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If you’re looking to experience the majestic La Fortuna waterfall up close, you’ve come to the right place!
Having visited this waterfall many times, we can confidently say that the best way to experience it is on a guided tour. There is so much to do in La Fortuna, that you’ll want to maximize you’re time there. Guided tours do this best by combining the waterfall visit with other activities such as volcano hikes, hot springs, or even ziplining!
There are countless tour options available in the La Fortuna area, but we want to make sure that you are booking the absolute best ones available. That’s why we’ve created this list of the top 8 La Fortuna Waterfall tours to make sure you have the best experience possible!
Quick Pick: Our Favorite La Fortuna Waterfall Tour
If you’re pressed for time and want to book a tour right now, you can’t go wrong with booking this full-day adventure tour! Not only do you get to visit the La Fortuna Waterfall, but you’ll also get to hike around the Arenal Volcano and soak in hot springs while enjoying some included cocktails.
However, the real reason this tour stands out is that it’s the best bang for your buck. At only $95 USD it includes everything from hotel transportation to lunch, fees, and beverages! It is a very popular tour (read all of the 5-star reviews here!), so make sure to book in advance so you don’t miss out!
The BEST La Fortuna Waterfall Tours
1. Full-day Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall and Hotsprings (our personal favorite!)
This is our favorite tour on the list for a couple of reasons. In addition to taking you to the beautiful La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano, it also takes you to relax in a natural hot spring! This tour is the best value for money as it includes a full day of activities, a small group, plus lunch AND cocktails. It’s hard to beat all this tour has to offer!
Your day of adventure will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a hotel pickup from La Fortuna to head to the waterfall. Going in the morning is actually the best time of day because you avoid the crowds. I really enjoyed some exercise and a cool swim at the beginning of the tour, as it set a fun tone for the rest of the day.
Then, you’ll head to Arenal Volcano for a leisurely 3-hour hike. Your guide will spot wildlife as you go, we saw a couple of sloths when we went! You’ll also go to Mirador El Silencio, the highest viewpoint on the trail to take in magnificent views of Lake Arenal, the lava fields, the jungle, and the giant volcano towering over you. It is a view that will stick with you for a long time to come!
Finally, the relaxing part of this full-day tour will be visiting some of La Fortuna’s natural hot springs. You’ll have a few hours to relax and enjoy. The tour even has complimentary cocktails for you to enjoy as you soak. It really is the perfect end to a day of adventure.
This tour only takes a small group of 12 travelers, which we think is the perfect size. All of your fees (national park and resort) are included, as well as lunch, beverages, transportation, and your amazing guide! You get all this for just $95 USD, which is an incredible deal for a full 11 hours of fun.
Check out the glowing reviews and book your spot here!
2. La Fortuna Waterfall, Hanging Bridges, & Arenal Volcano Hiking Tour (best active tour!)
One of the most recognizable landmarks in La Fortuna is the stunning Arenal Volcano. I mean, it’s an entire volcano, so it’s hard to miss! On this active full-day tour, you’ll get to visit the volcano along with the La Fortuna waterfall and the Arenal hanging bridges – talk about the perfect day for any adventurous nature lover!
The day starts early to go hiking around the base of Arenal Volcano. This 2.5-hour hike is actually easier than it sounds, as the hike is relatively flat. The trail led us to a dry lava field from the 1968 eruption, which had a devastating impact on the surrounding villages, crops, and ecosystems. But don’t worry, it’s no longer active, so you’re safe to explore!
Next, we took a 30-minute drive to the La Fortuna Waterfall and then did a quick 500-step hike to the base of the falls. We spent the next 2 hours relaxing, taking in the views, and swimming in the refreshing water before heading to our final stop, the hanging bridges!
The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges have 6 hanging bridges and 10 regular bridges that wind through the rainforest. We had so much fun navigating the park and crossing them all! What’s great is that you’ll have about 2.5 hours here to hike at a nice, relaxed place, taking in the beauty of the rainforest.
We loved that this tour had a maximum of only 12 people, making it easy to meet people and keep a good pace on the hikes. It costs $172 USD per person which is a pretty great deal when you consider it includes hotel pick-up and drop-off, transportation, your guide, lunch, and bottled water. If you need some more convincing to book this tour, just check out the 100’s of 5-star reviews here!
