The best things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica fit into two groups: calm sights you can visit on your own, like La Fortuna waterfall, the Arenal Volcano trails and the hanging bridges, and guided activities like ziplining, river tubing and horseback riding. Most visitors mix both over two or three days.
We are a family team born and raised in La Fortuna de San Carlos. Every week guests ask us the same thing at pickup: “What else should we do while we’re here?” This guide is our honest answer. It covers the places we send our own friends, including the ones we don’t run, and it sorts them by who you’re traveling with.
Things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica at a glance
Here is the quick version. Use it to sketch your days, then read the details below.
| Activity | Pace | Time needed | Good for | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Fortuna Waterfall | Calm, 530 steps | A couple of hours | Couples, friends | Free up to age 8 |
| Arenal Volcano trails | Calm walking | Varies by trail | Everyone | Check park rules |
| Místico Hanging Bridges | Calm walking | 2 to 2.5 hours | Everyone | Free up to age 4 |
| Zipline with optional rappel | Active, guided | About 2 hours | Everyone | From 6 |
| Arenal River tubing | Active, guided | About 2 hours | Friends, families | From 10 |
| Horseback riding | Calm, guided | About 3 hours | Couples, families | From 10 |
| Maleku visit and warm pools | Calm | Part of every tour | Everyone | Same as the tour |
The big natural sights in La Fortuna
These are the places almost every visitor sees, and for good reason. You can do all of them without a tour, though a guide helps you spot wildlife. Together they make a gentle first day of things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica.
La Fortuna Waterfall
The waterfall drops about 70 meters into a green pool, roughly 10 minutes from the center of town. Getting to the base means walking down 530 steps, and then climbing back up. Take it slow on the way back and you’ll be fine.
As of September 2026, entrance is $20 for foreign adults, and children 8 and under go in free. The park opens at 7:00 a.m. and the last entry is at 4:00 p.m.
Swimming in the main pool depends on the current. After heavy rain, staff can close it, so go early in the day and bring shoes with good grip.
Arenal Volcano National Park and the lava trails
Arenal Volcano stands 1,633 meters tall and sits about 15 km from La Fortuna. On July 29, 1968, it erupted without warning and buried three small villages. It has been dormant since 2010, so today you walk across old lava flows that are now covered in forest.
The national park has marked trails and a viewpoint toward the cone. The entrance fee for foreign visitors is about $16.95 for adults and $5.65 for children.
Clouds often hide the summit, so keep your expectations open and your plans flexible. If you’d rather ride than walk, our horseback ride to Arenal Volcano ends with a short walk to an old lava flow, where your guide tells the story of the 1968 and 2010 eruptions.
Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges
Místico has 16 bridges along a 3.2 km trail, and 6 of them hang over the rainforest canopy. It’s a gentle walk that suits grandparents, kids and anyone who wants to see the forest from above without harnesses.
The park opens daily at 6:00 a.m., with the last entry at 3:50 p.m. A self-guided visit costs $32 and a guided one $44, plus taxes, and children up to 4 enter free. We suggest the guided option if you want to spot wildlife. A guide knows where to look.
Hot springs and warm pools
Thermal resorts are part of the La Fortuna routine, and many sell day passes. Every one of our adventures also ends with time in our warm-water pools and a volcanic mud bath. It’s a relaxed way to rest your legs after the river or the trail.
Active things to do in La Fortuna, with a guide beside you
This is the part where people get nervous, so let’s be clear: you don’t need to be an expert to enjoy a great adventure. Our guests are mostly first-timers, and we have no upper age limit. If you can walk comfortably, you can join.
Zipline and rappel
Our Arenal Zipline and Rappel Adventure has 7 cables and 10 platforms above the rainforest, with an optional 50-meter rappel into the Arenal River canyon. The tour lasts about 2 hours, starts from age 6 and leaves at 8:00am, 10:00am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm.
Feeling unsure? Ask for the tandem option and ride with your guide.
River tubing on the Arenal River
Tubing is the most playful thing you can do on the water here. On our Arenal River tubing tour, you sit in a tube and steer with your hands after a safety briefing. The rapids go from Class 1 to 3, with calm stretches in between, and rock walls and small waterfalls line the canyon.
It takes about 2 hours, from age 10. Guides ride the river with you, and the life jacket and gear are included. One of our guests wrote that the length and the challenge were just right for two 60-year-olds.
Horseback riding
Horseback riding is the calmer way to see the countryside. You choose between two routes:
- Rainforest route: a ride through a private farm of primary and secondary rainforest, out to views over the Arenal River canyon. Watch for monkeys, toucans and hawks. See Rainforest Horseback Riding.
