Best Things to Do in Arenal and La Fortuna: Top Activities

The first time I saw the volcano clear of clouds, I stopped walking right in the middle of a muddy trail. Most days, the perfect cone hides behind a stubborn blanket of mist, so when the peak actually reveals itself, everyone around you stops talking. Planning your itinerary around here can feel overwhelming because the list of things to do in arenal seems endless, stretching from quiet morning bird walks to throwing yourself off canyon waterfalls in the rain.

The region splits between the small agricultural hub of La Fortuna and the protected wilderness wrapping around the volcano itself. You can spend an entire week here and still miss half the good stuff. Whether you want a relaxed trip soaking in natural thermal water or an exhausting day trekking over old lava fields, this guide pulls together the most worthwhile activities across Arenal and La Fortuna, based on real trial, error, and plenty of drenched hiking gear.

Hiking Lava Trails and Volcanic Ridges

Walking the slopes of an active stratovolcano is why most people show up. The 1968 eruption wiped out three villages and reshaped the entire western flank of the mountain, leaving behind fields of jagged black basalt that nature is slowly reclaiming. If you want a solid trek, our Arenal Volcano hiking guide walks through the exact routes in detail, but you essentially have two main trailheads to consider: the official national park sector and the privately owned Arenal 1968 reserve next door.

The national park offers the classic Peninsula and Main Sector trails. The Peninsula trail is paved, flat, and runs about 1.3 kilometers down toward the lake, ending at an observation tower that catches afternoon breezes. The Main Sector sends you across dry riverbeds and through secondary forest out to the edge of the old lava flows. You cannot hike up the crater itself because poisonous gases and unstable ground make it dangerous, and park rangers will turn you back if you try. It took us about 45 minutes of steady walking through the trees before the forest opened up into the open rock field.

Arenal 1968 has slightly steeper paths, but the views of Lake Arenal from its high ridge trail are honestly better on semi-clear afternoons. The entry fee is around $19 per person, which is a couple of dollars more than the national park, but the trails are well marked with informative wooden signs explaining how ferns and orchids pioneered the bare volcanic rock. I think doing one or the other is plenty for a short trip unless you love comparing plant succession stages on volcanic debris.

Soaking in Natural Hot Springs

Underground geothermal activity from the volcano heats dozens of natural springs around the base of the valley. Spending an evening in hot mineral water is one of the essential things to do at arenal volcano after your legs are tired from walking. The hot spring options range from hyper-luxurious manicured resorts to a completely free, muddy riverbank where locals hang out with lanterns.

Tabacón is the most famous for good reason. The thermal river flows directly through sprawling gardens filled with wild ginger, giant ferns, and bromeliads without any electric water pumps. It costs roughly $85 to $110 for a day pass depending on whether you include lunch or dinner, making it a splurge. If that feels too steep, look into our breakdown of Arenal Volcano and hot springs tours to compare options like Ecotermales or Baldi. Ecotermales keeps strict caps on visitor numbers, which keeps the atmosphere calm, while Baldi features roughly 25 distinct pools and loud water slides that draw large family crowds.

If you prefer saving money, head to El Chollín. That is the warm section of the Tabacón river that runs outside the resort property beneath the bridge on Route 142. You will pay a local parking attendant about 3,000 colones (around $6) to watch your car, and then you just scramble down the rocky bank into the current. Bring water shoes because the stones are slippery, and do not leave any bags unattended on the rocks while you soak.

Top Adventures and Things to Do in Arenal

Choosing between zip lining, hanging bridges, and water activities comes down to budget and your tolerance for heights. The table below lays out the core outdoor options around La Fortuna so you can budget your time and funds accurately.

Rappelling down lost canyon waterfalls outside town was the single activity that surprised me most. You suit up in a heavy harness, hike along a riverbed, and lean straight backward over a 150-foot sheer rock face while cold water pours directly over your boots. It sounds terrifying, but the guides run backup safety ropes on every single descent. You will be shivering by the fourth drop, yet everyone walks away grinning.

