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Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall, Hot Springs Full Day Tour

Badge of ExcellenceLa Fortuna, Costa Rica

Full day Arenal Volcano La Fortuna Waterfall and Hotsprings

11 hours
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Discover the natural beauty of the La Fortuna region on an action-packed full-day tour that is ideal for people who enjoy outdoors activities. Go on hikes through lush rain forest; visit a butterfly garden and Maleku Indian village; take a dip at La Fortuna waterfall; look for wildlife; and view the Arenal Volcano. Top off the day with a cocktail and a relaxing soak in a natural hot water river.

Includes lunch and cocktail
Hear insightful commentary from the guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off provided
Small-group tour limited to 10 people

What's Included

National Park fees
Beverages
Lunch
Local guide
Hotel pickup and drop-off (In la Fortuna area) transport is shared with other clients
Small-group tour (12 persons per group)
Alcoholic Beverages
Hotspring resort fee

Dinner not included

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

Red Lava TSC
470, Provincia de Alajuela, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Red Lava Office in la Fortuna bus terminal local #3 Google maps or Waze RedLava Tours for get indications

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:30 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

Please contact us for have an exact pick up time in your hotel (Just in la Fortuna Area, not San Jose, not the coast) If your hotel is not on the list please contact us to check the option for the pickup If you have a Airbnb we need a reference point for the pick up (Restaurant o supermarket close to the place)

What To Expect

After pickup in La Fortuna, you’ll head straight to La Fortuna Waterfall in the tour vehicle. Take advantage of the day’s relaxed pace to swim and enjoy the falls, or just enjoy views of the impressive cascade from the edge of the water.

Next, head to Arenal Volcano, a renowned destination for wildlife. Hiking alongside a guide knowledgeable about local plants and animals means you’re more likely to see wildlife like sloths, tropical birds, and frogs — it takes a trained eye to spot the well-camouflaged animals amid lush foliage.

The final stop of the day is Mirador el Silencio, where a hiking trail leads to spectacular views of Arenal Volcano; not only is it a gorgeous walk, but you’ll have time to snap classic photos including the mountain’s dramatic profile. End your tour where you started, either at the company office or your La Fortuna accommodations.

La Fortuna Waterfall

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Arenal Volcano

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Mirador El Silencio

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Operated by a multi-lingual guide
Please note we can only accept up to maximum of 12 per group and we will be joining other group in a bus.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Frequently Asked Questions

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.

Filter by:

Q:Is there a restroom and/or place to change into swimwear for the waterfall and hot springs?

A:Yes - there are restrooms at various points along the trail, including at the entrance to the park as well as at the hot springs.

Feb 2021

Q:What should I bring with me for the Full day visit to Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall and Hotsprings?

A:We recommend that you bring swimwear, a towel, closed-toe shoes for hiking, bug repellant, and sunscreen.

Feb 2021

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Kimmy_T

I had an amazing time on this tour! The guides were all super nice and it was well organized. Carlos was extremely knowledgeable on the flora and fauna of the places we went and paid special attention to finding sloths and other animal for us to enjoy! He was able to answer any and all questions we had about the environment around us. The hot spring afterwards was such a nice treat to end the evening after lots of walking.

Reviews

5.0

1,325 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 1,325 reviews

Great value for money and very fun & pleasant day out

Jo_P, Apr 2024

This tour was great value for money. We hit a lot of popular tourist attractions in La Fortuna, including the Arenal Volcano hike which was a 3-part experience: volcano viewpoint hike, green lagoon walk and rainforest walk - all the way our fabulous guide Carlos took the time and effort to point out different flora and fauna species and let us look through his binoculars as well, where we saw some interesting birds and a viper snake too! We then moved on to grab lunch, which was decent and then to La Fortuna waterfalls which included a number of steps down and up. The waterfalls were great and the water was so clear, fresh and cold to swim in. We then visited a Maleku village where locals did a presentation and after the presentation we spotted some toucans. We finished the day at Relax Thermalitas hot springs. All in all, our tour guides were incredibly friendly and committed to pointing out different types of flora and fauna throughout the day and ensuring we all felt comfortable and safe. Really great day!

very much worth it

Nazar_A, Apr 2024

very organized. tour guids excellent. best value for money. I highly recommend this tour as starting point and then decide if want to do more.

10/10 experience!

Kyle_G, Apr 2024

We had an absolute blast! If you’re in the area, definitely go on this tour. Our guides were incredibly knowledgeable and fun to talk to. They have a deep appreciation for the environment and culture within Costa Rica. The waterfall was so breathtaking and refreshing. One of the hidden gems was getting to learn about the Maleku tribe and their customs. Their art is beautiful and they’re so welcoming. Getting to learn about and meet a unique indigenous culture is a once in a lifetime experience that we appreciated. We also got to learn about the Arenal volcano during our hike and our guide shared many unique and sobering facts about how powerful it is. Definitely worth the trip!

