Arenal Volcano Hike & La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal/La Fortuna

4.7 (10 reviews)
Hike trails around the base of Arenal Volcano, crossing terrain from lava fields to jungle, then swim at La Fortuna Waterfall.

Overview

First, you'll head towards the base of the volcano to hike Arenal 1968. This is a network of trails named after Arenal's last major eruption. The event was so catastrophic it transformed some of the region’s topography, and lava fields now dominate one side of the volcano. The trails wind through those lava fields as well as the surrounding rainforest. Along the way, you'll find lookout points featuring prime views of Arenal.

Later in the afternoon, you'll experience the other star of the Arenal Volcano region: La Fortuna Waterfall. If Arenal is the most famous volcano in the country, then La Fortuna is easily the most famous falls. It's located a 15-minute drive from the town of La Fortuna, at the base of the dormant Chato Volcano. The waters here plunge 210 feet into a tropical lagoon, and a 500-step downhill hike provides the opportunity to see the falls from the bottom up. Besides taking photos, be sure to swim and relax in the La Fortuna River below the falls.

Know before you go

Duration
5 hours
Recommended for
5 years old & up
Group
Small group
Food & Drink
Lunch Included

Start times

  • Daily
    8:00 am

What's included

  • Guide
  • Transportation
  • Beverages
  • Entrance fees
  • Lunch

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Traveler reviews

10 total ratings, 8 with reviews
4.7
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.7
Food
5.0
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.7
Transport
4.8
B
Brandon W.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jun 24, 2024
Our tour guide was fantastic. Read more

Our tour guide was fantastic.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Zeynep
Zeynep B.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Apr 08, 2024
The tour guide was late. Read more

The tour guide was late.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
M
Mark H.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Mar 18, 2024
Hugo was a good guide. Knowledgable. Great views. Not sure if you need a guide for this one other than to make the day plug and play. Read more

Hugo was a good guide. Knowledgable. Great views. Not sure if you need a guide for this one other than to make the day plug and play.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
V
Vishnu M.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Mar 02, 2024
Very interesting day filled with a hike to volcano, hike to water falls followed by a lunch. We loved the overall experience of this. Again your guides did an amazing job walking us through entire experience Read more

Very interesting day filled with a hike to volcano, hike to water falls followed by a lunch. We loved the overall experience of this. Again your guides did an amazing job walking us through entire experience

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Yelena
Yelena S.
Castro Valley, CA | Reviewed on Sep 15, 2023
The tour guide was great. Very knowledgeable and took as many photos as we wanted of us. Provided great knowledge of the places we saw. Read more

The tour guide was great. Very knowledgeable and took as many photos as we wanted of us. Provided great knowledge of the places we saw.

Tips for future travelers

Great way to see the arenal volcano and the waterfall. If it’s in the rainy season, mostly likely you won’t be able to swim at the waterfall but you can still go down to see it.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cindy
Cindy S.
Riverside, CA | Reviewed on Jun 30, 2023
Our tour guide, Mariano from Serendipity Adventures, was AMAZING. He was so real and down to earth and had so much knowledge to share. He really made this an amazing experience. The restaurant he took us to was my favorite restaurant from the whole trip! Definitely an experience I would encourage others to take. Read more

Our tour guide, Mariano from Serendipity Adventures, was AMAZING. He was so real and down to earth and had so much knowledge to share. He really made this an amazing experience. The restaurant he took us to was my favorite restaurant from the whole trip! Definitely an experience I would encourage others to take.

Tips for future travelers

Main tip I would strongly suggest some good water shoes for your visit to La Fortuna.

Quality of Experience
Food
This was the best restaurant I tried in my whole trip. I wish I could visit this restaurant again!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mariano from Serendipity Adventures was amazing. Great knowledge, great food recommendations, and great attraction recommendations.
Transport
A
Aaron B.
West Albany, NY | Reviewed on Apr 24, 2023
The hike and included lunch were both amazing. We loved our guide and would definitely recommend this trip! Read more

The hike and included lunch were both amazing. We loved our guide and would definitely recommend this trip!

Tips for future travelers

Bring bug spray!

Quality of Experience
Food
the Casado at the local Soda was incredible!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jaya
Jaya C.
Hermosa Beach, CA | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023
It was a small group hike. Guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Hiking was not very hard except for few areas. La Fortuna falls was 500 steps down and little challenging on the way back. Lunch afterwards was fantastic at the farm. Read more

It was a small group hike. Guide was friendly and knowledgeable. Hiking was not very hard except for few areas. La Fortuna falls was 500 steps down and little challenging on the way back. Lunch afterwards was fantastic at the farm.

Tips for future travelers

Water is quite cold at falls so be prepared for it.

Quality of Experience
Food
Fresh and vegetarian friendly. Quite tasty
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport

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