Exploring La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano

La Fortuna, Costa Rica, is a vibrant town known for its stunning views of Arenal Volcano, lush rainforests, and a variety of adventure activities.

Our journey through Costa Rica continued with an incredible drive from Monteverde to La Fortuna, winding along the picturesque Arenal Lake. Although heavy rains from a Caribbean storm caused the Arenal River to flood and some local roads to close, adding two extra hours to our drive, the breathtaking scenery made it all worthwhile.

Arrival in La Fortuna

Our last leg of the trip brought us to Arenal/La Fortuna, a perfect one-stop destination to explore with kids. With its lush greenery and slightly more humid climate than Monteverde, La Fortuna is a beautiful place where we saved the best for last. The charming town is filled with cozy cafes and restaurants, offering everything from authentic Costa Rican dishes to international cuisine and varieties of “Heladerías” (ice cream shops).

We stayed at Hotel Magic Mountain, where we enjoyed magnificent views of the Arenal Volcano from our balcony. Watching this dormant volcano became our favorite pastime, as Little R and I delighted in observing the mist swirling around it, sudden rain showers, and glimpses of its majestic peak.

Arenal Volcano

Upon reaching La Fortuna around 4 PM, we dropped off our bags at the hotel and headed into town for lunch at Soda Rodriguez. While Little R enjoyed pizza from a nearby pizzeria, his favorite treat was undoubtedly the Heladería (ice cream).

Day 8: Mistico Hanging Bridges

We began Day 8 by visiting Mistico Hanging Bridges, which I had booked in advance due to limited visitor slots. You can book their tours through the website. After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, featuring a variety of Costa Rican and continental dishes, we set out to explore the bridges around 8 AM. The hanging bridges were more adventurous than the Selvatura Bridge, requiring us to walk slowly and centrally to maintain balance. Along the way, we encountered fascinating wildlife, including leaf-carrying ants, Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs, hummingbirds, monkeys, and a viper snake. Mistico Park also features hanging bridges and a beautiful garden designed to attract butterflies.

Hanging Bridges – Mistico Park

Although I had pre-booked a visit to Bogarin Trail for sloth-spotting, we opted out since Little R had already seen sloths up close at Selvatura Park.

After our trail walk, we headed to Sky Adventures Park for their Aerial Tram ride, a fantastic journey above the tropical rainforests. At the destination station, visitors can take in stunning views of the Arenal Volcano and capture memorable photos with the hand sculpture. The Aerial Tram quickly became Little R’s favorite experience in La Fortuna.

While the park offers thrilling activities like zip lining, superman flying, and canopy adventures, we chose not to participate due to Little R’s age. However, adventure seekers will find numerous options such as waterfall hiking, canyoning, bungee jumping, and ATV tours available through various tour operators.

Mistico Park

In the evening, we strolled through the town of La Fortuna and visited Central Park, a lively spot filled with fountains and parakeets. The musical calls of hundreds of parakeets provided a unique and enchanting atmosphere.

La Fortuna Central Park

Day 9: La Paz Waterfall Gardens

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is a must-visit, located just an hour and 30 minutes from La Fortuna. This lush green paradise offers visitors the chance to witness Costa Rica’s natural beauty up close. Little R loved exploring the gardens, jumping with joy as he encountered hummingbirds and other wildlife.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens

La Paz Waterfall Gardens is renowned for its rich biodiversity, featuring an aviary where visitors can see macaws and toucans up close. With free-roaming toucans perfect for photo opportunities and habitats housing mountain lions, jaguars, sloths, and domestic animals like buffalo, cows, and ducks, it’s a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Little R, ever the free spirit, roamed happily, soaking in every new experience.

La Paz Waterfall Gardens – Fruits along the road

The gardens’ highlight is undoubtedly the series of stunning waterfalls, including Magia Blanca, Tigre, Encantada, and Hidden Waterfall, which can be seen within the gardens. Meanwhile, the La Paz Waterfall can be viewed from the road leading to the gardens. Don’t miss the chance to grab delicious locally grown strawberries from nearby shops—they’re a sweet treat you won’t want to pass up!

La Paz Waterfall

Templo Waterfall

After a delightful buffet lunch at the gardens, we braved the rain to enjoy the waterfalls, with Little R walking alongside us, eager to explore every corner of the Costa Rican landscape.

Magia Blanca Waterfall

Following our visit to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, Roberth introduced us to his friend’s home in Ria Curato, where we experienced a slice of authentic Costa Rican life. There, we had the chance to feed peanuts to macaws and capuchin monkeys, with one playful monkey even landing on Sandy Daddy. We also explored a traditional farm, learning about the sugar cane juice-making process and enjoying fresh sugar cane juice. Little R rounded out the visit with a fun buffalo ride.

Rio Aguarto – Feeding Monkeys

Macaws

Soothing Soaks and Family Fun: Our Relaxing Day at Baldi Hot Springs in La Fortuna

We arrived in La Fortuna around 2 PM and secured a day pass at Baldi Hot Springs, a must-try experience in the area.

Baldi Hot Springs is a luxurious oasis featuring naturally heated thermal pools rich in minerals, offering soothing relief after a busy day of exploring. With an amazing kids’ area that Little R loved, he happily slid down water slides and showed off his swimming class skills. We relaxed in the thermal pools, enjoying family games and the occasional rain shower. With an on-site restaurant offering food and drinks delivered poolside, it was the perfect family bonding experience.

Hungry after our pool time, we dined at Saffron, an Indian restaurant in La Fortuna. Although the wait was a bit long, the food was worth it.

Day 10: Dino Land and Rio Agrio Waterfall

On the final day of our trip, we felt both excited to return home and sad to leave such a beautiful country. Based on recommendations from fellow travel bloggers and locals, we decided to visit Dino Land in the small town – Bajos Del Toro known for its waterfalls.

Dino Land is a recent addition to Costa Rica’s attractions and has quickly gained popularity. It features life-sized dinosaur sculptures set against a lush green backdrop, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a real-life Jurassic Park. Little R, a huge dinosaur fan, was thrilled to see his favorite prehistoric creatures come to life. He raced around naming each one, snapping countless photos, and marveling at the realistic sculptures. The end of Dino Land leads to the stunning Rio Agrio Waterfall.

Dino Land

Dino Land – Jurassic Park

The path to Rio Agrio Waterfall takes you through streams and canyons, with some areas a bit muddy due to rain. The waterfall’s breathtaking first glimpse will leave you in awe. Visiting Costa Rica during the Green Season means waterfalls are brimming with water, creating a spectacular sight. Little R was eager to play in the water stream, and we found a safe spot for him to splash around while we soaked in the beauty of the falls. Adventurous visitors can venture close to the falls, feeling the cool spray of water and gentle breeze washing over them.

Although we initially planned to visit Blue Falls nearby, fatigue set in, and we decided to save it for our next trip. Blue Falls is known for its clear blue water and breathtaking views—on our list for future adventures!

Rio Agrio with my boys

Journey Back to San Jose

As our Costa Rican journey ended, we began our drive back to San Jose. We stopped for a late lunch at Taj Mahal, an Indian restaurant near our hotel, before settling in for the night. The following morning, we bid farewell to Costa Rica, boarding our flight back to Florida and the comfort of home sweet home.

Overall, our Costa Rican adventure was filled with lush rainforests, cloud forests, numerous waterfalls, and volcanoes. With just a three-hour flight from home, it’s more affordable than visiting many US cities. We knew in our hearts that we would return to Costa Rica, saying goodbye with a heavy heart but also with the happiness of coming home after 10 unforgettable days.