La Fortuna & Arenal Holidays

Where are La Fortuna and Arenal?
La Fortuna is a small town in the Northern Highlands of Costa Rica, backed by the magnificent Arenal Volcano. The drive from San José’s international airport takes around two and a half hours, and the cloud forest mountains of Monteverde make a great next stop – approximately three hours away by car.

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La Fortuna & Arenal Wildlife
La Fortuna is an idyllic spot to scout out some of Costa Rica’s most extraordinary wildlife, from crocodiles to howler monkeys. Here for the sloths? La Fortuna’s Sloth Watching Trail will guide you through the rainforest in search of these sleepy creatures, often found snoozing on tree branches. You can head out on night-time nature treks to look out for nocturnal wildlife like the famous red-eyed tree frog, or wake up early for birdwatching hikes. More than 500 bird species soar through the skies around La Fortuna, with toucans, tanagers, parrots and parakeets frequently sighted.

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Natural wonders
Nature weaves its way around every corner of La Fortuna, with Arenal Volcano the centrepiece of this striking town. It’s a naturalist’s playground. One day you’ll be following a guide on a hike through Arenal Volcano National Park, listening to toucans singing in the rainforest, and the next you’ll be in the jungle, bathing in the soothing thermal waters of La Fortuna’s hot springs. You can explore Lake Arenal by kayak and picnic on its banks, or swim in the emerald pools of the spectacular La Fortuna Waterfall – formed by the lava flow of the now extinct Cerro Chato volcano.

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Activities
There is so much to see and do in La Fortuna, especially if you’re outdoorsy and adventurous. There’s ziplining, white-water rafting, canopy trekking, hiking, abseiling and exhilarating treetop walks across the hanging bridges of Mistico Park and Arenal Volcano. Prefer food to thrills? Treat your tastebuds to a chocolate tour, where you can visit an organic cocoa ranch and learn all about how it’s grown and made while sampling the different varieties. Some tours even invite you to make your own, or swap chocolate for coffee and head out on a caffeine-boosting plantation tour. Lots of our hotels run their own local sightseeing tours, or talk to us and we can secure you a place on some of our favourites.

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Food & drink
The foodie scene in La Fortuna is another reason to fall for this charming town. It’s alive with buzzing breakfast joints, authentic al fresco restaurants, and Insta-worthy cocktail bars. If you want to live and dine like a local, pull up a chair at one of La Fortuna’s open-air sodas (a small family-run restaurant). You can start your day with a traditional order of eggs and gallo pinto (rice and beans), then tuck into a casado for lunch. This mouth-watering plate of meat, rice, black beans, salad and a tortilla is a much-loved local staple. For dinner, try olla de carne (beef stew) or sopa de mariscos (seafood soup), or head to one of La Fortuna’s tasty pizzerias or fine dining restaurants.

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