Arenal Volcano Tour from San Jose: Zip Lining & Hot Springs

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/10

Duration14h

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Zip line over the Arenal River, then soak in thermal pools fed by the volcano itself

A 14-hour combo tour from San Jose to La Fortuna that combines volcano sightseeing, waterfall stops, and adventure activities—zip lining through rainforest canopy, rappelling 150 feet, and soaking in natural hot springs—with coffee tasting, lunch, and dinner included. Hotel pickup and drop-off in the San Jose area are part of the booking; a bilingual guide leads the whole day. Not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, knee problems, or cardiovascular concerns.

14h

Step-by-step itinerary

Arenal Volcano Full-Day Combo Tour

Pickup from San Jose hotel
Drive scenic route to Arenal
Visit coffee plantation and briefing
Stop at La Paz Waterfall
Stop at San Fernando Waterfall lookout
Enjoy coffee and local snacks
Visit Iguanas Center and sloth viewing
Lunch of authentic Costa Rican cuisine
Zip lining and rappelling adventure
Indigenous tribe cultural presentation
Relax at Paradise Hot Springs
Dinner at Costa Rican restaurant en route
Return to San Jose hotel

The Experience

The day starts before dawn with pickup from your San Jose hotel, then a drive along the scenic route toward Arenal that takes you past plantations, local towns, and volcano views. The first real stop is a coffee plantation where your guide walks you through how Costa Rican coffee grows and is processed, followed by a tasting of the beans in a rustic restaurant paired with traditional local snacks. From there you move to La Paz Waterfall, one of the country's most photographed natural attractions, where you stand in the rainforest and shoot pictures of the cascade. A second waterfall stop at San Fernando gives you a lookout point and another cup of fresh coffee while you watch for hummingbirds in the exotic bird gallery nearby.

The Iguanas Center comes next—a bridge viewing point where you see these rainforest animals at eye level in their natural habitat, and a nearby spot where sloths are normally found in the wild. After that, you eat a hearty lunch of authentic Costa Rican cuisine at a restaurant near the base of Arenal Volcano itself. Then the adventure part: a two-hour zip lining run through the rainforest that strings together seven cables, a 150-foot rappel line over the Arenal River, and a short presentation from members of the Maleku indigenous people who explain their culture and traditions of the region.

The final stretch is a couple of hours at Paradise Hot Springs and Gardens, where natural thermal water fills small pools, Jacuzzis, and cascading waterfalls on larger lagoons surrounded by tropical gardens. You soak and relax here before heading back toward San Jose, stopping for dinner at a typical Costa Rican restaurant on the route. The whole day—travel, meals, activities, and entrance fees—runs 14 hours from pickup to drop-off.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off in the San Jose area.
air-conditioned vehicle transport.
entrance fees to all attractions.
coffee tasting with local snacks at the plantation.
lunch and dinner at local restaurants.
professional bilingual guide in English and Spanish.
zip lining and rappelling equipment.
access to Paradise Hot Springs and Gardens.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Go Tours Costa Rica

Is this one for you?Book this if you want multiple activities (zip lining, hot springs, coffee tasting, wildlife spotting) in one 14-hour day; skip it if you prefer a single focus or have concerns with rappelling and sustained physical exertion.