This is a list of recommended tours in the Arenal Volcano region. Please scroll down and click on any link for a full description (will open on a new page). The descriptions below are mostly excerpts from the official webpages.

Costa Rica Show

Discover Costa Rica in a different way. Although our country is known worldwide as an example in ecotourism, Costa Rica offers much more than impressive nature and wildlife. Our country is also rich in culture and history. Our show will transport you in time through some of the most important events in our history. These carefully selected and original performances will certainly brighten your spirit and allow you to meet our most important resource: Our people!

Dance lessons: Cumbia and Merengue, are also included for those interested. It is also a great opportunity to see and learn about the Maleku tribe since their members enhance the spectacle.

Located 15 minutes from La Fortuna, includes transportation and snacks.

Tabacon Hot Springs

The Tabacón Hot Springs perfectly combine mineral content, volume and temperature. While there are many hot springs destinations around the world, few offer this special balance set in a splendorous natural paradise.

Grand Spa: The Grand Spa specializes in invigorating hydrotherapy therapies and volcanic mud therapies, special massages and skin-care treatments. Our certified therapists will guide you to the ultimate relaxation using massage, traditional healing techniques, and the natural resources provided by Tabacon’s extraordinary surroundings, leaving you refreshed and with the feeling of natural beauty.

Located about 20 minutes from La Fortuna. May be visited by itself or combined with a volcano hike tour.

Baldi Hot Springs

16 Hot Springs of various temperatures surrounded by beautiful tropical gardens. Facillities include 2 wet bars, spa services, restaurant and locker rooms.

A friendly and affordable hot springs alternative in a safe location and with a great volcano view.

Located about 10 minutes from La Fortuna.

A visit to Baldi can be combined with a volcano hike tour just like with Tabacon or Ecotermales (below).

Volcano Hike + Ecotermales Hot Springs

Enjoy the most extraordinary view of the Arenal Volcano on a gentle Hike along the base of this marvelous “Mountain of Fire”.

The hike begins on the active side of the volcano, that takes you through the forest over recent lava flows and to the destroyed area now in the process of regeneration.

The hike lasts about 2½ hours (there and back), along a trail that gets as close as five hundred meters from the lava flows, all this in the Arenal Volcano National Park.

Included: Transportation, Bilingual guide (English - Spanish), Entrance fee, Refreshments, water and cookies

After the hike you will visit Ecotermales Hot Springs (Dinner included here). Ecotermales is in the middle of the forest, much smaller and private (They don't accept more than 100 visitirs at one time) than either Baldi or Tabacon.

Ecotermales hot springs is a family project and has been built over time and years of hard work. The 4 pools vary in temperature, the coolest one is 91º F and the hottest one is 105º F. One of the pools has a cascading waterfall with misty water that is quite refreshing.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge

The wildlife reserve Caño Negro is one of the most important reserves for bird watching and observation of other wild animals in the whole country. The variety of birds is incredible. Caño Negro is also the home of sloths, three types of monkeys, caimans, bats as well as a big variety of plants, typical for this humid climate.

The tour starts in Fortuna. With a minibus we drive for about 1 ½ hours through agricultural landscape to the restaurant “el Caiman”, directly boarding the river “Rio Frio”. After a welcome drink we board the motorboat and ride slowly for about 20 minutes on the river to reach the National refuge Caño Negro. For the next 2 ½ hours we enjoy the beautiful Fauna and Flora of this exceptional pretty National refuge.

From the beginning of the bus ride the guide explains to us all about the native, regional agriculture.


Included: Transportation, bilingual, nature bound tour guide, welcome-drink, drinking water, entrance to the National refuge and a typical lunch in the restaurant “El Caiman”.

To bring: Light and comfortable clothing, Tennis- or trekking shoes, sunhat, sun cream, camera and binoculars.

Departure: 7:30 a.m. / Return: 4:00 p.m.

Hanging Bridges

Welcome to the Arenal Hanging Bridges one of the greatest eco touristic projects of Costa Rica, with the exuberant primary rain forest where you will find a great biological diversity with an incomparable scenic splendor.

