Fortuna

Fortuna sits at the base of Arenal Volcano in northern Costa Rica. The town operates as a basecamp for geothermal springs, jungle suspension bridges, and waterfall basins. Moving around requires a rental car or tourist shuttles, as sights spread over a 20-kilometre corridor. Expect early mornings, high humidity, and afternoon rains that reset the daily schedule.

Fortuna eats at local family-run restaurants known as sodas. Here, the national staple is the casado: a plate built around rice, black beans, fried plantains, cabbage salad, and grilled meat or tilapia. Fresh heart of palm harvested from nearby lowland plantations appears in salads across town. For dinner, head away from the central park to sample pork chicharrones crisp-fried in iron cauldrons.

• Soda operating hours

  Sodas open at 06:00 for breakfast gallo pinto and close by 20:00. High-end resort dining rooms serve until 22:00.

• Tipping at sodas

  A 10% service tax is legally included in menu prices across Costa Rica. Leaving extra cash on the table is optional and uncommon at local counters.

• Fresh fruit drinks

  Order a 'refresco natural en agua' for fresh fruit blended with water, or 'en leche' for a milk-based smoothie. Guanábana and cas are local staples.

Until July 1968, the mountain towering over town was known as Cerro Arenal and considered dormant. On July 29, 1968, a massive eruption destroyed three villages on its western side, leaving the eastern side untouched. However, the town was already called La Fortuna decades before the eruption, having been renamed from El Burío in 1935 in reference to its rich, fertile lands. Over the next four decades, continuous lava flows turned a quiet farming settlement into an international eco-tourism center.

1. 1977

   First Thermal Baths

   Local landowner opens simple concrete pools fed by the hot Tabacón River, laying the groundwork for Fortuna's luxury hot spring industry.

2. 1991

   National Park Created

   The government establishes Arenal Volcano National Park, protecting 12,000 hectares of primary rainforest and volcanic slag fields.

3. 2010

   Volcano Enters Resting Phase

   Arenal stops emitting active lava flows after 42 years of continuous activity. Tourism shifts from night lava watching to canopy sports and hot springs.

Choose by your transit method. Stay in Downtown Fortuna if you rely on public buses and walk to sodas. Choose the Tabacón Corridor if you want thermal pools on-site and have a rental car. Pick El Castillo for quiet eco-lodges with lake views, provided you drive a high-clearance vehicle.

• Couples on luxury breaksTabacón Corridor — Private thermal spring access and direct views of the volcanic peak.
• Nature lovers & hikersEl Castillo — Secluded rainforest lodges bordering the national park boundary.
• Budget familiesLa Palma — Affordable cabinas with kitchens away from downtown noise.

Fortuna stretches out along Highway 142. While downtown is compact and walkable, reaching major trailheads, hanging bridges, and thermal rivers requires driving, booking tourist mini-vans, or hailing local taxis.

• Fortuna has no train network. Transportation relies on shared tourist vans, public buses, or rental cars.

• Licensed taxis are red with gold triangles on the doors. Insist on the meter (el maría) or set a price before getting in.

• Buses depart from the station behind the Megasuper supermarket. Pay drivers cash in exact colónes when boarding.

• Rideshare apps operate erratically in Fortuna. Drivers are scarce outside the central square and absent near national park gates.

Fortuna runs on a dual-currency economy. Prices are listed in Costa Rican colónes (₡) or US dollars ($). Paying in colónes avoids poor conversion rates applied by smaller vendors.

• Soda lunch plate: ₡3,500–5,000

  A filling casado meal with protein, rice, beans, and salad at a local soda.

• National Park entrance: ₡9,000

  Standard adult day pass for Arenal Volcano National Park trails.

• Day hot spring pass: ₡25,000–50,000

  Access to resort thermal pools; prices increase on weekends and holidays.

• Town taxi ride: ₡2,500–4,000

  Short journey within central Fortuna or to nearby hotel strips.

• Sun exposure

  Even under cloud cover, tropical ultraviolet index levels remain high. Apply water-resistant sunblock before rainforest hikes.

• Water safety

  Thermal rivers can flash flood during sudden downpours in the mountains. Exit natural pools if river waters turn muddy or rise rapidly.

• Early morning start

  Wildlife is active between 06:00 and 08:00 before afternoon heat and rains arrive. Plan park entry for opening time at 08:00.

• Card payments

  Most hotels, tour companies, and sodas accept major credit cards. Keep small colón bills for rural road tolls and fruit stands.

• Volcano summit ban

  Climbing to the crater rim of Arenal Volcano is illegal and dangerous due to toxic gas emissions and loose rock slides.