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Lonely Planet Costa Rica
Lonely Planet · 2025
Latest Lonely Planet Costa Rica, covering Arenal/La Fortuna, Tenorio's Río Celeste and the southern Pacific near Nauyaca.
Costa Rica · Alajuela
La Fortuna Waterfall
A 70-metre ribbon of white water dropping out of the rainforest into a green pool, 5.5 km from La Fortuna town and about 500 steps below the gate. The anchor of Arenal's hot springs, hanging bridges and canyoning country.
Full guide Checked September 2026 by David Bussell · 43 sources
La Fortuna Waterfall, the Catarata Río Fortuna, is a single plunge of about 70 metres off a lip of dark volcanic rock in the forested foothills below Arenal Volcano. The river leaves the cliff as a narrow column rather than a curtain, falling through a gap in the canopy into a round, boulder-edged pool, and the spray keeps the walls of the gorge dripping with ferns and moss. After a wet night the column thickens and turns tea-coloured; after a dry week it runs clear and the pool below goes jade green.
You meet it from the top. The site is a 210-acre forest reserve run by ADIFORT, La Fortuna's non-profit community development association, with a ticket office, orchid garden, restaurant and an accessible viewpoint near the car park. From there a concrete staircase with handrails, reported at between 500 and 530 steps, drops through the forest to the river, with benches roughly every five minutes. At the bottom you can stand on the rocks facing the fall, swim in a lifeguarded area when the river allows, or wade downstream in the calmer Río Fortuna.
Most visitors give the waterfall a morning and spend the rest of their time around it. La Fortuna town is Costa Rica's busiest adventure base: the near-perfect cone of Arenal, quiet since 2010, sits behind it, with lava-field trails in the national park, hanging bridges and ziplines on its flanks, canyoning trips that rappel down other waterfalls, and a strip of hot springs resorts along the volcano road. Río Celeste's blue river is a long day trip to the north-west.
Book this trip
All activities & prices ↓- Pure Trek waterfall canyoningfrom US$117 Check availability
- Sky Adventures ziplines and aerial tramfrom US$93 Check availability
- Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridgesfrom US$32 Check availability
Waterfall, volcano or day trip?
La Fortuna Waterfall reserve
70 m drop · 500+ steps5.5 km from La Fortuna town
The reason most people come to this corner of Costa Rica, and a genuinely good half-day. Pay at the gate, look over the fall from the accessible viewpoint, then take the staircase down through the forest to the river. At the bottom the fall thunders into its pool, lifeguards mark where you may swim, and a calmer pool opens downstream. The climb back up is the real workout. Arrive at 7am to have the pool before the tour vans.
Upper viewpoint (accessible)Staircase of about 500 stepsBase pool and Río FortunaOrchid gardenRiver Lounge Restaurant
- Entry US$20 foreign adult, under-8s free; daily 07:00–17:00, enter by 16:00.
- Best for Swimming, photographs, a fit family's morning
Arenal Volcano National Park and the El Castillo side
Lava fields and canopyAbout 15–22 km west of town, towards the lake
The volcano itself is off limits above the lower slopes, but the national park's main sector has short trails, Las Coladas and El Ceibo, across the 1968 lava flows, while the Peninsula sector looks out over Lake Arenal. Around it sit the private parks: Mistico's hanging bridges, Sky Adventures' tram and ziplines above El Castillo, and Arenal Observatory Lodge's 11 km of trails. This is where to go for wildlife, birds and the classic cone view.
Las Coladas lava trailPeninsula sector viewpointsMistico Arenal Hanging BridgesSky Adventures Arenal ParkArenal Observatory Lodge trails
- Entry National park US$15 + tax per foreign adult, 08:00–16:00 (Peninsula sector to 17:00).
- Best for Hikers, birders, zipliners, volcano views
Río Celeste, Tenorio Volcano National Park
Day trip · tickets online onlyNear Bijagua, about 1.5 hours by road
The river that runs sky blue where two clear streams meet, with a waterfall at the end of a 1.8 km forest trail and 253 steps. It is the best day trip from La Fortuna, but plan it: tickets are sold only online through SINAC, in timed slots, and the park stops letting people in at 13:45. Swimming is banned inside the park; a free public pool on the same river sits about a kilometre past the entrance.
