Arenal Volcano Tour: Coffee, Waterfalls & Hot Springs
Fourteen hours from San Jose to Arenal: coffee plantation to hot springs, all arranged
A full-day tour from San Jose to Arenal Volcano combines morning sightseeing with afternoon relaxation in thermal hot springs. The route includes a coffee plantation with tasting, La Paz and San Fernando waterfalls, an iguana and sloth viewing stop, a traditional Maleku indigenous presentation, and Costa Rican lunch and dinner. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, along with a bilingual guide.
Step-by-step itinerary
Full-day Arenal Volcano tour from San Jose
- Pickup from San Jose hotel
- Travel scenic route to Arenal Volcano
- Visit coffee plantation and learn about coffee
- Stop at La Paz Waterfall for photos
- Visit San Fernando Waterfall and bird gallery
- Coffee tasting with traditional snacks
- Stop at iguana center and sloth observation
- Lunch in La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano
- Indigenous Maleku Tribe cultural presentation
- Photo stops around Arenal Volcano
- Relax at Paradise Hot Springs Resort
- Dinner at local typical restaurant
- Return to San Jose hotel
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off in the San Jose area.
- transport by air-conditioned vehicle with a professional bilingual guide.
- coffee tasting with traditional Costa Rican snacks.
- Costa Rican lunch at a restaurant near Arenal Volcano.
- Costa Rican dinner on the return journey.
- entrance fees to all attractions and taxes.
- several hours at Paradise Hot Springs Resort with access to thermal mineral water pools, jacuzzis and waterfalls.
Times
- Every day 06:30
Before you book
Operated by Go Tours Costa Rica
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The experience
The day starts with pickup from your San Jose hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle, taking a scenic route through farms and rain forests instead of the main highway. You'll stop at a coffee plantation to learn how Costa Rican coffee grows and is harvested, then taste freshly brewed coffee with traditional snacks at a roadside café overlooking San Fernando Waterfall. The stop gives you time to spot toucans, hummingbirds and other tropical birds at the gallery nearby.
Before reaching Arenal, you'll visit La Paz Waterfall for photos, then stop at an iguana center where you can see them resting in the trees at eye level, and a nearby spot where sloths are commonly observed in their natural habitat. Lunch is a full Costa Rican meal at a restaurant near the volcano. Afterward, native people from the local Maleku tribe perform a presentation about their traditions and culture, and you'll drive to viewpoints around the volcano itself for photos on clear days.
The afternoon centers on Paradise Hot Springs Resort, where you'll spend several hours soaking in multiple thermal pools filled with natural mineral water, jacuzzis and cascading waterfalls set in lush gardens. Dinner is another traditional Costa Rican meal at a local restaurant before the drive back to San Jose, arriving late evening. The entire day (travel, meals, entrance fees and taxes) is included. You bring only yourself and a camera.
Is this one for you?A bilingual guide leads the commentary in English and Spanish, so if you're comfortable following either language, this tour works well. The morning is packed with sightseeing (waterfalls, wildlife, a coffee plantation and an indigenous presentation), but requires no hiking or strenuous effort. The afternoon is pure relaxation in the hot springs, making it ideal if you want to see a lot without exertion and then unwind.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
What's included in the Arenal Volcano tour from San Jose?
The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in the San Jose area, transport by air-conditioned vehicle, a professional bilingual guide, coffee tasting with local snacks, Costa Rican lunch near Arenal Volcano, Costa Rican dinner on the return journey, entrance fees to all stops, and several hours at Paradise Hot Springs Resort with access to thermal pools and waterfalls.
How long does the full-day Arenal tour take?
The tour lasts 14 hours total, including travel time from San Jose, all stops, lunch and dinner. You'll be picked up in the morning and returned to your hotel in the evening.
What wildlife will I see on this tour?
You'll visit an iguana center where iguanas rest in trees at eye level, and a nearby location where sloths are commonly observed in their natural habitat. At San Fernando Waterfall, you can spot toucans, hummingbirds and other colorful tropical birds at the birds' gallery.
Can I choose a vegetarian meal on this tour?
Yes, a vegetarian option is available for both lunch and dinner. Let the operator know at the time of booking if you need this accommodation.
Is the Arenal tour suitable for children?
The tour is suitable for children ages 5 and up, but they must be accompanied by an adult. Inform the operator in advance if you're bringing children ages 5 to 12 so they can prepare required safety equipment.
What happens if I want to stay in La Fortuna instead of returning to San Jose?
Drop-off in La Fortuna area hotels is available as an option, though dinner will not be included if you choose this arrangement.
Arenal Volcano Tour: Coffee, Waterfalls & Hot Springs
14h · EN · ES
from US$ 165 per person
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