La Fortuna / Arenal Volcano
Costa Rica literally has it all… volcanoes, hot springs, adventure sports, rainforests, cloud forests, plentiful wildlife, beaches, world-class surfing… the list goes on. And the laid back, pura vida lifestyle of the friendly and welcoming Costa Rican people just adds to the appeal of this popular Central American hotspot.
So obviously I had no problem convincing my friend Megan to join me for a fun-filled, action-packed nine day adventure visiting some of the country’s most popular destinations. We flew into San Jose, picked up our rental car and headed straight to the Arenal area, a 3-hour drive north into the lush, mountainous terrain of the Zona Norte. I had been warned not to drive in Costa Rica at night because of the road conditions, so we made sure our flight landed in enough time to make the trip to La Fortuna before dark. And after we left the San Jose metro area, I understood why. The roads are narrow, winding up and down the mountains with pedestrians and animals walking along the shoulders. But the scenery was gorgeous, making every minute behind the wheel totally worth it.
I couldn’t wait to see Volcan Arenal, Costa Rica’s youngest volcano standing tall at 5,000 feet. But unfortunately the peak was hidden behind a blanket of clouds when we pulled into town, which is the case more often than not. Getting a glimpse can be hit or miss regardless of what time of year you’re visiting… but it’s the 3rd most picture perfect crater in the world, so when you have an opportunity to catch a peak, you don’t want to miss it! The volcano was in a constant state of activity from its first major eruption in July of 1968 until it started its resting phase in October of 2010, which means it’s still active below the surface but it’s doubtful you’ll see more than the occasional puff of steam. Experts predict it could remain in this dormant phase for up to 800 years, but regardless, hiking the volcano is one of the area’s popular activities… but far from the only.
The Arenal area hosts the largest variety of outdoor adventure options across the country… from horseback riding, ATVing and biking to rappelling down waterfalls, bungee jumping and zip lining. And on the water, there’s whitewater rafting, windsurfing, paddle boarding and kayaking to choose from. Neither one of us had ever been whitewater rafting, so we decided Costa Rica would be the perfect place for our rookie debut.
We booked a tour with Desafio Adventures taking us to the Balsa River to tackle Class II and III rapids. Megan and I were paired with the sweetest older couple from England and our guide Pablo. We had a great time navigating our way through the rapids, eating plenty of them in the process… but no one fell out of our boat, so we considered that a success!
La Fortuna Waterfall is worth the short, but strenuous hike down 500 steps to watch the water come crashing down the cliff into a cloud of mist below. On the other side of the rocks, you can swim in the pool while enjoying the peaceful ambience of the forest floor.
After you’ve had your daily dose of adrenaline, head to one of the many thermal hot springs spread out along the base of the volcano. It’s the perfect way to relax and unwind, sipping a cocktail and watching the sunset while soaking in the naturally heated pools. Even if Volcan Arenal is covered in clouds, the experience is not to be missed. Megan and I spent our evening at The Springs Resort and Spa, a beautiful property tucked back into the hills with the volcano as its backdrop. This resort was 
featured on Brad Womack’s second season of ABC’s The Bachelor and on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. The day pass to use the hot springs is a little pricier ($60) than other options, but they offer you two days for that price, which makes it a steal if you have the time in your itinerary to enjoy it twice. We went just in time for the sunset and then enjoyed the different pools, cocktails in hand, after dark… and we came back again the following morning and had fantastic views of the volcano while relaxing in the hot springs. I had major hotel envy, but felt better reminding myself that staying in town, walking distance from all the restaurants, was also a nice perk.
The city of La Fortuna itself is small, with several blocks making up the “downtown” area. There are plenty of restaurants to chose from, but not a ton going on at night since many visitors are getting up early for adventure tours and activities. But there are still plenty of options to grab a drink, socialize and unwind after an action-packed day.
We were also planning on hiking in Arenal Volcano National Park, but unfortunately rainy weather ruined that plan. I also heard the canyoning (rappelling) is an absolute blast, but we didn’t have time to work that into our itinerary during the two short days we were here. There’s just so much to chose from it’s hard to decide. Guess I’ll just have to come back to La Fortuna again… which I definitely won’t complain about! You can never get enough adventure while enjoying the picturesque scenery with Arenal Volcano as the backdrop!