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La Fortuna is our home base in Costa Rica, and there are lots of reasons why we love it! But mostly, we chose to settle here because it’s full to the brim of adventures – like exploring caves!
As adventure lovers, we just had to check out the cave tours on offer in La Fortuna, and we found a firm favorite with this tour of the Venado Caves! Having said that, it might not be for everyone, so in this blog, we’re going to take you through the pros and cons and share our honest thoughts – both good and bad.
So grab your head torch, and let’s get into why we think that this is the best La Fortuna cave tour.
Which Venado Caves tour did I do in La Fortuna?
I really wanted to explore the Venado Caves while living in La Fortuna, and you can’t enter the caves without a guide. I started shopping around for tours, and this one immediately stood out to me.
The Venado Caves are about an hour from La Fortuna, so I wanted a tour with transportation included to make life easier. I was glad to see that helmets, flashlights, and rubber boots were included, too, so that I wouldn’t have to worry about renting anything separately.
I was also intrigued by the tour’s itinerary. I mean, exploring ancient seabeds, crazy rock formations, and lots of narrow passageways sounded pretty cool to me! I didn’t just want to walk through a cave, I wanted a proper adventure that involved squeezing through passageways and clambering over rocks!
I also saw that the tour had 100+ positive reviews and offered free cancellation. It seemed like a safe bet, so I booked us both a spot, and I’m so glad that I did.
Book the exact cave tour we recommend right here!
What I loved about this tour
Great activity for adventurous travelers
This tour is such a great adventure! We loved crawling through tight spaces and climbing up rocks. We felt like we were in an Indiana Jones movie. It was a real adventure and a fantastic way to get out of our comfort zones.
Encouraging and informative guides
The guides really made this tour what it was. They were great storytellers as they told us a ton about the caves in such an engaging way. Better yet, they were also really encouraging and super helpful to those in our group who were nervous. I sometimes get a little claustrophobic, but the guides were very supportive whenever it came to squeezing through a tight spot!
Really inclusive
This is an all-inclusive tour, so absolutely everything is taken care of for you! From transport and safety equipment to snacks, we didn’t have to worry about anything – but we’ll go into more detail about this later on in this article.
Easy to fit into a busy travel schedule
If you’ve only got a couple of days to spend in La Fortuna, it should be easy to fit this tour in! It’s a half-day tour and it lasts for around 4 hours, including travel time. They drop you right back at your hotel after, so you’ll be ready for the next activity.
Free cancellation options
We booked the tour through Viator to ensure that we got free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand. We also had the option to reserve our spots and not pay until two days beforehand. This allows you to be flexible and means that you won’t be left out of pocket if your plans change.
Highly reviewed
You don’t just have to take our word for it that this is a great tour because it has 100+ reviews you can read here! We only book tours with great reviews, and all of the reviews you see on Viator are verified, so you know that they’re real.
Ready to book? Reserve the tour of Venado Caves online in advance!
What I didn’t like about this tour
Would have liked a little more time in the caves
Now, I’m fully aware that I did just say it’s a good thing that this tour is short and easy to fit into your La Fortuna itinerary. However, I could have used a bit longer inside the Venado Caves. It took between 45 minutes to an hour to get to the caves from La Fortuna, and we also needed time to gear up and listen to the safety briefing, so we only got just over an hour in the caves.
The caves were fascinating, so I do wish we could have spent longer underground!
What did this tour include/not include?
This tour was super generous in terms of inclusions. We got complimentary hotel pickup and drop-off, and there was WiFi in the minivan which was a nice bonus. All of the equipment we needed was covered, such as lanterns, masks, helmets, and waterproof boots, so we had nothing to worry about.
Plus, we got fresh fruit and bottled water once we got out of the cave, which was a very welcome refreshment because it was quite humid down there!
Related Read: If you’re looking for another incredible experience, visiting Rio Celeste Waterfall from La Fortuna is it. You won’t believe the color of this water – it looks like blue Gatorade!