Secure your spot on this popular nature tour online here!
Related Read: If you love hiking to waterfalls, check out our guide on visiting the Uvita Waterfall.
3. Half-Day La Fortuna Waterfall Hike (most budget-friendly tour!)
This quick 3-hour tour is perfect if you’re short on time but still want to check out La Fortuna Waterfall!
You will have the chance to explore the impressive rainforest that surrounds La Fortuna and make your way down to the falls. The descent isn’t long, but the 500 steps will make it seem a little more daunting! You’ll have plenty of time on this tour, so if you go slow and enjoy the view, it’s doable for most travelers with a moderate fitness level.
We really appreciated having a local guide as we walked to La Fortuna Waterfall because they helped us spot some amazing wildlife. We saw toucans, orioles, and even the fluffy four-legged coatis!
Once we reached the waterfall, we had a couple of hours to hang out and gawk at its impressive force. Of course, we also took a dip in the cool waters. It was definitely a refreshing and relaxing time before we hoofed it up the 500 steps to the top. It’s worth it, I promise!
This half-day experience costs $53 USD and includes hotel pickup and drop off from the La Fortuna area, water, and snacks. It’s offered at 8 am and 1 pm every day, so it’s also super easy to fit into your itinerary!
Pick a date and book this fun waterfall tour here!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. 7-Cable Zipline Canopy Tour Over La Fortuna Waterfall (tour with the best views!)
If you’re looking for a little adrenaline rush while exploring the La Fortuna jungle, this three-hour tour is perfect for you! You’ll hike through the Costa Rican rainforest with an expert guide, sail down ziplines, and see some unforgettable views.
Your day of adventure begins with a safety briefing before heading up the mountain where you will hike for 20 minutes before reaching your first zipline. You will get to go on seven ziplines, the longest being 980 meters (3,215 feet) over La Fortuna Waterfall itself. You’ll also take in views of Pino Blanco Waterfall, rivers, and the trees below as you soar through the air!
After your zipline adventure, you will stop by Maleku Village to meet the local Indigenous people and learn about their way of life. You can also enjoy an optional self-guided hike to La Fortuna Waterfall since you’re already out adventuring. This will add 3 hours onto your tour, but we highly recommend it if you have the time as it doesn’t cost anything extra and gives you more time to enjoy the waterfall – just make sure to bring some snacks and a bathing suit!
This tour is my top pick for families with adventurous children over 7 years old as the guides do a great job of making the day fun, but most importantly, safe. They will even go tandem ziplining with the little ones!
You can reserve this tour for $80 USD per adult which includes pick-up/drop-off from select hotels, the zipline experience, the optional hike, bottled water, and all safety equipment. Tours leave daily at 8 am, 10:30 am, and 1:00 pm, so you can easily fit it into your schedule.
Book your spot online here before it fills up!
5. Half-Day Canyoning and Waterfall Rappelling Tour in La Fortuna (best adventure tour!)
La Fortuna is called “nature’s playground” and this half-day tour really shows you why! Over the course of 4 hours, you’ll rock climb, rappel, descend waterfalls, and ATV through the rainforest, followed by a well-deserved lunch to recuperate!
The adventurous tone of this tour is set right away with a scenic 4×4 ride into the jungle to start your canyoning experience. Canyoning is when you rappel down into a canyon and on this tour, you’ll have the chance to do it 5 times – including the iconic “monkey drop” route and down 4 waterfalls – so be prepared to get wet!
At the end of this excursion, we had the opportunity to enjoy a delicious traditional Costa Rican lunch where our guide pointed out a variety of wildlife, including toucans, monkeys, and sloths!
It’s important to note that while you will get to rappel down multiple waterfalls on this tour, it doesn’t actually visit the infamous La Fortuna Waterfall, so if this is something that’s important to you make sure to book one of the other awesome tours on this list.
We think this tour is perfect for any adrenaline-seeking travelers 5 years and older. We love canyoning and have done it all over the world, and this was one of our favorite experiences to date – and we aren’t the only ones, just check out all of the 5-star reviews here!
