If you look at a postcard of Costa Rica, it’s likely to feature an image from the Arenal region: the perfectly triangular Arenal volcano, the 200-foot tall La Fortuna waterfall, or the nearby hanging bridges of the cloud forest. With such stunning landscapes and unique biodiversity, there’s no shortage of outdoor activities in the Arenal region of Costa Rica.
Here are my top things to do in Arenal, Costa Rica!
Top Things to do in Arenal, Costa Rica
Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall
The gorgeous 200-foot La Fortuna waterfall has become synonymous with Costa Rica travel – no trip to this region would be complete without visiting it! It was one of the sites I was most looking forward to visiting in Costa Rica. The humbling experience of being at the base of such a large, powerful cascade of water in the middle of the jungle was better than I imagined.
Entrance information
That being said, La Fortuna does get quite packed with tourists. To get the best experience, arrive as early as possible to avoid the crowds. When we arrived at 10:00 AM, there were enough people there to make it feel crowded. We had to wait in line for a picture without people, which really diluted the experience.
A local nonprofit manages the maintenance of the area to ensure it remains protected from overtourism. Therefore, there is an $18 entrance fee for foreigners ($9 for locals). This entrance fee gives you access to hike down to the base of the waterfall, swim in the river, and visit a butterfly garden. Plan to spend about two hours here to enjoy all the area has to offer.
The stairs just never end…
The hike
The hike down to the waterfall is infamous – before I visited, I had heard all about the 530 steps you have to climb down (and back up!) to get to the base. Needless to say, I was intimidated. However, when we arrived, we found people of all ages and fitness levels making the climb. While it was a challenging climb, it’s definitely doable! The hike down the stairs was quite steep and the steps are slick from the mist and rain from the falls, but they were well maintained. On the way back up there are plenty of spots to stop and catch your breath. Overall, it took us about 10 minutes to climb down and 20 minutes to climb back up (and we stopped multiple times).
You’ll see the waterfall for the first time just past the entrance at the top of the stairs to the base. It looks small from here, but don’t be let down – you’ll get up close and personal soon. As you descend the stairs, you’ll get glimpses through the trees of the waterfall getting ever closer.
The view of the waterfall from the top of the stairs. It looks small from here!
Views of the falls
Once at the bottom of the stairs, there are numerous vantage points for you to explore. The main viewpoint is right at the base of the falls and you will see many people taking pictures there. There’s also a higher vantage point to the right of the falls on a viewing platform. Finally, you can walk down some stairs to your left and swim in the river. If you go far enough up river, you’ll see the falls from a distance. This area was where most people were swimming as it was shallow and calm, whereas the water beneath the waterfall was quite rough. Many people stow their belongings behind the rocks or by trees while swimming. It generally felt safe, but as always, keep an eye on your belongings.
If you’re planning to spend a lot of time in the water, you should bring a towel and wear quick drying clothes or a swimsuit. I would also consider water shoes because the rocks are jagged and slippery. There’s a changing area at the top of the steps near the entrance that’s well-maintained. Remember that anything you take down the steps you have to bring back up so lighter is better!
I would recommend either driving to the waterfall or taking a bus or taxi as opposed to walking from the town. While it may not look far on a map, it is quite a hilly area and you still need to get down and up 500 stairs!
Stop for lunch at a traditional soda
Make sure to stop in the town of La Fortuna for a traditional Costa Rican lunch at a soda, or local mom-and-pop style restaurant. The thing to order is casado, a typical Costa Rican lunch dish that includes rice, beans, cooked veggies, and a protein, alongside a salad and roasted plantains. It’s inexpensive and delicious!
I couldn’t get enough of these fun hanging bridges!
Walk in the clouds at Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is a nature preserve in the mountains of La Fortuna, approximately 30 minutes from La Fortuna Waterfall. This park allows visitors to hike sustainably through the forest and experience Costa Rica’s biodiversity up close. Most spectacularly, the two-mile trail around the park includes 20 hanging bridges that wind you through the forest’s canopy. Talk about a bird’s-eye view of this beautiful region!
The trail was easy to moderate with some elevation gain throughout. During the rainy season, it can get quite muddy. While the park requires closed toed shoes, I recommend wearing hiking shoes with good traction to make your hike easier and more enjoyable!
The hanging bridges were one of my favorite experiences in Costa Rica. They were unlike any other hike I had been on before, and the views were spectacular. While the bridges are very safe, some of them are quite high up and they do bounce and sway as you walk across them, so keep this in mind if you’re afraid of heights!
Hot springs were just what we needed after a long day of hiking. These were at our hotel.
Soak in the Hot Springs
Arenal is filled with naturally-occurring hot springs that were formed after some major volcanic eruptions at Arenal in the 1960s. These springs are perfect for soaking sore muscles (especially after a long day of hiking).
Many hotels in the area have hot springs on their properties that you can use. Even if you’re not staying at the property, hotels such as Tabacon, Hotel Los Lagos, and The Springs Resort sell day passes for visitors to access their pools. There are also several nice hot springs not associated with a hotel, such as EcoTermales.
Passes to the hot springs can get pricey, so luckily there is also one free hot spring in La Fortuna – the Tabacon River! To find it, you can park on the road near the Tabacon building and walk across the road and down about 100 meters. Definitely arrive early in the day to beat the crowds (and find a parking spot along the road).
