La Fortuna is a small town, northwest of the country’s capital, San José. Learn everything you need to know about this small town with my complete visitor’s guide. La Fortuna is a district in the San Carlos canton of the Alajuela province in northwest Costa Rica. It sits at an elevation of 253 meters (830 feet). As of 2020, the town has a population of 19,004 inhabitants. It has become one of the country’s tourism capitals.
The original name of La Fortuna was “El Burío”. Founded in the mid 1930’s by settlers from Ciudad Quesada in the Grecia canton of Alajuela. The name was later changed to the name it holds today, which translates to “The Fortune”. La Fortuna is a fitting name thanks to the ample supply of tourist attractions and extra fertile lands. It wasn’t until February 5th, 1952, that the town was officially created by Decreto Ejecutivo 15.
In 1968, Arenal erupted to the west, causing extensive damage and 82 casualties. Luckily, said eruption did not reach La Fortuna. This left the town unharmed while changing the geography of the region. A small group of people established town. They went on to dedicate their resources to cultivating and developing the land.
Climate
La Fortuna is in the Tropics, where the climate does not vary too much. The region experiences 12+ hours of daylight year-round and it doesn’t matter what season it’s in. The dry season is the shortest, registering in at 3 months. It experiences more direct and intense sunlight with higher average temperatures. The max recorded temperature during the dry season is 29°C (84.1°F).
Wet season is a little longer, from April 3rd to December 28th. It has a higher humidity and is often perceived as warmer. The average temperature sticks between 20-26°C (68-78°F). The rainiest month is generally September, averaging 6.2 inches of rain.
Getting Here and Around
Getting to and around La Fortuna is simple. There are daily buses to and from San José, and Upala for access to the Rio Celeste National Park. When coming from San José, head to the north terminal, Terminal 7-10. Take a bus headed to Ciudad Quesada, where you’ll make the easy transfer inside the terminal. The trip should cost around 4,000 CRC ($6.34 USD) in total.
Nomad America
The best option for getting around La Fortuna is a rental car. This will be one of the most expensive options. Yet, when done right, it will include accommodations. Therefore, I recommend looking into Nomad America. My friends and I rented one for 10 days, and it was by far the best option for getting around Costa Rica. It is pricey but gives the flexibility to get anywhere in the country without contention.
Taxis are the cheaper option, but they’re still pricey. Taxis queue on the east side of Town Park, in the center of La Fortuna. Uber is also available and can be a little cheaper than a taxi. An Uber is significantly cheaper than the Red Taxis used for long-distance. Taking an Uber is convenient, but only possible with a connection to internet.
Hot Springs
Take any of these options to visit one of the local hot springs. Choose between one of the posh resorts. Or be more adventurous and visit a free Hot Spring off the side of the highway. Split a taxi, take a rideshare, or plug “Free Natural Hot Springs” into Google Maps. The main springs are along a river, west of town, on the side of a highway. Be prepared to pay a small parking fee. At the time of my visit, in July 2022, parking cost 5000 CRC ($7.93 USD) per vehicle.
Things To Do
As the name suggests, La Fortuna has plenty of things to do with an activity for everyone. Especially for the outdoor, nature loving traveler. Tourist attractions include ATV/dirt bike rentals, canyoning, and exploring “Hanging Bridges”. There’s hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, and several hot spring resorts with spa services.
There are butterfly farms, the “El Salto” swimming hole, and a 70-meter (230-foot) waterfall called “La Catarata de La Fortuna”. Don’t miss out on the mountain biking, standup paddle boarding, and all the ziplining courses too. Also, if there’s time, there’s the “Sky Tram”, the Venado Cave tours, two volcanoes, and whitewater rafting as well.
Two Volcanoes
The two volcanoes are the gems of the region. They created the fertile lands while dominating the landscape. Volcán Arenal is often cited as one of the top 10-20 most active volcanoes in the world. La Fortuna sits east of the peak and less than 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the 1,670-meter (5,480-foot) Volcán Arenal. Also, it is less than 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the entrance of Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal (Arenal Volcano National Park). Entrance to the National Park costs $15+tax for adults and $5+tax for children.
