You'll see lots of beautiful scenery along the way, much of it inaccessible any other way. It's a bit further away, starting near the Caribbean coast, but the warm waters and lush canyons make this one of the best white-water trips in the country. Travelers interested in learning more about Costa Rica's indigenous people should take a day tour to the village of an indigenous tribe.
See where these beautiful artifacts are made. This Arenal-focused expedition packs a lot of outdoor adventure in five days. You'll experience the greatest hits of Arenal Volcano National Park, including swimming in a waterfall lagoon, hiking above misty cloud forests, and soaking in hot springs. For more Arenal trip ideas, see this roundup of great weeklong Costa Rica itineraries. In an afternoon, you can get a feel for the park from one of its hiking trails or hot spring pools, but you'll need a few days to further take advantage of the views and adventure activities that make this region special.
With four days or more, you can add world-class whitewater rafting and indigenous culture excursions to your itinerary. Arenal in an Afternoon Rainforest of La Fortuna If your schedule only allows for half a day in and around La Fortuna, you have lots of options, depending on your preferred level of activity and interests. Arenal in Days Canopy walkway through the forest With days in La Fortuna, you can enjoy the above-mentioned activities, and add some more active or cultural adventures into the mix or both, if you have three days.
Arenal in Days Volcan Arenal as seen from Monteverde As La Fortuna is a great place to base yourself when visiting Costa Rica, there are many day-trip destinations that are easily accessible from here.
Create your custom-made trip to Costa Rica. Popular destinations are known for higher prices, and you can expect to pay a bit more here in Arenal as well. On top of that, you really do pay for everything in Arenal. Our friendly travel advice is to budget a bit more for Arenal. Are you a family of four who wants to visit a waterfall? Well, sure, go ahead, it's 'only' eighty bucks. Do you want to have some fun? What about hanging bridges? Sure, that would be two hundred and fifty dollars.
Tabacon Hot Springs? That's another dollars. And so on. We are not complaining about the fact that prices are higher or that there's a fee; we do not mind contributing to the local economy.
We just want to point out that if you want to visit as many places or try as many activities as possible, the total sum of money you spend here might be much higher than you would have expected. If you are a long-term traveler or budget traveler traveling by public transport, then you might want to plan your trip really carefully or consider skipping the Arenal area entirely.
Even that would be a shame as the region is beautiful, looking for cheaper destinations is the most reasonable way to stay on the budget. Or read our blog post on How to Save Money for Travel.
The old saying that the early bird gets the worm is especially true in Arenal. The best chance to spot wildlife is early in the morning. Also, getting up early will increase your chance of seeing Arenal Volcano in its full glory, as clouds usually roll over it later in the day. You might also visit some attractions outside the peak hours. For example hot springs get super crowded at certain hours.
Arenal offers plenty of things to do to occupy you for a couple of days. From hikes, canopy tours, waterfalls, ecolodges to hot springs or hanging bridges, you sure will have fun in Arenal. It is important to know that it is impossible to see it all. That's why you should plan your itinerary carefully. If you plan on spending one or two weeks in Costa Rica , there's no need to sign up for a similar tour all over again.
The rule of thumb is to select an activity you haven't done before or something that is specific for Arenal. There are currently a dozen hot springs in Arenal accessible to the public, but not all of them are equal. The hot springs boom in Arenal is staggering, and many visitors travel to this area mainly for this experience. Soaking in hot pools really is among the best things to do in Costa Rica. There are some things you should know about hot springs in Arenal first, though.
Hot springs in Arenal are located on private properties, which means a few things. First, they are not free, and even though some are affordable, some are really expensive. Secondly, the hot springs are also adjacent to hotels or resorts, so you can stay there to save some money on the entrance fees. Don't get too excited, most of these places are aware of this fact, and the accommodation prices reflect it.
Thirdly, you can buy a day pass and visit the hot springs without the need to stay in the hotel. This is a perfect opportunity for day visitors who don't want to stay in expensive accommodation. Lastly, there is only one place where you can enjoy the thermal river for free. It's near the Tabacon Hot Springs, but the site gets crowded with both locals and international visitors. Tabacon Hot Springs is the only place in the area that offers a natural river, which means that this place is highly exclusive and offers a bit more distinct experience.
