La Fortuna Waterfall & Baldi Hot Springs Private Tour
Twelve hours to hike a rainforest, swim beneath a 70-meter waterfall, and soak in volcanic hot springs
A 12-hour private tour from San Jose combines a nature walk through a biological reserve to La Fortuna Waterfall (a 70-meter drop in Arenal Volcano National Park) with a swim in the clear river pool, followed by lunch and free time in the thermal pools at Baldi Hot Springs. Hotel pickup and drop-off, entrance fees, a professional naturalist guide in English or Spanish, and a buffet lunch are all included. You bring only yourself and a swimsuit.
Step-by-step itinerary
Visit La Fortuna Waterfall and Baldi Hot Springs
- Travel from San Jose to La Fortuna
- Nature walk to La Fortuna Waterfall
- Swim and take photos at waterfall
- Short ride to Baldi Hot Springs
- Enjoy buffet lunch at Baldi Hot Springs
- Relax in thermal pools and water slides
- Return to hotel in San Jose
- Baldi Hot Springs Entry included 3h
- La Fortuna Waterfall Entry included 2h
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from San Jose.
- private transportation and guide.
- entrance fee to La Fortuna Waterfall.
- the nature walk through the biological reserve.
- entrance fee to Baldi Hot Springs.
- buffet lunch with vegetarian option available.
- free time in the thermal pools.
- professional naturalist guide in English or Spanish.
Times
- Every day 07:00
Before you book
Operated by Greenway Nature Day Tours
Prices and times updated 8 days ago
Traveler reviews
The experience
The day starts with pickup from your San Jose hotel and a drive northwest toward La Fortuna, a small town at the foot of Arenal Volcano. Along the way, your guide points out views of the volcano from different vantage points and stops for photos. Once you arrive at the biological reserve, you walk a marked path of roughly 530 steps through native rainforest (the trail is built for safety and includes rest areas), descending to the Fortuna River and the waterfall itself. The walk takes you past the flora and wildlife of the reserve, and the path opens onto a spacious viewing platform where the waterfall drops into a natural pool below.
At the waterfall, you have time to swim in the clear water and take photos before heading to Baldi Hot Springs, a short drive away. Baldi sits on the thermal Tabacón River and draws its water from 25 mineral pools heated by the volcano, ranging from 93°F to 152°F. The water is certified by Costa Rica's National Water Laboratory. After a buffet lunch (vegetarian options available), the afternoon is yours to move between the pools at your own pace. Some are calm and warm, others have water slides for a faster adrenaline rush. You'll have several hours here before the return drive to San Jose.
The tour is entirely private: your guide, your vehicle, your pace. A naturalist leads the walk and explains the rainforest ecosystem and geology of the area. Children from age 1 are welcome, though infants must sit on an adult's lap. The hike requires at least a moderate level of fitness (it is a descent and then a climb back out), but the steps and rest areas make it manageable for most travelers. The full day is 12 hours from pickup to drop-off.
Is this one for you?This tour is private, so your guide, vehicle and pace are yours alone. It suits travelers who want to move at their own speed and avoid sharing the day with strangers. The 12-hour commitment and moderate hike make it a full-day outing best for those with the fitness to descend and climb 530 steps. If you prefer a shorter visit or have mobility limits, a shared tour or a day focused only on the hot springs might fit better.
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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 (4 to 12 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.
How difficult is the hike down to La Fortuna Waterfall?
The path has roughly 530 steps built for safety, with rest areas and hydration stops along the way. It descends through rainforest to the waterfall and then climbs back out, so you need at least a moderate level of fitness, but the steps and resting spots make it accessible for most travelers in reasonable health.
What is La Fortuna Waterfall like when you get there?
La Fortuna Waterfall is 70 meters high and drops into a clear natural pool in the Fortuna River. Once you reach the viewing platform, you can swim in the pool and take photos. The waterfall is the only sound around you.
How much time do you spend at Baldi Hot Springs?
After lunch, you have free time to enjoy the thermal pools at your own pace. Baldi has 25 pools at different temperatures, from 93°F to 152°F, plus water slides if you want them, and you'll have several hours to move between them before the return drive to San Jose.
Is lunch included, and what are the options?
Yes, a buffet lunch is included at Baldi Hot Springs. Vegetarian options are available. Let your guide know at the time of booking if you need one.
What does the private tour include?
Hotel pickup and drop-off from San Jose, private transportation, entrance fees to both La Fortuna Waterfall and Baldi Hot Springs, a professional naturalist guide in English or Spanish, and a buffet lunch are all included. You do not pay separately for any of these.
La Fortuna Waterfall & Baldi Hot Springs Private Tour
12h · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 285 per person
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