Together with Monteverde and a couple of places in Guanacaste, the town of La Fortuna is probably one of the most touristic sites of Costa Rica. Big luxury hotels line up as you get closer to the focus point of the area: El Arenal, the volcano. But even if you’re not a fan of bombastic places and chain restaurants La Fortuna has a lot to offer. Find out here where to go:
Hike the Cerro Chato
Basically everyone is focusing on the Arenal volcano, but it’s nearby brother is actually quite fascinating too. The Cerro Chato is a dormant volcano that flanks the southeast side of Arenal. Cerro Chato has been inactive for some 3,500 years and rests at an elevation of 1,140 m. Though this might not seem so high, the hike towards the top is pretty fierce, with a lot of mud on the way. The good thing is though that the volcano is totally overgrown, so at least you can climb in the shade. Once at the top you can decide whether you want to hike down, to peer into the emerald pool that fills Chato’s hollowed crater. The water is surprisingly cold down there.
Admission to the trail is $8,- and takes about 5 hours. Only recommended for hikers with a good condition.
Butterfly Conservatory
If you’re a big fan of butterflies this place is a real must. I’ve visited over ten butterfly gardens in Costa Rica and still consider this the best one so far. The place is run by volunteers who know a lot about each and every species. There are also other animals to see at the garden. It’s located in El Castillo, which is a bit off road though.
SUP in the lake
The Laguna de Arenal is a very tranquil lake. On the bridge you have a nice view on both the Arenal and the lake, if the clouds aren’t plotting again the visitors. On both sides of the bridge are a lot of vendors with coconuts, chips, meat sticks and cookies.
Now if you want to experience the surroundings in a different way you might want to rent a SUP, which is possible at the northern side of the dam bridge, at the boat ramping park area. You could also book a complete lesson to get yourself familiar with all of the necessary techniques to control the paddle and board.
Soak in the hot springs (for free!)
To top off your day what better way than to chill in some thermal waters. There are countless of hot springs in the area, but if you want to make it a free experience you need to drive to The Tabacon Resort, which is on the way to the Laguna de Arenal. If you’re at the resort, you should go a little further towards the lake. Drive around the corner until you see a couple of cars parked on both sides of the streets (yep, from the other visitors). While parking here you’ll already hear the sound of the water. Just follow the gravel path down, through the fence into what looks like a piece of jungle. Immediately at your left you can already find your spot in the water. You’ll find yourself surrounded by locals.. the real Tico style, pura vida!
