Services and Facilities in Arenal

La Fortuna is a small town that boasts the amenities of a much larger city. Supermarkets, a gas station, pharmacies, banks, shops, a post office, Internet cafes and restaurants are all within walking distance of each other in the downtown area.

Services:

Public Phones
Pay phones are located in La Fortuna's central park. The phones do not work with coins, but pre-paid phone cards can be purchased in local pharmacies or supermarkets for inexpensive international calls.
 
Cell Phones
Cell phone service has improved in recent years, and most hotels and tourist hotspots receive at least minimum signal strength. Note that there is no service available within Arenal Volcano National Park and several hotels close to Arenal Volcano have limited or no cell phone reception.

Internet
Internet cafes are on every block in La Fortuna, offering high-speed connections and Wi-Fi via personal laptop. In general, the cost hovers around $1 per hour. Many hotels and hostels offer Internet access in their lobbies and some have free in-room Wi-Fi.

Facilities:

Gas Station
There is a full-service gas station in the center of La Fortuna, located on Avenida Central, where drivers can fuel up, get their oil checked, and perform other basic vehicle maintenance.
 
Post Office
Located on the north side of the Catholic church, the La Fortuna post office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- noon and 1-4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
 
Banks
There are four banks in La Fortuna. Each has an ATH ATM, which will accept most international debit and credit cards:

Banco Popular: Open 9 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. M-F and 8:30 –11:30 a.m. on Saturdays

Banco Nacional: Open 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. M-F

BAC San Jose: Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. M-F; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays
 
Banco de Costa Rica (BCR): Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. M-F 

Police Station

Located four blocks east of the Catholic church, on the way to the public school. Dial 911 for all emergencies.
 
Medical Clinics 

Clinica Fortuna
Located on Calle 3, the public clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and all night on Friday and Saturday. On Mondays, the clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Some doctors speak English. Minor injuries only.
Telephone: 2479-9501 or 2479-9142 
 
Sanar Consultores
A privately-run clinic with 24-hour ambulance service. Doctors speak English. Minor injuries only. Telephone: 2479-9420 or call 8387-3776 for emergencies.

All major injuries or accidents requiring surgery have to be transported 50 minutes by car/ambulance to the public hospital in Ciudad Quesada. 

Pharmacies
In Costa Rica, pharmacists are trained and licensed to attend minor maladies and to prescribe most medicines. For minor ills – migraines, cuts, common flu – the pharmacy will be the least expensive and, usually, the most time-efficient option.

Hospital
All major injuries or accidents requiring surgery must be transported 50 minutes by car/ambulance to the public hospital in Ciudad Quesada.

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