The tourist will be able to appreciate the natural beauties of the majestic environment, thanks to the imposing and huge hanging bridges with the beautiful trails that make an easier access to it and offer great security. The doors of our tropical paradise are already open for all nature lovers and adventurers.

Arenal Hanging Bridges wants to offer to all the visitors a contact with the natural surroundings in a responsible and sustainable way that is why we counted with all the permissions, evaluations and certifications required for the protection of our private reserve and all the living organisms that live in there.

We are waiting for you to come and live an unforgettable experience.

ATV tour

Savor the powerful presence of Arenal Volcano as you ride through exotic tropical plantations of banana, papaya, yucca, avocado, black pepper and fruit trees –  all under the professional guidance of your experienced bilingual guides.  Travel through the tropical cloud forest of the La Fortuna ecosystem, located between the typical town of La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano, and delight once again in Costa Rica’s diverse flora and fauna all in its natural habitat.

During your adventure, feel free to cool off in a natural, crystal-clear pool with stunning views and a spectacular waterfall any time of year.

Continue your unique journey to an impressive, secluded Butterfly Farm where you can observe a distinct variety of local butterflies and study their complete life cycle – all in their natural environment.  If you are lucky, you can also enjoy the farming exhibit of the exotic animal, the Agouti Pocas or “Tepezcuintes”, which actually helps protect other local endangered species.

Included: All Terrain Four-Wheel Vehicles (ATV`s) fully equipped, safety helmets, experienced bilingual guides, terrific local snacks during the tour, round-trip transportation from most La Fortuna/Arenal Volcano locations.

To bring: Comfortable/active clothing, bathing suit and towel, sneakers or water shoes, insect repellent and camera

Duration: 3 hours

Canopy tour (Arenal Paraiso)

This canopy tour (zip line tour) is located by the Arenal River and during part of the trek you ride over the river along a great canyon surrounded by impressive rain forest vegetation.

It has 12 platforms, 350-meter long cables and with average heights of 85 meters over the river, making a thrilling experience.

You might be able to see waterfalls, monkeys, sloths among other animals along the way.

To bring: Long pants, tie down sandals or hiking shoes (sneakers), insect repellent, sun screen lotion.

Refreshments included. This is a half day tour.

Canopy tour (Mundo Aventura)

This excursion starts in two different ways; whether it be comfortably seated in an tractor cart, that lasts about 20 minutes, or horse back riding approximately 45 minutes, after we arrive at the observation deck we start a 30 to 45 minute natural history walk where you will see and learn about the tropical ecosystems though one of our specialized guides.

Once you are at the first cable, we start the zip line course using high quality equipment which is constantly checked and renewed to ensure its safety and good condition.

The cables are located in such a way that they start from platforms at ground level ensuring that if a tree did fall it will not produce any time laps in the tour. The cables, 10 in total, span lengths of 200 meters up to the longest of 800 meters; each cable offers a different sensation and experience crossing canyons, observing waterfalls, over the tops of trees or leaving from a spectacular OBSERVATION TOWER 18 meters high. The Fortuna and Pino Blanco waterfalls, along with the majestic Arenal Volcano accompany us on this trek.

Canyoning tour (Waterfall rappel)

Your trip begins with a 30-minute 4x4 drive into the tropical rainforest outside the town of La Fortuna, in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano.

We trek through the forest on magical trails that lead to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica, a place very few people get to experience. Along the way we will have the chance to discover the secrets that lie hidden deep within the canyon.

From the first waterfall we will rappel down from the top into the beautiful and pristine canyon below. We have 5 rappels, 4 of which are along side or right in waterfalls, and one dry rock face. Then a short trek out of the canyon on a magical trail, jump back in the 4x4 vehicles and head back to the base camp.

We have two tours a day, 7:00AM and 12:00PM, they are approximately 4 hours in duration. Both tours include lunch at our base camp and snacks in the canyon.

