Inez & Mark
Things To Do & Where To Eat
Interactive Map
Pinterest Board with “pins” to websites
More La Fortuna/ Arenal suggestions. Once in “board” simply click the “pin” and follow link to the website.
Viator Costa Rica tours
Viator is also a good source to find tours and packages. Be sure to vet them though before purchase.
Horseback Riding
I went pretty last minute when here in June, Adri coordinated for me (because she is AWESOME!) and did the morning Volcano tour with Don Tobias. They picked me up and dropped me back off at our resort. It was a very fast paced ride and absolutely SPECTACULAR!! We went though farmland, had multiple water crossings, climbed steep forest hills, saw a female sloth, rode through local cattle, and had a spectacular view of Arenal Volcano, they also fed us a nice lunch/snack upon our return (the horses appreciated my watermelon rinds, mango, papaya, pineapple, and banana peels). If you’re comfortable moving at a nice clip (trotting, cantering, gallop), Don Tobias is an excellent choice! There is also https://horsebackridingcostarica.com/? Phone is through WhatsApp. +50687711522. Great options and highly recommended. Please contact Adri, she’s a master at helping to coordinate.
Hanging Bridges
We really enjoyed the Hanging Bridges at Mistico Park. We booked directly through their website and WhatsApp. We highly suggest you opt for the guided tour. Had we gone on the self tour we would’ve missed so many animals. You can also contact Adri to assist.
Hot Springs
There are a TON of hot springs you can enjoy that range from free (which I’ll include below) to all day passes at very high end. A lot of the resorts and hotels also offer day passes. Many of you will also have hot springs within your chosen hotels. We encourage you to visit them during both the day and night… bonus if it’s raining!! Again we booked directly for those we visited off of our resort (Adri is super helpful here) and for the free springs .. we simply just went. Here are a few recommendations: Free (outside of Tabacon) $ - Las Lagos $$- Ecotermales (half day passes) $$$- Baldi $$$$- Tabacon You can also connect with Adri (via WhatsApp) and she can assist.
(FREE!!) El Choyin Hot Springs (FREE!!)
Something that we found and enjoyed were the free hot springs. They are right next to Tabacon Resorts and Hot Springs. Only these are free and 100% completely natural! We are so excited and happy we made time to do this. You will go pass Tabacon and park on the side of the road. There are gentlemen there who will guide you and also request you pay them $10. Still, it’s totally worth it!! We suggest you go early to avoid the crowds. We went around 845am and pretty much had our pick of spots. We walked up higher, it seems to be warmer the higher you go. Mark and I stayed there for almost 2 hours. It was magical!! We would’ve stayed longer if we didn’t have venues and tastings scheduled. Around 10am more people started showing up. Make sure you wear good water shoes though. Some bring candles and go in the evening, if you opt to do this pay attention to what’s around you and have a headlamp or flashlight. It is literally in the rainforest and you will be walking over rocks and mud.
El Salto (Rope Swing-also free)
El Salto is another fun and free option! There is a rope swing and swimming “hole” with little waterfalls. Honestly, it can get pretty crowded. It’s close to Restaurant Tiquicia and not far from La Fortuna Waterfall. Easy parking if you go fairly early. Use Waze.
National Park Hike
Arenal Volcano Hike
The Volcano is pretty centerpiece here for us. There are a number of different tour companies that offer different ways to experience her. Again, you can also contact Adri to assist.
Waterfall Jumping
Canyoning
Whitewater Rafting
Where to Eat in La Fortuna & Arenal
When you visit Costa Rica and you want good local food, you have to eat at a soda. Trust me. You haven’t experienced real Costa Rica if you don’t eat at a soda. Oh and no , not talking Coke or Pepsi! Sodas are what Costa Ricans call their local Costa Rican restaurant. Costa Rican sodas are normally small, mom and pop open air restaurants that serve only traditional Costa Rican food. It’s the best place to experience eating out like a local! Be sure to try the national dish of Costa Rica - a casado plate: A casado (also the Spanish word for married) is a Costa Rican meal using rice, black beans, plantains, salad, a tortilla, and an optional protein source such as chicken, beef, pork, fish and so on. Although the components are the same, no two casado plates will be the same as they vary from region to region and even restaurant to restaurant. (The photo is from our meal at Soda La Hormiga) Below are a few of some favorite spots:
Cheap ($)
*Soda La Hormiga This is one of the most popular sodas in downtown Fortuna, where you can have one of the best Casados. *Soda Víquez This is a soda that offers a full buffet full of Costa Rican typical food with many options to make your own Casado, they are located just one block from the Central Park. *Ketchup This is a food truck very close to the Central Park where you can find a lot of different fast food options. Their “natural fries” are just something that you try!
Middle Range ($$)
*Soda La Parada Just in front of Central Park is Soda La Parada. It’s a humble place with an extensive menu heavy on the favorites like steaks, pork chops, grilled chicken, and various rice dishes. The menu features everything from pasta and pizza to burgers, seafood, and even fruit smoothies. *Tiquicia Located very close to the entrance of the waterfall road, this local favorite never disappoints. Their typical flavors - including some of the best casado plates in the area and their local margaritas using tropical fruits are amazing! *Kappa Sushi Just a few meters from Central Park, this is a tiny sushi bar They have the freshest and best-prepared sushi in La Fortuna. *Café Mediterraneo Located just 500 mts south of the town center, you’ll find this popular Restaurant. Wood-fired pizzas and fresh-made pasta are the specialties here, but you can’t go wrong with the Caesar salad either.
Nicer ($$$)
*Snapper´s Here you’ll find colorful and creative plates of Costa Rican seafood, often with a Caribbean twist. The options are enough to make your head spin and delight your stomach: ceviche, arroz con camarones (shrimp rice), fried tilapia, avocados stuffed with shrimp in seafood sauce, rib-eye surf and turf with lobster, and much, much more. *Nene´s Open for lunch and dinner, this restaurant really comes alive with creative plates of fried, steamed, and broiled fish and flambéed seafood as well as solid grilled steaks and chops. *Selva Rustica Some popular dishes on the menu include tuna ceviche, beef casado with plantains, and some of the best steaks in the area. Moreover, its open-air location at the edge of town and adjacent to some forest means you might just spot a sloth hanging from the nearby trees as you enjoy your meal. Located on the northwest edge of town, next to Arenal Backpackers Resort
Luxury ($$$$)
*Don Rufino´s This restaurant is one of the top dining options in La Fortuna, the food it’s best described as “elevated surf and turf”. It’s a great place to come for a formal evening after a long day’s trekking around the volcano and enjoy one of six different prix fixe menus. Is just one block from Central Park. *Las Ventanas This Restaurant is located in The Springs Resort, one of the unique places in the area about 8 km from La Fortuna. It is the perfect place to satisfy your culinary desires with the chef´s endeavors to embrace the true flavors of the country with organic fruits and vegetables grown specifically for them on neighboring farms, and menus that incorporate the best local offerings of seafood found bountifully on both coasts of the country.