How To Get To Arenal

Air:

Nature Air operates daily flights to Arenal from San Jose, Manuel Antonio, Tamarindo, Tortuguero, the Osa Peninsula, and other top destinations. From San Jose, the flight lasts approximately 30 minutes and departs from Nature Air's airport in Pavas (half-way between San Jose and Alajuela). The Nature Air office in La Fortuna is located on Avenida Central.

Private Shuttle Transfer:

Private shuttle buses are also available to the Arenal and La Fortuna area. Air-conditioned, comfortable vans will pick you up in the country’s most popular towns, including San Jose, Conchal/Flamingo, Playa Hermosa, Papagayo, Jaco, Manuel Antonio and Monteverde. The journey costs approximately $45 per person each way, and 24-hour advance reservations are required. Contact 1-800-517-7893 for reservations.

Additionally, private transfers are available as an add-on to day trips on the Balsa and Toro Rivers. Your bags will be transported to La Fortuna for retrieval after whitewater rafting and a late lunch. Pickup can be arranged from several tourist hotspots throughout Costa Rica.

Car:

See a map of the San Jose to Arenal driving route

From San Jose take Hwy 1 North. Follow signs to San Ramon and stay in the center lane – the road splits to the left goes to the airport and to the right to goes into Alajuela. 

Take the San Ramon exit. Follow this highway for 19 miles and turn right into San Ramon. Continue straight and drive through the town, following signs to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna. Turn left and continue to Los Angeles del Sur. At the green church there is a Y; turn left, following volcano signs. You will pass a cigar factory on your right where you can roll your own cigars.
A bit further there is a bar/restaurant called El Mirador; this is a great spot for a light snack. Next door is a souvenir shop that sells the usual and has clean bathrooms that are free for travelers. Continue on this curvy, mountainous road.

You will cross several bridges over Rio La Balsa and Rio Catarata. Continue through the town of Las Tunas. After this town, you'll see an old tollbooth—veer left at the Y and follow volcano signs to La Tigra. Pass through La Tigra and go over the new La Tigra Bridge that spans the Penas Blancas River. Only one car is allowed to cross at a time. Continue through the town of Chachagua and arrive in La Fortuna.  The town is 64 miles from the highway turnoff and the trip takes approximately 3.5-4 hours from San Jose depending on traffic and road conditions.

Combination Trips to / from Monteverde and Arenal:

Visitors can travel to La Fortuna via a jeep-boat-jeep, taxi-boat-taxi or by a horse-boat-horse combo journey from the cloud forest town of Monteverde. All of these trips transport your luggage separately and offer a scenic journey between the two towns. Horseback riding trails can be slippery, especially during the green season, May through November. Trips to Monteverde from La Fortuna are popular as well and cost between $25-30 per person one-way. The transfer can be booked at several hotels and tour operators in La Fortuna.

Bus:

La Fortuna’s central bus terminal is located one block south of the central park, next to the Megasuper grocery store.

Arriving:

From San Jose:$4; 6:15 a.m., 8:40 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; four hours. Departs from the intersection of Calle 12 and Avenida 7. 2255-0567.
From Ciudad Quesada:$1; 10:30 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m.; one hour. Departs from the central bus station in Ciudad Quesada. 2460-5032.
From Tilaran:$2; 7:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.; 3.5 hours. Departs from half a block west of the Plaza.
From Monteverde: $3.50; depart Santa Elena at 7:00 a.m. and switch in Tilaran to the12:30 p.m. bus to La Fortuna; nine hours. Departs from north of the church.

Returning:

To San Jose:$4; 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.; four hours. Departs from central bus station in La Fortuna. 2255-0567.
To Ciudad Quesada: $1; 8:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.; one hour. Departs from central bus station in La Fortuna.
To Tilaran: $2; 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; 3.5 hours. Departs from central bus station in La Fortuna.
To Monteverde: $3.50; depart La Fortuna at 7:00 a.m. and switch in Tilaran to 12:30 bus to Monteverde; nine hours. Departs from central bus station in La Fortuna.

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