Catarata Río Celeste viewpointSuspension bridge on the forest trailFree public swimming spot outside the park
- Entry US$12 + tax per foreign adult, booked online; 08:00–16:00, last entry 13:45.
- Best for A full day out, photographers, anyone with a car
Nauyaca Waterfalls (the southern alternative)
Too far for a day tripNear Dominical, South Pacific coast
If your trip is built around the Pacific beaches rather than Arenal, Nauyaca is the swimming waterfall down there: two tiers, the upper about 45 metres and the lower about 20 metres over a deep pool, on private land about 10 km from Dominical. You reach it on a 4 km hike, in the owners' 4x4 trucks or on horseback. It is a separate trip, not an add-on from La Fortuna, and the prices found for it date from 2022.
Upper and lower fallsSwimming pool below the lower tier4 km forest and pasture trail
- Entry Reported at US$10 entry in 2022; check current rates and hours before going.
- Best for Travellers based in Dominical or Uvita
The short answer
Give the waterfall one early morning and the volcano side at least one full day; that is the core of an Arenal visit. Add Río Celeste if you have a car and three nights or more. Nauyaca belongs to a Pacific-coast itinerary, not this one.
When to go
December to April gives the driest staircase and clearest pool; May to August stays good with afternoon rain; September to November brings the biggest flow but frequent swimming closures.
Rain is the variable. From December to April trails are drier and the pool is clearer and more often open for swimming; from May to November the fall runs fuller and browner and swimming is closed whenever the river rises.
Dry season
December – AprilThe most reliable weather for the staircase, the clearest water in the pool and the best odds of seeing Arenal's summit without cloud. It is also high season: Christmas, New Year and Easter Week bring the biggest crowds, the hot springs resorts fill early and the most popular canyoning and zipline slots sell out. Book day passes and tours ahead, and be at the waterfall gate for 7am.
Open
- Swimming at the base, conditions permitting
- All national park trails
- Canyoning, ziplines and hanging bridges
- Río Celeste, with online tickets
Closed or compromised
- Swimming under the main cascade, all year
Early green season
May – AugustMornings are often dry and afternoons bring showers, so the pattern is easy to plan around: waterfall and hikes early, hot springs when the rain arrives. The fall is fuller than in April and the forest is at its greenest. Prices soften outside July's northern-hemisphere holidays and there are fewer vans at the gate.
Open
- Waterfall and viewpoint
- Swimming on calmer days
- All tours, weather permitting
Closed or compromised
- Swimming after heavy rain, at lifeguards' discretion
Wettest months
September – NovemberLocal guides describe this as the wettest stretch. The fall is at its loudest and widest, but the pool runs brown, the currents strengthen and swimming is often closed. The staircase is wet but stays open in normal rain. Río Celeste can lose its colour after big storms. Bring a rain jacket, keep plans flexible and save the hot springs for the evenings.
Open
- Waterfall viewpoint and staircase
- Hot springs
- Hanging bridges, in the rain
Closed or compromised
- Swimming, frequently
- Río Celeste's blue, after heavy storms
- Clear views of the volcano summit, most days
The free water
Not everything in La Fortuna is behind a ticket. El Salto, a rope-swing swimming hole a couple of minutes' drive from town, is free and popular with locals. On the volcano road, a public stretch of the warm Tabacón river, known as El Choyín, can be entered without charge. Guides warn that parking there is unregulated and car break-ins happen: leave nothing in the car, and watch your footing on the slick rocks.
Everything you can do here
The waterfall fee and hours are from the operator's official site (September 2026); tour, day-pass and park prices are 2025/2026 rates in US dollars from operators' own pages where possible, otherwise from dated local guides, and usually exclude Costa Rica's 13% tax unless stated. Treat all figures as a planning guide, not a quote.
Hike down and swim at La Fortuna Waterfall
US$20per foreign adult; US$10 Costa Rican nationals; under-8s free; lockers about US$2 plus US$10 cash deposit
From the gate, about 500 concrete steps drop through the forest to the base of the 70-metre fall. Lifeguards are on duty and decide each day whether swimming is allowed; when it is, stay near the rocks at the edge, not out in the pool towards the cascade, where the current is strong. A calmer pool downstream suits children. The water is cold. Wear water shoes, and bring a towel: changing rooms and showers are at the top only.
