La Fortuna Waterfall Hike: My Experience
When visiting La Fortuna, a very popular activity is to go see La Fortuna waterfall. This is also called Catarata Rio Fortuna in Spanish. La Fortuna in Spanish translates to “the fortune” and the meaning is accurate to the area.
This town is magical and you will never run out of things to do here. While walking around town you will see the Arenal Volcano in the distance (unless clouds fully cover it). There is a reason this place is on everyone’s list when they visit Costa Rica.
We grabbed a ride from downtown and headed to do the La Fortuna hike on our own and it was an amazing experience! It’s a popular location but you’ll easily be able to see why.
Is La Fortuna Waterfall Worth Visiting?
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For someone who looking for a true hardcore adventure, I would say this isn’t worth it to them. Our family was visiting during this time and it was great for everyone.
Catarata La Fortuna is beautiful and I don’t think anyone would truly be disappointed by seeing its massive strength and size.
This waterfall is more commercialized than others, unlike the Montezuma Waterfalls which you can visit for free and have more area to hang out at.
How to Get to La Fortuna Waterfall
The entrance to the waterfall park isn’t that far away from town but there are still a few different ways you can arrive here.
Some may be cheaper and/or easier than others.
Take an Uber
This might be controversial for some as it is technically illegal in the country but has been operational since 2015.
The driver might ask you to get in or out at an earlier spot due to police watching. This depends on where you’re getting the Uber.
I’ve taken Uber before and ironically enough, the only issue has been in La Fortuna. You won’t ever get in trouble but the driver might.
Another option for a share-riding app would be to use DiDi.
Taxi
Taxis are always available and they’ll all know this waterfall when you mention it. The ride will cost around $10 to $15 USD one way.
Rent a Bike
If you want to burn some extra calories or simply want to ride a bike, this can be a great option for you.
There’s a good bike rental shop on the road leading to La Fortuna Waterfall that you might want to check out.
Take a Tour
There is a tour for almost everything in Costa Rica. If you prefer someone figuring everything out for you (and also want to do other activities) then I suggest this tour from Viator.
They will still be with local guides and the other activities include:
- Hotel Pickup
- Lunch + cocktail
- Explore the surrounding area of Arenal Volcano
- Hot Springs
Catarata La Fortuna Waterfall Map
My Experience Hiking La Fortuna Waterfall
I loved doing this hike. Some may not consider it a hike but it was still very cool to see. This was the week my family came and it was great for everyone.
Super accessible and nobody had any issues. My favorite activities are like the ones in Montezuma where you have to have an adventure before the actual adventure.
It is worth the $18 if you make sure to swim and take up a lot of time at the bottom.
Getting There
We took an Uber there and back. We had a bigger group so we needed to order separate rides.
On the way back, my friends who were in the other Uber got stopped halfway back to town by the police.
Everything was fine but unfortunately, the driver got his license taken away.
When we arrived at the entrance, we paid the fee, signed the waiver and headed into the park!
Hiking Down the Steps to La Fortuna Waterfall
This part consists of 530 steps and is fine going down but going back up might take some time. Thankfully there are multiple areas where you can stop and rest.
Hanging Out at the Waterfall
The waterfall is powerful. Swimming next to it is not recommended and someone is watching to make sure nothing happens.
There’s a back section that you can go to if you want to hang out in a calmer area and it offers a different view of the waterfall. Sometimes you can get a good picture with no one else in it.
Things to Know Before Visiting La Fortuna Waterfall
Getting to and hiking La Fortuna Waterfall is a pretty simple adventure when compared to other waterfalls in Costa Rica.
It is super popular, so getting to and from here is no issue. Below is some information you might be wondering about before your trip here.
Tips
There are a few things that you might want to bring with you to fully enjoy the entire experience. This can be the case with many other activities in Costa Rica.
- Take Your Time Coming Back Up the Stairs
- Bring Your Water
- Wear a Bathing Suit
- Bring a Rain Jacket (remember you’re in a rainforest)
- Wear Closed Toe Shoes or Hiking Boots
Is a Tour Necessary?
This is primarily a self-guided tour. It is easy enough to do on your own, no problem. If you love to have someone figure it all out for you, then there are plenty of tours to choose from.
A lot of tours include multiple things for around $150. You can look more into them on TripAdvisor.
Some other things included in these tours are a volcano hike, ziplining, and walking over hanging bridges.
Is it Free?
Entrance to La Fortuna waterfall is not free. It costs $18 per adult. Any child that is 8 years or younger has free entry. If you are from Costa Rica then the price is only $9.
They do accept credit cards, so don’t worry if you don’t have any cash on you.
Related Blog Post: 10-day Itinerary in Costa Rica
Hours of Operation
The park is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. It is suggested to come no later than 4 pm if you want to enjoy the entirety of the park.
How Tall is the La Fortuna Waterfall
The waterfall is around 70-75 meters high or 200 feet. It is extremely powerful and if you swim too far, you will get whistled at. This is all for your safety.
How Long the Hike?
This hike will take you 20-30 minutes to go down the stairs. This all depends on your fitness level but there are resting spots after every major section. You will see a lot of people looking tired going back up but you can do it!
How Many Steps Are There During the Hike?
The hike consists of 530 steps down to the waterfall. The railing and rest areas are of high quality with water drinking areas in these spots. There are motivational signs throughout that will push you to finish the hike!
Is there a zipline Inside the Park?
When visiting there won’t be any mention of this zipline at the front desk. This is done through other tour companies that will take you on these zip lines and then give you access to the waterfall as well.
Check Viator for some tours that include ziplining.
Is Rio Celeste or La Fortuna Waterfall Better?
I visited Rio Celeste last time I visited Costa Rica back in 2017 and it was awesome. The water was the bluest I’ve seen and was super unique.
You were not allowed to swim at Rio Celeste, which is what I like best about La Fortuna Waterfall. Why decide on one or the other when you can do both?
They are about a 90-minute drive apart from each other.
Things To Do in La Fortuna
You will have a hard time running out of activities to do around here. Some of these activities require spending money or having a tour guide but are all worth it.
Here is a list of a handful of ideas when planning your trip.
- Sloth Tour
- Night Walking Tour
- Free Hot Springs
- Explore the area around the Chato Volcano
- Tabacon Hot Springs
- Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges
- Ecocentro Danaus Reserve
Where to Stay in La Fortuna
- La Choza Inn: This is one of the best hostels in La Fortuna and they even offer access to their own hot spring!
- Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga: If you’re looking for a retreat and spa experience in the middle of the jungle, this is the spot for you!
- Villas Paradise: This is one of the best villas in La Fortuna and you can tell this by the name! Enjoy paradise at this accommodation.
Final Thoughts
I’m not a huge fan of adventure activities that are super popular because of the large crowds. This is the one exception. It’s a stunning waterfall that you can only imagine in your dreams. It’s expensive for something so quick to get to but worth all the money.
