Located in the province of Alajuela, the small town of La Fortuna is one of those must-stop places in Costa Rica, not so much because of the town itself, but also because of the number of impressive places that surround it.

With a much less touristic past than the current one, the town was placed on the tourist map after the Arenal volcano roared in 1968 and spewed lava flows causing one of the most remembered volcanic eruptions in the country that unfortunately caused death. Of almost 90 people and numerous damages.

This situation kept residents and travelers in suspense for the next 42 years, as the volcano continued to spew lava from its crater intermittently, becoming one of the country's great attractions for many travelers.

And although today that activity has decreased a lot, and you can no longer see lava sliding down the slopes of the volcano or practically no gas emanation, travelers continue to arrive in La Fortuna attracted by the image of the imposing Arenal Volcano and all things What to see in La Fortuna.

What to do in La Fortuna in Costa Rica

1. Arenal Volcano National Park

Without a doubt, one of the things to do in La Fortuna is to visit the Arenal Volcano National Park, one of the best National Parks in Costa Rica and one of the most incredible places in the area as well as one of the best locations from which to see the volcano.

It is important to know that the park has two sectors that can be visited, although the best known is the Volcano Sector, where you can walk 3 trails that range from 500 meters to 3 kilometers. In addition to these trails, you can go by car or on foot to a viewpoint with unique views of the volcano.

• Heliconias Trail: This trail passes through the lava flow that formed in the 1968 eruption and is about 600 meters long.
• Coladas Trail: with a length of 1.7 kilometers it ends in the lava flow that emerged from the volcano in 1993 with unique views of the volcano.
• Sendero El Ceibo: This trail is 2.3 kilometers long and halfway you can see a large ceiba (tree) that is over 400 years old.

2. La Fortuna Waterfall

Known for being one of the most beautiful places to see in La Fortuna, this waterfall is practically a must-see in Costa Rica. Located just 5 kilometers from the town of La Fortuna and 70 meters high, this waterfall is one of the most famous in the country and to reach the base you must go down (and then climb) the more than 500 steps that save the unevenness from the entrance to the bathing area of the waterfall.

It is important to know that although you can bathe, it is not recommended to do it right in the place where the water breaks since it is dangerous. In addition, it is recommended to wear booties since the area of the rocks is very slippery.

3. Cerro Chato

If you are one of the travelers who like hiking and putting yourself to the test, the excursion to Cerro Chato, the inactive companion of the Arenal Volcano, is one of the things you should do in La Fortuna. It is important to know that although much of the walk is relatively accessible, the final part is done through a steep slope until you reach the crater area at 1100 meters high, where you can see an incredible lagoon.

The total route is about 3 kilometers and about 5-6 hours of travel (round trip) and you must go to the Arenal Observatory Lodge where you must pay 10 dollars to access and where your entry will be registered by security.
Remember that it is important to bring water, some food and, above all, suitable clothing and footwear since it is an area where it often rains and the weather is unpredictable.