Year-round; swimming depends on river level
Pay on the day — nothing to book in advance.
Horseback ride to La Fortuna Waterfall
price not published on the operator's page; ask whether the US$20 waterfall entry is included
The old way to the falls: ride forest trails from the La Fortuna side up to the reserve, then leave the horses and walk the staircase down to the pool. Desafío lists a group and a private version with a guide, safety gear, hotel transport and snacks included, for riders aged 5 to 65. Other operators pair a ride in a private reserve with a drive to the waterfall. Ask about the horses' welfare and working hours before you book.
Year-round; departures 08:30 and 13:30
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Pure Trek waterfall canyoning
US$117per person including taxes, with hotel transport and lunch (operator's site); from US$95 on Viator
The best-known canyoning trip in Arenal: four rappels, three of them straight down the faces of rainforest waterfalls and one on a rock wall, plus the 'Monkey Drop', a free-fall section on a rope. Guides control the line from above and below, so no experience is needed, and children from five take part. Expect to be soaked. The price covers transport from La Fortuna, gear, towels and a Costa Rican lunch; photographs cost extra.
Year-round; 08:00 and 13:00 departures, extra slots in peak weeks
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Doing this one? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities before you go — SafetyWing is one option.
Lost Canyon canyoning
US$119from, plus tax, per adult 13+; US$97 for children 8–12
Desafío's canyoning trip runs through a private canyon with its own entrance and changing facilities, working down a sequence of waterfall rappels to a signature 200-foot descent, about 60 metres, and the 'Big Boy' fall. Hotel transport, bilingual guides, towels, fruit and a buffet lunch at the El Salto riverside restaurant are included. The recommended maximum weight is 100 kg. Desafío also sells it as the 'Mambo Combo' with Balsa River rafting for $169 plus tax.
Year-round; 07:00, 10:00 and 13:00 departures
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Doing this one? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities before you go — SafetyWing is one option.
Gravity Falls waterfall jumping
US$134from, plus tax, per person; minimum two people
The step up from canyoning: a jungle canyon where you climb, scramble, rappel beside a waterfall and then choose whether to take four optional jumps into pools of varying heights. It is more physical than the rappel-only trips, so the minimum age is 13 and the recommended maximum weight 100 kg. Transport, guides, towels, fruit and a buffet lunch are included. Bring closed-toe shoes that can get wet and clothes you do not mind ruining.
Year-round; 09:30 departure
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Doing this one? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities before you go — SafetyWing is one option.
Sky Adventures ziplines and aerial tram
US$93Ziplines & Aerial Tram package, plus taxes and fees; tram, ziplines and bridges together US$115; transport extra
Above El Castillo, about 30 minutes west of town, a gondola lifts you over the forest to the start of seven cables, the longest reported at more than 750 metres and the highest 200 metres off the ground, with speeds up to about 70 km/h and automatic braking. The lines look across Lake Arenal to the volcano. The family-run company requires advance booking for every tour and offers 10% off when you book 15 days ahead.
Year-round; daily 08:00 – 15:15; reservation required
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Doing this one? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities before you go — SafetyWing is one option.
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges
US$32self-guided, plus taxes; guided tours US$44–54 plus taxes; children 0–4 free
A 3.2 km loop through rainforest crossing 16 bridges, six of them long suspension spans over the canopy. Go with a guide and a telescope and you will see far more: sloths, toucans, snakes and frogs that most visitors walk straight past. Early entry from 6am is the best time for birds. Electric carts are available for visitors with limited mobility, and the park also runs twilight and night walks and horse rides with Paco's Horses.
Year-round; daily from 06:00, last entry 15:50
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Arenal Volcano National Park lava trails
US$15plus tax per foreign adult; children 2–12 US$5 plus tax; each sector ticket is a single entry
The volcano's summit is closed to hikers, but the park's main sector, about 15 km from town, has short trails across the lava flows of the 1968 eruption: Las Coladas, about 2 km, and the El Ceibo loop, whose 400-year-old ceiba fell in 2023. The Peninsula sector adds lake viewpoints. The cone has been quiet since 2010, so you see old lava, not glowing rivers. Rangers close trails if activity changes.
