Arenal
Costa Rica · Alajuela Province
Volcano country. Cloud-forest rainforest meets thermal hot springs, waterfall rappels, and the symmetrical cone of Arenal Volcano looming over the La Fortuna valley. Base for adventure activities; rafting, rappel canyoning, sloth walks, hot-spring evenings.
Overview
Costa Rica's volcano capital, at the foot of the perfectly conical Arenal.
La Fortuna sits in the Northern Lowlands beneath a 1,633-metre stratovolcano. The cone stopped erupting in 2010 but its geothermal plumbing still feeds dozens of hot-spring resorts and a ring of rainforest reserves around the lake.
- Hot springs — from luxury Tabacón to free river pools off Route 142
- La Fortuna Waterfall — 70m drop, 500 steps down through cloud-forest
- Sky Adventures hanging bridges — canopy-level walking through primary rainforest
- Lake Arenal — windsurfing, kayaking, and sportfishing for rainbow bass
- Wildlife — sloths, toucans, coatis, and poison-dart frogs along most trails
Best time to visit
December through April is the dry season — clearest views of the volcano cone and the most reliable weather for hanging bridges, waterfall hikes, and Lake Arenal kayaking. May through November is the green season: lush rainforest, lower prices, afternoon storms, and waterfalls at full force.
Guides for Arenal
- Where to Stay in La Fortuna: The Ultimate Hotel Guide (2026) · Where to stay
- The Complete Arenal & La Fortuna Travel Guide (2026) · Planning
- Best Arenal Luxury Hotels for an Elevated Costa Rica Experience (2026) · Where to stay
- Breakfast before an early Arenal tour: what actually works · Things to do
- Why smart hikers stop asking which Arenal trail is best · Things to do
- Top 5 Arenal Tours: The Ones We Actually Book for Ourselves (2026) · Things to do
- Arenal Hot Springs: Which One Is Right for You? (2026 Comparison) · Things to do
- Best Breakfast in La Fortuna: 6 Spots We Actually Eat At (2026) · Things to do
- Discovering the Rich Culture of the Maleku Indigenous Tribe in Costa Rica · Things to do
- A late landing at SJO shouldn't cost you your first day in La Fortuna · Getting there
- San Jose to Arenal: How to Get There, Shuttle Prices & Scenic Stops (2026) · Getting there
- Where to Eat in La Fortuna: Sodas, Splurges and How the Bill Works · Planning
- Arenal Itinerary: The Perfect 3–5 Day Adventure Plan · Planning
- Top 21 Reasons to Visit The Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna [2026 Guide] · Planning
- Top 10 Best Zip Line Tours in Costa Rica (Monteverde, Arenal & Manuel Antonio) · Things to do
- La Fortuna to Monteverde: Shuttle, Taxi-Boat-Taxi & Best Route (2026) · Getting there
- How to Get to Manuel Antonio from SJO, Arenal & Monteverde (2026) · Getting there
- How to Get to Monteverde from SJO, Arenal & Manuel Antonio (2026) · Getting there
- Monteverde vs La Fortuna: Which Costa Rica Destination Is Better for You? (2026 Guide) · Planning
Experiences
Arenal 12 Zipline Cables Experience Fly over La Fortuna Waterfall
From $107.18 per person
Bungee Jumping Arenal Adventure
From $90 per person
Arenal Sky Tram
From $51 per person
La Leona Waterfall Tour: Guided Adventure Hike
From $35 per person
Río Celeste Hike
From $50 per person
Canopy Zipline Arenal
From $93 per person
Mistico Hanging Bridges | Guided Tour
From $50 per person
Bird Watching Tour
From $55 per person
Maleku Village Traditional Tour
From $65 per person
Arenal Volcano Guided Hike
From $60 per person
Sloth Watching Trail
From $60 per person
La Roca Canyoning
From $99 per person
Lake Arenal Boat, Jet Ski and Paddleboard Combo
From $400 per group (up to 9)
Lake Arenal Rainbow Bass Fishing (Half Day)
From $490 per group (up to 3)
Wakeboarding, Tubing or Foiling on Lake Arenal
From $250 per group (up to 4)
Lake Arenal Private Pontoon Cruise
