Guidebook for La Fortuna
Entertainment & Activities
Our neighbors and friends at Leaves & Lizards have beautiful horses and great guides...even a private waterfall you can visit on one of their tours!
Leaves and Lizards Retreat Hotel
Our neighbors and friends at Leaves & Lizards have beautiful horses and great guides...even a private waterfall you can visit on one of their tours!
Pure Trek Canyoning is a great tour in town that takes you rappelling down waterfalls...a lifetime experience! Let us know if you'd like us to make you a reservation.
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pure Trek Canyoning
Pure Trek Canyoning is a great tour in town that takes you rappelling down waterfalls...a lifetime experience! Let us know if you'd like us to make you a reservation.
Tabacon is "world famous" for its hot springs but there are many more to choose from. We'll help you choose the right one for you!
13 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa
13 Km Noreste de Centro de la Fortuna de San CarlosTabacon is "world famous" for its hot springs but there are many more to choose from. We'll help you choose the right one for you!
This is one of our favorite places to go to Hot Springs in the area. There are many pools of all temperatures to choose from and currently the entrance fee is only $15!
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Los Lagos
This is one of our favorite places to go to Hot Springs in the area. There are many pools of all temperatures to choose from and currently the entrance fee is only $15!
Baldi is THE place if you want to go to a party atmosphere. It's a beautiful place but not for the "we're looking for a nice/quiet/romantic place".
70 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Hotel y Spa Baldi Hot Springs
142Baldi is THE place if you want to go to a party atmosphere. It's a beautiful place but not for the "we're looking for a nice/quiet/romantic place".
Eco Termales hot springs has 4 small hot springs/pools all in a row so not a lot of privacy but quiet with great food. Reservations ARE definitely required.
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ecotermales Fortuna
Eco Termales hot springs has 4 small hot springs/pools all in a row so not a lot of privacy but quiet with great food. Reservations ARE definitely required.
Essentials
Monterrey is a great little Costa Rican town with restaurants, grocery stores, butcher, bank and gas station. It's only a 5 minute drive.
Monterrey, San Carlos
Monterrey is a great little Costa Rican town with restaurants, grocery stores, butcher, bank and gas station. It's only a 5 minute drive.
This is the best & last store on the way to the Villa Hermosa from the center of La Fortuna. It's located on the main road past the cemetery and has the BEST selection of items. Items you can get here that you cannot get at our closer stores: Fresh Poultry, Fresh Fish & good selection of fruits & veggies.
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Super Cristian #4
142This is the best & last store on the way to the Villa Hermosa from the center of La Fortuna. It's located on the main road past the cemetery and has the BEST selection of items. Items you can get here that you cannot get at our closer stores: Fresh Poultry, Fresh Fish & good selection of fruits & veggies.
Sightseeing
This is a beautiful iconic church and on a clear day you can see the volcano in the background. The church and main square are a beautiful feature of La Fortuna.
Iglesia Católica
142This is a beautiful iconic church and on a clear day you can see the volcano in the background. The church and main square are a beautiful feature of La Fortuna.
This is an easy tour you can do by yourself...located only 5 minutes outside of the center of town it's a 15 minute walk down & back up. Easy & you can swim by the waterfall!
133 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Catarata La Fortuna
This is an easy tour you can do by yourself...located only 5 minutes outside of the center of town it's a 15 minute walk down & back up. Easy & you can swim by the waterfall!
This beautiful resort that has a great spa and hot springs is just 3.5km from The Villa Hermosa. They also have an animal rescue that is a must see-this is included with the hot springs entrance.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal
This beautiful resort that has a great spa and hot springs is just 3.5km from The Villa Hermosa. They also have an animal rescue that is a must see-this is included with the hot springs entrance.
For birders this is a "must see" when in this area. You'll spend time on the river in a great place for birding and it's only 1.5 hours from Fortuna.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Caño Negro
For birders this is a "must see" when in this area. You'll spend time on the river in a great place for birding and it's only 1.5 hours from Fortuna.
Food Scene
One of our favorite restaurants and the menu has something for everyone; one of the few bars in town with a nightlife too!
30 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Lava Lounge
142One of our favorite restaurants and the menu has something for everyone; one of the few bars in town with a nightlife too!
For a more authentic dining experience, this is a definite favorite dining spot. Bring your camera as the presentation of the food and the wait staff are unique!
La Choza de Laurel
For a more authentic dining experience, this is a definite favorite dining spot. Bring your camera as the presentation of the food and the wait staff are unique!
This is one of the best restaurants in town and the bar is a beautiful place to stop & get a tropical drink! This is more of a "special occassion" place vs. daily dining.
43 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Restaurante Don Rufino
This is one of the best restaurants in town and the bar is a beautiful place to stop & get a tropical drink! This is more of a "special occassion" place vs. daily dining.
This is a favorite bakery in town and they bake bread fresh daily. Also one of the few places you can buy cakes & pastries.
9 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Musmanni La Fortuna
This is a favorite bakery in town and they bake bread fresh daily. Also one of the few places you can buy cakes & pastries.
Parks & Nature
Sky Trek is one of the best canopy (aka Zip Lining) tours in the area. You can take a hike on Hanging Bridges, take the gondola up the mountain then zipline down (or gondola down). @40 minutes away.
43 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sky Adventures Arenal Park
Sky Trek is one of the best canopy (aka Zip Lining) tours in the area. You can take a hike on Hanging Bridges, take the gondola up the mountain then zipline down (or gondola down). @40 minutes away.
This is a beautiful place to hike, best to get there as soon as they open when it's less crowded and the animals are the most active. It's very thick & jungly so you can go for a "beautiful hike" but if you want to see animals through the foliage, hire a guide (ahead of time). Close to Lake Arenal.
101 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque de Puentes Colgantes Mistico Arenal
This is a beautiful place to hike, best to get there as soon as they open when it's less crowded and the animals are the most active. It's very thick & jungly so you can go for a "beautiful hike" but if you want to see animals through the foliage, hire a guide (ahead of time). Close to Lake Arenal.
Everything Else
Nuevo Arenal gets confused for La Fortuna (aka Arenal) all the time. Just make sure you know the difference and where it's located!
18 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Nuevo Arenal
Nuevo Arenal gets confused for La Fortuna (aka Arenal) all the time. Just make sure you know the difference and where it's located!
One of two International Airports. It will take approximately 3 hours to drive here-either through San Ramon OR Ciudad Quesada. See website for directions: http://www.theVillaHermosa.com
79 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría
One of two International Airports. It will take approximately 3 hours to drive here-either through San Ramon OR Ciudad Quesada. See website for directions: http://www.theVillaHermosa.com
One of two International Airports. It will take approximately 3.5 hours to drive here-you'll drive through Tilaran & around Lake Arenal. See website for directions: http://www.theVillaHermosa.com
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport
S/N Boulevard AeropuertoOne of two International Airports. It will take approximately 3.5 hours to drive here-you'll drive through Tilaran & around Lake Arenal. See website for directions: http://www.theVillaHermosa.com
Drinks & Nightlife
Great place to people-watch, right across from the park. Great drinks!
19 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kazan Bar Restaurante
Great place to people-watch, right across from the park. Great drinks!