Arenal Hot Springs Full Day Trip from San José
San Jose, Costa Rica
- 11 to 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
This day trip from San Jose provides the perfect combination: Soak in the soothing waters of Baldi Hot Springs—with options for massages and spa treatments—after hiking around the Arenal Volcano area. This tour also includes lunch and dinner and a stop in Sarchi to check out the arts and crafts and one of the world’s largest ox carts.
- A day trip to Baldi Hot Springs and Arenal Volcano from San Jose
- After hiking soak in hot springs, with options for massages and spa treatments
- Don’t stress about packing food: Lunch and dinner are included
- Hassle-free pickup and dropoff from hotels in San Jose
What's Included
- Traditional Costa Rican lunch and dinner
- Professional bilingual tour guide (English and Spanish)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from select San Jose locations
- Air-conditioned vehicle transport
- Use of lockers and towels at hot springs
- Tour guide and driver gratuities
- Bottled Water
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
We will pick you up at hotels located in the San José area and near by. The pickup time will depend on your hotel's location, so we kindly ask that you specify the place where you will be staying in your request.
Start time.7:30 am
Itinerary
1
Sarchi
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
La Fortuna
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
3
La Fortuna de San Carlos
4 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- If you are travelling with children please let us know their ages, during the booking process.
- Please bring: swimsuit, sandals, extra dry clothing, and towels
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 99 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
This was a great tour! The tour guide Paulo and the driver Rodriquez were very professional and knowledgeable! I high Recommend this tour!
Reviews
4.2
based on 34 reviews
Sort by: Most recent
Incredible will highly recommend!! Very attentive and excellent service!!
Our tour guide was fantastic and very knowledgeable
Response from Host, Oct 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted you enjoyed our Arenal Hot Springs tour from San José. At Expediciones Tropicales Day Tours, we strive to provide excellent service, knowledgeable guides, and unforgettable Costa Rica tours. We hope to welcome you again!
Pura Vida!
Perfect excursion with very knowledgeable and well organized team.
Pick up, lunch, dinner, and everything included
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the excursion and appreciated our knowledgeable and well-organized team. We’re glad everything from transportation to the meals was smooth and enjoyable. We hope to see you again in Costa Rica!
Absolutely 💯 on of the best tours I have been on. It was a group of 3 who spoke different languages. The tour guide was amazing he explained everything in both language. He gave both history and facts as we toured the country to get to our destination. The driver was drove safely and stopped for rest stops as needed. It was during the time of independence which the country exploded with pride and culture. The tour guide explained the rituals and the celebration that was to come. Lunch was absolutely delicious we stopped at a local restaurant. The volcano 🌋 was beautiful with so many birds in the area. Lastly, Bali hot springs was magical. The water was piped in from the volcano. Several different pools to explained the magic. Felt very safe. Will definitely would recommend!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you very much for your wonderful review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and appreciated our guide’s multilingual service, historical insights, and attention to detail. We are also glad you felt safe and comfortable throughout the journey, from the scenic volcano and local lunch to the relaxing hot springs experience. It was a pleasure sharing Costa Rica’s culture and natural beauty with you. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again in the future!
Expediciones Tropicales Day Tours Team
This was a wonderful experience with breathtaking views, good people and crew, and awesome hot springs! Shoutout to Donald for being with us during the whole duration!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the breathtaking views, the hot springs, and the experience with our team. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Donald—he’ll be thrilled to know that his presence and dedication helped make your experience even more memorable. We truly appreciate you choosing to join us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure in the future!
Expediciones Tropicales Day Tours
Great experience. The highlight of the trip was the spa. I enjoyed that very much. The tour guide was also great,very knowledgeable and went above and beyond to make sure every one was OK. I highly recommend the tour.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had a great experience and that the spa was one of the highlights of your trip. We’re also happy to know that your tour guide made your experience even more special by sharing their knowledge and going above and beyond to ensure everyone was comfortable and well taken care of. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again on another unforgettable adventure!
I really enjoyed this tour. I loved that we got a chance to see so much of San Jose and La Fortuna area plus everything in between.