To bring: Fast drying clothing (surf shorts, outdoor hiking type synthetic clothes), Adventure sandals, tennis shoes, or light hiking boots, Camera or Video, Change of Clothes.

Horseback to Fortuna Waterfall

This is a combination of horseback riding and hiking in this beautiful scenery. These horses are trained to take you all the way up to the waterfall trough green areas of pastures, forest and high hills. The views of San Carlos valleys and the Tropical Forest that surround the waterfall are spectacular. At the end of the road will let the horses and will walk dawn trough a trail all the way to the base of the water fall, which is 65 mts. high.

This fantastic area is very quiet and special to relax and enjoy a good time. Here you can always swim in its natural pool
On the way back we Hill come trough a privet farm of 400 hectares, where will be able to see Toucan, orioles, a large variety of flora and fauna we will also able to see one of the larges trees in the area
We will ride trough different lots of cattle and at the same time we will cross 3 different rivers.

Mountain Bike

This ride takes us on an old road connecting Arenal Dam with the main entrance to Arenal Volcano National Park.  From there we go towards the village of El Castillo, biking on a quiet lane surrounded by dense forest and cattle farms.

Along the ride we see howling monkeys, coatis, and birds like toucans, egrets and king fishers.  We’ll stop for a picnic on the shore of Lake Arenal where it’s possible to swim.  The volcano is visible during all of the ride and we can usually hear its activity while we bike.

Distance: 13 to 26 km / 8 to 16 miles

Altitude gain: 85 mts / 280 ft

Terrain: Secondary road of gravel/sand with a few rocky spots. Flat with a few short hills

Difficulty: Beginner – Intermediate

Two daily departures: 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. from La Fortuna, Returns: 12 noon or 5:30 p.m.

River Float

Enjoy the sights and the sounds of the rainforest and experience its peacefulness as we quietly paddle the Peñas Blancas river. Monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles and numerous tropical birds await us!
Our professional bilingual guide will share with you educational and interesting explanations of the plants and animals we encounter on the float

You will truly appreciate the wonders of Peñas Blancas river and the surrounding rainforest as we travel down the river without a motor, this way you will enjoy the journey quietly rowing and taking photos.

Make sure to bring your camera and binoculars on this tour! This is half day tour specially designed for people with limited amount of time.

Includes: Air-conditioned transportation, bilingual naturalist guide, Fruits, water and sodas.

To bring: Short pants, T-shirt and sandals, Sunscreen, insect repellent, Camera and binoculars.

White Water Rafting (Balsa River)

Beautiful world-class rafting rivers abound here in Costa Rica. You will see many birds, lots of rainforest wildlife and views of the Arenal Volcano. The Balsa River is ideal for first-time river rafters rated 2 or 3 with rolling rapids to float upon. This is an ideal half-day tour because it is close and you will not spend a lot of time traveling to and from it.

No experience is necessary for this tour, but it is advised that you know how to swim, even though you will be given life jackets to wear. This tour is recommended for ages 7 to 65 whether you are a first-timer or an expert.

Departure: 11:00 a.m. / Return: 3:30 p.m.

Included: Transport, professional, bilingual guides, safety kayaker and lunch

What to bring: What to bring: Secure shoes, clothes to get wet in and dry clothes to change into.

Venado Caverns

The amazing Venado caves were formed during the Miocene period, 15 or 20 million years ago.  For many years they were under sea level and they surfaced due to tectonic activity.

The Guatuzos aborigines discovered them. Limestone rocks, stalactites, stalagmites and corals form most of the caves. The whimsical stone formations are formed by an underground river that flows through them.

The length of the Venado tour is 1 1/2 hour, during this time we will find marine fossils, bats, spiders, crickets and other interesting insects.

Because we will have to walk through the river and waterfalls from the upper part of the cave, we recommend our customers to take light clothes, hiking shoes and extra clothes to be able to change when they finish the exploration of the caves.

The equipment for the tour will be provided and it includes:
Flashlights, Helmets, Cords, Rubber Boots (optional)

Sky Trek / Tram

To have a great adventure on the Sky Trek you must ride on the Sky Tram first in order to reach the highest point of the Arenal Reserve, then you will start the adventure...