It's also the most luxurious hot spring in Arenal, which means it's also very expensive. The rest of the hot springs drill wells and uses pumps to get the warm water from the underground. Baldi Hot Springs and Springs Resort are top-rated and lively hot springs that feature plenty of thermal pools, restaurants, or bars.
You can even find some cheap hot springs, but expect a lower quality of service. An active stratovolcano amid the tropical rainforest rising to meters, Arenal Volcano is one of its kind. Not that you won't find other volcanoes in Costa Rica or Central America , it's that this one is arguably the most famous one. The perfect conical shape with a surrounding lush green rainforest is incredibly photogenic if you are lucky to see it in its full glory as it's on most days covered by clouds.
People believed that Arenal is dormant for centuries, and then, in , it suddenly erupted. As the result of a massive and violent eruption, the small villages of Tabacon, Pueblo Nuevo, and San Luis were destroyed, and 87 people were killed during the events. Since then, Arenal became one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica until the activity stopped in Though you can't see hot lava flowing from its slopes anymore, the area around the volcano offers plenty of things to do.
Remember that climbing the Arenal Volcano is prohibited for safety reasons. In our opinion, the best way to explore Arenal is on foot. However, hiking in Arenal is not as simple as you would expect. You would think that you simply drive to the ranger station at the official Arenal Volcano National Park entrance and start hiking from there. While this is technically the proper way to explore the national park, soon enough, you will realize that some of the best trails are located on private properties.
And choosing where to go can prove to be quite challenging. Still, the Arenal Volcano National Park is arguably the best place to go hiking, and you won't make a mistake by traveling there. Los Heliconias, Los Tucanes, or Los Miradores are easy to navigate trails you also shouldn't miss while there.
For some, this area offers better trails than the Arenal Volcano National Park, as you can hike through lava fields and have some open views of the volcano along the way. The entrance fee is 17 USD. If you decide on staying at Arenal Observatory Lodge , there are some nice trails around the lodge with waterfalls and plenty of wildlife as well.
Five hundred steps will take you down to the base of a Catarata Rio Fortuna, a beautiful waterfall plunging into a crystal clear pool from a height of 70 meters. You can swim at some places in the river, so make sure to bring a swimsuit. It takes about ten to fifteen minutes to hike down to La Fortuna Waterfall and anything between fifteen to thirty minutes to get back. If you have bad knees, remember that you will also have to climb back, though the trail is paved.
The water is cold and refreshing, making a perfect combination on a hot day to escape the heat. If you bring a swimsuit, remember that the changing rooms are at the entrance, not at the waterfall. Also, you are not allowed to swim near the waterfall, if that's on your mind. And that's our biggest issue with this place. In our opinion, as we travel on a budget, seeing a waterfall for eighteen bucks is simply way too expensive. If you haven't seen a waterfall in your life, then you will love it.
Otherwise, we would go somewhere else especially if you travel on a strict itinerary , as Costa Rica offers better waterfalls for lower prices, such as Rio Celeste in Tenorio Volcano National Park some of them are even free. Since the expansion, Arenal Lake is the largest lake in Costa Rica. Due to the perfect weather conditions, the lake is a popular spot for all sorts of activities, and you shouldn't miss it. Strong winds attract kite surfers and windsurfers from all over the world, and you might be surprised that this lake offers better conditions than many coastal areas.
Kayaking and paddleboarding are fun activities for active travelers who want to get some exercise while exploring the area. If you want to stay on the shores, there is always the possibility of hiking, horseback riding, or biking. Bird watching is also popular there, and some of the best spots are right near the Lake Arenal shores. Recreational fishing is another leisure activity you can try at Lake Arenal, as the waters are rich with rainbow basses.
If you travel from the Monteverde Cloud Forest area, the private shuttles include boat rides to cut the travel time. Here we actually have a funny story from Arenal Lake, when our boat broke down in the middle of the lake, and we had to be rescued by another boat. Fortunately, everyone was safe, and at least we could enjoy more time on the lake and soak up the views. Chato Volcano is a beautiful inactive volcano next to the Arenal with a water-filled crater that first erupted 38 years ago.
