19 Unique Things to Do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Last Updated: February 27, 2026

La Fortuna is Costa Rica’s adventure capital, offering an incredible mix of things to do. Whether you want to soak in Arenal Volcano’s famous hot springs, zipline through the rainforest, or spot sloths, there’s something for everyone. We have visited this epic destination over a dozen times and even spent a few months living on Lake Arenal. In this post, we’ll share our favorite things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. We’ll cover popular attractions and some hidden gems that will take you off the tourist trail.

Quick Guide by Group Type:

• Families with Young Children (Ages 0-7): EcoCentro Danaus, Baldi Hot Springs, Ecoglide ziplining, Cano Negro boat tour
• Families with Older Kids (Ages 8+): Sky Adventures ziplining, waterfall rappelling, Rio Balsa whitewater rafting, hanging bridges, river float to see wildlife, coffee/chocolate tour, cooking class
• Adventure Seekers: Waterfall rappelling, ziplining, whitewater rafting, the Ultimate Jungle Hike
• Nature Lovers: El Silencio volcano hike, safari float or Cano Negro boat tour, night tour, sloth tour
• Limited Mobility: Cano Negro boat tour, hot springs, coffee/chocolate tour, hanging bridges, sloth tour, EcoCentro Danaus, sunset lake cruise
• Romantic Getaway: Hot springs, sunset lake cruise, La Fortuna Waterfall, Rio Celeste Waterfall
• Culture and Foodies: Cooking class, coffee and chocolate tour, sunset lake cruise with wine and cheese

Be sure to check out our full La Fortuna destination guide for more information about the town, hotel options, and restaurants.

Things to Do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Hiking

We always recommend a guided volcano hike as one of the first things to do in La Fortuna. That way, you’ll learn about the history of the volcano and its eruptions, while gaining an appreciation of the rainforest around you. This knowledge will make you enjoy the rest of your activities even more.

El Silencio Trail Volcano Hike

Our favorite pick for a volcano tour is Mirador El Silencio Trail because it is less crowded than the national park and other private reserves.

This hike takes you through pristine rainforest to explore old lava flows from Arenal’s explosive past. Your guide will point out how the forest has slowly reclaimed areas that were once barren rock, showing nature’s incredible resilience. Along the way, you’ll walk on the hardened lava rocks from the volcano’s eruptions in the 1960s.

The highlight comes at the main lookout point. With a little luck, you’ll be able to enjoy stunning close-up views of Arenal Volcano as well as the emerald Green Lagoon. Even if it’s not a clear day, the hike is still really nice because of all the thick jungle.

The trail is easy to moderate in difficulty, making it perfect for most people. For more information, read our Mirador El Silencio post.

Tip: If you’re looking for an easier volcano hike, Arenal Volcano National Park is the best option. It has shorter, flat trails. Just arrive early to avoid the crowds.

Booking Note: Like our articles?

Help support our site by booking your tours with us. We’ve added products to this post to make the process easy. Booking through us costs the same or less (see our discounts). We use trusted operators that we’ve built strong relationships with throughout our 10+ years in business as a travel agency. Thanks for your support! View all tours we recommend in La Fortuna.

Ultimate Jungle Hike

This is a challenging and little-known adventure that we have enjoyed (without the kids).

The Ultimate Jungle Hike climbs through gorgeous primary rainforest to an elevation of about 1,640 feet (500 meters). Along the way, you may spot toucans, monkeys, frogs, and snakes. You’ll also stop at a hidden waterfall and refreshing swimming hole in the middle of the jungle.

The four-mile (6.5 km) trek is rustic and often muddy, but worth it.

After working up an appetite, you’ll head to a small restaurant and make homemade empanadas alongside locals. They’ll also make you a traditional meal cooked over a wood stove.

Good physical condition is required for this one (we were a bit sore after!)

Waterfalls

La Fortuna Waterfall

La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the main attractions in town. This is an easy activity to pair with something else since it is close to the downtown and you only need an hour or two to visit.

The gorgeous 230-foot (70 meter) waterfall is at the bottom of about 500 well-maintained stairs that cut right through the jungle. Once at the base, you’ll feel the breeze coming off the waterfall and get some great pictures. You also can swim in the natural pool as long as the currents aren’t too powerful.

