In a nutshell
- The star of the show is Arenal Volcano — the youngest and one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica.
- Around the volcano you’ll find great activities like hot springs, suspension bridges, and a waterfall. Note: you’ll need a separate ticket for each one.
- In this article you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit to the Arenal Volcano region — tickets, getting there, hotels, and our honest recommendations.
- The best base for all activities is the small town of La Fortuna. Our top hotel pick is the Hotel Roca Negra Del Arenal — beautiful bungalows with a large pool and great views of the volcano.
- Short on time? We recommend this day tour: Arenal Volcano + suspension bridges + hot springs.
What You Need to Know About Arenal Volcano National Park
Arenal Volcano National Park is a fairly large rainforest. The main highlight, however, is the Arenal Volcano itself. It’s one of the most popular attractions in Costa Rica.
It is Costa Rica’s youngest volcano and is considered one of the most active in the world.
If you want to experience the rainforest at its lushest, you should go between May and November. From December through April, though, the weather is better. Those months are also considered the best time to visit Costa Rica.
Where Is Arenal Volcano National Park?
Arenal Volcano National Park is located inland in Costa Rica, about 140 kilometers north of the capital, San José.
So you know exactly where that is, we’ve marked the national park on a map for you.
Cool Activities In and Around Arenal Volcano National Park with Map
There’s a ton to do in and around Arenal Volcano National Park. One thing you absolutely need to know: all the activities are in different locations.
The entrances are usually not far from each other, but factor that into your planning. You also need to know that all activities cost extra.
To give you a clear picture of the layout, we’ve marked everything on a map for you.
Hiking Through the National Park
A hike through the park is an absolute must. You’ll trek through the rainforest, spot wildlife, and even walk over dried lava.
The park is really well set up for visitors and there are plenty of signposts, so you can easily get around without a guide.
Also read our Costa Rica National Park Guide
The hike is the only activity that starts at the main entrance of the national park. We’ll explain how to get there further below.
Guided Hikes Outside the National Park
With a guide, you naturally have a better chance of spotting animals like sloths. Many of the tours on offer, however, are conducted outside the official national park grounds. They’re still great, though!
During the day, we recommend a sloth tour through the rainforest. You’ll go searching for sloths, but the guide will almost certainly spot other animals along the way too.
The cool thing about this tour: it’s run by a local family dedicated to preserving the rainforest. As a little bonus, after the hike you’ll even do a short tortilla-making class.
Book the Sloth Tour with Tortilla-Making Class
A night hike is also seriously cool. We once did one in Malaysia and it was super exciting. They’re offered in La Fortuna too.
Book the Night Hike in La Fortuna
Suspension Bridges in Arenal Volcano National Park
You can also experience the national park from above. Just like at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park has suspension bridges hanging in the treetops that you can walk across.
The suspension bridges are in a separate section of the park, inside the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park (visit website). You can find the entrance easily on Google Maps.
We recommend buying your ticket for the hanging bridges park online in advance.
Get Your Ticket for the Mistico Hanging Bridges Park
Zipline Tour in Arenal Volcano National Park
Another way to see the park from above is a zipline tour. This is also in a different part of the national park — but if you book a tour, you’ll be picked up anyway.
We can genuinely recommend a zipline tour wholeheartedly — it’s just such an incredible experience! We’ve been ziplining in Monteverde and around Luang Prabang in Laos (Southeast Asia).
Book the Zipline Tour at Arenal Volcano
Hot Springs Around Arenal Volcano
Make sure to take a dip in one of the hot springs. Technically, they’re not inside the national park itself — they’re right next to it. You can experience them in various spots, mainly at resorts and spas.
One of the most beautiful and popular options is the Baldi Hot Springs. A day pass for this luxurious spa costs 52 euros.
Day pass with and without meals
There’s also a free alternative — a simple river with no frills. Search for Rio Chollin on Google Maps and park on the side of the road.
La Fortuna Waterfall in Arenal Volcano National Park
The La Fortuna Waterfall is 70 meters tall and the most visited waterfall in Costa Rica.
Honestly? It’s impressive, but we don’t think it’s worth it. It’s too expensive and way too crowded. We much preferred the Montezuma Falls.
That said, we totally get it if you still want to see it — after all, we went and formed our own opinion too.
Ticket for the La Fortuna Waterfall on Get Your Guide
You can also combine the hot springs and the waterfall on a guided tour — that saves time and takes the organizing off your plate.
