La Fortuna is one of Costa Rica’s top tourist destinations, offering visitors a wonderful experience in the rainforest. This small farming town is now the main tourism hub of Arenal, sitting at the base of the impressive Arenal Volcano and offering all services required for travelers to have a comfortable trip such as pharmacies, banks, restaurants, car rentals, tour desks, souvenir stores, hotels, medical centers, gyms and hotels.
La Fortuna is known for its nature, hiking, relaxation and outdoor adventure activities. It is an ideal destination for first time visitors, luxury travelers, couples, families and solo travelers as it is one of the top three most visited tourist destinations in Costa Rica.
How to Get to La Fortuna?
Adobe Transfers offers private shuttle services to and from Fortuna. As Adobe Transfers offers airport pick ups, the driver will wait for you outside the SJO/LIR airport terminal exit when you finish immigration and customs to take you directly to your place of lodging in Fortuna. The service includes one stop along the way. Booking a private shuttle service is the easiest way to get to Fortuna.
Below are average rates for up to 8 passengers, one way and quoted in USD.
San Jose International Airport – La Fortuna: $215, 3.5 hours
Liberia International Airport – La Fortuna: $190, 3.5 hours
Puerto Viejo de Talamanca – La Fortuna: $310, 5.5 hours
Jaco – La Fortuna: $215, 4 hours
Manuel Antonio/Quepos – La Fortuna: $305, 5 hours
Tamarindo – La Fortuna: $245, 4 hours
What to Do in La Fortuna (Arenal Volcano)
Tourists spend on average 2-4 nights in La Fortuna to experience its incredible natural attractions and outdoor adventures.
Arenal Volcano National Park
To see Arenal Volcano in its entirety, a visit to the Arenal Volcano National Park cannot be missed. Hike the well maintained trails through rainforests and lava rocks leftover from the 1968 eruption. The view point of the volcano and Lake Arenal is the highlight of the national park.
Hours: 8 AM to 4 PM open 7 days a week
Hot Springs
Thanks to the warming of the Tabacon River when Arenal Volcano erupted in 1968, La Fortuna became famous for the many hot spring resorts around. Visitors can relax in the natural thermal pools and springs at popular resorts such as Tabacon, Baldi, The Springs, Ecotermales and Paradise. They can even visit the free public entrance of the actual Tabacon River.
Fortuna Waterfall
Just a 10 minute drive from Fortuna downtown is the spectacular Fortuna waterfall. Enveloped by a lush rainforest and dropping 70 meters into an emerald pool, visitors have to hike down 500 steps to the base of the waterfall to swim in the crystal clear pool.
Hours: 7 AM to 5 PM, open 7 days a week
Bogarin Sloth Trail
As Fortuna is home to lush, pristine rainforests, the two types of sloths in Costa Rica can be found in the area. Take a sloth tour to see the adorable national symbol of Costa Rica in their natural habitat.
Open everyday, 7 AM to 5 PM. Book a guide for best sloth watching opportunities.
Ziplining
Adventure is never far in Fortuna, and one of the must do’s is ziplining. Fly through the rainforest canopy on a ziplining tour and see the jungle from above. Fortuna is home to over a dozen zipline tours, suitable for beginners to experts.