2-Day Arenal Volcano & Tabacon Hot Springs from San Jose

The thermal pools stay warm year-round because the volcano heats them from below.

This 2-day tour from San Jose combines overnight stays at a hot springs resort with an adventure excursion into the rainforest around Arenal Volcano. Day one takes you to Tabacon Hot Springs, where thermal pools ranging from 32°C to 41°C sit surrounded by waterfalls and wet bars. On day two, you walk the hanging bridges of Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, crossing the canopy to spot birds, mammals and butterflies in the transition zone where highland and lowland forest meet. A professional guide leads both days, and hotel pickup, meals and accommodation are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs

• See Arenal Volcano from La Fortuna
• Relax in thermal pools and waterfall
• Enjoy hydro-massage in hot springs
• Have typical lunch en route
• Overnight at Superior Hotel in La Fortuna

Day 2: Adventure at Mistico Hanging Bridges

• Breakfast
• Explore Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
• Lunch

The experience

How do you get from San Jose to the volcano? A minivan picks you up from your hotel and drives you to La Fortuna, the town at the base of Arenal Volcano. Once there, you check into your accommodation at the hot springs resort and spend the rest of day one moving between the thermal pools. The water ranges from cool to hot depending on which pool you choose, and each one has its own character. Some feed into waterfalls, others have hydro-massage jets. There's no schedule to follow. You soak as much or as little as you want, and dinner is included at the resort.

Day two is when the adventure starts. Your guide takes you to Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, where you walk a series of suspension bridges strung between the canopy. The park sits at the edge where two forest types meet: highland forest descending from above and lowland rainforest that migrated upward over centuries. That collision of ecosystems packed the canopy with epiphytes, birds, butterflies and mammals you would not see on the ground. The bridges let you move through the treetops at eye level with them. Breakfast is included before you leave, and the minivan brings you back to San Jose afterward.

Your guide speaks English or Spanish and handles the route, timing and logistics. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as are all meals, bottled water, taxes and the adventure excursion on day two. The resort is wheelchair accessible, and the tour suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from San Jose.
• professional guide in English or Spanish.
• air-conditioned minivan transport.
• overnight accommodation at a superior hotel in La Fortuna.
• dinner and breakfast.
• bottled water.
• one adventure excursion on day two.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (11 to 65 years) · Senior (66 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 6 days before the start.Between 2 and 6 days before the start, 50% refund.After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Destiny Travel Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Book this if you want both the volcano and hot springs in two days with a guide setting the pace and stops. Choose self-guided or a longer trip if you prefer to linger at sites or explore on your own schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What are the thermal pools at Tabacon Hot Springs actually like?

The pools are fed by natural hot springs heated by the volcano below, ranging from 32°C to 41°C (90°F to 106°F). Some pools stay cool, and most have waterfalls or hydro-massage jets built in. You move between them at your own pace during your stay.

What will I see from the hanging bridges at Mistico Park?

Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park sits where highland and lowland forest meet, creating high biodiversity. From the bridges you watch for birds, mammals, butterflies and epiphytes in the canopy at close range. The park's ecosystem is dense because the rainforest flora migrated upward over centuries and interacted with highland species.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from San Jose?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off in San Jose are included, and you travel by air-conditioned minivan with your guide for the entire two days.

What meals are provided?

Dinner on day one and breakfast on day two are included. Lunch is not included, though the resort has dining options available.