Year-round; 08:00 – 16:00 (Peninsula sector to 17:00)
Pay on the day — nothing to book in advance.
Tabacón thermal river day pass
US$115per adult, reported May 2026; about US$184 with a meal; under-6s free; Tabacón says rates include taxes
The most famous of Arenal's hot springs and, by its own account, the only one built around a natural thermal river, which runs through tropical gardens in waterfalls and pools from about 22 to 38°C. Day visitors get the river and the swim-up bar; the spa is by reservation. Cheaper resort pools on the volcano road, including Baldi and EcoTermales, charge roughly $50. Children under 16 must stay with an adult, and water shoes are recommended.
Year-round; limited capacity, reserve ahead
Pay on the day — nothing to book in advance.
Balsa River rafting
US$85plus tax per person, Class II–III; Class III–IV Sarapiquí trip US$109 plus tax
The easy-going whitewater option from La Fortuna: a morning on the Balsa River's Class II and III rapids, suited to first-timers and families who want splashes rather than serious danger. Desafío runs it with transport from town; if you want bigger water, its full-day Sarapiquí trip tackles Class III and IV rapids. Ask the operator about minimum ages, which were not published on the pages checked for this guide.
Year-round; best water after rain
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
Doing this one? Check your travel insurance covers adventure activities before you go — SafetyWing is one option.
Arenal Observatory Lodge trails and tower
US$22Entrance Pass per person; US$40 Day Pass adds lunch at the lodge restaurant
The lodge sits closer to the volcano than any other hotel, on a 352-hectare private reserve with 11 km of self-guided trails, the Danta waterfall, hanging bridges, an observation tower called The Nest and a small museum. More than 500 bird species are recorded in the area, and the views take in both the cone and Lake Arenal. About 800 metres of trail are built for wheelchairs, which is rare in the region.
Year-round
Pay on the day — nothing to book in advance.
Río Celeste day trip
US$12park entry plus tax per foreign adult, children 2–12 US$5 plus tax; online only via SINAC; transport or car hire extra
In Tenorio Volcano National Park, a 1.8 km trail, a suspension bridge and 253 steps lead to a waterfall pouring into a pool of improbable sky blue, caused by light scattering off minerals where two clear rivers meet. The park sells no tickets at the gate: buy a timed slot online, and arrive by 13:45. Swimming is banned inside the park, but a free pool on the same river lies about 1 km past the entrance.
Year-round; colour can fade after heavy storms
Check availability
or compare on GetYourGuide
No lava, no swimming under the fall, and check the fee
Arenal's lava-glow photographs date from before 2010; the volcano has been in a resting phase since then, and no trail goes to the summit. At the waterfall, the pool looks inviting, but swimming directly under or close to the cascade is not allowed, and lifeguards close the water entirely after heavy rain. Lockers and changing rooms are at the top, not the base. Finally, many guides still quote $18 for the waterfall: the operator's own site now lists $20 for foreign adults.
Where to stay
Sleep in La Fortuna town for the cheapest beds and walkable restaurants, or out on the volcano side for hot springs, volcano views and quieter nights; most of the hotels below are within about 20 minutes of the waterfall.
Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa
The resort built around Arenal's natural thermal river, with unlimited river access for guests, the adults-only Shangri-La Gardens, open-air spa bungalows, the Tucanes and Ave restaurants and suites with private thermal plunge pools. It sells out far ahead from December to April.
Nayara Springs
An adults-only Relais & Châteaux hotel of private villas with their own hot-springs pools, an award-winning spa and a sloth sanctuary. Its sister property Nayara Gardens has rainforest casitas with outdoor jacuzzis on the terrace.
Nayara Tented Camp
Clifftop luxury tents above the rainforest, part of Leading Hotels of the World and aimed at couples and families. Guests praise the complimentary laundry and breakfast on the patio; the camp also runs its own sloth sanctuary.
The Springs Resort & Spa
A 165-acre five-star resort with 21 room categories, big volcano views, hot spring pools, a 14,000 sq ft spa, and the Club Rio adventure centre on a mile of Arenal River frontage with tubing, kayaking, horses and an animal sanctuary. Non-guests can buy a two-day springs pass.
Hotel Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa
An all-suite hotel on 27 acres at the foot of the volcano where every room faces Arenal, with 63-square-metre family suites, private thermal pools for guests, a spa and buffet breakfast included. Close to the hanging bridges and the waterfall.
Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
The closest hotel to the volcano: 48 rooms on a 352-hectare reserve with trails, a waterfall and more than 500 bird species nearby. No TVs, children 8 and under stay free with parents, and two rooms are adapted for disabled travellers. Remote by design, so plan transport.
Arenal Manoa Hot Springs Resort
A resort of several room types and villas set in gardens facing the volcano, with its own mineral hot spring pools and ponds, a spa and breakfast with a volcano view. A way to have hot springs at the door without Tabacón's prices.
Hotel Lomas del Volcán
Wooden bungalows, each with two balconies and volcano views, around a pool and jacuzzi, with its own restaurant, a spa and the guests-only Los Congos forest trail. Quiet, rustic and well placed for the park and bridges.
Arenal Backpackers Resort
The first hostel in La Fortuna, running since 2001, with a range of rooms, its own bar and a tour desk, and a sociable atmosphere at the foot of the volcano. It bills itself as a five-star hostel; the obvious base for travellers on a budget.
Search all La Fortuna accommodation
Getting there & getting in
SJO
Juan Santamaría International, San José
Costa Rica's main international airport, near Alajuela. About 3 hours by road to La Fortuna; hotels on the volcano side quote 3.5–4 hours door to door for private transfers. The widest choice of flights from North America, Europe and Latin America.
LIR
Guanacaste Airport, Liberia
The north-western gateway, with many seasonal flights from the US and Canada. Roughly 3 hours to La Fortuna by road; some transfer operators quote 3.5–5 hours to lodges near the volcano. Convenient if you are combining Arenal with Guanacaste's beaches or Río Celeste.
San José (SJO) is the main gateway and the best connected; Liberia (LIR) is the better choice if you are also heading to Guanacaste's beaches or Río Celeste.
Taxi-boat-taxi to Monteverde, and getting to the falls
The quickest link between Arenal and Monteverde is the taxi-boat-taxi: a van from La Fortuna, a boat across Lake Arenal with the volcano behind you, then a mountain road up to Monteverde. Desafío runs it at 07:30 and 14:00, about 3 hours, from $35–45 per person. In La Fortuna itself there is no public bus to the waterfall: take a taxi (about $10 each way from the centre, per the operator), drive and use the free, guarded car park, or walk or cycle the 5.5 km road out of town.
Visas & entry
- Visa-free tourist entry (US and Canada)
Free US and Canadian citizens need no visa for tourist stays of up to 180 days; the immigration officer sets the actual length on arrival. You need a passport valid for your whole stay and proof of a return or onward ticket, and may be asked to show sufficient funds. - Other nationalities
Varies UK and EU passport holders are also visa-exempt for tourism; check Costa Rica's immigration service (Migración) for the stay permitted on your passport before you fly.
Entry rules were checked on the US State Department and Government of Canada pages in September 2026; the 180-day allowance is a maximum, not a guarantee.
Ways to spend the time
1 day
One full day in La Fortuna
- 07:00 — at the waterfall gate for opening; walk down the staircase and swim before the tour vans arrive.
- 10:00 — back up, coffee at the reserve's restaurant, then drive west to Mistico for the hanging bridges.
- 13:30 — lunch, then Arenal Volcano National Park for the Las Coladas lava trail, entering before 15:00.
- 17:00 — soak the evening away at Tabacón or one of the cheaper hot springs on the volcano road.
3 days
Three days around Arenal
- Day 1 — La Fortuna Waterfall at 07:00, then the hanging bridges and a hot springs evening.
- Day 2 — morning canyoning with Pure Trek or Desafío; afternoon at the national park or Arenal Observatory Lodge's trails and tower.
- Day 3 — Sky Adventures' tram and ziplines above El Castillo, or Balsa River rafting, then a last soak.
5 days
Arenal, Río Celeste and Monteverde
- Day 1 — fly into LIR or SJO and transfer to La Fortuna (about 3 hours); evening hot springs.
- Day 2 — La Fortuna Waterfall early, hanging bridges, national park lava trail.
- Day 3 — canyoning or ziplines in the morning; buy Río Celeste tickets online for the next day.
- Day 4 — drive about 1.5 hours to Río Celeste, enter before 13:45, then swim at the free pool outside the park.
