Top La Fortuna Day Trips - page 2

Such an amazing & inclusive experience. Hike: moderately intense as there are ~100 steps you have to climb through the terrain. Our 5&9 year old kids were with us and enjoyed it however my 5 year old got tired around the last 15 minutes. The hike is 2-2.5 hours then you go to the separate lunch location Lunch: good food consisting of rice, beans, chips, pork or chicken + salad. The restaurant has one side for your guess but the other side has additional items for purchase and the fresa (strawberry ice) + cafe con leche were amazing Hot springs: separate location from the hike, not far from lunch. This place exceeded our expectations as it contained 18 diff hot & cold springs +2 water slides for kids. We drove separately and were able to stay as long as we wanted once the tour was over Tour: Franklin our guide, was amazing and very knowledgeable and passionate about the information. We drove 2.5 hours in from San Juan & even though we were late, they sent us an alternate location to meet them instead of us using the bus services. This worked out great because they allow 1.5 hours for the springs but we stayed an additional hours with our kids.

It was a long day BUT it gave us an excellent sampling of La Fortuna. We met the group at the starting point of 8am and waited till about 8:30am for the tour to begin. Others were being picked up. I suggest being picked up for convenience. Fortunately, our place was less than 10 mins drive away. The guides were amazing at all the tours. My family enjoyed their full day which ended at the hot springs. (wear water shoes since it’s rocky)

What an amazing day! If you’re expecting a hike through the jungle, that’s not quite it. It’s easy pathways through the jungle with amazing animals and bridges. Rasta was our guide and he’s awesome! A wealth of knowledge with some humour. We had a great day to see the volcano, a great lunch and what a great cool off at the falls. Highly recommend!!

This was a great experience! We started at the waterfall which due to recent rains, was incredible!! Swimming was so fun with so many fish! We had lunch which was delicious in a beautiful place. We had rain and a lot of fog at the volcano so visibility was low, but still fun. Our guide made sure we saw monkeys and sloth along the way. My husband and I had our sons 8 and 2.5 for the tour. Our 8 yr old had no issues with any activities. We had our youngest in a backpack carrier we brought for the hiking and stairs - couldn’t have done it otherwise. I requested a child car seat when booking and it was ready to go upon arrival. The timing of everything was perfect. No long van rides. Our kids also loved the lunch and they even had some games for them to enjoy. Perfectly run tour company, always thinking ahead and putting safety first. This was a great way to experience the rainforest. Highly recommend.

We loved this river safari tour! The guides were professional and friendly, and the experience was organized and easy from pickup to drop off at our hotel. The boat is a smooth ride and easy (the guides do most of the paddling) but your feet will get wet. We saw sooo many animals, including howler monkeys (a group jumped across the river right over our boat), crocodiles, iguanas, bats, and many species of birds. Our guide was great keeping our kids (ages 6 and 8) entertained. The boat ride itself is about 2.5 hours and they had a snack (tortillas/cheese/plantains) and chocolate tasting at the end. A really great family activity in Fortuna!

White water rafting in La Fortuna was easily one of the top five experiences of my life. If you are anywhere near La Fortuna, rafting is a must. The scenery alone is worth it. Lush jungle the entire way, monkeys in the trees, exotic birds flying overhead, and even cows casually hanging out along the riverbanks. It felt wild and untouched but somehow peaceful at the same time. Our guides, Cuca Daveed, were incredible. He constantly pointed out wildlife, made sure everyone felt comfortable, and really understood people’s individual limitations. At the beginning they go through detailed safety instructions, and I will admit that if you are already nervous it can sound intense. Do not let that scare you. It is purely to prepare you. Once you are actually on the river, it is very doable. They are professionals and you genuinely feel safe the entire time. They even have medical rafts for assistance, and if you carry an EpiPen (like me) for emergency medication, the captain of your raft will hold it securely for you. One very important tip. Use the bathroom before you depart. There is about a one hour and forty five minute drive to the river, and there is no bathroom when you first arrive. You can go before leaving town and again after rafting before the drive back, but once you are on the river, which is about two to three hours, you are committed. Plan accordingly. After rafting, they take you to eat and the food was AMAZING. Fresh, filling, and exactly what you want after being out on the water. I had a slightly embarrassing moment when tipping because I remembered the medic’s name but blanked on my raft captain’s name.PThey handled it so kindly. No awkwardness, no pressure. They even explained that tips are shared among the team. Costa Rican culture is very Pura Vida and not pushy at all, but please tip. They work extremely hard and truly care about your experience. If you are debating it because you are scared, do it anyway. It is thrilling without feeling reckless, adventurous without feeling unsafe, and something you will remember forever. I would absolutely do it again.

Taking a chocolate tour in Costa Rica was an amazing and educational experience. From the very beginning, we learned about the history of cacao and its importance in Costa Rican culture, especially for indigenous communities. The guide explained the entire process of making chocolate, from planting and harvesting the cacao beans to drying, roasting, and grinding them. One of the most exciting parts was being able to participate hands-on and make chocolate ourselves. We also had the opportunity to taste fresh cacao and different types of chocolate, which was delicious. The tour took place in a beautiful natural setting, surrounded by rainforest, making the experience even more special. Overall, the chocolate tour was fun, informative, and perfect for all ages. It was a unique way to learn about Costa Rica’s traditions while enjoying one of its most famous products.

We had an amazing rainforest hike at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, followed by a relaxing visit to the hot springs. Our guide Joseph was fantastic — full of energy and incredibly knowledgeable. Thanks to him, we spotted a sloth right at the beginning of our tour! The hike itself was rainy, but still unbelievably beautiful. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see the volcano because of the weather — that’s nature for you. To end the day, we soaked in the hot springs, which was absolutely wonderful. A perfect finish to a great adventure!