This is one you can easily do on your own, but if you won’t have a rental car, combo tours that include a stop at the waterfall are available.

Rio Celeste Waterfall

Located about 1.5 hours from La Fortuna near the small town of Bijagua, this stunning bright-blue waterfall is well worth the journey.

During the hike, you can visit the main falls, Blue Pool (Pozo Azul), and the spot where the river naturally turns from clear to blue.

The first part of the hike is easy to moderate (with lots of stairs down to the waterfall). The second part is a bit harder and can be muddy/slippery. We recommend sturdy hiking shoes.

Read our post Rio Celeste Waterfall: Essential Tips for more information.

Important: The Rio Celeste is best visited when it hasn’t rained lately as rain can alter that amazing blue color.

Hot Springs

One of La Fortuna’s most unique attractions is the natural hot springs. These are heated by the volcano’s geothermal activity. After trying many hot spring resorts in the area, we have two top recommendations.

Ecotermales Hot Springs

Our favorite choice for a peaceful soak is Ecotermales. This property offers an intimate atmosphere that’s perfect for relaxation. They limit daily visitors to around 100, ensuring it never feels too crowded.

Even though it’s a small property, Ecotermales is still family-friendly. We’ve been with our kids a couple of times and everyone enjoyed it.

Seven pools of varying temperatures (90°F to 106°F) are beautifully spread out among tropical gardens. Attentive staff can bring drinks right to you while you unwind. Lunch or dinner is available at the onsite restaurant too. We found the food to be very good. See more pictures and read our complete review of Ecotermales.

Baldi Hot Springs

Looking for more action? Baldi Hot Springs Resort is great for families and those seeking a livelier atmosphere.

This large property and hotel has 25 thermal pools, including exciting elements like waterslides and sauna caves. Kids love the children’s area with splash zones and waterslides, while adults can enjoy the swim-up bars.

The ambiance at Baldi is upbeat, especially at night when the pools are lit up and music is playing. While it’s more commercial than Ecotermales, it’s a good choice if you’re visiting with active kids or want a little more going on. Learn more with our Baldi hot springs guide.

Traveling with kids? Our post Things to Do in Costa Rica with Kids has more options for activities throughout Costa Rica by age group.

Free Hot Springs

For a more authentic and rustic experience, locals and adventurous travelers head to the free hot springs across from Tabacon Resort.

Here, you’ll find natural thermal pools right in the riverbed, surrounded by jungle. While these springs lack the amenities of the resorts, they offer a genuine, peaceful soak in nature.

Look for the yellow gate on the right side of the road when heading from La Fortuna towards Lake Arenal.

Epic Adventures

Ziplining

La Fortuna offers several zipline experiences depending on your comfort level. Two that we love are Sky Adventures and Arenal Ecoglide.

Sky Adventures is perfect for thrill-seekers as it has the area’s fastest (and highest) lines. Starting with a scenic gondola ride to the first platform, you’ll coast down seven cables. The course includes two impressively long runs with panoramic volcano, rainforest, and lake views.

For first-timers or anyone feeling a bit nervous, we recommend Ecoglide instead. Their unique double-cable system prioritizes safety, and patient guides make it ideal for beginners. We’ve had clients go who are in their 80s and kids as young as 2 (tandem with a guide).

Canyoning/Waterfall Rappelling

One of the most popular activities in La Fortuna for thrill seekers is canyoning.

This adventure includes rappels down three waterfalls and a rock wall. The rappels range from 40-165 feet (12-50 meters). There’s also an exciting “Monkey Drop” where you zip out before dropping into a refreshing pool. Safety is a priority with guides stationed at both top and bottom of each descent.

We’ve done this tour and have booked it for many clients as well. It’s a blast!

Tip: Even if you’ve never rappelled before, this activity is very beginner-friendly. The tour is rated for ages 5+.

Whitewater Rafting

Rafting down a churning river through the dense rainforest is another must for adventure seekers. From La Fortuna, you can choose from two rivers.

The Rio Balsa (Class II-III) is our top pick for most people, combining just the right mix of excitement and scenery. It’s great for families and first-timers. Our son was nervous for his first time rafting, but the guides made the experience both fun and safe.

