La Fortuna is easily one of the most popular destinations for a first-time time trip to Costa Rica, especially for families. My husband and I visited La Fortuna on our first visit to Costa Rica in 2007, and most recently with our kids in March 2024. Easily accessible from San Jose or Liberia airports, there is plenty to keep people of all ages entertained for days! Dry season in La Fortuna, typically December to April, meant nothing on our recent visit, and we experienced rain every day and no views of Arenal…. No matter when you go, make sure to pack a rain jacket!
Where to Stay
There are accommodations for all types of travelers and budgets in La Fortuna. During the dry season, La Fortuna has a high number of tourists, so you will need to book your lodging early, especially if you want to stay at one of the popular resorts with hot springs. We stayed at the Arenal Springs Resort and Spa, which I would highly recommend, especially for families. The room was a good size for a family of four, the location was central, and a breakfast buffet was included. There was a wonderful series of hot springs pools that even had a swim up bar and an adults only area. The view of Arenal Volcano would have been amazing, if the clouds had cleared up long enough for us to see it! Los Lagos Hotel is another highly rated option with hot springs located near Arenal Volcano, or splurge and stay at the Lost Iguana Resort.
What to Do
Even though we were in La Fortuna during dry season, it rained every day… and not just brief showers. Staying inside wasn’t really an option, so even though the weather wasn’t ideal, we made the most of it!
Zipline ($) – There is a reason that ziplining is one of the most popular activities in La Fortuna! Flying through the trees at high speeds is an experience not to be missed in the rainforest. We booked a tour with Arenal Mundo Aventura and had a great time riding on 12 ziplines. I booked this specific tour because one of the ziplines went over a waterfall, which was an amazing site. We were fortunate that while it was raining during our tour, it was a light rain. We talked to people who did a zipline tour the day before ours, and the rain was pelting them in the face so badly that they didn’t get to enjoy the views. I guess the takeaway would be that if it is raining during your zipline tour, be sure to bring sunglasses!
Mistico Park ($) – Before our trip, we heard from multiple people that the hanging bridges in La Fortuna were a must-see. Since we weren’t going to Monteverde, this was our only opportunity to experience hanging bridges. The day we went it was raining (theme of the first half the trip), which was actually not a big deal. We really enjoyed our time in the park, and although we did not take a guided tour, I would recommend for anyone looking to learn about the flora and fauna, and to see the wildlife in the park. Even though we went to the park early in the day, it was very crowded (high season) and there were times we had to wait to cross the bridges. The park also offers night tours, but I feel like you would miss a lot of the scenery.
Hot Springs ($) – There are plenty of hot springs to choose from in La Fortuna! Like I mentioned, we stayed at the Arenal Springs Resort and Spa, which had hot springs right on site. It was great to end our day with a dip in the pools, and very relaxing. Right down the road, Baldi Hot Springs, is one of the most well-known resorts (I called it the Disneyland of hot springs) and would probably be more fun for kids, because it has waterslides and more to do. Especially for adults, I would recommend Eco Termales Hot Springs. Although they don’t have the glitz and glamour of some of the other resorts, they have timed entry, which means the pools won’t be too crowded, and the environment is beautiful.
La Fortuna Waterfall ($) – Even in the rain, La Fortuna Waterfall was a highlight of our stay. After climbing down a series of steep steps (530 according to the park website), you arrive at an amazing view of the waterfall. While there is no swimming at the base of the waterfall, a few more steps down will take you to a swimming area in the Fortuna River. Be prepared for a COLD dip in the river, but there are many great photo opportunities. We witnessed people scrambling over the rocks to take pictures, which was probably not the smartest idea as they were very slippery. There is a spot to leave your clothes while you swim, but I wouldn’t leave anything valuable. Be careful in the rain, the steps were very slippery during our visit.
Other Activities: Of course, Arenal Volcano is a major draw for people to the area. Because of the weather, our family did not hike at the Arenal Volcano National Park during this visit, but we did on our first trip to Costa Rica. The town isn’t very big, but you will find a wide variety of restaurants and tourist shops. There are tons of options for tours that you could take. A few fun ones for the entire family are a chocolate tour or a visit to the sloth park. If you have time, take a day trip to Tenorio National Park and see the Celeste Waterfall.
How to Spend 2 Days in La Fortuna
Here is a suggested itinerary to make the most of limited time in La Fortuna. This itinerary includes activities that will keep your older kids and teens active and engaged, and allows you to visit the main highlights of the area.
Day 1: Arrive La Fortuna by car or transfer. Unless you arrive late in the day, spend time exploring the downtown area and grab a bite to eat at a soda (a casual restaurant that serves traditional food). Head to your hotel and get settled for the night.
Day 2: If it is your first visit, I highly recommend you take a tour like this one, which includes the top attractions in La Fortuna, including Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, and hot springs!
Day 3: In the morning, go ziplining. We enjoyed our tour with Arenal Mundo Ventura. In the afternoon, head over to Mistico Park to enjoy the night bridges and take a night tour if you still have any energy.