This fun tour includes transportation from your La Fortuna-based hotel, all safety equipment, lunch, and your knowledgeable guides. It departs daily at either 7 am or 12 pm and can be reserved for $119 USD per person. I also loved that the guides take pictures (which are available for purchase), so there’s no need to worry about getting your camera wet, and you can just enjoy the moment!
Check out all of the 5-star reviews and book your canyoning adventure here!
Related Read: If you’re also visiting the coastal city of Jaco, read about our favorite tours and excursions in Jaco.
6. Arenal Volcano Horseback Ride & La Fortuna Waterfall Tour (best relaxing tour!)
Instead of hiking through the iconic Arenal Volcano trails, try horseback riding instead! This horseback riding tour allows you to see more in one day because your horse can go further and faster than just your two legs. You’ll get to explore the base of the Arenal Volcano on horseback before visiting the La Fortuna waterfall for a refreshing dip!
Our day started with pick-up from our La Fortuna hotel, then we headed to the stables near the base of the Arenal Volcano. After meeting our friendly horses, we spent the next few hours exploring the 1968 Eruption Trail around the mountain. Trust me, the views are incredible once you reach the El Silencio viewpoint!
After our leisurely horseback ride, we hopped in a vehicle and drove for 30 minutes to the La Fortuna Waterfall. Here, we had to do a short hike down to the waterfall and spent the next hour swimming around and enjoying the beautiful falls. Lunch isn’t included on this tour, but it is available to purchase at the falls.
This tour includes roundtrip transportation (via car and horse), entrance fees to the national park and waterfall, and snacks. You can select a private tour option for $157 USD per person. Alternatively, the shared tour option is $115 USD per person and requires a minimum of 2 to book, but is only 15 people maximum. Private tours begin at 9 am, and the shared tours begin at 8 am.
Check availability and book this tour online here!
7. River Safari Float with La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike
One of the reasons we love Costa Rica is that there are so many amazing outdoor activities! You will never get bored here, especially with a tour like this River Safari Float, La Fortuna Waterfall, and Volcano Hike!
This is the only tour on the list that goes to the stunning Penas Blancas River. While this river is widely known for its epic whitewater rafting, this tour offers more of a leisurely float. They call it a “river safari” because you’ll spot a variety of animals as you float down the calm waters. You might see sloths, monkeys, iguanas, toucans, and more!
You’ll then head to La Fortuna Waterfall for a hike and a swim. Walking up and down the 500 steps definitely built up our appetites! Luckily, afterward, you’ll stop at the Rancho Rainforest Explorers for a hearty lunch. This is a fun experience as you actually get a home-cooked traditional Costa Rican meal, which is really a treat!
Finally, you’ll head to the Arenal Volcano for 2.5 hours of hiking. This is a super leisurely pace so that you can enjoy all the surrounding nature. I found the landscapes here incredible as we walked along the old lava trails and took in the panoramic sights.
This full-day tour is a fantastic way to get outside and explore some of La Fortuna’s natural beauty. The tour costs $211 USD, which includes roundtrip transportation from your La Fortuna hotel, national park and activity fees, lunch, and your guide.
Reserve this tour here and don’t pay a thing until closer to the tour date!
8. La Fortuna Waterfall Combo Tour from San Jose
Even if you’re staying in San Jose, you can still experience the beauty of La Fortuna! This tour from San Jose is a great option if you’re short on time and want to escape city life. It will take you to see La Fortuna’s hanging bridges, hot springs, and waterfall all in one day!
This tour starts at 6 am since San Jose is about 2.5 hours from La Fortuna (and there’s a lot to fit into one day). Your first stop will be at La Fortuna Waterfall, which is a great introduction to the rainforest and wildlife. You’ll have about two hours to hike, swim, and explore this scenic location. Then, you’ll take a 30-minute drive to the suspension bridges!
I was seriously impressed the first time I saw this suspension bridge park. There are so many swaying paths that let you explore the rainforest up in the trees! Some of them are 135 meters (443 feet) high! Our guide did an excellent job pointing out different plants, animals, and insects. We even saw a sloth, which is a total Costa Rica bucket list experience!
