Costa Rica Destination Spotlight: 6 Exciting Adventures Around La Fortuna

Costa Rica Destination Spotlight: 6 Exciting Adventures Around La Fortuna

If you like your vacations with a touch of wild adventure, then you'll love La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Rustic lodges or top-of-class luxury hotels, a couple of hours of relaxation, or fun full-day tours, La Fortuna has more than enough to keep you occupied every single day of your vacation.

We have compiled a list of unforgettable adventures to take you around La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

1. La Fortuna ATV Tours

A three-hour ATV ride through the rainforest at the foot of the Arenal Volcano on your 4x4 is bound to get your adrenaline rushing. Even beginner ATV drivers can get some training from the professional ATV basecamp instructors, and you'll be driving through the rugged rainforest terrain like the best of them. Expect rocky hills, rivers, and sharp turns, and when you're ready for a break, enjoy your meal in the serenity of the lush rainforest.

2. Balsa River Whitewater Rafting

The Rio Balsa has the perfect combination of calm stretches and exhilarating turbulence along its six-mile course, making it excellent for newbies and veterans in whitewater rafting. Just bring your waterproof sunblock, sturdy shoes, and a change of clothes and the tour will provide everything else: a bilingual guide, full safety equipment, fantastic lunch, and snacks to keep your energy up. This adventure through Class II and III whitewater will leave your senses humming.

3. Arenal Volcano Hiking

Trek through paradise in the shadow of the Arenal Volcano at your own pace. This hike is an easygoing adventure for the whole family, taking you through nature trails of hardened lava fields to watch and listen to Costa Rica's famous tree frogs, iguanas, howler monkeys, sloths, toucans, and macaws, plus plenty more birds and animals than you can keep up with.

Your guide will also lead you through exotic native plants and massive boulders formed by past eruptions that will stay in your memory for ages. Arrive at a viewpoint offering breathtaking views of the Arenal Volcano and the glistening water below.

4. Waterfall Free Falls in La Fortuna

Now, if you're looking to break a sweat and push your limits, go free-falling down the volcanic rocks and waterfalls in La Fortuna. A demonstration and brief practice safety session will be held at the Lost Canyon Operations Center before you start. Then you can get comfortable with your gear at the 10-foot "Baby" drop near a waterfall to give you an idea of what's to come. Hike through the gorgeous natural beauty of the rainforest to free fall beside a 150-foot waterfall. If that's not enough, there's still a 200-foot waterfall within hiking distance too, and all this in the middle of Costa Rica's unspoiled jungle.

5. Venado Caves Spelunking

Cave lovers, this one is for you: four hours of exploring a subterrean world with underground waterfalls, marvelous rock formations, thousands of sleeping bats, sheets of rushing water, low tunnels, and tight squeezes in, around, and through almost otherworldly spectacles of nature. Whew, that’s a lot! By the end of this spelunking adventure in the Venado Caves, you will have a much more in-depth knowledge of cave formation, a collection of stunning photographs, and a lifetime of stories to share.

6. Arenal Rainforest Zipline and Tram Rides

Head for the treetops with a ziplining adventure to enjoy the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal from above. Once you learn the ropes with the help of your guide, brace yourself for high speeds across a series of six ziplines that will have you feeling like Superman crisscrossing above the Costa Rica jungle. Bring your GoPro or rent one to strap on your helmet because you'll definitely want to relive the thrills once you're back on the ground.

If you'd like a much more tranquil experience, ride up to 2,500 feet above the Arenal rainforest in an open-air gondola, where tropical birds fly beside you, and the world-famous natural beauty of Costa Rica is spread out below. The view gets even better once you arrive at the observation deck, and you genuinely feel humbled by the sheer vastness of nature.

La Fortuna has something for everyone to enjoy, from high in the air to through the rainforest and deep underground. Don't miss your chance to explore Costa Rica on your next vacation.