La Fortuna Costa Rica
Hot Springs, Cloud forests, river rafting, and more! So many things to do in La Fortuna Costa Rica
COSTA RICA
When you are in Costa Rica and you want adventure, La Fortuna is the place to go. The area is lush and green, the people are warm and friendly, and the town is nice and walkable.
We stayed 4 nights to get our bearings and had enough time to experience the hot springs, cloud forests, river rafting, and surrounding area.
We chose a basic accommodation in town at Hotel Arenal Xilopalo and were amazed to find that the hotel had a spectacular unobstructed view of the volcano. Due to the humidity in the area and the elevation of the volcano it was often clouded in mist adding to the unique look of the mountain.
For some adventure, we booked a Sarapiqui River Class 4 Rafting trip through Desafio Adventure Company. Their office was just a short walk from our hotel and they were prompt and a fun bunch to rip down a river with. The Sarapiqui River winds through spectacular greenery and tree lined shores. Between rapid sections, we were amazed to see hummingbirds and butterflies flew past. Then looking up in the trees we could see monkeys, toucans, and iguanas. It was like being on a safari until our guide reminded us that the next set of whitewater was just around the corner and to PADDLE PADDLE PADDLE!
The tour included a shore photographer to snap your photo in the heat of the action. Below are two of the shots he got of us.
After all this adventure, some relaxation at a natural hot spring was in order, We booked a day at Ecotermales Fortuna, where they required you to reserve and they limited the number of people each day. This allowed for a calm relaxing time as we soaked in pools varying in water temperature and marveled at the nature around us. It was a unique experience watching hummingbirds fly around and iguanas climbing the trees as we soaked in the hot spring.
Next we did a trip to the Mistico Park cloud forest. We didn't hire a guide, but took our time as we walked through and searched to find all the amazing wildlife in the dense forests. It was a wonderful time and we really felt at one with nature.
La Fortuna was an excellent escape and adventure destination, definitely put it on your list if you are visiting Costa Rica. Happy exploring!
Below is the view from the second floor of the Hotel Arenal Xilopalo that we got to wake up to each morning. Just spectacular!
