La Fortuna, Costa Rica Reviews and Ratings

La Fortuna is located at the base of Volcano Arenal an active volcano in the mountains of central Costa Rica. The town itself is a bit of a tourist trap but it serves its purpose well as base camp for the countless outdoor activities available in the area. The views of Volcano Arenal are stunning and you can access the park at the base of the volcano just a few miles away for a great hike. At night you might be lucky enough to see lava flowing down the side of the volcano although when I was there it happened on the north side of the volcano (facing Lake Arenal) not the south where La Fortuna is located. Drive up to the Observatory Lodge (there's a small entrance fee) for a great view of the volcano; you can actually hear & feel it rumbling.Another must-do is hike to the Fortuna waterfall (Catarata de la Fortuna). While some people hike up the dirt road to the entrance I highly recommend driving that part. It's a steep long climb and the hike from the park entrance to the waterfall itself is taxing as it is. It starts out flat gives you a great view of the waterfall in the distance then descends sharply (almost feels like a ladder at certain points). Once you reach the waterfall though you'll be glad you put in all that effort. It's an amazing view and the water is refreshing after all the hiking.Other area highlights include the hot springs that are a result of the volcano (some of the most popular are just up the road in Tabacon) and the canopy tours. Zip lining 600m above the ground - through the jungle where you'll catch glimpses of howler monkeys and the volcano and the lake off in the distance - cannot be beat. If you visit Costa Rica and want more than the beach life I highly recommend 2 or 3 days in this part of the country.