Where to Eat, Sleep, & Relax in La Fortuna, Costa Rica
The lowdown on where I ate, drank, slept, and wandered while in the steamy jungle town of La Fortuna.
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La Fortuna is teeming with adventure, nature, wildlife, thermal pools, and…rainfall (you can count on that), all within the shadows of the still active, though quiet, Arenal Volcano. My three days in this steamy jungle town were rain-soaked, but lovely, and mostly spent up to my neck in the town’s copious hot springs. La Fortuna was my first taste of Costa Rica’s acclaimed jungle habitats, hanging bridges, and colorful wildlife and I was not at all disappointed. Below is a guide to everything I ate, drank, and did while in La Fortuna, including where I slept. I was feeling a little under the weather while here, so this list is thin on dining recommendations and thick on relaxing ways to spend a day in La Fortuna - rain or shine.
First Things First: Getting to/from La Fortuna
By Public Transport
From San Jose: Head to Terminal 7-10 (view on map). There’s a bus that leaves daily at 8am. The price at the time of writing was $4,135 CRC ($7-8 USD). You can also purchase tickets in advance at mibus.cr (recommended as you get to board first, but not necessary). The journey can take anywhere from 4 to 6 hours.
By Private Transport or Shared Shuttle
If you’d like to get there faster and in more comfort, check out the routes on Bookaway or 12Go, two reliable sites that aggregate vetted local transportation operators and that offer the added benefit of 24-hour live support should anything come up during your trip. Prices start at $39USD for a shared shuttle (4 hours) and $165USD (expensive but fast!) for a private transfer (2.5 hours).
Explore Bookaway’s routes to/from La Fortuna and beyond
Explore 12Go’s routes to/from La Fortuna and beyond
Rent a Car
Costa Rica’s one of those destinations where having a car is ideal, as public transportation can be complicated and shuttle schedules don’t always align with your plans. For car rentals, I use Discover Cars. It’s great car rental comparison site that finds and compares rates across all of the major rental companies, including Hertz, Avis, Economy, etc.
Yummy Restaurants & Cafes
Arábigos Coffee & Lounge Bar
Open air, but roofed, coffee house with excellent coffee and attached restaurant with full and varied menu of breakfast, lunch, and dinner plates at reasonable prices.
Selina La Fortuna
Tucked inside the Selina La Fortuna hostel, their bar/restaurant is a hidden gem that I only stumbled across because I needed some good wifi. Facing river and jungle, it’s the perfect spot to dine and birdwatch, not to mention time your visit for their excellent happy hour specials.
Top Things to Do
Soak in the Free Hot Springs “Rio Chollin”
Uber or taxi to the free hot springs 15 minutes out of town, day or night, and find a spot amidst the naturally heated waters in the shallow river. This spot is popular with locals and tourists alike, so expect a crowd. At nightfall, people light candles while they soak, creating a seriously ethereal vibe.
Visit Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
Wander the hanging bridges at Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park. I opted for the self-guided hike, but it may be worth doing a guided tour if you’re hoping to spot wildlife. The entrance fee sans tour is $28 USD. The park opens at 6am and the last time of entry for the self-guided option is 3:30pm. Advanced reservations are recommended
Spend the Day (or Evening) at EcoTermales Hot Springs
For something a little more luxe than Rio Chollin, EcoTermales Hot Springs is a great option. For $45 USD, you can spend the day in a peaceful oasis surrounded by jungle with four different pools of varying temperatures to soak in. A locker and towel is included. It’s best to make a reservation via their website in advance. Time slots are either 9:00am to 4pm or 5pm to 9:30pm.
Hostel I’d Recommend
SanteFe Hostel
A low-cost hostel with a communal kitchen, free coffee all day, and privacy curtains in the dorms. It’s run by a gem of a guy named Edgar, who has a knack for making you feel right at home as soon as you arrive.
Onward Travel (and how to do it)
If your plan from La Fortuna involves beelining it for the Nicoya Peninsula (like mine was) to places like Sámara, Nosara, Santa Teresa, and Montezuma, read my how-to on navigating the public transport and/or booking a shared shuttle. The step-by-step is included at the end of my La Fortuna travelogue. There’s also information in there on how to get to Santa Teresa from Sámara (not an easy feat!) and how to get to/from Montezuma from Santa Teresa (much easier).
Useful Links
Easy Hop: Shared Shuttles to La Fortuna’s Top Attractions (one-way shuttles start at $3 USD)
Travel Resources
Accommodations: When I’m not booking directly with the accommodation (which is sometimes cheaper), I often use Booking.com, Trivago, and Hostelworld.com. Agoda is also a great tool when searching for longer stay options at discounted rates that include hotels and private homes.
Tours: While I personally prefer do-it-yourself travel most of the time, sometimes it’s just better with a guide. In those cases, I typically use Viator, GetYourGuide, EatWith, and Airbnb Experiences. For self-guided audio tours, I recommend WeGoTrip.
Flights: My favorite flight aggregator tool is WayAway and my favorite tool for finding out about the best flight deals is FareDrop.
Shuttle Services: My go-to is Bookaway. They operate in more than 90 countries and work with only the top, traveler-reviewed suppliers in each country.
Rental Cars: While I more often take public transport when I travel, there have been destinations that are better explored by renting a car (like Costa Rica and Europe/UK for example). In these instances, I recommend starting your car rental search on Discover Cars. They compare car rental deals across more than 500 suppliers, including Hertz, Enterprise, Avis, and more.
Travel Insurance: If you’re a full-time nomad like me, I recommend SafetyWing. Look into their Nomad Travel Medical Insurance and Nomad Health Insurance (a full-fledged health insurance that covers your emergency and non-emergency medical needs worldwide, including in your country of residence). If you’re not a full-time traveler, I’d recommend Squaremouth. It aggregates your insurance options across more than 22 providers and offers what I’ve found to be the best rates.
Travel ATM & Credit Cards: If you travel often and like perks like airport lounge access and annual travel credit, I recommend the Capital One Venture X credit card that includes Priority Pass, a $300 annual travel credit, and covers your Global Entry or TSA Precheck fee. For a fee-free ATM card that reimburses you at the end of every month for any incurred ATM fees, I recommend opening a Schwab Bank Investor Checking Account.
VPN: I recommend Surfshark. It’s one of the best and most budget-friendly VPN services out there.
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