La Fortuna, Costa Rica
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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
Top Things to Do
Hostel I’d Recommend
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)
Getting over my sinus infection, being a beach bum on sands all over the Nicoya Peninsula, and making friends with Capuchin monkeys that seem to make daily appearances in these parts of Costa Rica