Top La Fortuna de San Carlos Outdoor Activities

Rappel down waterfalls and zipline across canyons in the shadow of Arenal Volcano on this exciting rain forest adventure just outside of La Fortuna. Ride a 4x4 into the forest, where guides will help you gear up for a thrilling course featuring a rock climb and five rappels, including the ‘Monkey Drop’ canyon zipline and four waterfall descents. After conquering this natural playground, freshen up in a well-equipped ranch house and reward your efforts with a delicious lunch of organic Costa Rican cuisine.

Experience the thrill of rafting down Costa Rica’s Rio Balsa on this white-water adventure! Following the lead of an experienced guide, you’ll navigate Class II and III rapids as you pass through a lush rain forest landscape. After working up an appetite paddling down the river, enjoy a traditional lunch at a local eatery. Round-trip transport from your La Fortuna hotel is included.

Explore a protected tropical rain forest on a half-day hanging bridges tour from La Fortuna, and hike a circuit that crosses a series of 15 bridges with extraordinary views of the jungle canopy. Watch for brilliant birds, monkeys, boars, and jewel-toned frogs as you follow your guide through the forest, and listen to the sounds of tropical birdsongs and trilling insects. Experience Costa Rica’s rich diversity and lush habitat in terrain that abuts the Arenal volcano, and discover a remarkable world hidden in thick rain forest canopy.

Take advantage of some of northern Costa Rica’s best white-water rafting on this full-day, guided tour with traditional lunch included. Paddle through the rainforest and over the rapids of the Balsa River stopping along to swim and rest in nature. After your adventure is done enjoy a Costa Rican style lunch at a local restaurant.

Spend your day on a private hiking adventure through the Arenal Volcano National Park. Experience the natural beauty of La Fortuna as you navigate the trails and passes that wind through its stunning landscapes. When the day is done, relax and unwind with a dip in a natural hot water river before returning to your hotel.

Explore the rugged landscape and forested depths of Costa Rica’s Lost Canyon. Rappel down a series of cliffs up to 200 feet (60 meters), and drop into clear tropical pools at the bottom of the canyon. Hike through a thick rain forest teeming with life and scramble over rocks as you uncover hidden secrets of this amazing area. Round-trip hotel transport from La Fortuna and a traditional Costa Rican lunch are included.

Slip beneath the ground on a 4-hour tour through the Venado caves from La Fortuna, and follow underground trails into a series of remarkable grottoes and chambers. Gear up and follow your flashlight along an ancient seabed as you explore the caves with your guide. Get wet and get dirty on your way to fantastic rock formations and bristling stalactites and stalagmites, visit a bat colony that thrives in the cool, dark cave system, then return to the surface to enjoy a snack of tropical fruits.

Fly underneath the canopy of a Costa Rican rain forest on a zipline adventure. Novice adventurers and adrenaline junkies alike can enjoy this thrilling aerial experience soaring down galvanized steel cables at up to 37 miles (60 kilometers) per hour and gain a bird's eye view of the lush foliage below.

Rafting the Sarapiqui River isn’t just a fun way to get an adrenaline fix; it’s also a chance to see animals like spider monkeys, sloths, and toucans in the wild. As you hit a series of class III and IV rapids on a raft, your guide shares information about the river’s important history and rich wildlife. This all-inclusive tour provides transportation, snacks, drinks, and lunch, so you don't have to do any extra planning.

Though renowned for its wildlife, spotting the Arenal and La Fortuna area's favorite animal residents can be notoriously tricky. Tour a number of locations where wildlife sightings are all but guaranteed on this Arenal wildlife tour—expect to see sloths, toucans, dart frogs, and more with the help of your guide. Tour includes use of spotting scope and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Hike through Tenorio Volcano National Park's remarkable landscape and see the otherworldly blue of the Rio Celeste waterfall on a full-day trip from La Fortuna. Follow your guide on a 4.3-mile (7-km) trail into the forest, watch for the monkeys and birds as you stroll past a serene lagoon, and take in views of the imposing Tenorio Volcano. Visit the park’s boiling mud pits and brightly colored jungle waterways, then enjoy a full lunch in the park before returning to your hotel.  

Feel like a jungle explorer as you venture into the lush rain forest around Arenal Volcano on a horseback ride from La Fortuna. Climb atop a tame and trusty steed to follow a guide along a scenic trail that hugs a river canyon, stopping to admire the cascades of the Pino Blanco Waterfall and the famous La Fortuna Waterfall. Cool off with an optional swim at the base of the falls, and learn about Costa Rica’s indigenous culture with a visit to the Maleku Indian Cultural Rescue Center.

Test your limits on an extreme canyoning expedition in Costa Rica! On this thrilling, half-day tour from La Fortuna, journey to a remote rain forest canyon where you rappel down cliffs, leap from waterfalls and trek through a jagged, slippery landscape. Prepare to get soaked as you splash into jungle pools and swim under cascades in an extraordinary natural playground. Numbers are limited to 10 for a personalized small-group adventure.

Challenge yourself with an intensive hike around the old lava fields and craters of Arenal Volcano. Experience two different peaks up close and from different angles on a strenuous trek through the Costa Rican rain forest. Cool off along the way with a swim in a lake and waterfall pools, and reward your efforts with a tasty picnic lunch and relaxing soak in volcanic mud pits and hot springs. The hike ends around sunset, offering a chance to see nocturnal animals emerging in the jungle.

For the ultimate Arenal adventure, this tour combines the weightless speed of ziplining with a canyoning challenge among tropical waterfalls. After flying through the rain forest canopy on extra-long cables, recharge with an organic Costa Rican lunch. In the afternoon, ride a 4x4 up mountain roads to a natural playground where you’ll rappel down waterfalls and scramble up steep canyon walls.