The volcano rises to meters and is set in a dense, lush green forest, which is home to many animal species and plants. But first things first. The official trail that starts at Arenal Observatory Lodge is closed, and it's illegal to climb there. This 2. Keep in mind that you can always do this portion of the loop trail first if you want to save the lookout for the end.
On the other side of the loop trail is the Heliconias Trail. This is a flat m 2, ft trail that winds through the secondary growth forest. Along the way, look out for wildlife like howler monkeys or a Bare-necked Umbrellabird. You can also see Arenal from a different angle on an Arenal Observatory Tour. While the volcano itself is definitely the main attraction, there are lots of other things to do in Arenal, Costa Rica.
Rafting on Rio Balsa with the crew from Desafio Adventures was one of the highlights of our time in Arenal. It was an exhilarating hours ride that offered just enough fun and adrenaline!
The first part of the river adventure was rather full-on, while the second half was more laid back offering a chance to sit back and admire the beautiful natural setting around us. Here are a few of the best hot springs in Arenal. Tabacon Costa Rica offers visitors access to dozens of hot spring pools in a lush Garden of Eden type of setting.
If you can afford to splurge, we highly recommend dedicating a whole day to soaking in Tabacon hot springs. Baldi Hot Springs is the second most popular choice for hot springs in town. The Baldi hot springs are known to attract a younger more budget-conscious crowd and offer a more upbeat setting. Eco-Thermales is the third hot springs option available in town.
This resort is much smaller in size than Tabacon and Baldi and offers another alternative for a budget-conscious traveler. Lake Arenal sits at the base of the Arenal Volcano and offers a number of activities to the curious visitor. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for the many fish that live in the lake. Windsurfing or Kitesurfing — these activities are only available in the windy season Jan-Mar. Swimming — Since most people focus on fishing and water sports, many wonder, is it safe to swim in Lake Arenal Costa Rica?
The water is nice and clean and makes for the perfect cool dip after a day of hiking. As the lake offers a unique perspective on the area surrounding Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica and the volcano itself. Located just 6 km 3. The trail to La Fortuna waterfall runs through a lush tropical forest, then emerges some 20 min later at a set of steps leading to the base of the waterfall. Bring a bathing suit and enjoy a refreshing dip in the base of the falls or join others for a picnic on the rocks.
Hours are from a. Cerro Chato volcano is not as well known as its famous brother, Arenal, but it does offer a unique opportunity to hike up to and inside the crater.
Exploring the Costa Rican rainforest from high up in the trees is one of the best ways to see wildlife without disturbing it. Swapping the underwater jungle for its land equivalent, you can trek through the foothills of Arenal Volcano , bathe in the hot springs and further discover the region by means of canopy walkways hanging high above the forest floor and rafting trips along the Sarapiqui River. In the far north, close to the border of Nicaragua and cut off from the rest of the country except by boat and plane, lies Tortuguero National Park.
Intersected by languid waterways, turtles nest on its stretches of sand, while jaguars inhabit its forests and caiman its river banks. For more ideas, check out our recommended 5-day itinerary in Costa Rica. You can also browse our entire list of 4-day and 3-day tours in Costa Rica.
A one-week Costa Rica vacation itinerary lets you explore the country in even more detail. Part of Las Baulas National Park, Tamarindo is an eco-friendly resort where the calls of the howler monkey and exotic birds echo through the warm air, and leatherback turtles struggle up the beach to ancient nesting sites.
Turtles are also one of the draws for those visiting Tortuga Island. Sail to the island for a day of luxurious adventure. It is also possible to discover the surrounding area of the famed Nicoya Peninsula — where you can find not only beaches but stunning mangroves and coastal waterways too.
For more ideas, check out our recommended Costa Rica itineraries for a week. You can also browse our entire list of 7-day tours in Costa Rica.
Absorb all that a Costa Rica itinerary has to offer with a day stay.
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