Costa Rica travel guide

What to see in La Fortuna

At the foot of Arenal Volcano, with hot springs, a waterfall and hanging bridges.

Updated 18 October 2026 · How we make our guides

6 must-see places
Best time: from December to April
Stay in El Castillo

Photo: ArquiWHAT · CC BY-SA 3.0

La Fortuna highlights

The places you can’t miss. In the app we sort them by day and close to each other.

Arenal Volcano
A conical volcano, the symbol of the area.
Río Fortuna Waterfall
A waterfall in the rainforest with a natural pool.
Mistico Hanging Bridges
Trails and bridges over the rainforest.
Lake Arenal
A man-made lake at the foot of the volcano.
El Silencio viewpoint
Viewpoints and trails over old lava flows.
Venado Caves
Limestone caves with underground rivers, nearby.

Where to stay in La Fortuna

The handiest areas for getting around and going out.

Recommended areas
El Castillo · Nuevo Arenal · La Fortuna

Day trips from La Fortuna

We take you straight to the best-rated tour on GetYourGuide, with its reviews and dates.

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When to travel to La Fortuna

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to La Fortuna are from December to April. If you can, avoid from August to October (green season (rains), hurricane season).

Jan no warnings
Feb no warnings
Mar no warnings
Apr no warnings
May with warnings
Jun with warnings
Jul with warnings
Aug with strong warnings
Sep with strong warnings
Oct with strong warnings
Nov with warnings
Dec no warnings

from May to November
Green season (rains)

From May to November it rains almost every afternoon; September and October are the wettest months on the Pacific side (the Caribbean works the other way round).

What to do: Do excursions in the morning; in September and October, the Caribbean side (Puerto Viejo, Tortuguero) is usually better.
from June to November
Hurricane season

Hurricanes can form from June to November; August, September and October are the riskiest months. There are almost always days of heavy rain and humid heat.

What to do: Book with free cancellation, take out travel insurance that covers weather events and check the National Hurricane Center’s forecasts a few days before you go.

Where and what to eat

To eat like a local: the soda (a local eatery). The dishes you can’t miss are in the Costa Rica guide.

Frequently asked questions about La Fortuna

What to see in La Fortuna?

Arenal Volcano, Río Fortuna Waterfall, Mistico Hanging Bridges, Lake Arenal, El Silencio viewpoint and Venado Caves.

What to see in La Fortuna in one day?

Don’t miss Arenal Volcano, Río Fortuna Waterfall, Mistico Hanging Bridges, Lake Arenal, El Silencio viewpoint and Venado Caves. To split it into days and areas without crossing the city back and forth, the Bagintravel app plans your trip in a minute.

Where to stay in La Fortuna?

The handiest areas to stay are El Castillo, Nuevo Arenal and La Fortuna.

What’s the best time to travel to La Fortuna?

The months with the fewest warnings to travel to La Fortuna are from December to April. If you can, avoid from August to October (green season (rains), hurricane season).

What day trips can you take from La Fortuna?

Arenal Volcano, Hanging bridges and Río Celeste.

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Guide reviewed 18 October 2026. Places, areas and seasons: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.