For more experienced rafters, the Rio Sarapiqui (Class III-IV) delivers an adrenaline-packed ride. This river includes plenty of exciting rapids with some calmer sections to catch your breath and take in the natural beauty.

Hanging Bridges

Hanging bridges or suspension bridges offer a unique way to see the rainforest canopy. There are two main choices in La Fortuna, Mistico Park or Sky Adventures.

Mistico Park

Mistico is our top choice as it has several hanging bridges to explore.

The concrete path offers an easy walk through the thick rainforest. With a little luck, you also can see wildlife. On our visits, we’ve seen monkeys, snakes, birds, and even peccaries (similar to a wild boar). Mistico can get busy so plan accordingly.

Sky Adventures

Sky Adventures has a dirt trail that is easy-to-moderate in difficulty. It features two long hanging bridges and a beautiful lookout to Lake Arenal. Sky Adventures is a good place to do a combo tour since they have ziplines and a tram onsite as well.

The bridges at either facility are very sturdy with strong steel cables.

For a more in-depth comparison, read our post Hanging Bridges in Costa Rica: Where to Go for the Best Experience.

Wildlife Viewing and Nature

Safari River Float

A tranquil alternative to whitewater rafting is a safari float down the Peñas Blancas River. This is one of the most popular things to do in La Fortuna/Arenal.

By inflatable raft or kayak, you’ll glide along the calm water with an expert nature guide in search of wildlife along the riverbanks. You’re likely to see howler and white-faced monkeys, sloths, iguanas, basilisk lizards (also known as Jesus Christ lizards), and various tropical birds.

Float tours are a great activity for the whole family. Kids as young as three can do the float on the Penas Blancas River.

Cano Negro Boat Tour

Located about 1.5 hours from La Fortuna, Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge offers one of Costa Rica’s best wetland experiences.

On a comfortable pontoon boat, you’ll cruise through this rich ecosystem spotting countless water birds like herons, kingfishers, anhinga, and occasionally even Roseate Spoonbills. Spoonbills are gorgeous pink birds with a broad spoon-like bill. They’re harder to spot in Costa Rica so always a treat to see.

The calm river waters are also home to caimans, turtles, monkeys, and sloths.

The tour is on a sturdy pontoon boat so works with babies, young kids, or anyone with limited mobility.

In addition to the wildlife spotting, there are some fun cultural elements like a short coffee and chocolate tasting. Lunch is a traditional Costa Rican casado.

Sloth and Bird Tour at Mariolas Trail

Perfect for all ages and abilities, the Mariolas Trail is a flat, easy-to-navigate path just outside downtown La Fortuna. It is one of the best places to see sloths in their natural environment. It has many guarumo (cecropia) trees, which sloths love.

We highly recommend a guided tour for this one. A guide will have a scope to help you see sloths, which are usually high in the trees.

One great option is a daytime sloth and bird tour through a local tour company that we work with. A nature guide will take you around the reserve in search of sloths then you’ll visit an organic farm for a homemade snack. This is a responsible sloth tour, which is important to keep in mind in La Fortuna/Arenal.

For more information, read our post about our experience, A Sloth and Bird Tour in La Fortuna.

Sloth Twilight Tour

Another option for a sloth tour at the Mariolas Trail is a twilight sloth tour that will let you see sloths during the magical golden hour just before dark.

Your guide will use a powerful scope to spot these elusive creatures high in the canopy. Beyond sloths, you might also see tent-making bats, iguanas, and interesting birds. After the walk, you’ll have a traditional snack of homemade tortillas with local cheese.

The trail is flat and easy for all ages. While sightings are never guaranteed, we’ve visited multiple times and have always spotted at least a couple.

Tip: Pair this with a night tour for a full twilight-to-dark combo experience.

EcoCentro Danaus Reserve

This small reserve near downtown La Fortuna is ideal for families with young kids (our youngest son walked the trail at age 3). The easy 600-meter (0.37 mile) trail winds through lush forest and only takes an hour or so.

The well-maintained path at EcoCentro Danaus leads past frog ponds, a large butterfly garden, and a lagoon. On our visit, we saw sloths high up in the trees, poison dart frogs in leaf litter, lizards, and many kinds of birds. The reserve also features a traditional Maleku indigenous house with local artwork.