- Volcano route: a trail past a volcanic lake in a private ecological park, with Lake Arenal in view on a clear day. See the volcano horseback ride.
Both take about 3 hours, start from age 10 and leave at 8:30am and 1:30pm. No riding experience needed, the horses know the trail.
Meet the Maleku, La Fortuna’s Indigenous neighbors
Meeting the Maleku adds meaning to the things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica. They are an Indigenous people of northern Costa Rica. Their reserve is near Guatuso, about an hour north of La Fortuna, where around 600 people live across three communities called palenques. Many still speak the Maleku language.
We grew up with the Maleku as neighbors. That’s why every one of our tours includes a cultural experience where members of the community share their culture, medicine and traditions in their own words. It’s not a show. It’s a conversation, and for many guests it’s the part of the day they remember most.
What to do in La Fortuna by type of traveler
Not every trip looks the same. The best things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica depend on who you travel with.
Couples
Start early at the waterfall, before the crowds. In the afternoon, take the volcano horseback ride and finish in the warm pools. On day two, try the zipline together. If one of you is nervous, the tandem option means nobody stays on the ground. Close with a quiet dinner in town.
Groups of friends
Friends usually want to do a lot in a short time. Book the zipline and river tubing half day, about 4 hours from age 10, with departures at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. That leaves the afternoon free for the hanging bridges or hot springs. On a second day, split up if you need to: the riders take the horseback trail while the others walk to the waterfall.
Families with teens
Kids and teens aged 10 and up can join all our adventures, and younger kids from 6 can do the zipline. Try the hanging bridges on day one, then add one guided day. Nobody has to do every activity, and the rappel is optional.
Can you do it all in one day?
Yes, if you have only one day and want the active side, a full-day adventure is the simplest choice among the things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica. You get several activities with one pickup. Regular prices below are as of October 2026.
| Option | What’s in it | Time | Regular price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Day La Fortuna Adventure with Lunch | Zipline, tubing, Maleku visit, lunch, pools | About 7 hours | $195 per person |
| Full-Day Arenal Adventure without lunch | Zipline, tubing, horseback ride, Maleku visit, pools | About 6 hours | $180 per person |
| Zipline, horseback and Maleku village with lunch | Zipline, horseback ride, lunch, Maleku visit, pools | About 6 hours | $150 per person |
All three run daily from age 10, with free hotel pickup in Zone 1 of La Fortuna. Compare every option on our adventures page.
Practical tips before you book
Plan outdoor sights for the morning, pack closed-toe shoes and a change of clothes, and expect some rain, since most tours run as scheduled. These notes cover the season, packing, health rules and cancellation, so the things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica come with fewer surprises.
- Season: it rains in every month, and the wetter stretch starts in May. If we cancel for weather or safety, you can reschedule or get a full refund.
- What to bring: closed-toe shoes (sandals are not allowed on our tours), a change of clothes, swimwear, sunscreen and a refillable bottle.
- Health rules: our tours have a maximum weight of 115 kg (254 lbs) and are not open to pregnant women.
- Cancellation: cancel 24 hours or more before departure for a full refund.
More answers live on our FAQs page.
FAQ
How many days do you need in La Fortuna?
Two to three days is enough for the waterfall, the volcano area, the hanging bridges and one guided adventure, without rushing.
What is there to do in La Fortuna for families?
Try the hanging bridges, the waterfall for kids who can handle stairs, the zipline from age 6, and tubing or horseback riding from age 10. Every family tour includes the Maleku cultural experience and the warm pools.
Is La Fortuna good for people with no adventure experience?
Yes. Most of our guests are first-timers, there’s no upper age limit, and guides stay beside you on every cable, trail and rapid.
Can you see Arenal Volcano from La Fortuna?
Yes, the volcano is about 15 km from town, but clouds often cover the top. Some days you’ll see the full cone, others only its base.
What can you do in La Fortuna when it rains?
Most guided tours still run in light rain. The warm pools, hot spring resorts and the Maleku cultural visit are good choices on wet afternoons.
Plan your days with a local team
La Fortuna is small, but there’s more here than one trip can hold. Pick one or two sights, add one guided day, and leave space to rest. If you want help choosing, get in touch with our team and we’ll suggest a plan that fits your group. Book your adventure, and see you soon for a great adventure.
Plan with a local team
Ready for a great adventure?
Tell us your dates and who is coming, and we will help you pick the right tour for your group.