The Arenal Reserve is a tourism service complex inside the tropical rain forest that offers you adventure tours (Sky Tram, Sky Trek), bird watching, forest hiking, research, and diverse entertainment for all ages.

Sky Tram is a 15-minute aerial tram tour through the rain forest to the “Miguel Angel” observatory, where you will have spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano and Lake, and the Tilaran mountain range.

4 in 1 tour

Around 7:30 a.m. tour starts at hotels to go to the clients choice: Hanging Bridges or Eco Centro Danaus.

• Package One: With Hanging Bridges: Over 2.5 km of trails through rainforest, 15 bridges from 5 to 100 m long and some over 70 m high. This trail is full of flora & fauna and amazing views of the Arenal Volcano.

• Package Two: With Safari Float: Enjoy the sights and the sounds of the rainforest and experience its peacefulness as we quietly paddle the Peñas Blancas river. Monkeys, sloths, iguanas, crocodiles and numerous tropical birds await us! Our professional bilingual guide will share with you educational and interesting explanations of the plants and animals we encounter on the float.

And for the rest of the Day: La Fortuna Waterfall. Back to La Fortuna the tour takes ahead for the waterfall by car; a view of the 70 m high waterfall and a 600 m hike to the natural pool at the base, a chance for a refreshing bath in the pristine waters and later on, drive back to town for a typical Costa Rican lunch.

At 2:00 p.m. tour continues to the Arenal National Park, here the tour guide will talk about the natural and geological history of the volcano, the tourist could hear the sounds the volcano makes in the distance, or cross a path of solid lava from 1992 and enjoy an excellent view over the volcano and Lake Arenal.

Tabacón Hot Springs: Leaving the park the bus will take the tourist in a 20 min ride to the Tabacón Hot Springs, here they can enjoy the relaxing baths and waterfalls. At the end of the day, before driving everybody back to the hotel, a delicious buffet dinner at Tabacón.

Departure: 7:30 a.m. aprox.
Duration: 7:30 a.m to 8:00 p.m. aprox.
Includes: Transportation, naturalist guide, all entrance fees, bottle water, sodas, cookies, lunch and dinner.
Recommendations: long pants, hiking shoes, bath clothing, camera, binoculars, sun lotion, repellent, light sweater and rain coat.

Rio Celeste

Mysterious and imposing, in the very bowels of the Tenorio Volcano, manifestations of hidden power transform the union of the Buena Vista and Roble rivers into a sky blue stream, giving birth to one of the most extraordinary phenomenon’s of nature: “Light Blue River”. Along the river we’ll find hot springs, bends of heavenly tranquillity and a waterfall of singular beauty, all surrounded by varied flora and fauna. We leave at 7:30 a.m. from La Fortuna.

After a typical breakfast in route to Rio Celeste, the tour arrives at the Tenorio Volcano National Park, were begins our 7 k.m hike (approximately 4 hours) through the tropical rain forest. It will arrive to “Los Teñíderos” of the Rio Celeste, the site where two streams of crystalline water come together and form the heavenly color blue that gives the river its name.

The tour returns through trails, rich with ecological wonders, that lead us to the “OLLAS” -- openings in the earth where we can excavate healing muds, take a mud bath, and a dip in the natural hot springs all while observing the attractions of Tenorio Volcano. We’ll continue our hike through the jungle to seek out the volcano’s furnace vents that expel gases of extreme high temperatures. On our decent we will get to see the spectacular Rio Celeste waterfall whose colour makes it one of a kind. Our final reward is an exquisite Costa Rican typical lunch at the end of our journey, and after that, the ride back to the hotels in La Fortuna.

Departure 7:30 aprox. / Returns: : 17:00 aprox.
Includes: transportation, guide, entrance fee, lunch, drinks and cookies.
Recommendations: good physical condition, long pants, bath clothing, towel, hiking shoes, camera, binoculars, sun lotion, repellent and raincoat.