Half-Day Tour with La Fortuna Waterfall and Arenal Volcano Hike
Description
Enjoy a wonderful outdoor adventure including two great activities in Arenal. If you have limited time or simply you don’t want a full day tour; this one is specially designed for you. It will allow you to see and explore the beauties of the rainforest on a hike in Arenal Volcano National Park and by visiting La Fortuna Waterfall. Your tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off and a delicious lunch.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Arenal Volcano National Park is an iconic place to visit! You will experience what is like to hike around the base of the volcano and encounter all the different landscapes while ascending. The guide will tell you all about the nature and rainforest that formed after the eruptions, the richness of the soil and all the life and home it carries for many species of flora and fauna. You will not ascend all the way to the top, it is not allowed, besides it's really strenuous and dangerous but you will get as close from the formed lava trails as possible and hear all the history of the eruptions, you will learn how the volcano works and how is important to our lives, of course always being in company of nature and with the most incredible views; the guide will point out to some interesting animals that you will see along the path that live in the volcano area.
You will visit La Fortuna Waterfall and will be able to swim in its fresh waters coming from the mountains and get that fresh air that you need so much, right in the middle of a canyon in the rainforest! . It starts with a 20 minute walk down 500 stairs where you will be immersed in nature, take your time, it is a paceful walk. Once there get on your swimming suit and swim in the natural pool, stand by the rocks and see the beautiful nature! Upstairs there are the main facilities with bathrooms and changing rooms and an observatory to take pictures from above or in case you don't want to go all the way down you can stay there and wait for the group to get back (this also apply to a person that has a mobility, back or knee problem). Look up and see how tall the fall is and the magic that feels like when you are one with nature!
After the waterfall was reached and you have taken enough time to enjoy, relax and breath in a nice home cooked lunch awaits you. You will be visit a local family ranch at Los Rodriguez place and they will cook for you the most tasteful and traditional meal you will have during your stay in Costa Rica. Located in the surroundings of the river you will have refreshing views and sounds, some friendly animals may be spotted and you will be able to share some time with the family members, get some of our culture,our cooking and unique flavors. Enjoy a nice cup of coffee while relaxing after a plentiful lunch and get ready for the next part of the day, the Volcano!
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We pickup from all hotels in the Arenal and La Fortuna area, if you come from a different destination please let us know, we can arrange that too. Which hotel are you staying at?
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- It is recommended that you wear tennis or hiking shoes and bring a bottle of water, raincoat, repellent, swimsuit and a camera.
- Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking.
- Not recommended for travelers with knee problems
Reviews(105)
Our guide Francisco was very knowledgeable and friendly. We learned a lot about Costa Rican wildlife and the surrounding Arenal Volcano as well. He also kept our 7 year old engaged the whole day. The lunch provided on this excursion was also one of our favorite meals during our trip -- simple with fresh ingredients and some well. Thank you again for the experience!
This was an excellent tour. It was a great experience, and the tour guide was awesome. Highly recommend!
Just an amazing tour. The guide Mario was extremely knowledgeable on the volcano and is very friendly. I highly recommend this tour
If you’re visiting Costa Rica, this tour is an absolute must. Our day took us to the stunning La Fortuna waterfall and the majestic Arenal Volcano, and it exceeded every expectation. What made the experience truly special were the people behind it. Our driver Minor was warm, punctual, and made us feel completely at ease from the moment we were picked up. He was attentive throughout the day and genuinely looked out for our comfort every step of the way. Our tour guide Francisco was an absolute gem — knowledgeable, passionate, and full of fascinating insights about the volcano, the local ecosystem, and Costa Rican culture. He had a wonderful patience with our group, answered every question thoughtfully, and never made anyone feel rushed. You could tell he genuinely loves what he does.
My husband and I had a private guide to show us through the forest and the volcano. Edgar was our driver and Tony was our guide. Tony was amazing, he has a background in ecotourism and is beyond knowledgeable about everything from plants to animals. We were lucky enough to see an anteater, howler monkeys and a few other animals and birds I forgot the names of. At the end Edgar met us with his amazing, delicious home grown pineapples and bananas! If you’re planning on a tour use these guys!!
I highly recommend Rain Forest Explorers tour. Our tour was problem free and exciting. Isaac. our tour guide, was very excited to share his intimate knowledge of the waterfall and volcano. He had many interesting tidbits along the way. The pickup and departure was timely. The stop after the waterfall for fresh juice and shacks was quite refreshing. On our way to the volcano hike, Isaac's "eagle eye" helped him locate an Ornate Hawk Eagle that was munching on the side of the road on a turkey it had killed. That was pretty cool. Our lunch between the waterfall and volcano hike was fresh and tasty with many of the ingredients grown right on a small farm that is associated with the tour company. Elena was a great cook
I really enjoyed the tour, it was lovely. I got to see the waterfall and see the volcano. The only thing I felt was that it was a little rushed and we were short on time. Around the waterfall there was a few shops and it would have been great to have some more time around that area. We got an hour to go down and up 500 steps to the waterfall. Then another half an hour to be in the waterfall water. Bring water shoes. Then my volcano hike was modified to fit my 4 year old THANK YOU! That was amazing I got to enjoy this area better because of it. I recommend being some what physically fit because it’s definitely a lot for one day especially with the heat! The lunch we had was delicious and at a great place.
This tour exceeded expectations! The sites were amazing but the guide Mauricio or Mau (and the driver Minor) really made it exceptional. He was able to show us an unexpected extra stop to see a sloth climbing, as well as caught a monkey troop climbing near the volcano. Very informative and friendly. The lunch mid tour was also incredible- the flavors and freshness!
Mauricio ( tour guide) and Hymie ( driver ) gave us an excellent tour! They stopped spontaneously to show us animals they spotted a long side the road ( sloth, monkeys, toucans). They had a special telescope to help us see the animals. Hymie was a very good and safe driver. Mauricio was very informative as a guide. We all really enjoyed the tour and it was the highlight of our trip so far.
This was a great experience! We started at the waterfall which due to recent rains, was incredible!! Swimming was so fun with so many fish! We had lunch which was delicious in a beautiful place. We had rain and a lot of fog at the volcano so visibility was low, but still fun. Our guide made sure we saw monkeys and sloth along the way. My husband and I had our sons 8 and 2.5 for the tour. Our 8 yr old had no issues with any activities. We had our youngest in a backpack carrier we brought for the hiking and stairs - couldn’t have done it otherwise. I requested a child car seat when booking and it was ready to go upon arrival. The timing of everything was perfect. No long van rides. Our kids also loved the lunch and they even had some games for them to enjoy. Perfectly run tour company, always thinking ahead and putting safety first. This was a great way to experience the rainforest. Highly recommend.