Our tour guide was awesome - he provided so much historical insight about Costa Rica - coffee production, fruit production of bananas and pineapples and how they export to other countries. It was all very interesting.
We made quick stops on the way to La Fortuna to see an ox cart which used to be used to transport coffee and at a local artisan shop where we could buy coffee and gifts.
It took several hours to reach the restaurant for lunch, but lunch was delicious and the staff was super nice. I enjoyed seeing the Arsenal volcano and the history about it.
We chose Los Lagos for the hot spring and although it is small it was perfect for our family. If you’re looking for super hot springs, go to Baldi. The warmest temp at Los Lagos is about 104°. Food was delicious and the service was great.
We spent more like 3.5 hours at the hot springs, I think because of the distance. Still a good time. Also, the tour ended up being about 15 hours in total, just FYI. Prepare for a long day.
Last thing - and I think this is common in CR.. but the bus driver was pretty reckless. To be carrying a load of passengers, I thought his driving was too fast and erratic. He hit a speed bump at 70-80 MPH and almost lost control. I couldn’t relax the whole ride.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a detailed review. We're delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring San José, La Fortuna, and the beautiful landscapes along the way. It's wonderful to know your guide made the journey even more memorable by sharing Costa Rica's history, coffee culture, agriculture, and local traditions. We're also happy you enjoyed the lunch, the views of Arenal Volcano, and your relaxing time at Los Lagos Hot Springs. We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding the duration of the tour and, most importantly, the driving experience. Passenger safety is our highest priority, and we're very concerned to hear about your comments. We will share your feedback with our transportation team and investigate the situation to ensure our high safety standards are always met. Thank you again for traveling with us. We truly value both your compliments and your constructive feedback, as they help us continue improving. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back to Costa Rica for another adventure in the future.
The entire day was well planned and a lot of fun! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and very upbeat
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you for your kind words! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and felt the entire day was well planned and fun. Our guides are passionate about creating memorable experiences, so it’s wonderful to know their knowledge and positive energy made a difference during your adventure. We truly appreciate you choosing Expediciones Tropicales and hope to welcome you again for another amazing experience in Costa Rica!
The guide (Pedro) and driver (Giovanni) were great! But the bus itself was uncomfortable: very small seats with little leg room. The tour is advertised as 12 hours but it took closer to 15. Long, exhausting day. Lunch was decent, but they didn’t serve coffee. Dinner was good, but the buffet line was long and we were rushed to eat quickly. People who can experience nausea are asked to take a Dramamine pill on the ride up/down the mountain. The dose they gave me was too strong and I ended up feeling drugged, dazed, and awful.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re very glad to hear that both Pedro and Giovanni made a positive impact on your day with their service and professionalism. We truly regret that the transportation and overall duration of the tour did not meet your expectations. Your comments regarding the bus comfort, extended travel time, and meal experience are very important to us, and we will review these aspects internally to improve our operation. We are especially sorry to hear about your experience with the medication. Guest safety and well-being are our top priorities, and we will reinforce our guidelines to ensure that any recommendations regarding motion sickness are handled more carefully and clearly. We appreciate your honest feedback, as it helps us continue improving, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a much more comfortable and enjoyable experience in the future.
Amazing driver Rodrigue’s and tour guide Donald. Really beautiful scenery. Bus needs an upgrade it was too small for 3 hour drive.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your feedback!
We’re so glad you enjoyed the beautiful scenery and had a great experience with Rodrigue’s and Donald—they truly make a wonderful team. We also appreciate your comment about the bus. Your feedback is very important to us, and we’ll take it into consideration as we continue improving our services. We hope to welcome you again soon for an even more comfortable and memorable experience!
It was amazing and the tour guides were the best! Max was very professional and driver did a great job too!
Response from Host, Mar 2026
So glad you had such a fantastic experience! It’s always a huge plus when the guides make the tour both enjoyable and seamless. Max sounds like he really knows how to deliver top-notch service, and it’s great to hear the driver helped make everything run smoothly too. Thanks for sharing!