Is this tour of the Venado Caves suitable for all levels of fitness?
No, it’s not, to be honest. You’ll need to be in decent shape for this tour because there are sections where you have to pull yourself up over rocks, crawl on your belly, and squeeze through tight spaces.
If you have mobility issues, it’s probably not the best tour for you, and to be honest I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who is seriously claustrophobic, either.
Would I do this Venado Caves tour again?
Yes! I loved exploring the caves and I would 100% go on this exact tour again. I think it would be great to take friends or family who come to visit us in La Fortuna. And it’s hands down the best cave tour in La Fortuna we’ve done!
Related Read: Adventurous travelers should also check out the ATV tours we recommend in La Fortuna to zoom past volcanic craters and explore the jungle.
Other Things to do While You’re in La Fortuna
This is just one of the many fun activities to fill your itinerary with and there are so many other things to do in La Fortuna you won’t want to miss! Here are just a few of our top picks:
- Hot springs – Be sure to get plenty of relaxation time during your stay in La Fortuna. 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 – After a day of adventure, going on this night walk and dinner tour makes 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, waterfalls, and a local vibe. This is one of the best free things to do in La Fortuna! You can easily walk to El Salto 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.
- Arenal Volcano – Arenal Volcano is the centerpiece of La Fortuna! You can wander the trails at Arenal Volcano National Park on your own or as part of a hiking tour. For more unique volcano views, take to the sky aboard the Sky Tram, fly by on an ATV ride, or take a leisurely sunset cruise on Lake Arenal.
Where to Stay in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Because La Fortuna is such a big tourist town, there are a ton of amazing places to stay. We even wrote an entire blog about the best hotels in La Fortuna. However, to make it super easy, we’ve narrowed it down to our top places for each price point. So keep reading to find one that suits your needs (and budget!).
Luxury – $$$
Those with a luxury budget can wake up to views of Arenal Volcano! The Volcano Lodge is set at the foot of Arenal Volcano. It has hot springs and a lush, tropical garden on the property where you can see lots of the beautiful birds of Costa Rica, including hummingbirds! Rooms here typically start at $200 USD per night. For a luxurious stay in a natural setting, book The Volcano Lodge online here.
For arguably the most luxurious hotel in La Fortuna, check out The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal. While the rooms don’t come cheap ($600 USD+), it’s a bucket list place to stay that’s perfect for visiting Costa Rica on a honeymoon! There’s also a resort-style pool, a fitness center, a swim-up bar, hot tubs, and a spa and wellness center. If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury, reserve your stay at The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal!
Mid-range – $$
Those with a medium budget should check out Casa Luna Hotel & Spa. I stayed here on my first visit to La Fortuna and loved it. The property is beautiful, with a large pool and four hot tubs surrounded by nature. They also include a delicious breakfast at the $170 USD room rate. Casa Luna is located a short drive from town and can be booked online here.
Budget – $
One of the go-to budget options is Selina La Fortuna. I’ve stayed in Selina hostels around the world, and this is a great one. It has a fun party atmosphere and a great co-working space where we spent a lot of time. You can also book on Booking.com or Hostelworld.com for the best rate.
La Fortuna Natural Green is another budget option suited to those who prefer to avoid hostels. They offer small chalets a short walk or drive from town. Rooms start at $75 USD and include free breakfast. To grab this great deal, check prices and availability on Booking.com.
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!
Exploring the Venado Caves is one of our favorite experiences around La Fortuna. Even though I wish we had a little longer to explore on this tour, it just means we will have to do it again! Overall, it was a fantastic experience we recommend to all adventurous travelers.
If you found this review helpful, have a look at all our other Costa Rica blogs. We’ve traveled across the country and lived in a few different parts too, so we have lots of tips and inspiration to share. If you’ll be based in La Fortuna for a bit, check out the blogs below.
15 Things to Know Before Visiting La Fortuna Waterfall +Complete Guide
12 BEST Tours in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
How to Get from San Jose to La Fortuna + 11 BEST Places to Stop