If you are looking for the best things to do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, you will quickly discover that this small town offers much more than incredible views of Arenal Volcano.
La Fortuna is one of Costa Rica’s best destinations for combining nature, wildlife, adventure, food and relaxation in a single trip. You can hike through volcanic landscapes in the morning, swim near a waterfall in the afternoon and finish the day with dinner, cocktails or hot springs.
Here are some of the experiences worth adding to your La Fortuna itinerary. If you’re planning your itinerary, there are so many things to do in La Fortuna that combining nature, adventure and relaxation is usually the best approach.
1. Visit La Fortuna Waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall is one of the area’s most iconic natural attractions.
The waterfall drops through the rainforest into a beautiful canyon surrounded by tropical vegetation. Reaching the bottom requires walking down a long staircase, so save some energy for the climb back up.
Once below, you can enjoy the scenery and explore the river area.
It is an excellent activity for travelers who want to experience the rainforest without spending an entire day on a tour.
Good for: Couples, families, photographers and nature lovers.
Local tip: Go earlier in the day when possible and bring comfortable shoes and water.
2. Hike Near Arenal Volcano
You cannot visit La Fortuna without getting closer to Arenal Volcano.
Although climbing the volcano itself is not permitted, several trails around Arenal take you through rainforest and landscapes shaped by its volcanic history.
One of the popular options is Arenal 1968, where trails lead through areas associated with the historic 1968 eruption and offer impressive views of the volcano when the weather cooperates.
This is one of the best ways to understand why Arenal is such an important part of La Fortuna’s landscape and identity.
Good for: Hiking, landscapes, photography and volcano views.
3. Walk Across the Hanging Bridges
For a completely different perspective of the rainforest, visit the hanging bridges near Arenal Volcano.
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is one of the best-known options in the area. The trail combines rainforest paths with suspended bridges that take you above valleys and through different levels of the forest.
Besides the scenery, keep an eye out for monkeys, birds, reptiles and other wildlife.
A guided walk can be especially worthwhile if wildlife spotting is one of your priorities.
Good for: Families, couples, wildlife lovers and first-time visitors.
4. Look for Sloths and Wildlife
You do not always have to travel far from downtown La Fortuna to find wildlife.
Bogarin Trail is located close to town and is known for opportunities to see sloths, tropical birds, frogs and other local wildlife.
This makes it particularly convenient for travelers who have only a few hours available or want a slower activity between bigger adventures.
A naturalist guide can make a major difference because many animals are surprisingly difficult to spot on your own.
Good for: Wildlife photography, families and nature lovers.
5. Experience La Fortuna’s Hot Springs
After hiking, rafting or exploring the rainforest, few things feel better than soaking in warm mineral water surrounded by tropical vegetation.
The Arenal area has numerous hot spring experiences ranging from luxurious resorts to more casual and affordable options.
If hot springs are one of the main reasons you are visiting La Fortuna, I created a complete guide comparing the different options:
Read: Best Hot Springs in La Fortuna, Costa Rica →
This will help you choose the experience that best matches your budget and travel style.
6. Discover Costa Rican Chocolate
Chocolate is another experience worth adding to your time in La Fortuna.
For a convenient stop right in town, Chocolate Fusión is a local chocolate shop where you can discover Costa Rican artisan chocolate and enjoy something sweet without committing several hours to a tour.
It is a particularly good stop when walking around downtown La Fortuna or when you want a relaxed activity between excursions.
For travelers interested in learning more about how cacao becomes chocolate, the La Fortuna area also offers dedicated cacao, coffee and chocolate tours.
Good for: Families, couples, chocolate lovers and rainy afternoons.
7. Watch a Game and Relax at Kenko
Not every hour in La Fortuna needs to involve hiking boots.
Kenko Sushi & Grill Restaurant in La Fortuna combines food, drinks and entertainment in a relaxed tropical setting just outside downtown.
The property includes a sport bar atmosphere with screens for major games, along with a swimming pool and wet bar. The menu includes sushi as well as international options, making it an easy place for groups where everyone wants something different.
It can be a particularly fun option when there is a major soccer match or sporting event taking place.
Good for: Groups of friends, families, sports fans and relaxed evenings.
8. Try White-Water Rafting
If you want more adrenaline, white-water rafting is one of the classic adventure activities around La Fortuna.
One popular local option is Arenal Rafting, with trips on the Balsa River ranging from fun Class II–III rapids for beginners and families to more challenging Class III–IV experiences.
Besides the rapids themselves, rafting gives you another perspective of Costa Rica’s tropical landscape.
Recommended operator: Arenal Rafting
Good for: Adventure travelers, groups and active families.
9. Go Canyoning and Rappel Down Waterfalls
Canyoning is another unforgettable way to experience the rainforest.
These tours typically combine hiking, waterfall rappelling and other adventure elements inside lush tropical canyons.
Expect to get wet.
For travelers looking for something more adventurous than a traditional hike, canyoning can easily become one of the highlights of a La Fortuna trip.
Good for: Adventure seekers and active travelers.
10. Zipline Through the Rainforest
Seeing the rainforest from above is completely different from walking through it.
Zipline and canopy experiences around La Fortuna take you high above the forest and often provide spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.
