall. Known as Catarata La Fortuna, this huge cascade plunges 70 metres (230 ft) into a deep pool. Located on the southeastern end of the park, the hike to La Fortuna Waterfall passes the base of Chato Volcano. It’s a 3.4-mile (5.5 km) round-trip hike and there is an entrance fee of $20 per adult. Go early to beat the crowds!
La Fortuna Hanging Bridges Hikes
Costa Rica’s hanging bridges are some of the most exciting ways to get up close to wildlife, as well as offering a thrilling adventure experience. On hikes through these reserves, you’re likely to spot native animals and plant species, cross ravines and canyons, and see stunning views of Arenal Volcano. There are two main places in Arenal where you can cross these canopy-high suspended bridges.
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is a private reserve with three hiking trails, as well as a waterfall and garden. You can explore on your own or on a guided walk, where your guide will point out elusive animal species and provide information on animals and plants in the park.
Sky Adventures Arenal
Sky Adventures Arenal Park is a one-stop shop for all things adventure. Not only does it have self-guided and guided hikes across hanging bridges, but it also offers epic ziplining and an aerial tram.
La Fortuna Sloth Trail Hikes
La Fortuna’s sloth trails are pretty famous in Costa Rica for being some of the best places to see sloths. Protected reserves where you can wander at will, these parks offer you a great way to see sloths in the wild. The three main sloth trails in La Fortuna are:
Each reserve has its own trails but most are flat and easy to follow and some are wheelchair accessible. They’re really more walks than hikes.
Cerro Chato Hikes
Chato Volcano (Cerro Chato) is an extinct volcano in Arenal Volcano National Park. Believed to have first erupted 38,000 years ago, its last eruption was a little over 5000 years ago. Chato Volcano is known for its bright green crater lake, Laguna Cerro Chato, which spans about 500 metres (1,600 ft) wide.
Hiking Cerro Chato has been illegal since 1998. The law has been properly upheld since 2017 and the trail to hike Cerro Chato is officially closed. Before, the Cerro Chato Trail was considered a challenging hike and descended into the crater. Some people still hike this path illegally. Not only is the route treacherous but this also causes a lot of environmental destruction.
Free hikes in La Fortuna and Arenal
Unfortunately, there are not that many free hikes in La Fortuna and Arenal. This is due to the best hikes being in preserved forest areas which are owned by public and private organisations that charge an entrance fee. These fees go back into the conservation of the area and maintenance of the trails so it’s a small price to pay for the pleasure of enjoying some of the country’s best hikes.
Where to stay to hike in La Fortuna and Arenal
Wild camping is legal, safe, and free in Costa Rica, and there are some great campsites near Arenal Volcano National Park.
There’s a huge variety of accommodation in La Fortuna so there’s something for every traveller’s needs. We’ve included some of our top picks below.
The Best Arenal and La Fortuna Hiking Hotels
Hiking tips
There’s always a risk when hiking outdoors. Stay safe on your hike by following the below tips:
What to pack to hike in Arenal and La Fortuna
There are some obvious things you’ll want to pack for hiking in Arenal and La Fortuna but we’ve compiled a list in case you were going to forget anything that might also be useful to take:
Do you need hiking boots for La Fortuna?
Most of La Fortuna town is paved and well-maintained so, for walking around these areas, hiking shoes are not necessary. The sloth trails are also well-maintained flat dirt tracks that you could get away with trainers or sneakers for. If you plan to do any hiking in the surrounding areas or are visiting in wet season when it’s muddier, you might prefer a good pair of walking shoes.
Do you need hiking shoes for Arenal Volcano National Park?
While it’s not necessary to wear hiking boots in all parts of Arenal Volcano National Park, it is recommended to wear comfortable, closed-toe footwear. Some trails are paved and well-maintained so you can get away with trainers or sneakers, especially in dry season when the path isn’t likely to be wet. Other trails are more uneven and rocky and get much muddier with steep inclines and descents – for these, it would be smarter to have sturdy walking shoes.
La Fortuna and Arenal Hiking FAQs
Now you know the best hikes in La Fortuna and Arenal, we’re going to finish with a few frequently asked questions to ensure you’re fully prepared for your visit.
What is the best hike in Arenal Volcano National Park?
There are many stunning hikes throughout Arenal Volcano National Park, each one offering a unique blend of viewpoints and lava-flow trails from past eruptions.
- Las Coladas and El Ceibo Trails in Arenal Volcano National Park
- The 1968 Lava Flow Trail in Arenal 1968 Reserve
- The Lava 1968 Trail in El Silencio Reserve
- Danta Waterfall Trail in Arenal Observatory Lodge
What are the best hikes in La Fortuna?
There are some fantastic hikes in La Fortuna that should absolutely be added to your Costa Rica itinerary, and many opportunities for wildlife watching you can do with or without a guide.
- La Fortuna Waterfall
- Bogarin Sloth Trail
- Mistico Hanging Bridges
Which Arenal hike is best?
Arenal Volcano National Park, Arenal 1968 Reserve, and El Silencio Reserve are the most popular places to hike in Arenal due to their proximity to Arenal Volcano and impressive frozen lava fields.
Can you hike to the Crater of Arenal Volcano?
No, it’s not possible to hike to the summit of Arenal Volcano for conservation and safety reasons. It’s not only dangerous but it’s also illegal. You can enjoy hikes around the base of the Volcano.
Why is it illegal to hike Arenal Volcano?
Hiking to the summit of Arenal Volcano was made illegal in 1998 but only enforced in 2017. Not only does the hike cause environmental degradation, but it is also extremely dangerous as the path is uneven, overgrown, and can be slippy and muddy when wet.
How difficult is the Arenal Volcano hike?
Although it depends on which route you choose, most of the Arenal Volcano hikes are fairly moderate in difficulty. There will be some uneven patches as well as some rocky and root-laden sections.
How difficult is the La Fortuna Waterfall hike?
The descent down to the falls is a relatively short but quite steep walk down a staircase of 500 steps. The way down is easy-to-moderate walking, however, the way back up is a little more challenging. This hike is well worth it for the views of La Fortuna Waterfall.
How long does it take to hike La Fortuna Waterfall?
The whole route is a 3.4-mile (5.5 km) round-trip which amounts to about 30 minutes down and 40 minutes back. It’s best to plan two to three hours for your whole visit so that you can relax at the falls, enjoy the view, and maybe take a dip in the cool waters.
How long does the Arenal 1968 hike take?
There are two different trails you can take on the Arenal 1968 hike. We’d recommend planning about an hour and a half for each, which includes hiking time, and time to stop off at the viewpoints and take in the view or get some photos.
Is Arenal 1968 worth it?
Yes, absolutely! Arenal 1968 is one of the best hikes in Arenal to see lava flows. It is also an opportunity to spot native animals like monkeys, sloths, and birds – a must-visit.
Read next:
A Complete Guide to Arenal Volcano National Park
The Best Things to Do in La Fortuna
A Traveller’s Guide to La Fortuna
20 Best Places to See Sloths in La Fortuna
How to Visit Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges
Sloth Spotting on the Bogarin Trail
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