La Fortuna Waterfall & Arenal Volcano: Full Day with Hot Springs

You'll wade into a 70-meter waterfall, then climb a volcano the same afternoon

You swim in La Fortuna Waterfall, hike to Arenal's highest viewpoint through lava fields, walk through a butterfly conservatory with rainforest views, visit a Maleku village, and end the day soaking in natural hot springs with a cocktail. Hotel pickup, bilingual guide, lunch, and all park fees are included. The group stays small, and the day is structured so you're moving between different ecosystems without dead time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. La Fortuna Waterfall1h 30m · entry included
2. Butterfly Conservatory30m · entry included

Explore La Fortuna nature and hot springs

• Visit La Fortuna Waterfall
• Explore Butterfly Conservatory
• Climb to Arenal Volcano viewpoint
• Relax at hot spring resort

The experience

The waterfall hits you before you're ready for it. You round a bend in the jungle trail and suddenly there's this wall of water, 70 meters of it, crashing into a pool so clear you can see the volcanic rocks underneath. The mist is cold. Your guide tells you the brave ones jump in, and then you're standing there deciding whether you're brave, and then you're in the water, and it's the kind of cold that makes you gasp and laugh at the same time. That's how the La Fortuna day tour starts, and it sets the tone for everything that comes after.

From there you move through the landscape like you're checking boxes on a nature documentary, except you're actually there. The butterfly conservatory comes next: four separate flight atriums filled with hundreds of native butterflies, poison dart frogs close enough to photograph, and views of Lake Arenal and the volcano from the rainforest trails. Then you're climbing steep steps cut into lava rock, following a trail that winds up through the volcanic mass itself. The highest viewpoint around Arenal sits at the top, and the panoramic view is the kind of thing you'll pull up on your phone for months afterward. Your guide (bilingual, local, and patient with the group's varying fitness levels) points out the landscape features and keeps the pace steady. Groups stay under twelve people, and you'll be sharing the bus with another small group, so it never feels crowded.

Lunch happens midway through, and it's traditional Costa Rican food: the kind that tastes better when you've been hiking for three hours. There's a fruit break earlier and a coffee break somewhere in the middle, and by the time you reach the hot springs resort at the end of the day, your legs are tired and the natural mineral water feels like the tour was designed specifically to lead you to this moment. A complimentary cocktail comes with it. You soak, you watch the light change, and then the driver takes you back to your hotel in La Fortuna.

The whole thing runs from morning to evening: hotel pickup and return included, entrance fees paid, guide sorted, lunch covered. You show up at your hotel at the agreed time and don't have to think about logistics again until you're back.

What’s included

Round-trip hotel transport from your La Fortuna accommodation, a local bilingual guide (Spanish and English), entry fees to all attractions including the national park and waterfall, a traditional Costa Rican lunch with beverage, a fruit break and coffee break during the day, and a complimentary cocktail at the hot springs resort.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (15 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 14 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Red Lava Office in Front of Relax Termalitas Hotsprings”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Red Lava TSC

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to pack multiple ecosystems and activities into one day without arranging transport, paying separate entrance fees, or timing yourself: the fixed itinerary and included guide handle all of that, which is what makes a full volcano, waterfall, and hot springs day possible in one afternoon.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 14 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

How long is the La Fortuna waterfall tour?

It's a full-day tour from morning to evening, with hotel pickup and return included.

Can you swim in the waterfall?

Yes. The waterfall pool is deep and clear, and swimming is optional. Your guide will let you know when it's safe to enter.

What's the fitness level required?

Moderate fitness is recommended. You'll climb steep steps, hike jungle trails, and walk through lava rock fields, but the pace is steady and the guide adjusts for the group.

What's included in the tour price?

Hotel transport, guide, all park and waterfall entry fees, traditional lunch, fruit and coffee breaks, and a complimentary cocktail at the hot springs.

How many people are in the group?

Maximum 12 people per group. You'll share the bus with another small group.

Is there a minimum age for the hot springs cocktail?

Yes, you must be 18 or older to drink alcohol.

What should I bring?

Swimwear, a towel, water shoes or sandals that can get wet, sunscreen, and a change of clothes for after the waterfall swim.