There’s a volcano up there somewhere…
Hike the Arenal 1968 Trail
You can’t leave La Fortuna without getting up close and personal with Arenal Volcano! Until 2010, Arenal was one of the most active volcanoes in the world. While it hasn’t erupted recently, it is technically still an active volcano, and therefore access to the top is restricted. Luckily, there are several hiking options near the base. The best places to do this are Arenal National Park and the Arenal 1968 park. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to visit both, so we chose to go to the Arenal 1968 park, which has trails that weave through the lava fields left by the 1968 eruption.
Entrance information
The Arenal 1968 trails are located within a private reserve adjacent to Arenal National Park. There are two trails you can take within the park. We hiked the shorter Lava Flow trail, which is only 2.4 miles and offers the same vistas as the longer trail.
Rainy, rocky, and uphill – the perfect recipe to make me grumpy.
The hike
The trail is not well-maintained and is often filled with rocks, roots, and mud, so be prepared for a workout! I definitely recommend wearing hiking shoes with good traction and bringing a light rain coat as it is often rainy, misty, and humid.
I’ll be honest – between the rough trail and the rain, I had a bad attitude during the first half of the hike. The hike was more challenging than I expected (and I was still sore from the day before!) and the humidity and mist was uncomfortable. However, a little over halfway through the trail, we rounded a corner and climbed a final steep set of rocks and were rewarded with beautiful vistas that made the climb completely worth it. From here we could see Arenal Volcano towering in front of us, Arenal lake across the landscape, and lava fields and forest sprawling out below. Even on a cloudy day, it was gorgeous.
It’s often cloudy and misty in this region, and therefore depending on the time of year or even the time of day the volcano summit is often covered in mist (as it unfortunately was when we visited). I think it’s still worth it to complete the hike and walk through the lava fields!
At the end of the trail is another viewpoint as well as a small restaurant. There are well-maintained restrooms and a water refill station at the trailhead.
Hike to the Rio Celeste Waterfall
While a little farther out from Arenal than the rest of the things to do in this post, if time allows, I would highly recommend driving north to Rio Celeste waterfall. This lesser known waterfall within Tenorio Volcano National Park has naturally-occurring turquoise waters that are unbelievably beautiful. Before you go, be sure to check the day’s forecast from the Tenorio Volcano National Park Facebook page, as cloudy or rainy weather conditions can dilute the color of the water.
While the entrance to the waterfall is only 30 minutes from the trailhead, there are additional trails past the waterfall that you can hike as well.
As with the other hiking trails in Costa Rica, they can get quite rough and muddy, so I recommend hiking boots!
Can’t get enough of those La Fortuna views.
Know Before You Go
This region is incredibly popular during the weeks between Christmas and New Years, as well as around Easter. These are the times when Americans come down to vacation during the holidays. Prices skyrocket during this time, so if you can, avoid visiting during these peak times! However, even during non-peak season, prices in Costa Rica will likely be higher than most other Central American countries (especially near popular tourist destinations). Be sure to factor this into your budget. During our visit, prices for meals and hotels were near the same as we would pay at home in the U.S.
Additionally, due to the large number of American tourists that visit, prices are often listed in Colónes and USD. Dollars are accepted as cash in many locations.
Cell phone service was spotty throughout much of this area. I recommend downloading any maps and reference materials you need before leaving home!
Getting There
Most tourists fly into Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO, not to be confused with California’s San Jose airport!). This airport is located on the western side of Costa Rica’s capital city, San Jose. From here, you can take a local bus to Arenal, or my preferred option, rent a car. While there are many tour companies that can take you sightseeing around the country, for the ultimate freedom to come and go as you please, I recommend renting a car. We used Adobe, a popular local agency.
Costa Rica is a fairly small country with tons of things to do outside of Arenal, so it’s easy to visit multiple destinations on one trip, like we did during our Costa Rican road trip!
I could float here forever.
Where to Stay
There are a ton of hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs in this area. We splurged on a luxury hotel here, Nayara Tented Camp (it was one of the best places we’ve ever stayed, I cannot recommend it enough!), but there is something for everyone’s price range.
Packing Considerations
It is fairly humid in Costa Rica year round, so pack breathable clothing. We brought very light raincoats that were perfect for protecting us from the odd rainshower, but light enough that we weren’t too warm. I also recommend exercise clothes for hiking and hiking shoes if you have them. They will make the trails (which can sometimes be muddy during rainy season) much more manageable.
Basics such as sunscreen and bug spray are a given – you’re exploring a tropical destination near the equator, after all!
If you’re prone to motion sickness, consider bringing some medication to take before getting in the car. The roads are filled with tight turns that will get you dizzy in no time!
For spotting wildlife, a pair of small binoculars would be helpful. If you’re a photographer, don’t forget your zoom lens!
How gorgeous is this tented camp at Nayara?
LGBTQ+ Considerations
Costa Rica is one of the most queer friendly destinations in Central America! This was the main reason we chose to visit. While I’m all for breaking barriers and reducing stigma through travel, sometimes you just need a relaxing getaway where you can be yourself. That’s how we felt on this trip. No one questioned our choice of single bed or gave us weird looks as we held hands walking around the beach. While we did visit more tourist-heavy areas, which likely contributed to our experience, it was nice to not have to worry about being a lesbian couple while on vacation. As an added bonus, Costa Rica passed marriage equality in mid-2020! We felt good supporting a country that was making progressive and inclusive political decisions.
Read more: Top Safety Tips for Queer Travelers
Overall
With so many amazing outdoor things to do, the Arenal region of Costa Rica is an amazing vacation destination. Between waterfalls, volcanoes, hikes, and hot springs, there’s something for everyone!
What are some of your favorite things to do in Arenal? Let me know in the comments!
Read more: Costa Rica Travel Guide
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