What is the best La Fortuna waterfall tour?

The most-reviewed option is the full-day tour combining the waterfall, an Arenal Volcano hike, and hot springs at around $105 (4.8 stars, 2,488 reviews), which includes the entrance fee, lunch, and hotel pickup. For all four highlights including hanging bridges, the 4-in-1 combos run $154. If you are driving yourself, the $20 skip-the-line admission ticket is the cheapest way in.

Is the La Fortuna Waterfall entrance fee included in tours?

Yes. Every guided tour in this guide includes the La Fortuna Waterfall entrance fee (around $18 to $20). If you visit independently with the admission ticket, that fee is what you are paying for; with a guided combo it is bundled into the tour price along with transport and usually lunch.

Can you swim at the La Fortuna Waterfall?

Yes, swimming is allowed at the base when the current is safe. You reach the pool by hiking down roughly 500 steps through the rainforest. The water is cold and the spray near the fall is strong, so most people swim in the calmer pools nearby. After heavy rain, staff sometimes close the plunge pool or move swimmers to a gentler side pool, so treat a swim as weather-dependent. Bring swimwear, a towel, and footwear with grip for the wet steps.

Can you climb the Arenal Volcano on these tours?

No. Climbing the active cone is not permitted. The 'Arenal Volcano hike' on every tour follows the lower trails, usually the 1968 lava fields or a private ecological park at the base, with viewpoints toward the summit. Expect an easy-to-moderate 1.5 to 2-hour walk over old lava rock rather than a summit climb.

Do La Fortuna waterfall tours include hot springs?

Some do, some don't. Full-day combos labelled with hot springs include either a free natural hot river (El Choyín, on the Tabacón River) or a paid resort soak such as Relax Termalitas, Baldi, or Tabacón. The bridges-and-waterfall and volcano-and-waterfall tours usually do not include hot springs, so check the inclusions before booking.

How hard is the hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall?

The main effort is roughly 500 steps down to the base and back up. The descent is easy; the climb back is the workout and is the part most guests underestimate. There is no alternative route or lift, so a basic level of fitness helps. Take your time, bring water, and wear shoes with grip.

How many steps are at the La Fortuna Waterfall?

Roughly 500 steps lead from the entrance down to the base of the falls, and you climb the same 500 back up. Counts quoted by visitors range from about 480 to 530. There are rest benches and handrails along the way, but no alternative route or elevator.

How long does the hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall take?

Plan on 1 to 2 hours at the waterfall. The descent takes around 15 minutes, the climb back up 25 to 30 minutes at a steady pace, and the rest is time at the base to swim and take photos. Guided tours usually allow about 45 minutes to an hour on site.

Is the La Fortuna Waterfall free?

No. There is an entrance fee of about $18 to $20 per adult, paid at the gate or with a skip-the-line ticket; children under 8 are usually free. The fee maintains the private ecological reserve and the stairway. On guided tours the entrance fee is included in the price.

Do you need a guide for the La Fortuna Waterfall?

No. The waterfall is easy to visit on your own with an admission ticket if you have a rental car, since the trail is a single well-built stairway. A guide adds value mainly when the waterfall is bundled with an Arenal Volcano hike, hot springs, or hanging bridges, and for spotting wildlife along the way.

La Fortuna Waterfall Tour: Best Combos with Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs (2026)

Q: How much does a La Fortuna waterfall tour cost?

Entry on its own is about $20 with a skip-the-line admission ticket. Guided tours run from roughly $97 to $173 per person, and the popular full-day combos that bundle the waterfall with a volcano hike and hot springs sit around $100 to $154, including lunch and hotel pickup.

La Fortuna Waterfall: Quick Facts	Details
Height	70 metres (230 feet)
Steps	Roughly 500 each way
Swimming	Usually allowed (weather permitting)
Entry fee	About $18 to $20 (included on guided tours)
Time needed	1 to 2 hours at the falls
Location	About 10 minutes from central La Fortuna
Best time to go	Before 8:00 AM to beat the tour-group crowds