Several adventure parks combine ziplines with aerial trams, hanging bridges or other activities, making it possible to spend half a day or more at one location.
Good for: Adventure, families with older children and groups.
Recommended operator: Sky Adventures Arenal
11. Take a Coffee and Chocolate Tour
Coffee and cacao are deeply connected to Costa Rican culture.
Farm experiences around La Fortuna allow visitors to see how coffee and chocolate are produced, from the plants themselves to the finished product.
These tours are particularly useful on days when you want something educational and relaxed rather than another physically demanding adventure.
Recommended experience: North Fields Coffee & Chocolate Tour
Good for: Families, couples, food lovers and rainy days.
12. Explore Downtown La Fortuna
Leave some time simply to walk around town.
Parque de La Fortuna sits at the center of La Fortuna, with Arenal Volcano creating an impressive backdrop whenever the clouds cooperate.
Around downtown you will find restaurants, cafés, chocolate shops, souvenir stores and plenty of places to stop for a drink.
It is also one of the easiest ways to experience the rhythm of the town instead of spending your entire vacation moving between organized tours.
Good for: Everyone.
13. Take a Day Trip to Río Celeste
If you have an extra day, Río Celeste is one of the most memorable excursions you can make from La Fortuna.
Located in Tenorio Volcano National Park, the river is famous for its intense blue color and waterfall surrounded by rainforest.
It requires more travel time than most activities on this list, so I would treat Río Celeste as a dedicated day trip rather than trying to squeeze it between several La Fortuna activities.
Recommended experience: Río Celeste – Tenorio Volcano National Park
Good for: Hikers, nature lovers, couples and photographers.
14. Explore Lake Arenal
Arenal Volcano gets most of the attention, but Lake Arenal is another major part of the landscape.
Depending on your interests, you can explore the lake by kayak, enjoy scenic viewpoints or simply incorporate it into a drive around the Arenal area.
On clear days, the combination of the lake, mountains and volcano can be spectacular.
Good for: Couples, photography and slower travel days.
15. Enjoy La Fortuna After Dark
Do not assume La Fortuna shuts down after the tours finish.
The town has restaurants, bars, live entertainment and places to watch sporting events. A relaxed evening downtown or at a local bar can be the perfect contrast to a full day of hiking and adventure.
Night wildlife walks are another excellent option. Once darkness falls, frogs, insects and other nocturnal species become much more active.
It is almost like discovering a different rainforest.
How Many Days Do You Need for the Best Things to Do in La Fortuna?
For most travelers, three to four days in La Fortuna provides enough time to experience the highlights without rushing.
A simple itinerary could look like this:
Day 1: Arenal Volcano hike + hot springs
Day 2: La Fortuna Waterfall + wildlife or hanging bridges
Day 3: Rafting, canyoning or ziplining + explore downtown
Day 4: Take a day trip to Río Celeste, located about 1.5 hours by car from La Fortuna.
If you prefer slower travel, five days gives you much more flexibility, especially because weather around Arenal can change quickly.
What Should You Not Miss in La Fortuna?
If this is your first visit and you have limited time, prioritize experiences that show you different sides of the destination.
My essentials would be:
Arenal Volcano + La Fortuna Waterfall + rainforest/wildlife + hot springs.
After that, choose between rafting, canyoning, ziplining, chocolate and coffee experiences depending on your interests.
A Local Tip for Visiting La Fortuna
Do not plan every minute of your trip.
Arenal Volcano creates its own weather, and conditions can change surprisingly quickly. A cloudy morning can become a beautiful afternoon — or the opposite.
Leave some flexibility in your itinerary and take advantage of clear volcano views when they appear.
And remember that some of the best moments in La Fortuna are not necessarily organized tours. Sometimes it is a quiet walk through town, finding a sloth beside the road, stopping for locally made chocolate or watching Arenal suddenly emerge from behind the clouds.
Some things to do in La Fortuna depend heavily on the weather, so keeping your itinerary flexible is always a good idea.
Planning Your La Fortuna Trip
La Fortuna is one of those destinations where adventure and relaxation work naturally together.
You can hike, see wildlife, chase waterfalls and fly through the rainforest — but you can also slow down, enjoy local food, soak in warm water and simply watch the volcano.
That variety is exactly what makes La Fortuna special. Many of the best things to do in La Fortuna can be combined in the same day, especially if you have a rental car.
Continue exploring the La Fortuna Guide for more local recommendations, including hot springs, Arenal Volcano hikes, restaurants, family activities, rainy-day ideas and travel tips.
Whatever your travel style, the variety of things to do in La Fortuna makes it easy to build a trip around adventure, wildlife, food and relaxation.
Capture Your Time in La Fortuna
With Arenal Volcano, tropical rainforest, waterfalls and incredible natural scenery, La Fortuna is also an amazing place to take home something more personal than vacation snapshots.
If you are traveling as a couple, with your family, celebrating a special occasion or simply want professional photographs of your time in Costa Rica, you can book a private La Fortuna photography session during your stay.
Sessions can be planned around some of the area’s most beautiful natural locations, with the experience kept relaxed and natural so it fits easily into your La Fortuna itinerary.