How to get to La Fortuna
You can get to La Fortuna by private driver, rental car, shuttle bus or local bus. The cheapest opinion, that is also safe, is by taking the local bus. The bus will only cost you about 5 USD, but it will be a lot less comfortable than a shuttle. Oftentimes you don’t have air-conditioning and it takes about 4-6 hours until you arrive. Driving in a rental car should cost you about 30-60 USD for petrol and will take you about 2,5h to get to La Fortuna. The shuttle bus takes about the same time as by driving in a rental car and will cost you about 5-60 USD.
Getting around in La Fortuna
La Fortuna is a small town, so the best way to get around is by walking. If you’re staying in the town all the cafes and restaurants are within walking distance. Another option would be by renting a bike, but you’ll have to ride on the street.
7 Best Things to do in La Fortuna
La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall is only a 20 minute drive from the town and one of the best waterfalls you can find in the area. The entrance to the waterfall costs 18 USD per person and the hike itself is pretty easy. It’s basically a lot of steps going down and a lot of steps going up. The waterfall drops about 70-75 meters and is at the base of the Chato volcano, close to the Arenal volcano. Exploring this area feels like another avatar world. Next to the waterfall is a spot where you can swim. The water is super refreshing and clear.
Rope swing
There’s a small waterfall with a rope swing, only about 10 minutes driving or 30 minutes walking from La Fortuna. It’s one of the free activities in town and a super fun place to visit. The only thing you should keep in mind is that the currents can get really strong if it’s raining a lot. If you enjoy a little bit of adrenaline you will love the rope swing.
Arenal volcano
On the base of Arenal volcano you can do plenty of hikes and it’s a fantastic spot to see a lot of tropical birds. The hikes are really easy and feel more like a walk in nature. The entrance to the national park is 15 USD per person.
Rio Celeste
Rio Celeste is a river in the Tenorio Volcano National Park of Costa Rica and an incredible spot to go hiking. This national park is about 1,5 h from La Fortuna and the best way to get here is by car. There is one big waterfall with a winding path going down. This is an incredible spot, not only because you’re in the middle of the national park, but also because there’s a lot less tourists here. Apart from the waterfall there are more hikes you can do in this park. It’s another amazing way to enjoy nature and to spot some rare animals. The water is slightly acidic, so I wouldn’t recommend you to swim here. In my opinion this is the most beautiful waterfall you will find around La Fortuna.
Baldi Hot Springs
La Fortuna is famous for its hot springs. Most hot springs are in hotels and resorts and you can buy a day pass to enjoy them. The best paid hot spring you can visit in La Fortuna is at Baldi. This hotel has 25 thermal water pools and is one of the biggest hot springs in town. A day pass is 27 USD per person and it’s absolutely worth it. I would plan to spend at least 4 hours here, but you can easily spend all day in the hot springs. Each of them varies in temperature and has a unique style. There are also bars and restaurants with really good cocktails.
Cerro Chato Hike
The Cerro Chato Hike is a forbidden hike in La Fortuna that you can do at your own risk. If you’re wondering why it’s so worth it, let me just tell you to swim on top of an active volcano – how often do you get the chance to do that? The hike is definitely challenging, but if you love hiking this will be a lot of fun.
Getting to the volcano should take about 1,5h – 2h, depending on your fitness level. I personally loved the hike, but it’s definitely not for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend doing this hike on a rainy day, because the path could literally be flooded, which would make the hike very difficult. On a sunny (or cloudy) day it’s an amazing hike.
El Choyin - Free Hot Springs
El Choyin is the only free hot spring in La Fortuna and the best thing about it is that it’s a river. Have you ever sat in a hot river? This is a really amazing experience, especially at night. If you decide to visit it at night I would recommend you to bring some candles and your own drinks. You need to pay for the official parking spot, but if you drive a little farther you can park next to the road – for free.
Best restaurants & cafes
Chocolate Fusion
Chocolate Fusion is the best cafe in town to eat some pastries, try chocolate and drink coffee. Honestly this was the best coffee I had in my life! If you drink coffee like this one you wouldn’t even think about adding flavor like caramel, because the coffee itself is so tasty!
Kappa Sushi
Kappa Sushi has these big sushi boats that are perfect for sharing! The restaurant is super beautiful and the staff is friendly. What I really like about this restaurant is that they have a lot of vegetarian and vegan options. AND the wine is so tasty!
Italianissimo La Fortuna
The best Italian restaurant in La Fortuna is Italianissimo. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious and the staff is super friendly. I tried the pasta with blue cheese and absolutely loved it!
Where to stay
Selina Hostel
We decided to stay at the Selina hostel in La Fortuna, because it has a coworking space and it’s perfect for digital nomads. The coworking space is fantastic, because three of all four walls are glass windows. There is a lot of sunlight coming in, but not too much, so it’s perfect for working. Apart from that there are always lots of events at the Selina hostel, which makes it easy to meet other travelers here. It’s right next to a creek, so you can work while watching tropical birds. The Yoga studio is outside and also right next to the creek.
Watch it on YouTube
Watch my video about La Fortuna:
La Fortuna is really an amazing spot to visit. What I enjoyed most besides sightseeing was working while watching tropical birds, eating really good food at different restaurants and spending a really amazing time with my friends. As always, it’s the little things that make a difference. If you love nature you will love La Fortuna.