Tour	Price	Online Rating	Ages	Duration	Activities Included	Transport	Lunch
Top Rated Waterfall + Arenal Volcano + Hot Springs Full Day Book Now	From $105/adult	⭐ 4.8 (2,488 reviews) Read Reviews	4+	11 hours	Waterfall, Arenal Volcano hike (Mirador El Silencio), Relax Termalitas hot springs	Yes, La Fortuna hotels	Yes
Top Rated Waterfall + Hanging Bridges + Volcano (Nature Lover Combo) Book Now	From $154/adult	⭐ 4.9 (1,813 reviews) Read Reviews	4+	8–9 hours	Waterfall, Arenal 1968 volcano trails, Arenal Hanging Bridges	Yes, A/C vehicle	Yes
4-in-1: Waterfall + Volcano + Bridges + Hot Springs Book Now	From $154/adult	⭐ 4.9 (702 reviews) Read Reviews	4+	10 hours	Waterfall, volcano eco-park hike, Mistico Hanging Bridges, El Choyín hot springs	Yes	Yes
Waterfall + Volcano Hike + Hot Springs Book Now	From $100/adult	⭐ 4.9 (517 reviews) Read Reviews	—	8 hours	Waterfall, volcano eco-park hike, El Choyín hot springs	Yes	Yes
Build-Your-Own 4-in-1 (pick a resort hot spring) Book Now	From $119/adult	⭐ 4.9 (114 reviews) Read Reviews	5–65	10 hours	Waterfall, volcano hike, hanging bridges, choice of resort hot spring (Baldi, Tabacón, Eco Termales, Titoku)	Yes	Yes
Half-Day: Waterfall + Volcano Hike Book Now	From $170/adult	⭐ 4.9 (104 reviews) Read Reviews	All ages	7 hours	Waterfall, Arenal Volcano lava-trail hike	Yes (max 10)	Yes (farm lunch)
Hanging Bridges + Waterfall Book Now	From $173/adult	⭐ 5.0 (94 reviews) Read Reviews	All ages	6 hours	Waterfall, Arenal Hanging Bridges	Yes (max 8)	Yes
Private: Bridges + Waterfall + Volcano + Hot Springs Book Now	From $160/group (up to 6)	⭐ 4.9 (29 reviews) Read Reviews	—	10–11 hours	Waterfall, volcano 1968 hike, Mistico Hanging Bridges, Relax Termalitas hot springs	Yes, private	Yes
Waterfall Guided Hike + Farm Lunch Book Now	From $97/adult	⭐ 4.7 (23 reviews) Read Reviews	4–65	3 hours	Waterfall guided hike, farm-to-table lunch at La Finquita	Yes (surcharge for outlying hotels)	Yes
Skip-the-Line Waterfall Admission Ticket Book Now	From $20	⭐ 4.5 (664 reviews) Read Reviews	Under 8 free	1–2 hours	Waterfall admission only (self-guided, ~500 steps)	No	No

Best La Fortuna Waterfall Tours

The choice really comes down to one question: do you want the waterfall on its own, or bundled with the volcano, hot springs, and bridges into a full day? Here is how we would pick.

Tour	Best For	Price	Duration
Waterfall + Volcano + Hot Springs Full Day	Most travellers, the classic full-day combo	$105	11 hrs
4-in-1 (Waterfall + Volcano + Bridges + Hot Springs)	Doing everything in one day	$154	10 hrs
Waterfall + Volcano + Hot Springs	Best value full day	$100	8 hrs
Build-Your-Own 4-in-1	Wanting a resort hot spring (Baldi, Tabacón)	$119	10 hrs
Skip-the-Line Admission	Independent travellers with a rental car	$20	1–2 hrs

1

Best Overall

Waterfall + Arenal Volcano + Hot Springs Full Day

The most-reviewed La Fortuna waterfall tour by a wide margin (2,400+ reviews at 4.8 stars), and the one that matches what most people picture: the waterfall, a guided Arenal Volcano hike to the Mirador El Silencio viewpoint, and a hot springs soak at Relax Termalitas, all in one 11-hour day. Entrance fee, a Costa Rican lunch with drinks, and hotel pickup included; groups cap at 12. At $105 it's priced below several combos that bundle less. The edge for most first-time visitors. Ages 4+.

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2

Best All-in-One

4-in-1: Waterfall + Volcano + Bridges + Hot Springs

If you want to tick off all four headline activities in a single day, this 10-hour tour adds Mistico-style hanging bridges to the waterfall, an eco-park volcano hike, and the free natural hot river at El Choyín, with lunch and pickup included. At $154 with a 4.9 rating across 700-plus reviews, it's the most complete itinerary on the list. Book it for a short trip where you want one big day that leaves nothing out.

