La Fortuna tour: Safari float, waterfall swim, volcano hike

You hike old lava trails at the base of an active volcano at sunset.

A full-day tour from La Fortuna combines a 2–3 hour safari float down the Penas Blancas River, a swim at La Fortuna Waterfall after a 500-step descent, lunch at a family ranch, and a slow-paced hike through Arenal Volcano National Park's rainforest. The guide points out wildlife throughout, hotel pickup is included, and the tour runs about 9.5 hours from early morning to late afternoon. A minimum of two people per booking is required.

Step-by-step itinerary

Safari float, waterfall, lunch, volcano hike

• Early pick up after breakfast
• Drive to Penas Blancas River
• Safety briefing and gear on
• 2-3 hour safari float on river
• Snack with tropical fruits and juices
• Visit La Fortuna Waterfall park
• Hike down 500 steps to waterfall
• Swim and explore waterfall area
• Hike back up 500 steps
• Short drive to family ranch
• Enjoy traditional lunch with family
• Hike around Arenal Volcano base
• Explore old lava trails and viewpoints

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. La Fortuna Waterfall Entry included 1h 30m
2. Arenal Volcano National Park Entry included 2h 30m

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from La Fortuna or Arenal.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• the 2–3 hour safari float with life jacket and helmet.
• entry to Arenal Volcano National Park and La Fortuna Waterfall.
• lunch at a family ranch with traditional food and coffee.
• tropical fruit and juice during the river float.

Times

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• Every day 07:30

Information

Float the Penas Blancas River spotting wildlife, swim at La Fortuna Waterfall, and hike Arenal Volcano's rainforest base with a guide and lunch.

Group Up to 10

Live guide English and Spanish Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 28 pickup points. See the pickup points

Ages Adult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6): free

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h 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.

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Pets welcome Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

The day starts with an early pickup from your hotel so you have energy for what's ahead. A 20-minute drive takes you to the Penas Blancas River, where you board a raft that holds up to 5–6 people plus your guide. The 2–3 hour float is slow and steady. The point is to watch the rainforest unfold around you. Your guide calls out monkeys, sloths, iguanas, toucans and birds as they move through the canopy. Midway through, the raft pulls to a clear spot for tropical fruit and juice.

After the float, you drive to La Fortuna Waterfall. The hike down is 500 steps over about 20 minutes through a canyon. The waterfall appears at the bottom, and you swim in the pool beneath it, take pictures and explore. The hike back up takes roughly 25 minutes. You change clothes and head to lunch at a family-run ranch next to the river, where a home-cooked traditional meal and local coffee are served.

The final stretch is a hike through the rainforest that blankets the base of Arenal Volcano. This is not a steep climb. The pace is slow so you can spot wildlife and absorb the landscape. You walk through different zones as you climb, eventually reaching old lava trails. The views open up to the lake, forests and the sunset from above.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What wildlife will I see on the Penas Blancas River float?

The safari float passes through rainforest where monkeys, sloths, iguanas, toucans and various birds move through the canopy. Your guide points them out as the raft drifts slowly downriver.

How difficult is the hike at La Fortuna Waterfall?

The descent to the waterfall is 500 steps over about 20 minutes, and the return hike up takes roughly 25 minutes. Both are steady walks through a canyon with views of the surrounding landscape.

Is the volcano hike strenuous?

The Arenal Volcano hike is slow-paced and not strenuous, designed so you can see wildlife and learn about the rainforest while walking through different zones toward the old lava trails at the base.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the guide, all activities, National Park fees, lunch at a family ranch, and hotel pickup and drop-off from Arenal or La Fortuna.

What should I bring?

Bring hiking or tennis shoes, water shoes for the river float, a swimsuit, raincoat, water bottle, insect repellent, comfortable clothes and a camera. The guide provides life jackets and helmets for the raft.

What time does the tour start and end?

The tour runs about 9.5 hours total, starting with an early pickup after breakfast and returning to your hotel in late afternoon. The exact times depend on your hotel location and the guide's schedule.

Operated by Rainforest Explorers. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated yesterday