Costa Rica Eco QuestExplore nature. Discover more.
Volcano & rainforest · Alajuela

La Fortuna & Arenal nature guide

The town at the foot of Arenal Volcano is a hub for rainforest walks, sloth tours, hanging bridges, waterfalls and hot springs.

Updated: October 29, 2026. Tour availability, park rules and prices change, so check the booking page or park authority before you go.

Arenal Volcano area, La Fortuna (network archive image)
Arenal Volcano area, La Fortuna (network archive image) · Photo: Network archive (stand-in)
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page go to GetYourGuide, Viator or Agoda. If you book, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We list tours and stays only after checking that the listing is live. We have not personally reviewed every operator, and we never guarantee that you will see wildlife. Details.

Why go

La Fortuna sits in the lowland foothills east of Arenal Volcano. Secondary rainforest, farmland edges and riverside vegetation around the town make it one of the easier places in Costa Rica to join a guided wildlife walk on short notice. The volcano itself is often hidden by cloud, so plan around activities rather than the view.

Getting there

La Fortuna is roughly three hours by road from San José, and connected by shared shuttles to Monteverde, the Guanacaste beaches and the Caribbean slope. Many tours include pickup from La Fortuna hotels; confirm the pickup zone if you are staying outside town.

Experiences

  • Sloth and wildlife walks: short guided walks on private land near town.
  • Sunrise birding: early outings when birds are most active.
  • Night walks: frogs, insects and sleeping birds; ask whether the walk is on a private reserve or a public trail.
  • Río Celeste: a day trip to Tenorio Volcano National Park, known for its blue-tinted river.

Practical notes

  • Difficulty: sloth and town-edge walks are generally easy. The Río Celeste trail includes steep, often muddy steps.
  • Rain: afternoon showers are common, particularly in the green season.
  • Combining: La Fortuna pairs well with Monteverde for a cloud forest and rainforest contrast.
La FortunaViator

Sloth Watching Tour in La Fortuna - Wildlife Experience

A guided walk focused on sloths and other wildlife near La Fortuna.

Check availability
La FortunaGetYourGuide

La Fortuna: Bogarin Trail Sloth-Watching Tour with Guide

A guided walk on the Bogarín Trail area, a popular sloth-watching spot near town.

Check availability
La FortunaViator

Sunrise Birdwatching at Arenal Volcano

A dawn birding session in the Arenal area.

Check availability
La FortunaGetYourGuide

La Fortuna: Private Sloth Watching and Night Walk Tour

A private option that combines a daytime sloth walk with a night walk.

Check availability
Río CelesteViator

Rio Celeste Full-Day Hike: Blue Waterfall & Tenorio Volcano

A full day at Río Celeste and Tenorio Volcano National Park, with a hike on the park trail.

Check availability

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, schedules and inclusions change, so confirm details on the booking page.

La Fortuna / ArenalAgoda

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

A lodge with its own trail network on the Arenal side of the national park area, further from town than most stays.

Check this stay
La FortunaAgoda

Eden Organic Farm & Bungalows

Bungalows on a working organic farm near La Fortuna.

Check this stay
La FortunaAgoda

Compare stays in La Fortuna

Compare stays in and around La Fortuna.

Compare stays

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, schedules and inclusions change, so confirm details on the booking page.