Wonderful Tour

Sienna_T, Apr 2024

The waterfall was beautiful, the lunch was delicious, and the hikes were a great workout but not too strenuous! I loved this tour! Our tour guide told us a lot about the wildlife and different plants along the way. It was informative and very interactive.

Buy it now

ariyanavv, Apr 2024

This all day tour was absolutely amazing. I went with my boyfriend and this was probably our favorite excursion. You get so much for the price. They picked us up from our hotel and let me tell you… they don’t want to leave anyone behind. There was a group of people that we all ended up waiting 15min for which was annoying but it was just some miscommunication. They are willing to wait for you but please don’t abuse this information. Try to be outside your hotel 5min before the pickup time so people on the bus won’t get mad at you. Besides that we went to see the volcano in which our bus split into two groups of 10. Our tour guide was Franklin which is just the sweetest guy. He is full of joy and super passionate about nature. The other tour guide was Jacob and he seemed nice. My boyfriend and him spoke for a little and he recommended some other countries we should visit to see some wild animals. They are very considerate regarding bathroom breaks and providing meals. Honestly I had such a great time on this tour and I 100% recommend you go.

Great Guide

Jack_S, Apr 2024

Fantastic full day tour with none stop sites around Costa Rica! The guides were amazing, great personalities, and very knowledgeable

Too much & too little

Scott_R, Apr 2024

Waterfall hike down was ok and the waterfall and swimming good - hike back up tiring but needed. Could have ended there with lunch but added an indigenous center, lava rock hike, jungle hike, & hot spring “night club” - too much yet a lot of wondering what next and where to go

Over promised & under delivered. // Very disappointed and cannot recommend!

Tom_K, Apr 2024

As we planned our two-week Costa Rica vacation, we decided to book numerous tours through Viator. Each of those tours has been enjoyable - - EXCEPT this one! Many of the KEY promises were NOT delivered by this tour operator! We liked the idea of a small 10-person group. Also, an English-language tour guide was imperative. BUT when we got the Tour Confirmation, the group size had grown to 12 people. But OK. What's the harm in 2 more people!?! Turns out, this was AN OMEN of things to come! // The actual tour had 24 people! Crammed into a small mini-bus, including seats in the aisle of the bus. AND, we had one Spanish-speaking tour guide, who added English commentary about 1/3 of the time. (Funny thing! Our table-mates at Lunch were from Puerto Rico and were fluent in both Spanish & English. Unprompted and unprovoked, they told us that they felt bad for us "... since we were ONLY getting the highlights of the Spanish commentary"). Of course we CANNOT fault the Tour Guide! He is assigned to tours by his employer. Later in the morning, an assistant or apprentice joined our group, BUT we still moved from attraction to attraction as a group of 24. // Yes, we did hike to see La Fortuna Falls! Plus Arenal Volcano! And went to the Hot Springs! // BUT this was NOT what the Viator website promised! AND it's certainly NOT what we paid for! OR what we expected! // We CANNOT recommend Red Lava Tours of La Fortuna! Caveat emptor! Buyer beware!

Great all round tour

Monil_P, Apr 2024

Very fun day and tour. 4-5 different activities and really well planned. Went as a solo traveler and met great people. Highly recommend!

Packed day of fun!

Lisa_G, Apr 2024

We had a lovely time. This trip was packed with even more than the description mentioned. The tour company was also very understanding to reschedule at no charge when a member of our party was not feeling well, which was very much appreciated. My only suggestion is that the tour description mention a little more about recommended clothing, etc for the day. We were ok but there were a few thing we wished we had brought/worn.

Birthday trip

Carlton_W, Apr 2024

We love the tour, great tour guys, make sure you bring swim suites worth the money. Be ready for a full day tour.

Solo Adventure

Elisa_J, Apr 2024

Great tour! Went solo and met other solo travelers. Took the hike and saw a good amount of wildlife. The waterfall was an adventure & topping it off at the hot spring was a great ending. If you’re not here for long I would recommend, it jam packed in a lot

Great Tour to See Lots of the Arenal Area

Dolores_R, Apr 2024

This was a great tour. It's very strenuous so beware if you have physical limitations or are aging. Eric and Marco were very knowledgeable and went out of their way to point things out and e sure all of our group got the opportunity to see things and take pictures. I would recommend this trip.

Avoid if you are looking for peaceful vibes and nature

Catarina_C, Apr 2024

Unfortunately, this tour wasn’t really what we expected. Whilst “technically” they delivered the promised sights (the waterfall , volcano, indigenous village and hot springs ) it really wasn’t the special experience it made out to be. The waterfall is more of a theme park full of tourists where the nature has been taken out by development, the indigenous village is really a fake demonstration and sales pitch to buy souvenirs, and the hot springs are just a pool club with neon lights, loud music and cheap alcohol. The one redeeming point was the volcano hike which was nice. If theme parks and pool clubs are what you are looking for then this is for you. But if instead you are looking for calm and nature vibes, avoid.

