Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna
Rising 1,670 metres above the northern lowlands, Arenal is Costa Rica's most iconic peak — a near-perfect cone draped in cloud forest that still vents steam and occasional lava flows. The town of La Fortuna at its base is your launchpad for some of the most dramatic nature experiences in Central America.
The Volcano Up Close
Arenal Volcano National Park's main hiking loop, the Sendero Coladas trail, winds through hardened lava fields from the 1968 eruption where you can still see the raw, black rock slowly being reclaimed by ferns and bromeliads.
On clear mornings — typically before 10 am — the cone emerges perfectly from the cloud cover, so set your alarm early and position yourself on the park's western observation platform for an unobstructed view.
Hot Springs and Waterfall Rewards
After the hike, soak in the geothermally heated Rio Chollin at Baldi Hot Springs or the more intimate Eco Termales, where temperatures range from 37°C to 42°C and the jungle presses right up to the pools.
Catarata La Fortuna, a 70-metre waterfall a short drive from town, rewards the 500-step descent with a thundering curtain of white water and a cool, turquoise swimming hole — one of the most photogenic spots in the country.
Getting There and Timing
La Fortuna is roughly 3.5 hours by bus or 2.5 hours by private shuttle from San José. The dry season (December to April) offers the clearest skies, but even in the green season the volcano reveals itself briefly most mornings.
Stay at least two nights to fit in the park, the waterfall, and an evening hot-springs soak — trying to cram it into a day trip means you will almost certainly miss the volcano emerging from the clouds.
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