They canceled my tour on Friday (Thursday afternoon) and had only one option. Saturday. 16 hour day 7:30 am-11:30 pm. Guide was less than friendly to me while overly accommodating to others. Restaurants were very good. Driver amazing.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We’re truly sorry for the inconvenience caused by the cancellation. We understand how frustrating a long 16-hour day can be, especially when plans change. We also regret to hear that you felt the guide was less than friendly toward you. This is certainly not the level of service or warmth we strive to provide, and your comments have been shared internally so we can address this directly. That said, we’re glad to know you enjoyed the restaurants and that our driver made a positive impression—your recognition of their great service is very much appreciated. Thank you again for your honest feedback. It helps us improve, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a much better experience in the future.
This was a great tour! The tour guide Paulo and the driver Rodriquez were very professional and knowledgeable! I high Recommend this tour!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
We’re delighted to hear that you had a great experience and that Paulo and our driver Rodríguez made such a positive impression. Their professionalism, knowledge, and passion for what they do truly make a difference, and we’ll be sure to share your kind words with them. Thank you for the high recommendation—it means a lot to us! We hope to welcome you again on another adventure in Costa Rica very soon.
Hands down great experience. Its a must do in San jose. The tour guide was able to communicate to all guest. In 3 different languages. He made my 1st solo trip/Birthday amazing. Jack Daniel and Roy!!
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that your tour was a must-do in San José and that it made your first solo trip and birthday so special 🎉
Our guide will be delighted to know his multilingual communication made the experience even better, and Jack Daniel and Roy will be very happy to hear your kind words as well. Thank you for choosing to celebrate with us—we hope to welcome you back to Costa Rica for many more unforgettable adventures!
We had Harold for our tour guide, he was amazing! He is very knowledgeable about costa rica and more! We absolutely love it! Highly recommend!!!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed your experience and that your guide made the tour memorable with his knowledge and hospitality. Nothing makes us happier than knowing you absolutely loved it!
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Costa Rica!
Tour guide a little rude. Showed up before scheduled time and called with an attitude about where I was and made and inappropriate comment asking if I spoke English because I mis-heard what he has me said.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We sincerely apologize for the behavior you described — this is not the level of service we strive to provide. Our guides are expected to treat every guest with respect, patience, and professionalism, and we regret that this was not reflected during your tour. Your feedback is very valuable, and we will address this matter directly with our team to ensure it does not happen again. We truly appreciate you bringing this to our attention and hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future to provide the excellent and respectful experience that every guest deserves.
This one is well worth it! We had a wonderful time with our booking, seats were comfortable, food was great, the tour guide didn't talk the WHOLE time, but gave us wonderful information when he did. The way to La Fortuna is beautiful, filled with wonderful landscapes. And the highlight is definitely Baldi with the thermal waters.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Dear Gaby: In Expediciones Tropicales Day Tours is always grateful to read the comments from our tours, moreover when they are from people who really appreciate quality of services provided by our staff. Sincerely,
Marco Salazar fue un guia muy bueno y atento y nos explico todo muy bien, volveremos a costa rica 100%
Response from Host, Oct 2026
We’re delighted to hear that you had a great experience on our Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs tour. We’re especially happy to know that Marco Salazar was a knowledgeable, attentive, and helpful guide who made your experience even more enjoyable. It was a pleasure having you with us, and we’re thrilled to hear that you’ll be returning to Costa Rica 100%! We’ll be more than happy to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure. Warm regards, The Expediciones Tropicales Day Tours Team
Experiência muito boa
Guia excelente
As paragens foram todas muito tranquilas com tempo para disfrutar e tirar fotos
Tanto o almoço como o jantar foram excelentes.
Optei por fazer one-way e ficar em La Fortuna, foram super simpáticos e deixaram-me mesmo no Hotel!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Muito obrigada pelo seu comentário!
Ficamos muito felizes em saber que teve uma experiência tão agradável conosco. É ótimo saber que pôde aproveitar cada parada com calma, tirar fotos e desfrutar das refeições. Nosso objetivo é sempre oferecer um atendimento acolhedor e flexível, por isso foi um prazer levá-lo diretamente ao seu hotel em La Fortuna
Esperamos recebê-lo novamente em uma próxima aventura pela Costa Rica!
Member Pricing
From
$186.78
per personWas $196.62(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Arenal Hot Springs Full Day Trip from San José
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