La Fortuna Combo Tour with Waterfall and Hot Springs
In a separate article, we’ve put together all the important info on getting there, entrance fees, and our best tips.
Chocolate and Coffee Tour in La Fortuna
Costa Rica is known for amazing coffee and truly great chocolate. On a chocolate or coffee tour in La Fortuna, you’ll learn how both are made — and of course you get to taste everything too!
We’d really recommend doing at least one (ideally both) on your trip. You won’t regret it.
Book the Combo Chocolate and Coffee Tour in La Fortuna
We share more details and our best advice for the chocolate and coffee tours in a separate article.
Lake Arenal at the Foot of Arenal Volcano
Right next to the volcano is Lake Arenal, Costa Rica’s largest lake. You can go kayaking, take a boat tour, or try windsurfing. We were happy just soaking in the view.
That’s Our Rundown of Things to Do at Arenal Volcano
If you only have a little time on your Costa Rica trip, we recommend booking a day tour at Arenal Volcano — it’s the most efficient way to see the highlights.
Volcano + Suspension Bridges + Hot Springs Day Tour
How to Buy Your Ticket for Arenal Volcano National Park
Entry to Arenal Volcano National Park costs $15 for adults and $5 for children. You can buy your ticket directly at the park entrance.
The other activities, as mentioned, you’ll need to pay for separately.
Accommodations and Hotels in La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano
The perfect base for all activities is the town of La Fortuna. There’s also one pretty unique place to stay right in the middle of the protected area.
Casona Rústica: Very affordable bungalows with a lovely garden, pool, and a delicious breakfast.
Hotel Roca Negra: Bungalows with a pool, views of the volcano, and great value for money.
Arenal Observatory Lodge: Lodge inside the protected area, with its own hiking trails and views of the volcano.
Hotel Arenal Glamping: Cozy luxury tents with a fantastic pool area and stunning views of the volcano.
Getting to Arenal Volcano National Park and La Fortuna
No matter how you travel, you’ll always pass through La Fortuna on your way to the park entrance. By bus, you’ll need to go into town first.
Getting There by Car
If you’re doing a road trip through Costa Rica, just enter Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal into your GPS. There’s a large parking lot right in front of the park entrance.
We’re not sure whether it costs anything, since we arrived without a car — but we’d recommend having a few colones on hand just in case.
Getting There by Bus
If you’re traveling by bus, you’ll need to head to La Fortuna first from San José. Once a day, a direct bus departs at 8:40 AM.
It leaves from the Terminal Atlántico Norte in San José (view on Google Maps). You can buy your ticket directly at the terminal. The journey takes about four hours and costs around $8.
If that’s too early for you, there’s also another connection, though you’ll have to transfer once. Those buses run several times a day.
You’ll still depart from the Terminal Atlántico Norte. First, take the bus to Ciudad Quesada, which runs several times a day between 5 AM and 7 PM — buy the ticket from the bus driver.
In Ciudad Quesada, transfer to the bus to La Fortuna. Those run several times a day from 4 AM to 10 PM. The total journey takes about six hours and costs around $10 combined.
Getting There by Minivan
A more relaxed option is a shared minivan. It’s a bit more expensive, but only takes three hours and is much more comfortable. Depending on the provider, you’ll even be picked up at your hotel in San José and dropped off right at your accommodation in La Fortuna.
You can book the minivan online in advance through the 12Go booking platform.
View Minivan Connections to La Fortuna
There is no bus from La Fortuna to the park entrance. You can, however, grab a taxi or an Uber.
The same goes for all the other activities. We’ve already explained above how to reach the free hot springs. For the waterfall and the Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, just search on Google Maps.
Checklist for Your Visit to Arenal Volcano
- Before your visit to Arenal Volcano, decide ahead of time which activities you want to do. Keep in mind that they are in different locations and cost extra. Book the relevant tour or ticket online in advance.
- Book a full-day tour if you’re only in the area for a short time.
- Wear comfortable shoes and pack a swimsuit, a hat, and sunscreen.
Our Best Tips for Your Visit to Arenal Volcano
Stay a few nights in the area so you don’t have to cram everything into one day.
Having your own car gives you a lot more flexibility. In some spots, cell service is so poor that you probably won’t be able to call an Uber.
Our favorite restaurant in La Fortuna is Soda Víquez (view on Google Maps). The food is seriously delicious and super affordable. Don’t miss the Piña y Coco milkshake — it comes with cinnamon on top and it’s absolutely incredible!
