14 Best La Fortuna Tours You NEED to Experience (Costa Rica)

Looking for the best La Fortuna tours to book for your upcoming Costa Rica vacation? Read on for the full list!

La Fortuna, Costa Rica is a dream destination for fun and exciting outdoor activities. With the backdrop of the Arenal Volcano and the surrounding, lush rainforest enticing you into its adventure activities and beautiful sights, there’s really no way to be bored in La Fortuna.

In this article, we go in-depth into all of the absolute best adventure activites and fun tours available in La Fortuna.

And if you’re not a daredevil, never fear, there are plenty of tours in La Fortuna, Costa Rica that showcase the beautiful rainforest, the coffee and chocolate growing countryside, the waterfalls, and the wildlife.

Basically, there’s a tour in La Fortuna for everyone.

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14+ Incredible La Fortuna Day Tours

The following are the absolute best day tours in La Fortuna that you can experience, from adventure activities to sightseeing excursions and unique cultural experiences.

1. White Water Rafting Tour

⭐ Rating: 4.92 of 5 ( 400+ reviews) | Read all reviews here

This Class II/III White Water Rafting down the Balsa River (which incidentally means the “Raft River”) is a fun, high adrenaline activity in La Fortuna.  The route includes class 2 and class 3 rapids and lasts several hours. The rapids were really fun and very bouncy, but never got super scary, which I appreciated. 

If you haven’t been white water rafting before, there is a guide in the back of your raft that steers the boat and tells you when to paddle. They help keep everyone safe and make sure you’re just having a good time! They will also point any wildlife they may see, and let you know when you can get out and swim for a while.

Alternate option: This afternoon rafting tour is almost identical and is also highly rated, but takes place in the afternoon, giving more time for other morning tours or activities.

2. Best Zipline Tour with Superman Zip and Tarzan Swing

⭐ Rating: 5 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

This Zipline Tour With the Superman Zip and Tarzan Swing is just a whole ton of fun. To start, you get to zip on 10 different cables through the Costa Rican rainforest canopy. The platforms where you launch and land are in the trees, but in the middle of the line you are zipping high above the trees, and the views are incredible.

But wait, there’s more! This zipline tour in La Fortuna also includes a Superman zip and the Tarzan swing. For the Superman zip, you put on a separate harness entirely where you launch and land lying completely horizontal – it totally feels like you’re flying and was absolutely exhilarating.

Ziplining through and above the rainforest canopy is a super popular adventure activity in La Fortuna. If you love great views and an adrenaline rush, this is definitely a must do activity in La Fortuna.

The lines ranged from 100 to 400 meters. The guides are incredibly fun and playful (while of course making sure you’re perfectly safe!).

The Tarzan Swing at first looked scary but it ended up being super fun. The guides took us up to a really high platform in a clearing in the forest and hooked us up to this giant rope tied up to a super high tree. You jump off the platform and then swing far out.

The way the Tarzan swing is set up with this company is waaaaay better than some of the others in the area (my brother and sister-in-law did another zipline tour+Tarzan swing tour in a neighboring city before we met up with them and they confirmed the Tarzan swing in this tour in La Fortuna was much better!

I’m not a huge daredevil, and despite how freaky it looked at the beginning, we had THE BEST time swinging the Tarzan swing! Plus, ziplining is one of the most classic things to do in La Fortuna.

3. Canyoning in Arenal Tour

⭐ Rating: 4.89 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

This Canyoning in Arenal Tour takes you into the gorges of La Fortuna, where you have the opportunity to rappell down and through waterfalls. This tour offers 4 rappels, 3 pool jumps, and 2 zip lines, making for an adventurous and exciting day through beautiful landscapes of Costa Rica.

This is super fun rappelling, but no experience is needed, and you can go as fast or as slow as you want – the guides are really accommodating. Showers are provided after your tour is over.

4. The Ultimate Combo Tour: White Water Rafting + Canyoning + Zipline + Superman + Tarzan Swing Tour

⭐ Rating: 5 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

This Ultimate Combo Tour offers all of the advenure activities into one big full-day affair. You’ll start with canyoning off a bridge and down several canyons, and then going white water rafting on class II/III rapids on the Balsa River, with a stop in the middle for swimming and fresh fruit.

Back at home base, enjoy a delicious hot lunch, and then head out for your afternoon of zip lining through the canopy, swinging on the Tarzan swing, and sailing on Superman zip.

This full day tour includes pick up, drop off, and transportation between all the activities, very friendly and personable guides, and is an incredible value for the full day of fun you’ll be having.

This was one of my top favorite days and tours we did during my entire time in Costa Rica!

