La Fortuna Waterfall
Select Dates
Choose dates
Recent Searches
Clear
La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall

La Fortuna Waterfall

Free admission

The Basics

Set just outside the town of La Fortuna, this cascade is a must-see for visitors to Arenal Volcano National Park. From the parking lot, the descent down the staircase to the falls only takes roughly 20 minutes. A longer trail winds through the rain forest and can be traversed on horseback, giving travelers an opportunity to spot toucans, monkeys, and other tropical creatures. At the bottom, adventurous visitors can swim in the clear waters below the fall, while others can picnic along the rocky shoreline or snap pictures of the scenery.

Most La Fortuna Waterfall tours include a visit to the adjacent Arenal Volcano National Park, where you can head out on a volcano hike, get your adrenaline pumping on a waterfall-jumping and canyoning adventure, or float down the river on a safari tour.

Show all
Full day Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall and Hotsprings
Full day Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall and Hotsprings
USD89.00 per adult
Traveller Favourite
Thumbs Up
LaFortuna Waterfall was exquisite. I loved swimming there. Carlos and Julian were excellent guides. The hot springs were very relaxing after a full day of hiking.
Abigail_D, May 2023

Recent reviews from experiences in La Fortuna

Beautiful Experience
star-5
Beautiful Experience
Phoebe_L, Mar. 2023
Full day Hanging Bridges, Arenal Volcano, Fortuna Waterfall and Hotsprings
Christian was our tour guide through Red Lava Tours. We had a wonderful time and saw many critters on our tour! One of the La Fortuna waterfall after lunch. We have seen a lot of waterfalls but this one stood out. Plus you can swim at the waterfall! Christian was very kind and put lots of effort into explaining the ecological connections between the organisms we saw an lots of fun facts. Definitely would do again!
Did not disappoint!
star-5
Did not disappoint!
Jesse_B, May 2023
Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano Hike
The combo excursion (hanging bridges, la Fortuna waterfall and arenal volcano) was a lot of walking and stair steps in one day but we’d do it again. It was a blast. Our group was fun and our guide Pepe couldn’t have been better. Lunch was delicious and perfectly timed. Highly recommend for moderately active to active people looking for a great Costa Rican experience
Great experience.
star-5
Great experience.
Dean_R, Mar. 2023
2-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: Hanging Bridges + La Fortuna Waterfall
Tour guide was awesome. Explained everything. Very knowledgeable. Driver was very good. Van was clean.
Absolutely breathtaking! ...
star-5
Absolutely breathtaking! ...
Christie_P, Jun. 2023
Skip-the-Line La Fortuna Waterfall Admission Ticket
Absolutely breathtaking! One of my favorite things in Costa Rica! Once down there, it is very rocky and slick, so definitely wear good hiking sandals/shoes. We didn’t think the steps back up were too bad, but there are areas to stop and rest along the way!
So good!
star-5
So good!
Pedro_B, Jun. 2023
Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano Hike
This was such a great excursion. 💯 recommend. You get to do so much in a day :) the guide was also top notch.
Book now!
star-5
Book now!
Nancy_A, May 2023
Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano Hike
We had a wonderful time exploring with our guide Raul! He was very passionate and knowledgeable simply the best. We were able to spot several animals which made the trip. Thank you Raul. 100 recommended.
Great tour but not 11 hours.
star-4
Great tour but not 11 hours.
Eric_K, May 2023
Full day Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall and Hotsprings
The guides were great. Erick was awesome. It was beautiful and was a perfect day for it with some overcast. The only issues were they picked us up at almost 8, not 7:25 like they confirmed the night before and it was not 11 hours, it was closer to 8. We could have used more time in the hot springs.
Perfect tour
star-5
Perfect tour
Lea_H, May 2023
Full day Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall and Hotsprings
Highly recommended. It was a great tour with really nice guides. You get to know la Fortuna in a really short time. We had a wonderful day.
Beautiful day trip!
star-5
Beautiful day trip!
Danielle_H, May 2023
Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna Waterfall & Lunch
Great hike, watch your step! Waterfall was amazing, you have to go in the water! But watch your step! Take your time climbing the 500 steps, it’s not a race. Pura Vida
Shoutout to Oscar!
star-5
Shoutout to Oscar!
Elayne_S, May 2023
2-in-1 Arenal Combo Tour: Hanging Bridges + La Fortuna Waterfall
Oscar was an amazing tour guide who knew everything about the wildlife in Mistico. He spent time explaining the species and offered lots of knowledge. The hanging bridges, waterfall, and food were all incredible.
Outstanding opportunity to experience Cosa Rica
star-5
Outstanding opportunity to experience Cosa Rica
Shelly_A, May 2023
3-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: River Safari Float with La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike
We had an outstanding experience! Our guide, Mario and his team were nothing but amazing. Our river float was incredible with many animals and birds. We had plenty of time at the waterfall, and were able to learn about the volcano. The snacks and food were fantastic. I would whole heartedly recommend this tour and this company. We never felt rushed and our guide was great at educating us on all the animals, birds and locations that we visited.
Informative tour
star-5
Informative tour
Ron_N, May 2023
2-in-1 Arenal Volcano Combo Tour: La Fortuna Waterfall and Volcano Hike
Great and informative tour. The host was super nice and fun. Picturesque views. The hike through the forest and up to the volcano was fun.
We perform checks on reviews

Things to Know Before You Go

  • Bring a bathing suit, sun protection, bug spray, and comfortable shoes.

  • Swimming is allowed, but only in pools well away from the potentially dangerous currents produced by the falls, especially during the rainy season.

  • Keep in mind that the staircase down to the falls is steep and sometimes slippery.

Show all

How to Get There

La Fortuna Waterfall is located roughly 10 minutes by road from the small town of La Fortuna, and about three hours by road from San José.

Show all

Trip ideas


When to Get There

The most popular time to visit is during Costa Rica’s dry season (mid-December to April), when the weather is ideal for exploring. Arrive early in the day if you want to avoid crowds.

Show all

Exploring Arenal Volcano National Park

Arenal Volcano National Park is a treasure trove of wildlife and epic volcanic landscapes. Trek through the park’s many hiking trails, walk across picturesque hanging bridges, take a horseback ride, or go rappelling down volcanic rock faces. Nearby, Baldi Hot Springs Resort is the perfect place to relax after an action-packed day of sightseeing.

Show all
Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the nearest attractions to La Fortuna Waterfall?
Q:
What else should I know about attractions in La Fortuna?
A:
As well as visiting the La Fortuna Waterfall, check out these trip ideas to make the most of your visit: