Top La Fortuna Natural Attractions

Observe Costa Rica's bountiful wildlife from the hanging bridges of Mistico Park in Arenal. Trek along ground-level forest trails and suspended walkways in this private, family-owned nature reserve that’s home to a vast array of birdlife, monkeys, reptiles, and tropical plants. Learn about the area’s rich biodiversity from a naturalist guide as you explore different levels of the rain forest, from floor to canopy, and enjoy commanding views of Arenal Volcano.

Discover the sounds and sights of the rainforest after dark with a 4-hour night hike and dinner tour from La Fortuna, and visit a  frog sanctuary in the Costa Rican countryside. Follow your guide along an easy trail, and watch for the bats, nocturnal birds and mammals that rustle through the treetops and on the forest floor. Search for red-eyed tree frogs and glass frogs in their natural habitats, then enjoy a traditional dinner prepared on a wood burning stove before returning to your hotel in La Fortuna.

Float down the Peñas Blancas River in a rowboat on this 3.5-hour journey from La Fortuna. Listen to your naturalist guide's commentary while keeping a lookout for monkeys, iguanas, and a variety of bird life. Finish up with a stop at a local farm to sample their homemade snacks and coffee. Round-trip transport from selected hotels included.

Soak up the beauty and biodiversity of Arenal by horseback on a ride through the family-owned nature reserve at Mistico Park. Known for its hanging bridges, the thoughtfully developed park also features a new riding trail that winds up to hilltop pastures boasting fantastic views of Arenal Volcano and Lake. The slow and natural pace of a horse allows you to appreciate the surrounding flora and look for native wildlife on this relaxed and memorable tour.

This day pass to the Baldi Hot Springs offers the ultimate in Costa Rican comfort. Enjoy ample time soaking in the 25 thermal pools, walking through the forested grounds, or relaxing with the purchase of spa packages. The water slides and swimming pool are popular with kids, making this a family-friendly excursion, too. Choose to include lunch, dinner, or both upon booking.

With this prebooked day pass, breeze through the entrance lines at the Ecocentro Danaus, a private nature reserve and sanctuary near La Fortuna. Meet some of the animals living inside the reserve including sloths, birds, butterflies, lizards, and iguanas. After saying hello to the animals, visit the indigenous art gallery and souvenir shop—all helping to support natural conservation efforts.

Avoid the crowds of La Fortuna on this tour of Ecocentro Danaus, a private nature reserve located just outside of the city. Follow a guide along jungle trails to where sloths, birds, and butterflies live, and pick up local expertise on Costa Rican wildlife along the way. This tour even includes a spotting scope for heightened visibility.

Connect with nature and explore the dramatic beauty of Arenal Volcano on a horseback ride through the lush primary and secondary rain forest surrounding Costa Rica's most famous peak. Ride a well-trained horse along leafy jungle trails and across rivers on a private farm, catching new perspectives on the looming volcano and sweeping San Carlos plains. Slow down and appreciate the area’s amazing biodiversity as a nature guide points out native plant species and wildlife like monkeys and exotic birds.

Don’t run the risk of not being let into the hot springs at EcoTermales Fortuna in La Fortuna and book your skip-the-line tickets in advance to ensure you get in. Soak in any of the four pools, one of which even has a waterfall, at this family-owned hot spring with water temperatures varying from 99°F to 105°F (37°C to 41°C).

Enjoy two outdoor activities in one day on this 3-hour combo tour from La Fortuna. Admire views of Arenal Volcano as you fly through the air on a zipline course, and then explore the rainforest on a horseback ride. Fruit and bottled water included.

Our 1.5km Trail offers one of the best opportunities to observe sloths in their natural habitat. During this journey, we'll be witnessing various animals in their natural state, and that's why our guide will be responsible for showing us the best way to enjoy them without causing stress or disruption to their daily lives. Both two- and three-toed sloths are now common on our property, which we've reforested and protected for many years. This is the fruit we want to share with you—a haven for sloths in the heart of Fortuna de San Carlos. Our guide will share impressive details about these animals, concluding the tour with a small tasting of artisanal sugarcane juice and a traditional tortilla-making class with Doña Elith. Not to mention, a visit to her medicinal plant garden. Undoubtedly, it's a complete experience of nature and culture in one place.

You don’t have to be a hotel guest to experience the 865-acre (350-hectare) nature reserve at the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa. You can visit it for the day with this entrance pass. You can enjoy 7 miles (11 kilometers) of well-maintained hiking and mountain biking trails; bikes are not available to rent. The trails offer access to waterfalls and suspension bridges.

Save time and avoid paying for multiple back-and-forth transfers between La Fortuna and Arenal area attractions by booking a tour that combines three classic sights in one day-long outing. Visit Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, splash around at La Fortuna Waterfall, and go hiking in Arenal Volcano National Park. Round-trip transfers from La Fortuna and lunch are included, making this an easy all-inclusive option.

Due to its excellent location, Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is recognized for offering the most spectacular landscapes and wildlife observation opportunities in Costa Rica. Eleven kilometers of trails, two observation towers and two suspension bridges offer unique opportunities to immerse yourself in the nature of the Arenal Volcano National Park. If you are not a guest of the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, we offer you the opportunity to opt for the DAY PASS to explore our impressive 350-hectare (865-acre) nature reserve.

Traveling with kids can be stressful, but enjoying Arenal’s beauty and wildlife doesn't have to be with this combo day trip designed with families in mind. See some of Costa Rica's most adorable creatures up close on a nature walk through a sloth territory, and learn about eco-farming practices on a tour of a rain forest reserve. Finish with a splashy swim and soak at one of La Fortuna's top hot springs resorts.

Las Lagunas pools are located at the base of the reception building, this enchanting montage of hot spring lagoons and chlorinated pools hosts our ever popular Las Lagunas Swim-Up Bar where you can enjoy a delicious tropical drink and a great view of the Volcano. These pools range in temperature from 86˚F to 103˚F. Perdido Springs (Lost Springs) is an interconnected system of forest trails and seven spring-fed pools located within a forest canyon just a short 100-meter walk from the lowest level of the Las Lagunas pools. At the heart of these flowing pools you will find Los Perdidos Bar (The Lost Ones) and Rancho Perdidos Bar along with our thrilling water flume called the Monkey Slide. These pools range in temperature from 91˚F to 104˚F. The Club Rio Hot Springs are truly some of the most beautiful spring pools in the world, and most of them border the river, allowing for amazingly scenic views of the flora and fauna of the river canyon.

The therapeutic uses of natural hot springs can be internal or external, ranging from water treatments (hydrotherapy), to medicinal clay (geotherapy). Applied as a mask directly on the skin, clay releases excess body heat and absorbs toxins and other secretions. Because heated water can hold more dissolved solids, warm and especially hot springs often have a very high mineral content, ranging from simple calcium to lithium and even radium. Known both from folklore and from their proven medical value, hot springs are often popular tourist destinations. The Los Lagos Hotel, Spa & Resort hot springs are an extraordinary gift from nature and result from the interaction of groundwater with magma from the active Arenal Volcano. The volcano’s internal energy and minerals, the same that emerge from the entrails of the planet, provide a natural treatment for your skin as well as your whole body.