The 12-hour tour ends in the perfect way: by visiting a hot spring resort! You’ll have about 3 hours to soak in the 25 different thermal mineral pools. It also overlooks Arenal Volcano, so you have fantastic views the entire time. It’s the perfect way to decompress after walking around sightseeing!
While this tour is more expensive, it is also the most inclusive one on this list – especially since you’re driving all the way from San Jose! The $263 USD price includes roundtrip transportation from your San Jose hotel, breakfast, lunch, and all entrance fees and taxes. There’s a minimum of 2 people per booking, making this a great activity for couples or families.
Check prices and availability for your travel dates here!
Related Read: For another awesome town just outside San Jose, check out the top activities in Puntarenas, Costa Rica.
About La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the best places to visit in Costa Rica – and perhaps the country’s most popular waterfall!
La Fortuna means “the fortune” in Spanish, and when you see this waterfall, you’ll definitely feel fortunate. These impressive falls are 246 feet (75 meters) high. The waters are fed from the Fortuna River and cascade down into a beautiful, greenish-blue pool. Surrounding this pool is a jungle of lush greenery, flowers, and large rocks.
To get down to the waterfall base where you can swim in the pool, you must go down a 500-step staircase. Coming back up the stairs is definitely more difficult, but it is accessible to most travelers – just make sure to take breaks when you need it!
We love that all visitor fees here go directly towards conservation efforts. The waterfall is actually managed by the Integral Development Association of La Fortuna, a nonprofit organization that protects the falls and educates others about the local environment.
It’s just 5.5 km (3.4 mi) from the town of La Fortuna. As such, most people stay in La Fortuna when visiting this waterfall and national park. However, it’s also just 129 mi (80 km) from San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital. If you’re staying in San Jose, you can also take a day trip to the falls on this fun tour!
Why book a La Fortuna Waterfall tour?
While visiting the waterfall is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna, there is even more to explore nearby. We love that the tours we mentioned above include additional activities so you can make the most out of your time and see more of the area’s highlights.
Plus, visiting the waterfall will only take a few hours. Since it’s a short hike to the falls, you’ll have plenty of time in your day to add these extra excursions! However, these are definitely activities that you can’t do without a tour, so it simply makes it easier to combine them all into one trip.
This area also has so much to learn about. As you hike to the waterfall, you’ll pass by some local wildlife that I somehow miss without the tour guide’s expert eye. They’ll also tell you about the unique ecosystem of the lush jungle and what it’s like to live in such a gorgeous place!
Plus, all the perks of the tours make your day so much easier. With many of the La Fortuna Waterfalls tours, you won’t need to worry about transportation, entrance fees, lunch, or the like! You can just show up and enjoy all that this gorgeous area has to offer.
Click here to learn more about our favorite La Fortuna Waterfall tour!
Should I book my La Fortuna Waterfall tour in advance?
Yes! This is one of the most popular activities to do in La Fortuna, and all of the tours we mentioned above are very popular (for good reason!) and book up pretty quickly. To make sure you get the date and time that best fits your schedule, it’s best to book in advance so that you don’t miss out!
All of the tours on our list have a 24-hour cancellation policy meaning that you can cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours before your departure time! One of our favorite parts of booking with Viator, and why we always recommend Viator tours, is because they have a buy now pay later option. You can reserve your spot on tours ahead of time to help you better plan your vacation and then pay later, closer to your trip time. And with their lowest price guarantee, you know you are getting the best deal out there!
Click here to learn more about our favorite La Fortuna Waterfall tour!
Other Things to do While You’re in La Fortuna
Of course, visiting La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the best experiences, but there are so many other things to do in La Fortuna you won’t want to miss! These are just a few of our top picks:
- Hot springs – If your tour doesn’t include hot springs, we definitely suggest visiting some! The Free Natural Hot Spring River is a public river running through the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort. It’s only 15 minutes outside La Fortuna and feels amazing after a day of hiking! If you don’t mind paying for a soak, there are tons of other amazing hot springs in La Fortuna to choose from too.
