Central America
La Fortuna Waterfall Hike, Costa Rica
Quick guide to the La Fortuna Waterfall Hike in Costa Rica.
Picturesque Waterfall In The Rainforest This Way
Pura Vida! Ever since we visited Costa Rica for the first time, we seem to never get enough of their worry free way of life and their stunning landscapes, as we explore. It’s always a question in our house of when are we going back. The same will happen to you. Haven’t met anyone who dose not love Costa Rica and everything it offers with their Pura Vida (pure life or worry free) way.
Once you’re here, there are so many places to see and so little time, so make sure to head to The Fortuna River Waterfall , which is part of the Arenal Volcano National Park.
The waterfall, surrounded by the lush rainforest is located right outside the La Fortuna town. It offers stunning views from below, as your hiking the trail down, and from above, as your gliding on a zipline. This maintained hiking trail leads to a perfect opportunity for cooling off with a swim on a humid day or just to capture the moment with your camera.
What You Need To Know About The Waterfall
Fee: Foreign Adult $ 18
Resident w/ID $ 9
National Student w/ID $4
Child 0 -8 years old is Free
Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. (4 p.m. is latest to head down)
Time to Spend: 1-2 Hours (only takes 10-15 mins to get down)
Elevation: 520 meters or 1,706.04 ft
Best Season: Dry Season (Jan-May)
Parking: The lot is free and is usually busy with cars and tour buses. Still be cautious on leaving valuables in your car where people can see.
Facts: Fortuna River Waterfall is 70 meters (~230 ft) high. There are about 530 steps down to the waterfall, but the path was redone in the last few years, which made it much easier and safer for visitors. The centered has toilet facilities, a restaurant, showers, souvenir shop, and an orchid garden.
Official Website: Cataratalafortuna.com
Warning ⚠️
Last time we were at the waterfall, in March of 2018, you could not swim under the waterfall. The current and flow was too high and dangerous.
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The Old Walk Down
The New Walk Down
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Location
How To Get Here
Address: Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 106 – 4417, Costa Rica
Drive
- 8 min by car from La Fortuna city center
- 4.8 km
- Road to Reserve off of Route 702
Taxi
- A legit taxi service from La Fortuna city center to the waterfall will be about $10 (5,900 Colón)
- 8-10 min drive
Walk
- If you enjoy hiking, then go ahead and walk to the reserve. We have seen people walk up the road before (please use caution, cars drive up it too)
- 1 hr 12 min to walk approximately
Info On Hike
It was mentioned prior, but the hike down dose include about 530 steps. They have made the path down much more hiker friendly with handrails most or way, new sitting areas to rest, and water fountains as well. We have seen many types off individuals of all ages hike down and back up. The trick is just taking your time and drinking plenty of water.
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What To Bring
- Hiking Shoes
- Breathable clothing to hike in
- Raincoat
- Water
- Waterproof Camera
- A swimsuit or towel
- Snacks
- Biodegradable Sunscreen
- Biodegradable Insect Repellent
Other Things To Consider
Hot Springs: Try a day pass or stay at one of the hot springs in the area. The natural pools are extremely relaxing and a must do in the area.
Ziplining: Try viewing the waterfall from above, as you look down. If you are going to be doing some adventure activities, then this is one we recommend doing. On the canopy tours you will view the La Fortuna waterfall as well as the Pino Blanco waterfall. Another option is always Canyoning in Los Canyon as well.
White Water Raft/Float Tour: You can grab a rafting expedition from La Fortuna for either the Sarapiquí River or the Balsa River. If you have a family then try a Safari Float Trip instead.
Bike Arenal: Being surrounded by the rainforest while riding a bike can be a majestic feeling. The area offers many types of tours to suit your needs or level if you wish to explore with a bike. (We have been in town when a big bike race was happening and it was very cool to see so many people on bikes through the different roads).
Chocolate Tour: Do I really have to say anything more than chocolate to make you want to go? In addition, it can be enlightening to know the process that chocolate goes through. On some tours you might also have the option of coffee or eco-farming for a tour.
If they offer, try to see how much sugar juice you can manually squeeze from the sugar cane.
Accommodations
Budget Hotels
- Selina La Fortuna
- Arenal Backpackers Resort (We have stayed here and were happy with it, had a great view of Arenal Volcanoe and impressed for being a hostel)
- Arenal Xilopalo
- Sunset Inn Valle Del Volcan
Mid-Range Hotels
High End Hotels/Boutiques
- The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal (We have stayed here and would gladly go back, 5 stars from us)
- Nazara Resort Spa & Gardens
- Arenal Springs Resort and Spa
- Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa
Looking for some more things to do in Costa Rica? Then here’s a Guide on the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, which is a 3 hour drive from La Fortuna.
Have you hiked Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve? Did you enjoy yourself and would you recommend it to others? Have any other trails or places we should see, let us know in the comments section. Thanks for taking a look at our site and don’t forget to subscribe for future articles and tips.
The information on this website has come from research and by experiencing it ourselves. Opening hours, trail closures, prices, etc. are always subject to change. We try to keep up to date on any new information, or tips to help make your adventure more enjoyable.
AdventuresofWifeSquared
My name is Shannon (37) and I grew up in the Los Angeles area, moved to Las Vegas for a few years and finally made my way to Phoenix, Arizona. This was the city, Camilla, lived in and thus, where we ended up living in. Since a child, I have had the pleasure to travel to 44 of the 50 States in the U.S. for summer vacations due to awesome parents who loved to travel.
From these trips, I grew a love of adventure and exploration. This increased to flying to different parts of the world when I met my girlfriend and future wife, Camilla.
With a B.S. in Biology (emphasis on environmental conservation), my wife and I try to travel with ecotourism and the protection of the countries environment being factor when choosing places. In the past I have worked with rescuing marine animals, like Horn Sharks to a juvenile Black Sea Bass from Power Plants to be rehabilitated and released. Another was hiking the hills of Griffith Park in Los Angeles, looking for the Western Grey Squirrel.
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