# Arenal and La Fortuna trip planner: volcano, hot springs and the lake > Arenal is Costa Rica's volcano country, and La Fortuna is the town that serves it. It's about 3.5 hours from San José by car, and 2 to 3 nights is right for most trips: one day for the national park and the waterfall, one for the lake, hanging bridges or hot springs. It sits neatly between Guanacaste and Monteverde on most routes. Source: https://www.travelincostarica.net/arenal-la-fortuna-area/ Last checked: 2026-10-20 From San José by car: about 3.5 hours By bus: about 5.5 hours direct from San José Flights: Sansa flies to La Fortuna (FON) Nights to plan: 2 to 3 Bases: La Fortuna town or El Castillo on the lake side On to Monteverde: jeep-boat-jeep, about 3 to 4 hours We first wrote about the Arenal area in 2014. The 2026 update turns it into a planning guide: how to get there, how long to stay, where to sleep and how to link it to the rest of your route. Arenal Volcano is the near-perfect cone that most people picture when they think of Costa Rica. It rises to 1,633 m above rainforest and pasture in the northern lowlands, with Lake Arenal, a large hydroelectric reservoir, spreading out to its west. The town of La Fortuna, about 15 km to the northeast, grew up as the base for visitors, and it's where most hotels, restaurants and tour offices are. ## A quick bit of history On July 29, 1968, Arenal erupted. The eruption killed 87 people and buried the villages of Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luís. For the next four decades the volcano stayed active. That ended in 2010: Arenal has been dormant since then. You won't see lava today, but you will see the cone, old lava fields and the forest that's growing back over them. ## Getting there **From San José**, it's about 3.5 hours by car. Junctions aren't always well signed, so use a navigation app. Shared shuttles run several times a day and are easy to book. Direct public buses take about 5.5 hours, or you can change in Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos). **From Liberia and the Guanacaste beaches**, it's a few hours east by road, past Lake Arenal. Shared shuttles connect the two regions too. **By air**, Sansa flies to La Fortuna's airstrip (FON) from San José, which can save time on a short trip. **Via Sarapiquí.** If you're coming from San José and like birds and rivers, you can break the journey in Sarapiquí, on the Caribbean slope. [La Quinta Sarapiquí Lodge](/la-quinta-country-inn/) is about 2 hours from San José on Route 32 through Braulio Carrillo National Park. ## How many nights? Plan **2 to 3 nights**. With 2, you can do the national park and La Fortuna Waterfall on one day and a hanging bridges walk or hot springs on the other. A third night gives you time for the lake, a canyoning or rafting trip, or simply a rainy afternoon, which is common here. Arenal is rarely clear all day, so an extra night also improves your odds of seeing the summit. ## Where to base yourself **La Fortuna** is the practical choice. It's walkable, has the most restaurants and tour operators, and most tours pick up from town. Hotels also line the road west toward the volcano and the hot springs. **El Castillo**, on the south side of the volcano above the lake, is quieter and has some of the best views of both. It's about 9 km off the main highway on a hilly road. Stay here if you have a car and want a slower pace. The [Butterfly Conservatory](/butterfly-conservatory/), with butterfly gardens, frog exhibits and an insect museum, is in the village and open every day. **Around Lake Arenal**, toward Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán, lodges are more spread out. It's a good area for a road-trip night between Arenal and Guanacaste or Monteverde. ## What to do **Arenal Volcano National Park.** The park protects the volcano and its lava fields. [Our park page](/arenal-volcano-national-park/) covers the trails and viewpoints. Most guided tours go in the afternoon and include about an hour of walking across old lava rock to a lookout. Bring a light jacket. **La Fortuna Waterfall.** Just outside town, a stone staircase leads down to a pool below the falls. It takes about 10 minutes down and 20 back up. Bring a swimsuit and shoes with grip. **Hot springs.** Water heated by the volcano feeds a string of resorts and pools west of town, from big resort-style spas to simpler places. Many visitors book a late afternoon or evening session after a day of hiking. **Lake Arenal.** Boat trips, kayaking and fishing are all on offer. The hills above El Castillo are the best place for views of the lake with the volcano behind. **Hanging bridges, canyoning and rafting.** Suspended bridge trails through the forest canopy are a gentle way to see birds and wildlife. For more adrenaline, several operators run canyoning, waterfall rappelling and river rafting nearby. ## Fitting Arenal into a route Arenal is the hinge of most first-time routes. From here, you can go: - **To [Monteverde](/monteverde/):** the popular "jeep-boat-jeep" transfer takes about 3 to 4 hours, with a boat across Lake Arenal in the middle. You can also drive around the lake, or go on horseback. - **To [Guanacaste](/guanacaste/):** a few hours west to the beaches, ideal if you're flying out of Liberia. - **Back to San José or on to the Pacific:** for Manuel Antonio, it's a long travel day, so many people go via San José or break the journey. Our [7-day itinerary](/costa-rica-itinerary-7-days/) pairs Arenal with Monteverde and the beach, and our [10-day itinerary](/costa-rica-itinerary-10-days/) adds Manuel Antonio. Traveling without a car? See [Costa Rica without a car](/costa-rica-without-a-car/). ## When to go Arenal faces the wetter Caribbean slope of the mountains, so showers are possible in any month and the summit is often in cloud. The national dry season, roughly December to April, is the most reliable time. The rainy months bring greener forest and fewer visitors, and tours run year-round. Our [Costa Rica weather guide](/costa-rica-weather/) compares regions month by month. ## Practical tips - **Book directly when you can.** Many "tourist information" desks in La Fortuna are tour agents working on commission. - **On the bus toward Tilarán**, wait for the driver to announce the national park. Some touts call out a private park stop earlier on the road. - **Bus schedules out of town can run late.** Leave time if you have a connection. - **Bring layers.** Evenings and early mornings can be cool, and showers come and go fast. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Arenal Volcano still active? Not at the moment. It erupted constantly from 1968 to 2010 and has been dormant since then, so you won't see lava. ### How far is La Fortuna from San José? About 3.5 hours by car, or around 5.5 hours on the direct public bus. Sansa also flies to La Fortuna. ### How many days do you need in Arenal? Two to three nights covers the national park, the waterfall, a canopy walk and the hot springs, with time to spare for rain. ### How do you get from Arenal to Monteverde? Most people take the jeep-boat-jeep transfer across Lake Arenal, which takes about 3 to 4 hours and can be booked from any hotel. Driving around the lake is the other option. ### Should I stay in La Fortuna or El Castillo? La Fortuna if you don't have a car and want restaurants and tours on the doorstep. El Castillo if you have a car and want quiet and lake views.