The Ultimate Volcano Town (La Fortuna, Costa Rica)
The only certainty in life is that everything is constantly changing. For me, that meant sharing a travel adventure with my parents for the first time. I have always wanted them to experience what the world has to offer outside Mexico and the U.S, and the timing couldn’t be any better.
My parents are both in their 70s, so my goal was for them to feel safe and enjoy the beauty of a new country.
When choosing a destination, I considered countries with abundant natural resources that are safe and would deliver a sense of adventure. I concluded that Costa Rica was the way to go.
Costa Rica experiences a dry season characterized by minimal rainfall, followed by a wet season marked by consistent daily rainfall.
We flew to Costa Rica in November, the transitional month, expecting to experience a combination of sunny and rainy days.
Unbeknownst to us, a hurricane in the golf of Mexico impacted the weather in Costa Rica, leading to severe storms and flooding in the country. This, however, did not affect the amazing time we were about to have in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.
Arrival
We landed at the Santa Maria International Airport near San Jose and rented a 4X4 SUV to allow flexibility in our plans and to avoid getting stuck if having to drive in muddy conditions. We drove approximately three hours to La Fortuna, passing through the city, foggy mountains, single-lane bridges, and curvy roads. I was advised not to drive at night because the road can get dark and foggy.
The drive rewarded us with endless natural beauty including, colorful gardens, lush green trees, random waterfalls, and numerous intriguing restaurants known as “Sodas”.
We arrived later that evening at our Airbnb loft apartment rental in La Fortuna. (Check out the link for this great accommodation)
La Fortuna is a small charming town comprised of a beautiful center park with a church, restaurants and shops, green pastures with cattle on it, astonishing colorful gardens, and friendly tourists and hard-working locals. The town is a great location to explore the surrounding sights.
Activities
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges
The Arenal Hanging bridges is a fun walking trail park with several suspension bridges in the Arenal Volcano National Park.
Here, we walked a comfortable trail surrounded by beautiful gardens, impressive trees, creeks, and wildlife.
It took us about two hours to complete it at a low pace to appreciate the surroundings, take pictures, and search for wildlife.
The endpoint rewards you with a majestic waterfall.
Tips
- Make sure to follow the map correctly because we overlooked the way to the waterfall and had to return.
- Keep in mind your water consumption because there are no bathrooms inside the park, and there really isn’t any privacy to relieve yourself anywhere.
Sloth Park
The park offers sloth, coffee, chocolate and sugarcane tours. We paid approximately $75.00 USD per person for a package which included all tours. They start right after each tour ends, but they allow visitors to come back later if desired. We enjoyed all tours since they were very informative. Additionally, it would have been challenging to find sloths and other wildlife without the help of a guide. The sloth tour takes about an hour and the other three tours combined take about another hour.
The chocolate tour was my favorite since they give us several pieces of 100% cacao unsweetened chocolate to taste. I felt like I was savoring a piece of heaven with each bite I took.
The park also has a great restaurant that offers a 10% discount if you take a tour with them. I ordered a grilled chicken with vegetables plate and my parents had a seafood soup each. I was impressed by the fried banana I received. It was sweet and a bit crunchy on the outside. Surprisingly, we had the best food in La Fortuna here.
Tip
- Bring cash to negotiate a better price (Make sure you mention that you were offered a better price online).
Hot Springs at Baldi
Hot springs should’t be missed. There are many to choose from and they all offer a different experience; however, some are more expensive than others.
I opted for Baldi because of their upscale experience, diverse hot spring pools at a reasonable price, and enchanting landscape lighting and picturesque gardening that created a relaxing and captivating atmosphere.
They have 25 thermal water pools, a buffet, multiple bars. The entrance cost was approximately $50.00 per person, but it was worth it.
There is also a free hot spring near Baldi but I was explained that, nowadays, it is difficult to get to it because there isn’t street parking available anymore.
Tip
- Consider buying tickets directly from their website or in-person to avoid payment issues. I bought mines from Tripadvisor and had to contact them, and wait approximately 30 minutes at the entrance because Baldi had not receive its payment.
Volcan Tenorio National Park
Volcan Tenorio National Park is approximately 90 minutes away from La Fortuna and offers a safe yet adventurous hike through the jungle with breathtaking views of its lush green vegetation, a celestial blue river (Rio Celeste), and a commanding waterfall. The drive to it was quiet an adventure through unpaved and muddy roads with many potholes. This was the only time it felt safer driving a 4×4 vehicle.
The hike is approximately 3.7 miles long roundtrip and took us about three and a half hours to complete it. The path starts mostly flat and comfortable, but then becomes more challenging due to uneven rocky areas and ascents. Additionally, there are approximately 250 steps to descend to the waterfall. Although the hike was challenging at times, it rewarded us with unforgettable views.
Tip
- Buy tickets before arriving. They don’t sell them in person. They will direct you to use their slow wifi to buy them online. It will be more comfortable and faster to buy them from the comfort of your accommodation.
Conclusion
I believe La Fortuna is a great starting point to begin exploring the northwest region of Costa Rica. This area is worth spending at least three to four days to fully explore it at a leisurely pace.
Despite the physical intensity of some activities, my parents and I had a fantastic time and never felt overly tired. With certainty, I can confirm that La Fortuna is a magnificent and safe place to be explored by people of all ages.
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