From $250 per group (up to 6)
Lake Arenal Private Deck Boat Cruise with Paddleboards
From $180 per group (up to 4)
Lake Arenal Premium Pontoon Cruise with Gourmet Board
From $480 per group (up to 6)
Jet Ski Rental on Lake Arenal
From $120 per person
Paddleboard or Kayaking
From $85 per person
Private Canyoning Tour in La Fortuna
From $170 per person
Hot Springs at Arenal Volcano
From $49 per person
Arenal Rafting - Sarapiqui River White Water Rafting Class IV (Extreme)
From $85 per person
Arenal Rafting - Rio Sarapiqui Class III (Afternoon Tour)
From $70 per person
Arenal Rafting - Rio La Balsa White Water Rafting Class III & IV
From $85 per person
Arenal Rafting Tour – Balsa River Class 2 & 3
From $65 per person
Arenal ATV Adventure
From $105 per person
Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall
From $75 per person
Rio Celeste Tubing
From $50 per person
Arenal 4 in 1 Combo Tour | Bridges, Waterfall & Hot Springs
From $155 per person
Jungle Night Walk | Arenal
From $55 per person
Coffee Tour Arenal
From $30 per person
Coffee & Chocolate Tour Arenal
From $50 per person
Chocolate Tour Arenal
From $30 per person
Getting around
Private Transfer: Tamarindo to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $300 per vehicle (up to 4)
Private Transfer: Tortuguero (La Pavona Dock) to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $228 per vehicle (up to 4)
Private Transfer: Liberia Airport (LIR) to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $228 per vehicle (up to 4)
Shared Shuttle: Tamarindo to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $62 per person
Shared Shuttle: Liberia to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $62 per person
Private Transfer: Rio Celeste to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $180 per vehicle (up to 4)
Private Transfer: Monteverde to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $228 per vehicle (up to 4)
Private Transfer: Manuel Antonio to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $312 per vehicle (up to 4)
Private Transfer: Puerto Viejo to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $506 per vehicle (up to 4)
Shared Shuttle: Manuel Antonio to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $62 per person
Shared Shuttle: Monteverde to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $61 per person
Private Transfer: Arenal / La Fortuna to Rio Celeste
From $180 per vehicle (up to 4)
Shared Shuttle: San Jose Airport (SJO) to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $60 per person
Shared Shuttle: Cahuita to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $70 per person
Shared Shuttle: Puerto Viejo to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $70 per person
Shared Shuttle: Punta Uva / Manzanillo to Arenal / La Fortuna
From $70 per person
Gallery
Practical facts
- Local time
- UTC-6 · Same time as Costa Rica
- Region
- Alajuela Province
- Main language
- Spanish
- On the map
- 10.47° N, 84.65° W
Near Arenal
- Monteverde · 26 km away
- Puntarenas · 58 km away
- Alajuela · 69 km away
- San Jose · 86 km away
- Liberia · 89 km away
- Tambor · 93 km away
More of Costa Rica
Pura vida is a way of life in this small Central American republic where 28% of the land sits under protection.
Explore Costa Rica · Liberia · San Jose · Monteverde · Tamarindo · Alajuela
Where to stay
Nayara Springs - Adults Only
10/10 · 336 reviews
Nayara Tented Camp
10/10 · 242 reviews
Villas Jawara
10/10 · 27 reviews
Amor Arenal Adults Friendly
9.8/10 · 276 reviews
BAUMA
9.8/10 · 241 reviews
Noah's Forest by Tifakara
9.8/10 · 240 reviews
Nayara Gardens
9.7/10 · 394 reviews
Hotel El Silencio del Campo
9.6/10 · 1160 reviews
Tifakara by the Waterfall
9.6/10 · 790 reviews
Hotel Boutique Casa Del Rio
9.6/10 · 128 reviews