La Fortuna was my very first stop in Costa Rica, and it set the bar impossibly high for everything that followed. Nestled beneath the brooding cone of Arenal Volcano, this small town is one of those rare places where you can genuinely do as much or as little as you like, soak in a hot spring and call it a day, or pack your schedule so full of things to do in La Fortuna Arenal that you collapse into bed each night absolutely buzzing with it all.

I stayed at Rancho Margot, a self-sustainable ranch near Lake Arenal that turned out to be one of the most memorable stays of my entire trip. But I’ll get to that. First, here’s everything you need to know to plan your own Arenal adventure.

ARENAL / LA FORTUNA ESSENTIALS

✈️ Getting There / Fly into San José (SJO) from the UK, flights take around 11 to 12 hours, typically with one stop (most commonly via the US or Madrid). From San José, La Fortuna is roughly a 3.5-hour drive northwest. Book a private airport transfer with WelcomePickups for a stress-free arrival. Search flights on Skyscanner.

🚗 Getting Around / The roads around Arenal and La Fortuna are largely paved and manageable, but a 4×4 is still recommended if you want to access more remote waterfalls and trails. Compare rental cars on DiscoverCars, they consistently had the best rates with full insurance included when I booked mine. Shared shuttles (Interbus, Comfortable Costa Rica) also connect La Fortuna to San José and other destinations like Monteverde.

🎟️ Tours / Book your activities in advance, the best spots sell out fast. The best ones to book:
La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano Hike and Hot Springs Combo
White Water Rafting on the Balsa River
White-Water Rafting, Canyoning and Tarzan Swing
Arenal Volcano Raft and ATV Tour Adventure‘

🏨 Stay / See the full picks below in Where to Stay:
Budget: Socialtel La Fortuna (formerly Selina)
Mid-range: Rancho Margot
Splurge: Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

📱 Connect / Stay connected the moment you land. I use Holafly, use code TRAVELWITHPAU for 5% off.

🛡️ Get Insured / This is not one to skip. La Fortuna is an adventure-activity hub, rafting, canyoneering, zip-lining, and most standard travel policies won’t cover any of it. World Nomads covers 150+ adventure activities, medical emergencies, trip cancellation, and lost luggage. Sort it before you fly.

Things to Do in Arenal / La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Monteverde was my second stop in Costa Rica. I chose to visit it as Monteverde has a Cloud Forest, which is the only in Costa Rica but also one of the few Cloud Forests in the world, as they only represent 1% of the global woodland. I had never visited a Cloud Forest before! If you are wondering what a Cloud Forest is, well it’s just that, a forest which is constantly covered in clouds at the canopy level and is very, very moist.

When I began doing research about Monteverde I found that it is very small, but also that there are a lot of things to do! See below a full list of all the best things to do in Monteverde, where to stay in Monteverde, and how to get there and around.

VISITING MONTEVERDE: THE ESSENTIALS

Transport / The easiest and fastest way to get to Monteverde is by car, but the roads getting there are not paved and are in a pretty rough state, so you’ll need a 4×4. After searching around various Costa Rican 4×4 companies, DiscoverCars provided the cheapest rates with full insurance included which you’ll want. For buses and private transfers, check this site.

Tours / Forget trying to explore on your own uf you want to spot animals, only guides have their eyes trained for it. Here’s some of the best tours in Monteverde:
Monteverde: Kinkajou Forest Night Walking Tour
Monteverde: Cloud Forest Guided Hike
Monteverde: Jungle Zipline & Tarzan Swing with Transfer
From Monteverde: Monteverde Suspension Bridge Guided Hike
Monteverde: Coffee, Chocolate, and Sugar Cane Day Trip


Stay / Monteverde, famous for its lush cloud forests and incredible biodiversity, offers a variety of accommodations for travelers seeking nature, adventure, or relaxation. Here are some top-rated hotels in the area:
Monteverde Lodge & Gardens by Böëna $$$
Hotel Belmar $$$
Fondavela Hotel $$
Trapp Family Lodge Monteverde $$
Selina Monteverde $

Connect / You’ll need mobile data while you are in Costa Rica, I always recommend using an eSIM (there’s absolutely no need for a physical one!). I always use Sim Local, and you can get 5% discount with code TRAVELWITHPAU. Get it here.

Get Insured / Unfortunately, things can and do go wrong when you travel. World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Manuel Antonio National Park is my favorite national park in Costa Rica. There are some things I recommend you know before visiting to ensure you have a good time. See them below.

Manuel Antonio was my last stop in Costa Rica, and probably one of the places I was most intrigued about due to its popularity amongst travelers. I had a great time there both exploring the area as well as staying in Tico Tico Villas. Below the best things to do in Manuel Antonio, a review of my accommodation as well as recommendations on where to eat and how to get there.

Things to do in Manuel Antonio