- Day 5 — taxi-boat-taxi across Lake Arenal to Monteverde's cloud forest.
Practical notes
- Getting to the falls The reserve is about 5.5 km from La Fortuna's centre on a paved road, with free guarded parking and no public bus. The operator puts a taxi at about US$10 each way; ride-hailing is reported cheaper. Walking takes over an hour and the road climbs towards the reserve, so many walkers take a taxi up and walk back. Bikes can be rented in town.
- Money US dollars are widely accepted in La Fortuna alongside colones, and tours and hot springs quote prices in dollars, usually plus 13% tax unless stated. Carry some cash for lockers (US$2 with a US$10 deposit at the waterfall) and for parking donations at free spots. Guides disagree on whether the national park takes cash or cards, so bring both.
- Safety The US rates Costa Rica Level 2, exercise increased caution, and Canada advises a high degree of caution, both citing crime. In Arenal the realistic risks are theft from cars at unguarded spots such as the free hot river, and water: swim only where lifeguards allow, never under the cascade, and stay out after heavy rain. Rangers close volcano trails if activity changes.
- What to wear and pack Closed-toe shoes with grip for the staircase, water shoes for the rocky pool, swimwear under your clothes, a quick-dry towel, a light rain jacket in any season, biodegradable sunscreen, insect repellent and a refillable water bottle. There are no changing rooms at the base, and a dry bag keeps phones safe from the spray.
- Timing Be at the waterfall at 07:00, when it opens, and you share the pool with a handful of people; tour groups arrive from mid-morning. Allow at least two hours. Weekday mornings are quietest. Plan the national park for before 15:00, Río Celeste entry for before 13:45, and hot springs for late afternoon, when the rain usually comes.
- Accessibility The waterfall's upper viewpoint is built to Costa Rica's accessibility law, so wheelchair users can see the fall from above, but the 500-step staircase to the base is not accessible. Mistico's hanging bridges offer electric carts for visitors with limited mobility, and Arenal Observatory Lodge has about 800 metres of wheelchair trail and two adapted rooms.
How it compares
This waterfall
La Fortuna Waterfall
Costa Rica
Height70 mWidth—
Most similar
Taughannock Falls
United States
Height66 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and with swimming
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
66 m
70 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Taughannock FallsLa Fortuna WaterfallVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 14× taller than La Fortuna Waterfall. Victoria Falls is 1.5× taller. We don't have a reliable crest width for La Fortuna Waterfall yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from La Fortuna Waterfall
4:05
3:16
4:44
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
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On the map
Questions people actually ask
Can you swim at La Fortuna Waterfall?
Yes, when conditions allow. Lifeguards at the base decide each day and mark where you may go: stay near the rocks at the edge or use the calmer pool downstream, and never swim under or close to the cascade, where the current is strong. After heavy rain, especially from September to November, swimming is often closed. The water is cold, and changing rooms are only at the top.
How much does La Fortuna Waterfall cost in 2026?
The operator's official site lists $20 for foreign visitors, $10 for Costa Rican nationals and free entry for children under 8. Many guides still quote the older $18 rate. Parking is free, lockers cost about $2 with a $10 cash deposit, and the ticket covers the viewpoint, the staircase, the pool area and the orchid garden.
How many steps are there at La Fortuna Waterfall?
About 500 down to the river; the operator gives 500 in one place and about 530 in another. The path is concrete with handrails and benches roughly every five minutes. Most people take 15–25 minutes to go down and longer to come back up. Children from about three manage it, and an accessible viewpoint at the top shows the fall without the stairs.
How do you get from La Fortuna town to the waterfall?
It is about 5.5 km on a paved road, 10–15 minutes by car. There is no public bus. A taxi from the centre costs about $10 according to the operator, parking is free for drivers, and you can walk or cycle, though the road climbs on the way there. Horseback tours with operators such as Desafío ride up to the reserve.
Is Arenal Volcano still active?
It has been in a resting phase since 2010, after 42 years of activity that began with the 1968 eruption. You will not see lava. You can walk across old lava flows in the national park, but the summit is closed to hikers, and rangers close trails if the volcano's behaviour changes. On clear mornings the whole cone is visible from town.
Is La Fortuna Waterfall worth visiting in the rainy season?
