This guide is for you if you have one full day in La Fortuna and want the three things most people come for: the waterfall, the hanging bridges and the volcano. It covers why the day runs in that order, what the steps and the swim ask of you, which months are kinder, and what to pack for a day that is wet one way or another.
Why the waterfall comes first
La Fortuna Waterfall is about 4 kilometres from the centre of town, so you are there within half an hour of leaving your hotel. It drops more than 70 metres into a pool at the bottom of a forested gorge. It is run by the town's community development association, which puts the entrance money back into local schools, roads and social projects.
It is also busy. In high season it can take up to 1,000 or 1,200 visitors a day. Getting there at the start of the day means you go down the steps with few people around you and have the pool more to yourself.
The bridges come next, while the forest is still cool, and the volcano park goes last. Its last entry to the Volcano Sector is at 14:30, so the early afternoon is the latest it can safely sit in the day.
The steps and the swim
There are 530 steps from the top to the river, with places to rest and look out on the way. Going down is easy. Coming back up, after a swim, is the hardest climb of the day. Take it slowly and stop at the landings.
You can swim at the base when the river allows. The staff decide on the day, and swimming can be closed for safety when the water is high. Follow what they tell you. The site has toilets and showers, so you can rinse off and get into dry clothes before the bridges.
If someone in your group cannot manage the steps, there is a viewpoint at the top built for people with reduced mobility. They can see the fall from there while the rest of you go down.
The bridges and the volcano
The hanging bridges are at Mistico Park, near the Arenal dam. The main trail is a loop of a little over 3 kilometres, crossing 16 bridges. Six of them hang among the treetops. The longest is about 97 metres long and some 24 metres above the ground. The trail is marked, and you do not need a guide to follow it. A guide is worth having if you want to spot the birds and sloths, and we can arrange one at extra cost.
After lunch near the lake or back towards town, the afternoon belongs to the Las Coladas trail in Arenal Volcano National Park. It crosses the lava flow of 1992 to a viewpoint below the cone. The volcano erupted with great force in 1968 and stayed active until around 2010. It is quiet now, and the trails stop well below the summit.
The car is yours all day, so the order can change. If the cone is clear at lunchtime, your driver can take you to the park first and leave the bridges for later. At the end you go back to your hotel or straight to one of the hot springs between town and the volcano.
When to go
Rain falls around Arenal in every month, but it is most common in May and June and again from September to November. January to April is usually the driest and hottest part of the year. The cone is most often clear in the morning, so a cloudy volcano in the afternoon is normal rather than bad luck.
Whatever the month, plan the day around the water level rather than the calendar. Swimming at the base is decided on the day, so keep the swim as a bonus and not the reason for the trip.
Doing it yourself or with a driver
All three places are close to town, and you could take taxis between them. What makes it awkward is the timing. The waterfall, the bridges and the park are in different directions, and the volcano park closes its Volcano Sector to new visitors in the early afternoon. Fitting in three entrances, a lunch and a change of clothes around taxi pick-ups takes planning.
With a private driver, your bags and wet towels stay in the vehicle, and the day can bend around the weather. The three entrances, a guide and lunch are not included. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
You will be wet at some point, either from the pool or from the rain.
- Swimwear, worn under your clothes, and a towel.
- Shoes with grip for the steps and the lava rock. Water shoes help in the river.
- A dry change of clothes, left in the vehicle.
- A rain jacket, whatever the forecast says.
- Sun cream, insect repellent and a refillable bottle of water.
- A card or local cash for the three entrances and lunch.
A dry bag or a waterproof phone case is worth having if you want photographs at the base of the fall.
Who it suits, and who should think twice
It suits active families and couples who have one day in La Fortuna and want to see the area properly. Eight hours, with most of the driving under half an hour at a time, is not a hard day in the car.
- Knees or heart that dislike stairs. The climb back from the waterfall is the hardest part. Our Arenal Volcano National Park half day keeps to gentler trails.
- Small children. The bridges and the park are easy, but 530 steps each way is a lot for short legs. Consider the hanging bridges and Lake Arenal half day instead.
- Two days to spare. Add Río Celeste on the second day, for the river that runs sky blue.
Our guide to day trips from La Fortuna sets all five days out side by side.
Questions people ask
Are the bridges frightening?
For most people who are not afraid of heights, no. If heights trouble you, take the trail at your own pace and let the rest of the group go ahead on the longest crossings.
Can we cancel?
Yes. Cancel up to 24 hours before pick-up and you are refunded in full. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Pack for water and rain, decide whether the whole group can handle the steps, and pick the drier months if the swim matters. The timings, stops and what is included are on the La Fortuna Waterfall, Hanging Bridges and Arenal Volcano private day tour page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