There is a second volcano in the park, the dormant Cerro Chato. Chato has two peaks, Chatito (little Chato) and Espina (Thorn). Elevation reaches 1,140 meters (3,740 feet), with the first eruption occurring around 35,000 years ago. The last eruption occurred around 3,500 years ago. Its crater has a green lake that is popular for swimming in. The hike to get there is often referred to as a climb rather than a hike and can take upwards of five hours to complete. If it rains, the trails become small rivers and are difficult to navigate.
My Experience
The first time I visited was May 2017. When I discovered Costa Rica’s disastrous public transportation system. I needed to travel through San José to get to La Fortuna from Liberia. So, I hired a private driver/taxi from the Liberia bus terminal for $60 USD. My driver dropped me off at my hostel in Monteverde around four hours later. My first visit included climbing Cerro Chato with a swim in the green lagoon. I also went whitewater rafting and concluded the visit with a soak in the free roadside hot springs.
This visit was a little different. My friends and I tried to visit the 70 meter (230 foot) La Fortuna Waterfall. Our group decided against the waterfall as the entrance fee is $20. We agreed that we’ve seen large waterfalls and decided to skip it this time around. Instead, we chose to fill our time with a nature walk on the Bogarin Trail for Sloths Sloths and More Sloths.
The Bogarin Trail – Sloths Sloths and More Sloths
The Bogarin Trail is an easy 2.5-kilometer (1.5-mile) trail through a cloud forest. The name of the trail is why we stopped. It promises a plethora of sloths, and we were not disappointed. We got to see 16 during our walk that lasted two hours. The entrance fees vary depending on what the group chooses to do. Entrance to the trail is $15 USD per person for both adults and kids, while infants get in for free. Children are between the ages of 3-12. Anyone older is an adult.
A guided tour cost $35 per adult and $20 per child but includes the entrance in the fee. The fee includes a guide, a spotting scope for wildlife, and a fresh fruit snack at the end. The trail is one of my favorite highlights from Costa Rica. It’s simple but features a variety of unique flora and fauna that I’ve not seen before. Visitors can see many species that are endemic to Costa Rica.
They feature both species of sloths and various colorful frogs. There have many species of toucans, bullet ants, and everything in-between. The nature reserve connects to the cloud forest. Animals can transit in and out, while visitors explore manicured paths. These paths make the forest more accessible. Visitors get the opportunity to catch a glimpse into their unique ecosystems.
Cerro Chato
We took the last day to explore Cerro Chato and hike to its green crater lagoon. Unfortunately, we took too much time packing up camp and did not begin the hike until close to midday. Because of this, we were not able to make it to the lagoon. Yet, we did enjoy a strenuous climb through the cloud forest.
We got to see a beautiful variety of the flora, while soaking up incredible views of Volcán Arenal. When we finished, we hit up the Free Hot Springs along the highway, west of La Fortuna. We soaked our muscles and melted them into relaxation. I don’t believe that we could have been happier after the exhausting afternoon climb.
Final Thoughts
I love everything about the La Fortuna region. It’s an incredible town with magical views of the lake, and the volcanoes that tower over it. This is the perfect destination for anyone that loves the great outdoors. It’s perfect for both an adrenaline rush and a relaxing afternoon. Be sure to soak in La Fortuna’s healing waters, heated by the region’s geothermal activity. Regardless of the reason to visit, it’s a destination that should not get skipped. Do yourself a favor and book that trip to Costa Rica today. Don’t forget to stop into La Fortuna along the way!
Quick Notes:
- Bus from San José to La Fortuna from Terminal 7-10: 4000 CRC ($6.34 USD) one-way
- Private diver/taxi from Liberia to La Fortuna: $60 one-way
- Renting a car? Check out Nomad America
- “Free Natural Hot Springs” parking: 5000 CRC ($7.93 USD)
- Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal entrance fees: Adults-$15+tax Kids-$5+tax
- Bogarin Trail trail entrance fee: Adults and kids-$15 per person
- Bogarin Trail private tour: Adults-$35 per person Children (ages 3-12)-$20 per person Infants are Free