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3

Best Value Full Day

Waterfall + Volcano + Hot Springs ($100)

The same shape as the top pick — the waterfall, an eco-park volcano hike, and the El Choyín hot river — at the lowest full-day price on the list. The hot springs here are the free natural river rather than a resort, which is part of why it comes in at $100. With a 4.9 rating across 500-plus reviews and lunch and pickup included, it's the value choice if you're happy soaking in a natural river instead of a resort pool.

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4

Best for a Resort Hot Spring

Build-Your-Own 4-in-1

Most combos that include hot springs use the free natural river. This one is different: you choose a paid resort soak from options like Baldi, Tabacón, Eco Termales, or Titoku, alongside the waterfall, a volcano hike, and hanging bridges. From $119, with the resort and lunch affecting the final price. For travellers who specifically want a polished resort hot springs experience with multiple pools and a swim-up bar.

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5

Best for Independent Travellers

Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket ($20)

If you have a rental car and would rather visit on your own schedule, the admission ticket is all you need: skip-the-line entry to the waterfall park, then a self-guided hike down roughly 500 steps to swim at the base. No guide, transport, or other activity, and last entry is around 4:00 PM. At $20 it's by far the cheapest way to see the falls — the pick for confident self-drivers.

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What's on a La Fortuna Waterfall Combo Tour

The combos mix and match four Arenal highlights. Knowing what each one actually is makes the comparison table easier to read.

The La Fortuna Waterfall

The centrepiece is a single 70-metre (230-foot) fall dropping into a turquoise pool inside a private ecological reserve. Reaching the base means descending roughly 500 built steps through rainforest and climbing back up, which is the most physical part of any waterfall tour. Swimming at the base is allowed when the current is safe; the water is cold and the spray is strong. The entrance fee is around $18 to $20 and is included on every guided tour here.

The Arenal Volcano hike

You cannot climb the active cone, so every "volcano hike" follows the lower trails: either the 1968 lava fields (named for the year of the major eruption) or a private ecological park at the base, with viewpoints back toward the summit on clear days. Expect an easy-to-moderate 1.5 to 2-hour walk over old lava rock, not a strenuous ascent. Most people don't realize this going in, and a few find the volcano leg the least memorable part of a combo, so we wouldn't pick a tour for the volcano hike alone.

Hot springs: free river vs. resort

This is where tours differ most. Some combos finish at El Choyín (also called the Tabacón River), a free natural hot river where the water runs warm straight out of the ground. Others include a paid resort such as Relax Termalitas, Baldi, or Tabacón, with landscaped pools, slides, and a bar. The free river is more rustic and authentic; the resorts are more comfortable and photogenic. We think the tradeoff is straightforward: book the free-river combos for value and a natural soak, and pay up for a resort tour only if landscaped pools and a bar are specifically what you want. Either way, check which your tour includes before booking.

The Arenal hanging bridges

The bridges tours visit a canopy park (often the Mistico or Arenal 1968 network) where a circuit of suspension bridges, some over 100 metres long, crosses ravines at canopy height. It is a gentle, scenic walk with strong wildlife-spotting odds, and it is the activity most often added to waterfall combos. For a different canopy experience, our La Fortuna zipline guide covers the cable courses around the same volcano.

Best Time for a La Fortuna Waterfall Tour

Waterfall tours run year-round, and the season changes two things: how powerful the falls are and how slick the steps get. The Arenal area is wet by Costa Rican standards in any month. For a fuller picture of the region's seasons, our Costa Rica day tours from San José guide covers the wider Arenal region, and our San José to La Fortuna guide covers the drive in.

Mid-Dec to April

Dry season

The clearest skies and the best odds of an unobstructed volcano view, plus drier, safer steps at the waterfall. This is peak season, so book a few days ahead.

May to November

Green season

Fewer crowds and lower prices. The waterfall runs at its most powerful, which makes for dramatic photos, but the steps are wetter and the volcano is more often capped in cloud. Rain tends to arrive in the afternoon, so morning departures are the safest bet.

Wettest months

September & October

Tours still run and the falls are spectacular, but bring a waterproof layer and expect slippery steps.

Whatever the month, the Arenal summit is frequently wrapped in cloud, so treat a clear volcano view as a bonus. Morning departures give the best odds of dry steps and a clear cone.

How Much Does a La Fortuna Waterfall Tour Cost?

A La Fortuna waterfall tour costs anywhere from $20 to $173 per person. The $20 figure is the self-guided admission ticket; guided tours run from about $97 to $173, and the popular full-day combos that bundle the waterfall with a volcano hike and hot springs sit around $100 to $154.

