Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in La Fortuna?
Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in La Fortuna?
Not sure how much time you'll need in La Fortuna, Costa Rica? Most people spend two to four days in La Fortuna during their visit. After all, the popular town will let you take a hike, admire the wonderful scenery, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and enjoy the evening activities.
La Fortuna is the gateway to Arenal National Park. It is surrounded by stunning natural beauty with views of the spectacular and still active Arenal Volcano. It's also home to impressive waterfalls and many luxury spas and hot springs.
Do you have one or two days to visit La Fortuna? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.
Is one day enough time in La Fortuna?
With only one day, you'll probably feel rushed to explore the outdoors and scenery. To fully embrace La Fortuna, a longer visit is better. Most travelers tend to two to four days to experience Arenal Volcano as well as take a hike, admire the wonderful scenery, enjoy a meal at a restaurant, and enjoy the evening activities. However, if your schedule is limited, we can provide some suggestions to maximize your time.
How to spend a day in La Fortuna
When visiting La Fortuna, you absolutely can't miss Arenal Volcano as it's one of the most famous places in the world. Make sure you allow yourself enough time to fully experience it.
La Fortuna is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The town is surrounded by stunning natural beauty, lush rainforests, and dramatic views of the volcano. There are countless hikes and a plenty of opportunities to soak up the natural setting.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Small Group Twilight Wildlife Boat Tour in La Fortuna ($70)
- Exclusive Night Walk in La Fortuna and Natural Frog Garden . ($70)
- La Fortuna Birds, Butterfly Garden, sloths GROUP Guided Tour 2hrs ($55)
The public transit in La Fortuna is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the town quite easily and affordably. There are public buses throughout the area as well as private transportation services, taxis, and car sharing.
Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in La Fortuna?
Unfortunately, a weekend is probably not enough time here. You might feel rushed to enjoy the scenery and nature of La Fortuna. Most vacationers schedule two to four days to fully experience the popular town. Nevertheless, if time is of the essence, we have some nice suggestions for your visit, which includes Arenal Volcano.
Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica
How to spend 2 days in La Fortuna
Having a weekend (two to three days) in La Fortuna will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the town.
Known for it's hiking, La Fortuna sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. The area is filled with stunning hikes that take you through different landscapes and ecosystems. You'll likely see some wildlife, visit spectacular waterfalls, and, of course, catch views of the impressive Arenal Volcano.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Wildlife Safari Experience by Raft ($85)
- Pure Trek Canyoning & Sky Trek Zip Line Combo ($247)
- Río Celeste Combo: Blue River Tubing+Blue Waterfall+Wildlife ($149)
You can't miss out on tasting the fantastic cuisine at one of the best restaurants in town, so make sure you find somewhere special for lunch or dinner. It's a touristy mecca, and there are a number of decent restaurants around town. The area has some of the freshest local ingredients and the food reflects that. You'll find restaurants both in the center of town and along the road between the town and the hot springs.
A few tour suggestions include:
- Private cooking class in organic farm at La Fortuna ($75)
- Private typical cooking class with a Costa Rican family ($70)
- Farm to Table Cooking Class ($45)
More Info
If you're looking for more information about La Fortuna, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.
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