Yes, if you come for the fall rather than the swim. From May to November it runs fuller and louder, and mornings are often dry, but the pool turns brown after rain and lifeguards frequently close it to swimmers, particularly from September to November. The staircase stays open in normal rain; wear shoes with grip and go early.
Can you do Río Celeste as a day trip from La Fortuna?
Yes. It is about 1.5 hours each way by road to Tenorio Volcano National Park. Buy tickets in advance on the SINAC website, because none are sold at the entrance, and arrive before the 13:45 last entry. The walk to the waterfall is 1.8 km each way with 253 steps. Swimming is banned in the park but allowed at a free pool just outside.
La Fortuna Waterfall or Nauyaca?
It depends where you are based. La Fortuna Waterfall is the single, taller plunge in the Arenal region, easy from town and combined with the volcano and hot springs. Nauyaca, near Dominical on the South Pacific coast, has two tiers and a deep swimming pool but needs a 4 km hike, a 4x4 or a horse. They are a long drive apart, so choose by itinerary.
Where is La Fortuna Waterfall?
La Fortuna Waterfall is in Costa Rica (Alajuela), inside Arenal Volcano National Park area. The nearest base is La Fortuna and the closest airport is SJO. Its coordinates are 10.4392, -84.6693.
Sources (43)
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- www.adventuretourscostarica.com/blog/2026-ultimate-guide-hiking-and-swimming-at-la-fortuna…
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- ecoterracostarica.com/arenal-national-park-guide-2026/
- www.arenalobservatorylodge.com/
- www.arenalobservatorylodge.com/arenal-volcano/arenal-volcano-national-park/
- www.arenalobservatorylodge.com/room-rates/
- www.arenalobservatorylodge.com/getting-here/transportation-to-arenal-and-la-fortuna/
- skyadventures.travel/tickets
- skyadventures.travel/arenal/ziplines
- mytanfeet.com/activities/sky-adventures-la-fortuna/
- www.misticopark.com/
- puretrek.com/tours/pure-trek-canyoning-regular/
- www.viator.com/tours/La-Fortuna/La-Fortuna-Ultimate-Waterfall-Canyoning-4-Rappels-and-Monk…
- mytanfeet.com/activities/canyoning-in-arenal-waterfall-rapel/
- www.desafiocostarica.com/
- www.desafiocostarica.com/service/canyoning-in-the-lost-canyon-in-costa-rica/
- www.desafiocostarica.com/service/gravity-falls-waterfall-jumping/
- www.desafiocostarica.com/service/horseback-riding-to-la-fortuna-waterfall/
- www.desafiocostarica.com/service/share-shuttle-taxi-boat-taxi-from-la-fortuna-to-monteverd…
- mytanfeet.com/booking/horseback-riding-and-la-fortuna-waterfall/
- mytanfeet.com/activities/arenal-hot-springs/
- mytanfeet.com/activities/things-to-do-in-la-fortuna-and-arenal/
- www.tabacon.com/
- www.tabacon.com/day-pass/
- www.nayarasprings.com/
- nayaragardens.com/
- www.nayaratentedcamp.com/
- www.thespringscostarica.com/
- www.hotelarenalkioro.com/
- www.arenalmanoa.com/
- www.lomasdelvolcan.com/
- www.arenalbackpackersresort.com/
- mytanfeet.com/activities/tips-visiting-rio-celeste/
- mytanfeet.com/activities/nauyaca-waterfalls-in-costa-rica-dominical/
- travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Infor…
- travel.gc.ca/destinations/costa-rica
Prices, fees and entry rules change. We re-check full guides regularly; spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Nearby
Closest to La Fortuna Waterfall
Rio Celeste Falls
Costa Rica · 30 m · 50 km away
Famous for water colored by optical mineral scattering, not dye
La Paz Waterfall
Costa Rica · 37 m · 60 km away
La Paz is a waterfall in central Costa Rica. In Spanish, it is known as Catarata de La Paz.
Nauyaca Falls
Costa Rica · 45 m · 160 km away
South Pacific Costa Rica's most popular swimming waterfall
Swimming
Volio Waterfall
Costa Rica · 220 km away
The Volio Waterfall is located near the town of Bribri, Costa Rica in Limón Province. It is located within…