Things to Do in Arenal

La Fortuna is an excellent base to explore the Arenal region. Several tour companies in town cater to eco-adventures and offer everything from volcano hikes to adrenaline-fueled canyoneering excursions where visitors rappel down a series of tropical waterfalls in a rainforest canyon.

Tours can be booked in most hotels (budget and luxury) or directly with a tour company at a much cheaper cost as there are no commissions involved. Most tours include a bilingual guide, park entrance fees, transportation to/from your hotel, snacks and necessary gear.

Our Arenal Travel Blogs include our experiences with activities and local tour operators in the area.

Air Activities:

There are several companies and hotels offering zip line canopy tours in La Fortuna and Arenal.  Some also include tarzan swings and/or observation points. Tours usually last 2-3 hours. There is also an aerial tram tour available.

Suspension Bridges
A series of hanging and fixed bridges, ranging from 16 to 330 feet long allow exceptional bird and wildlife viewing. The bridges offer panoramic views of the volcano and Arenal Lake on clear days.

Bungee Jumping / Big Swing
Jump from a fixed platform 40 meters high over a swimming pool or fly through the sky harnessed to a big swing which includes a 26-meter free fall.

Land Activities: 

The Arenal region is rich in biodiversity and common animals include howler and spider monkeys, coatimundis, agoutis, sloths, and a variety of birds. Several tour operators in La Fortuna offer guided day and night hikes to the Arenal Volcano National Park and private reserves.

Canyoneering (Waterfall Rappelling) 
There are a couple of local tour operators that specialize in this adrenaline-fueled adventure sport. Guests hike into a rainforest canyon where they rappel a series of waterfalls, some of them massive (over 200 feet high), using climbing gear and techniques.

Caving
An underground adventure perfect for those who don't mind getting wet and muddy. Explore a series of caverns in the Venado Caves where stalactites and stalagmites are common. Caving tours include transportation, guide and gear.

Day Spas
Fortuna has several day spas that offer everything from mud wraps to deep-tissue massages. A couple of spas in the center of town cater to budget travelers and have competetive prices ($25 for an hour massage). Several upscale hotels have full-service spas where travelers can indulge in facials, pedicures and couples massages.

Hiking
Trails through the Arenal Volcano National Park, and several other private reserves are ideal for hiking and wildlife watching. Hiring a naturalist guide is the best way to spot hidden animals and learn about the local ecology. Tour operators provide guided hikes to both the Arenal Volcano National Park and to the Chato Volcano crater.

Horseback Riding
La Fortuna is an agricultural town and several horse ranches provide half or full-day horseback excursions. Popular trips include the La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano. Tours can be arranged with local tour companies, but be wary of outfits offering dirt-cheap prices; they will often use horses that are over-worked and underfed. 

Many visitors opt to ride horseback to the cloud forest town of  Monteverde, a trip that lasts anywhere from 4-7 hours, depending on the trail used and weather conditions.
 

Lightweight mountain bikes and gear are available for rent in La Fortuna. There are tour companies that specialize in bike tours and cater to beginner and experienced riders. Bikers  will enjoy the hard-packed dirt trails and beautiful scenery surrounding Arenal Volcano and Lake. Travelers should note that bicycling is illegal after dark in La Fortuna.

La Fortuna has numerous art galleries and wood shops that sell typical souvenirs. Hammocks, wood handicrafts, indigenous paintings and masks and folk art are all available. Souvenir stalls are plentiful in the center of town and the road leading toward Arenal Volcano is lined with more galleries and shops.

• AMURECI (Associacion de Mujeres de Reciclaje), is a womens' arts and crafts cooperative that makes and sells recycled paper products such as cards, stationary and picture frames and offers “paper adventure” workshops where visitors are walked through the paper making process. Located 300 meters north of the sports plaza in Santa Clara. Telephone (506) 2-475-6621, www(dot)amureci(dot)com

• Lunatica Art Gallery displays and sells art work from South and Central America, including pieces made by the Maleku, BriBri and Boruca Indian tribes. Located on Avenida Central, across from the public high school.

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Water Activities:

Freshwater Fishing
Arenal Lake is home to the guapote, or rainbow bass, some of the best-fighting freshwater fish in Costa Rica. Half and full-day fishing trips on the lake with experienced captains can be booked with tour companies or directly with fishing captains. Anglers have pulled rainbow bass weighing upwards of 13 pounds as well as machaca and tilapia.

Hot Springs
Soak travel-weary muscles in volcanically-heated hot springs at one of the four thermal resorts near the volcano. The hot springs are lushly-landscaped and feature swim-up bars, restaurants and some have excellent views of Arenal Volcano. A couple of resorts have their own hot springs, located a short distance from the rooms.

Kayaking / Canoeing on Arenal Lake
Several tour operators specialize in kayak or canoe trips on Arenal Lake's calm waters. Look for herons, flycatchers and kingfishers along the shores. On clear days there are fantastic views of Arenal Volcano.
 
Swimming at La Fortuna Waterfall
After arriving at the La Fortuna Waterfall, visitors can cool themselves off in the refreshingly cold water of the waterfall.

Tranquil River Float 
For those in search of a gentle float on Class I rapids, the Penas Blancas "Safari Float" tour is an excellent option. Rafters will spend more time watching wildlife than paddling on this tranquil river.

Whitewater Rafting
Paddlers can join whitewater tours on the Río Balsa (Class II-III), Río Toro (Class III-IV) or Saripiquí (Class II- III) for a day on beautiful waters. Tours include a bilingual guide, safety equipment, transportation and lunch.

Windsurfing 
Forty kilometer-per-hour winds are not uncommon December through April on Arenal Lake. Warm waters, mild temperatures and high winds make this spot a paradise for windsurfers. Lessons are available and windsurfing gear can be rented at several local hotels and shops around the lake. Most are located between the towns of Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán.

Organized Tours:

Combination Trips to / from Monteverde and Arenal
Visitors can travel to Monteverde via a jeep/boat/jeep, taxi/boat/taxi or by a horse/boat combo journey from La Fortuna. All of these trips transport your luggage separately and offer a scenic journey between the two towns. Trips to La Fortuna from Monteverde are popular as well and cost between $30-45 per person one-way. The transfer can be booked at several hotels and tour operators in La Fortuna.

Culture and Festivals:

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