Response from Host, Apr 2024

You travel to a popular destination like the waterfall. I think you may have a bit of an overly romanized idea of what that could be like. There are plenty of people who want to enjoy this, so you won't be alone there. Besides the stairs to get you there, it's all nature. I don't understand the attraction park remark you are making. The Indian people are not fake. They share information about their culture and yes they offer their handycraft to purchase. Its not done in a pushy way, and plenty of people have taken the oportunity to buy a typical decorative mask or something else and are perfectly happy with that. The hotsprings are a little resort with naturally heated water. A more natural version may be found at Tabacon or Eco termales at a minimum of $60 per person. Obviously, for us to include that, we would have to almost double the price of our tours, so that is not a viable option. Another option is the hotwater river but the Costa Rican tourist board doesn't allow people to be taken there because of the uncontrolled environment and lack of facilities. Being able to offer the resort at the price we ask for our tour is a huge win for our customers. If you want the best hotspring experience, be ready to pay premium prices. What you are looking for can be found in remote areas and countries where tourism is less developed. There will advantages and disadvantages to taking that route.

All day Adventure!

Michael_P, Apr 2024

Jacob and Carlos were amazing. Couldn't have asked for better guides. Was a full day experience and would definitely recommend as part of your stay in Costa Rica.

Wonderful and Magical

lisa_d, Apr 2024

Absolutely amazing! Our tour guide was Eric and he was awesome! Very knowledgeable and educational. Learned a lot about the history of the volcanoes, waterfalls and hot springs. Although we did not see a ton of wildlife, you could hear it. This tour is definitely recommended for someone with elevated hiking experience. The walk down to the waterfall was quite steep and about 400 stairs and steep but well worth it. It was magical. Definitely get a workout. The hot springs are a wonderful way to end by soaking your sore muscles. Highly recommend.

Great all day excursion with a little bit of everything!

Luciano_V, Apr 2024

The tour starts off with going to a butterfly garden then they take you over to the waterfall, which takes around 20 minutes to get there walking on a trail in the rainforest! You can hang out by the waterfall for an hour or so take some pictures. Highly recommend water shoes because the rocks will hurt your feet if you’re barefoot. They do not provide you with towels, so keep that in mind. The waterfall they give you some pineapples to eat and they take you to a local native Costa Rican family village. When you’re at their village, you’ll be able to buy some handmade crafts and souvenirs. They will teach you a little bit about their culture and their native Costa Rican language. After that, you will go on a small hike on the volcano trail be able to take some pictures and enjoy the nature while the tour guide tells you all about the history The volcano. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to see the volcano because of how misty it was and how rainy it was so definitely planned for your trip to be on a clear sunny day or else you won’t be able to see all of the volcano has to offer. They do take you to a Hot Springs where you can hang out for around an hour, but it’s not a natural hot spring spring. It feels more like an all inclusive resort With nine different temperature pools and you can also buy drinks and snacks at the bar. I was expecting more of a natural Spring in the nature, but unfortunately, it Was just some warm/hot pools.

wonderful people, beautiful location, great value

Trevor_G, Apr 2024

The courtesy and drive to provide a good experience is apparent before this tour even starts, as Red Lava will fully provide transportation to the destination and pick you up (they were patient even when my group was a few minutes late to meet them). Our guides were a group of friendly, extremely knowledgeable locals who taught us so much and were easy to form a connection with (they speak both English and Spanish depending on your group’s language skills). I’ll especially shoutout Eric who guided my group of seven through the tour. The experience wouldn’t have been the same without him, and I thank him for his hospitality, knowledge, and genuine passion for the environment of Costa Rica. We got lucky and saw a lot of wildlife that would’ve been hard to spot without Eric, including sloths, spider monkeys, many different birds, and tiny spiders. The range of experiences provided after the hike are great too, including a provided lunch and an hour at a hot springs resort. I couldn’t believe how much I was getting for the price I paid as the day progressed, because it was pretty packed. You should realize going into the tour that you will get damp from the rainfall, the uphill hiking can be a bit challenging, and you will get dirty going through some terrain. But if those things don’t bother you too much this is perfect and I’d recommend it to anyone who visits La Fortuna.

It’s ok

Phuong_N, Apr 2024

Pretty cheap for an all day tour. But most of it is filled with hiking/walking to sites that you can just do by yourself (especially if you have a car). The tour guides are 5/5, absolutely, but the actual tour itself I would give 3/5. The tour bus was packed; even in the bus aisle we pulled out attached chairs to sit people down the aisle. We broke up into small groups, but that was only for the first hike. The rest was a big tour group altogether. The hot springs at the end was basically a water park where you have several manmade pools you can swim in. Overall great value for your money, but not something I would do again or recommend to family.

Sister Costa rica

juliemaltais70, Apr 2024

Big thank to Emmanuel you where very good guide really interesting and we really enjoying the tour thanks again 🥰

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