- Go on a night walk – Since waterfalls are a daytime thing, go on this night walk and dinner tour for a fun evening experience. Guides lead you on an easy hike through the rainforest, spotting all the critters that come out after dark. To finish it off, you’ll enjoy a traditional Costa Rican dinner prepared on a wood-burning stove.
- Visit a rope swing – El Salto, or “the rope swing,” is a hidden paradise with a swimming hole, more waterfalls, and a local vibe. Although most things here cost money, this is one of the free things to do in La Fortuna! You can easily walk to El Salto from town and swing into the refreshing waters – or ask the locals where it’s safe to jump!
- Drink great coffee – It’s no secret some of the best coffee in the world comes from Costa Rica! You can grab a cup of coffee at one of the restaurants in La Fortuna or take it a step further with a coffee tour. We had the freshest cup of coffee and tasted amazing homemade chocolate on this Costa Rican coffee and chocolate experience that takes place on a small family-owned plantation.
- Take a cooking class – The food is one of my favorite things about Costa Rica! The next best thing to eating locally-made Costa Rican food is learning to make it yourself. This 3-course cooking class is not only a super fun experience but lets you get into the culture too!
Related Read: If you’re a chocolate lover, then you’re in luck because there are some awesome chocolate tours available in La Fortuna!
Getting Around Costa Rica
How you choose to get around Costa Rica is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your holiday here! How you do it depends on your budget, travel style, and comfort level.
Renting a Car
Without a doubt, the number one way to explore Costa Rica is in a rental car. We book rental cars on the Discover Cars website as we have had good experiences with them in the past.
One of the things you need to watch for when renting a car in Costa Rica is the mandatory insurance that the government requires you to have. There are a lot of very cheap rentals that don’t include this mandatory insurance (TPL) in the original booking price, but there are also ones that do. To avoid additional surprise charges when you pick up your rental car, be sure to rent a car that includes the mandatory insurance when you book.
Thankfully, on Discover Cars it’s easy to tell apart the companies that include the mandatory insurance and those that don’t. The trick is you can’t pick any car on their website. In the picture below, you can see this rental car, with pick up in Jaco, includes the TPL. That means the mandatory insurance is included in the price. Any cover you get above that is extra.
Of course, I still suggest getting the full coverage offered by Discover Cars, which covers you even more.
You can browse cars on Discover Cars here.
Book Shuttles
If renting a car isn’t in your budget, you don’t feel comfortable driving in Costa Rica, or you just don’t like driving, shuttles are the next best option. There are hundreds of shuttle routes available all over the country, and they are very affordable.
Shuttles in Costa Rica are specifically for tourists and often include pick up and drop off at your selected hotels and airports. The drivers also speak some English, and the vehicles have air conditioning. You’ll also be guaranteed a seat when you book a shuttle (which isn’t the case with the public bus system.)
To get the best price, use the website Bookaway. They compare all the offers and prices of shuttle companies in Costa Rica so you get the best price! Honestly, we have saved so much money using Bookaway!
You can search for shuttles online on Bookaway here.
Public Bus
Lastly, you can use the public bus system. On short journeys, such as from San Jose to La Fortuna or Uvita to Manuel Antonio, this system is great. However, the longer the journey the more hassle and time spent on a bus. It’s undoubtedly best to save the public bus in Costa Rica for short and straightforward trips!
The public buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Costa Rica, but they are not always very reliable and schedules often change without notice and delays are to be expected. The buses can also be very crowded and hot – so just be prepared!
It’s also good to speak some Spanish if you plan on riding the public bus since most drivers and ticket booth operators don’t speak English.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind.
Pura Vida!
La Fortuna Waterfall is a must-see in this town! Just look at the pictures above, and you’ll understand why we love it so much. But truthfully, a tour makes visiting the falls even better since they combine it with the area’s best attractions. So, if you’re planning a trip here, we hope you found a tour to suit your needs!
If you’d like to read more, check out our blog all about Costa Rica! We’ve traveled all over the country and even lived here for some time. Obviously, we love this place, which is why we want to share what we’ve learned. So below, I’ve linked to a few articles that might come in handy.
Things You NEED To Know About Shuttles in Costa Rica