Hiking Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna Costa Rica

After spending our first night in a hostel in San Jose, Ellie and I decided to take a trip to La Fortuna where we would spent two days enjoying a great selection of outdoor activities including the Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna Waterfall.

Getting to La Fortuna

Since we were traveling on a budget, we decided to ride the public bus from San Jose to La Fortuna. I cannot remember precisely how much it cost to ride the bus, but it was definitely less than five dollars. The bus was in good condition (clean with comfortable seats and AC). Luckily, we were one of the first people to board the bus because it quickly filled with local commuters, who not only occupied all the seats, but the entire aisle of the bus. 

Thankfully, the crowd did not distract me from enjoying the rolling hills and mesmerizing views of lush green fields.

The Best Hostel View of Arenal Volcano

Approximately four hours later we arrived in La Fortuna, a charming little town that offers spectacular panoramic views of the Arenal Volcano. In fact, within minutes of leaving the bus station we could see the grandiose volcano looming over us. I couldn’t help but stop to take photos.

Even better, we had an amazing view of the volcano from the balcony of our budget-friendly bed and breakfast, Las Colinas.

After admiring the volcano, we placed our bags in the room and went to grab something to eat. Almost right across the street, we found a restaurant selling traditional Costa Rican food. It was honestly so good, we went back there to eat the following day. After dinner, we roamed around the town for a little, ate ice cream, and spoke to the locals. The town is small and centered around a beautiful park with colorful gardens and a large church. The locals were very nice and pleasant to speak with. And the ice cream was really some of the best I’ve ever had. It was the perfect way to end our second night in Costa Rica.

Hiking Arenal Volcano National Park

The following morning, we set out for our first adventure—a tour of Arenal Volcano National Park. The tour was great and the views of the volcano were absolutely stunning. The park had a wealth of geological and biological complexity. There are many animals living within the park like capuchin monkeys, deer, snakes, exotic birds, and jaguars. The park also has a very significant number of plants, including orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and palms.   

The park has two volcanoes – the 5,357-foot Arenal Volcano and the 3,740-foot Chato Volcano. Undoubtedly, the main attraction is Arenal, Costa Rica’s most active volcano. The tour culminated with the sunset and the evening segment, which allowed us to see the night sky burst with sparks and lava like a display of fireworks.

Baldi Hot Springs After Hiking Arenal

That same evening we went to the Baldi Hot Springs and it was fabulous. Baldi Hot Springs is a hotel and spa located at the base of the Arenal Volcano. It has over 25 thermal pools, some of which have little fancy waterfalls.

When we visited Baldi, we enjoyed several of the pools. Then, we indulged in one of the best buffets I’ve ever had in my life (Ellie agrees). The buffet had a variety of meats, side dishes, and seafood. They also had a huge chocolate fondue surrounded by fruit, and a wide selection of desserts. We were in heaven.

If you’re looking for something fun and relaxing to do alone, with your partner, or friend, I highly recommend this place.