Spotting Wildlife on Bridges and Night Walks

Animals do not follow human tour schedules. If you visit Arenal expecting monkeys to greet you in the hotel parking lot, you might end up disappointed. Wildlife spotting takes patience, good eyes, and usually an early morning start.

• Mistico Hanging Bridges: Walk this 3-kilometer loop early, ideally before 8:00 AM. Walking high above the tree canopy on suspension bridges gives you direct views into bird nesting spots, where you can watch keel-billed toucans, howler monkeys, and eyelash viper snakes coiled on tree trunks.
• Bogarin Trail in town: A flat, easy dirt path right near central La Fortuna that happens to be one of the best spots to find two-toed and three-toed sloths resting in cecropia trees. Hire an on-site guide with a spotting scope, because spotting a grayish ball of fur 60 feet up against the bright sky without glass is nearly impossible.
• Guided twilight walks: Most rainforest creatures wake up after dark. A guided night walk through private reserves like Ecocentro Danaus will reveal red-eyed tree frogs, tarantulas, sleeping lizards, and strange walking stick insects that look identical to dead twigs.
• Caño Negro boat safari: Located roughly 90 minutes north near the Nicaraguan border, this river excursion offers effortless wildlife viewing from flat-bottom boats, where caimans, spider monkeys, and roseate spoonbills line the mud flats.

Bird watchers should hire a guide who knows regional calls. A good local guide can hear a faint chirp from behind a dense wall of leaves, mimic the sound, and have a motmot or jacamar sitting right in front of your binoculars within two minutes. Going alone through the hanging bridges is fine for exercise, but you will walk straight past dozens of creatures without ever realizing they were staring down at you.

La Fortuna Waterfall and Lake Arenal Excursions

La Fortuna Waterfall sits in a deep canyon about 10 minutes outside the town center. The entrance costs $18, which goes directly to local community development projects. From the open viewing deck at the visitor center, you look down on a roaring 230-foot ribbon of white water crashing into an emerald pool. Getting down there requires walking down 530 concrete steps built directly into the cliff wall.

Going down feels effortless. Swimming in the freezing, churning pool beneath the spray will wake up every nerve in your body. Swimming right under the falling cascade is strictly banned because the falling weight of the water can pull you under, but the calm side pools between river boulders make great swimming holes. Just remember that the 530 steps do not disappear while you swim; climbing back up in humid 85-degree air leaves almost everyone gasping for air on the rest benches.

• Beat the waterfall rush: Arrive at 7:30 AM right when the gates open so you can swim before the tour buses pull in around 9:30 AM.
• Paddle Lake Arenal: Rent a stand-up paddleboard or sit-on-top kayak along the quiet western shoreline near El Castillo for unobstructed water-level views of the volcanic cone.
• Pack dry clothes: Changing rooms and lockers are available at the top of the waterfall trail, so bring a dry shirt for the ride back.
• Rent a sturdy vehicle: While the main road between town and the national park is paved, dirt side roads out to El Castillo and secluded trailheads feature deep ruts and sharp river gravel.

Lake Arenal is massive. It was enlarged by a hydroelectric dam project back in 1979 and now produces a substantial portion of Costa Rica's green energy. Taking a sunset boat tour or paddling around the edge offers quiet relief from the busy tourist strip along La Fortuna's main street. The water stays pleasant year-round, and you can watch kingfishers dive for small fish along the weed beds while the sky turns orange behind the crater peak.

Frequently Asked Questions about things to do in arenal

My Take

Arenal is popular for good reason, and trying to avoid crowds completely here is mostly a fool's errand. Instead of skipping the classic sights because they feel touristy, simply time your days around the rhythm of the valley. Get out on the trails at daybreak while the howler monkeys are still barking in the mist, grab a heavy plate of rice and beans at a local soda by midday, and save the warm thermal rivers for when the afternoon rains roll across the canopy. It is loud, green, wet, and easily one of the most rewarding mountain regions anywhere in Central America.

Read more about arenal volcano tours.