Budget$20–$97

The self-guided admission ticket at $20 gets you into the waterfall park with no guide or transport. At $97, a 3-hour guided waterfall hike adds a farm-to-table lunch and pickup — the cheapest fully guided option.

Mid-range$100–$119

The sweet spot. Full-day combos pairing the waterfall with a volcano hike and hot springs start at $100 (free river) or $119 (with a choice of resort hot spring), all including lunch and pickup.

Premium$154–$173

The most complete and most specialised tours. The 4-in-1 combos adding hanging bridges run $154, the smaller-group half-day waterfall-and-volcano and bridges-and-waterfall tours are $170 and $173, and a private full-day tour for up to six is $160 per group.

For most travellers the $100 to $105 full-day combo is the sweet spot: the waterfall, the volcano, hot springs, lunch, and pickup for close to the price of the bridges add-on alone. The $20 admission ticket is the clear pick if you're driving yourself.

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La Fortuna Waterfall Tour vs. Visiting on Your Own

If you have a rental car, you can skip the guided tour and just buy the La Fortuna Waterfall entrance ticket on its own. The choice between a guided tour and visiting the waterfall without a tour really comes down to whether you have your own transport and how much you want bundled into the day.

Factor	Guided Tour	Self-Guided (Admission Ticket)
Cost	$97 to $173 per person	~$20 entrance fee
Transport	Hotel pickup included	Need a rental car or taxi
Guide	Yes, with wildlife spotting	No, self-guided
Hot springs	Often included	Not included
Volcano hike	Often included	Separate trip
Lunch	Usually included	Not included
Pace	Set itinerary, 6 to 11 hours	Your own pace, 1 to 2 hours

If you are driving and mainly want to see the falls, visiting on your own is cheaper and more flexible: the La Fortuna Waterfall ticket is about $20, with free parking, lockers, and showers on site. If you do not have a car, or you want the volcano, hot springs, lunch, and a guide who finds wildlife you would walk straight past, a guided combo is better value than it first looks once transport and entrance fees are added in.

From Our Experience

The detail that catches people out most is the difference between a free natural hot river and a paid resort soak. Both are included on different tours under the same word 'hot springs', so if a resort with pools and a bar is what you are picturing, confirm the specific inclusion before booking rather than assuming.

Tips for Your La Fortuna Waterfall Tour

Be ready for the steps: The roughly 500 steps down to the falls and back up are the hardest part of the day. Wear shoes with grip; the steps are wet and can be slippery, especially in green season.
Pack swimwear and a towel: You can swim at the base of the waterfall when conditions allow, and most combos finish at hot springs, so you will want them twice. A dry bag keeps your phone safe on the descent.
If you are driving, just buy the admission ticket and go early: At $20 with skip-the-line entry, it is far cheaper than a guided tour. Arrive before 8:00 AM to have the falls nearly to yourself, since tour groups flood in mid-morning. Last entry is around 4:00 PM, and lockers and showers are at the top.
Check what "volcano hike" means: You cannot summit Arenal. Tours hike the 1968 lava trails or an ecological park at the base, so set expectations for an easy scenic walk rather than a climb.
Confirm pickup for outlying hotels: Most operators include transport within about 6 km of central La Fortuna. Lodges toward the lake, El Castillo, or beyond Tabacón may cost extra, so confirm before booking.
Match the combo to your energy: A 4-in-1 day (waterfall, volcano, bridges, hot springs) is a lot of walking. If that sounds like too much, a waterfall-plus-one-activity tour or the standalone ticket is a gentler day.
On multi-option combos, confirm what your booking includes: Some 4-in-1 tours let you choose activities, and a few travellers only discover at pickup that hot springs, or even the volcano walk, were not part of their selected option. Check the specific inclusions before you pay.
Visiting in January? Our La Fortuna in January guide covers the dry-season tradeoff here: a safer, less slippery staircase and clearer water, but lower falls volume than green season.
Visiting in April? Our La Fortuna in April guide covers the last reliably dry month, plus how Semana Santa fills the waterfall and the value window that opens late in April.
Visiting in May? Our La Fortuna in May guide covers the point where green-season rain starts feeding the falls and the flow picks up.
Visiting in September? Our La Fortuna in September guide covers the wettest stretch of the year, when the falls are at their most powerful and the crowds at their thinnest.
Bring cash for extras: Photos, drinks, and resort upgrades are sometimes paid on the day. A small amount of colones or dollars covers the gaps.

