The best things to do in the Costa Rican rainforest
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La Fortuna is famous for lush rainforest, beautiful waterfalls, and the iconic Arenal Volcano. With so many different attractions to see and adventures to experience, La Fortuna is a great destination for nature-lovers and thrill-seekers. Here’s the perfect way to spend 3 days in La Fortuna, Costa Rica!
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
When To Visit
The best time to visit La Fortuna, Costa Rica is the dry season, which generally runs from December to April. There could still be some rain during this time, but visiting during the dry season gives you your best chance of sunny days.
What To Pack
Hiking shoes, bug spray, and a rain jacket are some of the essentials that you need to bring to La Fortuna. The weather can change fast, so make sure to always carry your rain jacket with you. We also recommend packing sweat-wicking, sun-protective clothes to wear during all of your adventures.
Currency and Tipping
The colón is the currency of Costa Rica. Most places we visited accepted credit cards, but it’s always a good idea to carry some colones with you.
It’s common for restaurants in Costa Rica to charge a 10% service charge. Tipping is not expected.
Transportation
We highly recommend renting a car for your trip to Costa Rica. While there are buses and rideshare options available, a rental car gives you greater flexibility and allows you to be in control of your schedule. A car with four-wheel drive is ideal for the below itinerary as you will likely encounter gravel and muddy roads.
A few tips for driving in Costa Rica:
-For longer drives, always add an additional hour to the drive time that Google Maps gives you.
-Most roads in Costa Rica are windy, hilly, and have one lane each direction. You will need to get comfortable with passing other cars.
-A lot of roads in Costa Rica have potholes and some turn into gravel roads in certain sections.
-Gas stations are full service. Stay in your car, and let the attendant know what type of gas you want. Credit cards are usually accepted at gas stations.
-Never let your fuel level get too low. Depending on where you are in Costa Rica, gas stations can be few and far between.
-There are toll roads in Costa Rica, mainly on the highways between the large cities. These tolls can usually be paid by credit card, but always make sure to carry some colones just in case.
3-DAY LA FORTUNA, COSTA RICA ITINERARY
DAY 1: LA FORTUNA WATERFALL + HOT SPRINGS
La Fortuna Waterfall
Start off your time in La Fortuna by visiting the iconic La Fortuna Waterfall. It’s 1,000 steps round trip to get to the base of the waterfall and back, but the view is worth it! Depending on how rainy it’s been lately, you might be able to swim there.
Parking is available right by the visitor’s center. If you’re interested in going there with a guide, there are plenty of tour operators that visit La Fortuna Waterfall as part of a combo tour with other La Fortuna attractions. We visited La Fortuna Waterfall as part of a horseback riding tour with Alberto’s Horses.
Hot Springs
After walking all those steps to the waterfall, it’s now time to relax in the hot springs! There are a ton of different hot spring options in La Fortuna including Tabacon, Baldi, and Ecotermales. We purchased a day pass to Tabacon and loved it! There are over 20 natural pools for guests to explore. If you’re looking for a free option, check out El Choyin for public hot springs. Entry is free, but you’ll have to park on the side of the road and sometimes parking attendants will charge you.
DAY 2: HANGING BRIDGES + ARENAL HIKE + COFFEE & CHOCOLATE TOUR
Mistico Hanging Bridges
Mistico Hanging Bridges are a must-do in La Fortuna! The trail through Mistico Park is a little over 2 miles long and has 6 hanging bridges and 10 regular bridges. You can walk through the park on a self-guided tour or pay extra for a guided tour. If you’re interested in seeing a lot of wildlife, go for the guided tour. Tickets for both tour types can be purchased in advance on the Mistico Park website. We recommend getting there as early as you can. We went at 6:30 AM and had the park to ourselves! There were a lot of charter buses and large group tours showing up when we left around 8 AM.
Arenal Hike
If you’re up for a hike after the Hanging Bridges, head over to Arenal Volcano National Park, Arenal 1968, or Mirador el Silencio. All three spots offer great hiking trails, and depending on the weather, you might get a good view of Arenal Volcano! This is also a great way to spot wildlife. Keep an eye out for monkeys and sloths in the trees!
We went to Arenal Volcano National Park and spent about two and a half hours there. We did the Las Coladas Trail to the Old Lava Flow Lookout and did the El Ceibo Trail on the way back.
Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Spend your afternoon learning how coffee and chocolate are made and trying some samples. Check out North Fields Cafe or Don Olivo for great tour options.
If you want to bring coffee and chocolate home as a souvenir, we recommend buying it from these farms instead of airport duty-free.
DAY 3: ATVING + ZIP LINING
ATVing Around La Fortuna
Start off your final day in La Fortuna by ATVing through the trails around Arenal. We went with Outback ATV Tours, and the entire trip took about two hours.
If ATVing is not your thing, there are plenty of other morning activities in La Fortuna. Go on a safari float, try bird watching, or join a guided sloth tour.
Zip Lining
Ready to go zip lining with great views of Arenal Volcano? There are a ton of zip line operators in the La Fortuna area – we highly recommend Sky Adventures. The zip line course consists of seven lines total. Five of the lines are long runs. There are also two short runs that start and end the course. Our favorite line was the first long run, which is the tallest zip line in Costa Rica! Tickets can be purchased on the Sky Adventures website or on Viator.
What else is there to do in Costa Rica?
If you have more time in Costa Rica, we recommend heading to Manuel Antonio after visiting La Fortuna. Check out our 9-Day Costa Rica Itinerary for more information!
Disclaimer: All information presented in this post was accurate at the time of our trip. Attractions, availability, circumstances, operating hours, prices, etc. are subject to change and this post may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Readers are advised to do their due diligence in researching the location prior to travel. Hyperlink content may be out-of-date and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Scenic Sites unless otherwise noted.
Visited January 2025 | Posted March 2025