You can easily visit on your own, but we recommend a guided tour to see the most wildlife.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Proyecto Asis

This wildlife rehabilitation center provides a meaningful way to learn about Costa Rica’s animals while supporting conservation.

Located about 30 minutes from La Fortuna, Proyecto Asis helps injured wildlife return to their natural habitat. On a tour, you’ll see various animals in their sanctuary, like monkeys, sloths, parrots, and toucans. The enthusiastic guides share stories about each animal’s recovery. Volunteering opportunities are also available.

You can book a Proyecto Asis tour directly through their website.

Night Tour

Exploring the rainforest after dark offers a completely different perspective. With a naturalist guide and flashlight in hand, you’ll discover the nocturnal side of Costa Rica’s wildlife.

Frogs are especially easy to see on night tours in La Fortuna. It’s also common to see snakes, interesting insects, and nocturnal mammals or sleeping birds.

We’ve done several night tours in Costa Rica with our kids and have gotten to see tree frogs, rain frogs, red-eyed tree frogs, many types of snakes, and cool bugs like golden-orb spiders.

Night tours start around 5:30 p.m. just as the sun goes down over the jungle. Below are a couple of different options that we have enjoyed. One includes hotel pickup and the other is a good choice if you have a rental car.

Coffee and Chocolate Tours

North Fields Cafe

One of our favorite cultural experiences in La Fortuna so far was the tour at North Fields Cafe.

Here, you’ll walk through the family’s coffee fields, learning about the entire process from bean to cup. The tour also includes a hands-on chocolate-making demonstration where you’ll get to create and taste chocolate from the raw cacao (our sons loved this).

To round out the experience, you’ll sip fresh coffee brewed in a traditional chorreador. Non-coffee drinks are available too. Read more about this experience with our post, North Fields Cafe: A Delicious Coffee and Chocolate Tour in La Fortuna.

Rainforest Chocolate

For a fun, family-friendly chocolate experience, this tour is hard to beat.

The entertaining guides at Rainforest Chocolate keep everyone engaged while teaching about chocolate’s journey from bean to bar. The interactive demonstrations let you participate in making chocolate, and the unlimited tastings at the end are always a highlight.

This is an excellent activity for families with children.

Cooking Class

If you’re looking for a cultural experience that goes beyond sightseeing, this cooking class is a lot of fun.

You’ll walk the organic farm, harvest ingredients while learning about local crops like pineapple and plantain, and then cook a traditional Costa Rican meal alongside a local chef. Everything is cooked over a wood stove.

Foodies will love the upscale welcome drink made from fresh, local fruits and the homemade cheese sampling from the farm.

We did this tour with our kids and everyone loved it, from smashing plantains to making tortillas from scratch.

Sunset Lake Cruise

Finally, for a romantic evening, nothing beats watching the sunset over Lake Arenal by boat. On this relaxing cruise, you’ll enjoy waterfront views of the volcano while sipping wine and sampling a gourmet cheese plate.

As your guide navigates to different viewpoints around the lake, keep an eye out for wildlife along the shore – herons, anhingas, and occasionally monkeys can be spotted. The late afternoon light showcases the mighty volcano and makes for a memorable evening.

We did this tour in light rain and it was still really nice. We were able to get glimpses of Arenal Volcano in between the moving clouds.

For more information, read our post Lake Arenal Sunset Cruise: Wine, Cheese & Views.

Conclusion

While La Fortuna’s hot springs and volcano views are the main attractions, the area offers so much more. From adrenaline-pumping adventures to peaceful nature walks and cultural experiences, La Fortuna/Arenal has a little bit of everything. We recommend staying at least 3-4 days to fully experience what the area has to offer.

Looking for more Costa Rica adventures? Browse our complete Things to Do category for 150+ activities all around the country.

Pin It for Later

Have a question about things to do in La Fortuna? Leave us a comment below.

Looking for more information to plan your trip? Check out these posts:

La Fortuna Hotel Guide: Find the perfect place to stay for every budget in the Arenal area.

Driving in Costa Rica: What to Know Before You Go – La Fortuna/Arenal is best explored with a rental car since it’s more spread out. Learn about the quirks of driving in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Activity Guides: Looking beyond La Fortuna? Discover the best things to do in other popular destinations, including Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, and Samara.