A waterfall day pairs naturally with the rest of an Arenal trip. If you are weighing this against the turquoise river to the north, our Rio Celeste vs La Fortuna Waterfall comparison and our Rio Celeste hike guide cover the alternative. Our La Fortuna zipline guide compares the canopy courses around the volcano, our La Fortuna ATV guide covers the off-road jungle tours, and the Monteverde cloud forest tours guide covers the canopy and reserves a few hours west. If you are still planning your route, the Costa Rica day tours from San José guide covers Arenal day trips and transport.

For more Arenal adventures, our La Fortuna white water rafting guide, canyoning guide, coffee tour guide, and sloth tour guide round out the options, and our best hotels in La Fortuna guide covers where to base yourself among the hot-spring resorts. On the central Pacific coast, our waterfalls near Manuel Antonio guide covers the equivalent falls down there. Around Arenal itself, our hanging bridges guide, horseback riding guide, Rio Celeste tubing guide, and wildlife boat safari guide round out the half-day options. Travelling with children? Our best things to do in La Fortuna with kids guide sorts the family-friendly options by age.

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Is a La Fortuna Waterfall Tour Worth It?

Yes. For most visitors the La Fortuna Waterfall is worth visiting, and a guided tour is worth it if you do not have a rental car. The falls themselves are the highlight: a single 70-metre cascade dropping into a turquoise pool you can usually swim in, reached by a rainforest stairway. Reviews are consistently strong, and the setting lives up to the photos.

The catch is the roughly 500 steps down and back up, which is the part travellers most often underestimate. If stairs or heat are a real problem, that is the thing to weigh, not the cost.

Whether the tour is worth it depends on how you are travelling. With a rental car, the $20 admission ticket is excellent value and you can visit on your own schedule. Without a car, or if you want to fold in an Arenal Volcano hike, hot springs, lunch, and a guide who spots wildlife, a guided combo is worth it: once you add up the entrance fee, transport, and a meal, the $100 to $105 full-day tours are reasonable for everything they cover. We would skip a tour only if you are driving yourself and want the waterfall alone.

How We Selected These Tours

The Costa Rica Day Trip team compared every La Fortuna waterfall tour on what is actually bundled (waterfall entrance, volcano hike, hot springs, hanging bridges, lunch), price, duration, included transport, group size, and review consistency. For a tour built around a strenuous stair climb and a swim, clear inclusions and honest fitness expectations mattered most. We only included listings with enough reviews to judge reliably, and we flagged the practical traps that catch travellers out, chiefly the difference between a free natural hot river and a paid resort, and transport that is limited to central La Fortuna. Listings with vague inclusions were left off. The ten tours cover the full range: a self-guided admission ticket, single-activity guided hikes, the classic waterfall-volcano-hot-springs combo, the all-in-one 4-in-1 with bridges, and a private option for small groups.

La Fortuna Waterfall Tour: Best Combos with Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs (2026)

What You Should Know

La Fortuna Waterfall Tours, Costa Rica

Waterfall + Arenal Volcano + Hot Springs Full Day

Best La Fortuna Waterfall Tours: Side-by-Side Comparison

Compare the Top La Fortuna Waterfall Tours

Book the Most Popular Option Directly

What to Expect on a La Fortuna Waterfall Tour

Hotel pickup

The waterfall

Volcano & bridges

Lunch

Hot springs & return

Hotel pickup

The waterfall

Volcano & bridges

Lunch

Hot springs & return

Best La Fortuna Waterfall Tours

Waterfall + Arenal Volcano + Hot Springs Full Day

4-in-1: Waterfall + Volcano + Bridges + Hot Springs

Waterfall + Volcano + Hot Springs ($100)

Build-Your-Own 4-in-1

Skip-the-Line Admission Ticket ($20)

What's on a La Fortuna Waterfall Combo Tour

The La Fortuna Waterfall

The Arenal Volcano hike

Hot springs: free river vs. resort

The Arenal hanging bridges

Best Time for a La Fortuna Waterfall Tour

Dry season

Green season

September & October

How Much Does a La Fortuna Waterfall Tour Cost?

Most Popular Tours

La Fortuna Waterfall Tour vs. Visiting on Your Own

From Our Experience

Tips for Your La Fortuna Waterfall Tour

Most Popular Tours

Is a La Fortuna Waterfall Tour Worth It?

How We Selected These Tours

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Popular Tours in the Area

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