5. Chocolate Tour with Don Olivio

⭐ Rating: 4.86 of 5 | Read all reviews here

Come hungry to this Chocolate Tour with Don Olivio, because you’ll get to learn about and sample so many different foods: chocolate, fresh fruits, fresh cane juice – this experience is so much more than just some basic tour!

This is a family run farm gives you a really intimate, authentic-feeling experience. The son gave the whole tour while the dad cut the fruit and passed it out during the tour. 

You’ll learn all about cocoa growing, harvesting, and preparation, and get to try cocoa beans in all stages of their preparation, from raw bean to chocolate. Plus, you get to press cocoa beans and make your own chocolate bar!

The most fresh, delicious fruits are presented for you to try, including mango, guanabana, pineapple, apple bananas, starfruit, papayas, and fresh squeezed oranges.

At another point, you use a press to extract sugar cane juice. The sugar cane went in a press and you crank the hand crank to crush the stalk and extract the juice, which you then get to drink. The family also grows, picks, and offers you their fresh coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon.

Note that when you are arriving, the last 50-100 meters of the drive up is unpaved and looks like a random residential road. You’re on the right track! Just follow Google maps and you’ll end up in the right spot.

6. Discover the Sloths on a Sloth Watching Tour

⭐ Rating: 4.91 of 5 | Read all reviews here

The Sloth Watching Trail is one of the best places to see sloths in the La Fortuna area, as you are taken through the jungle with an expert guide, who will help you spot and find sloths. These guides know what to look for and also where the sloths have been (since they move very slowly, they will often be in similar spots through the day)

The guides also carry special telescopes to get an up close and personal view of the sloths, which is extremely helpful since sometimes they’re up high or farther away in the trees.

The tour is an easy path through the woods, where you’ll likely see other animals and reptiles as you search for sloths. The guides give a lot of interesting commentary about the rainforest, and will take pictures and videos through their lenses for you!

7. Private Tour to the Rio Celeste Waterfall

⭐ Rating: 4.8 of 5 | Read all reviews here

On this Private Tour of the Rio Celeste, you’ll get round trip transportation to Tenorio National Park where the Rio Celeste waterfall is, a guided tour along the trail where your host will point out interesting plants, insects, and animals, and give information and history about the area as you explore the Rio Celeste.

At the end, you’ll enjoy lunch together, go swimming in the section of the Rio Celeste river outside the national park, and then head back to La Fortuna.

During your hike in the you’ll visit several points of interest, including the main waterfall, but also the sulfur pots, several viewpoints of the volcano and river, and the location in the river where the water mixes and a chemical reaction occurs to create the milky blue color. 

The goooooorgeous Rio Celeste waterfall was one of my top favorite places to visit in La Fortuna! It’s about a 1.5 hour drive from La Fortuna and absolutely worth the trip out. 

Tip: The path can be muddy, so wear proper footwear for potentially muddy conditions.

Tip #2: The tour does involve some moderate level hiking, so you’ll want to have at least some level of fitness for this hike.

👉Tubing on the Rio Celeste: Want more time on the milky blue Rio Celeste water? For this experience, you get to float on tubes down the Rio Celeste (outside the National Park). There are spots for cliff jumping and a guide who will help ensure safety and point out animals!

8. Coffee Plantation Tour in La Fortuna

⭐ Rating: 4.97 of 5 | Read all reviews here

The best coffee tour in La Fortuna is without a doubt the North Fields Coffee Tour.  Did you know that Costa Rica has some of the most nutrient rich soil for coffee production? While Costa Rica only produces about 1% of the world’s coffee, they exclusively grow the highest quality Arabica beans, and many farmers in Costa Rica are involved in coffee production.

At the North Fields Coffe Tour, you’ll see their immense connection to the land and learn from an artisan what it takes to produce Costa Rica’s world famous beans.   

Their staff is incredibly knowledgeable about the history of coffee in Costa Rica and the art of coffee farming and roasting. 

You’ll learn from crops to cup exactly how coffee is made and produced, and then how an artisan cup of coffee is prepared. Your coffee will be poured through a brewer called a chorreador, a coffee sock. You’ll also get the chance to enjoy lots of samples of the coffee, as well as other crops like chocolate and sugar cane.

Is Manuel Antonio on your family’s Costa Rica itinerary?  Here are 10 things to do on your drive between La Fortuna and Manuel Antonio. 

9. Paddleboarding/Kayaking on Lake Arenal

⭐ Rating: 4.94 of 5 | Read all reviews here

Lake Arenal in is located on the opposite side of the Arenal Volcano from La Fortuna, and is between La Fortuna and Monteverde. Because it’s a little bit farther from the town, the area seems somewhat less tourism, but it’s a lovely lake with beautiful vegetation around it.

The lake’s water is warm and fine for swimming. However, there are not many beaches around the lake where you can swim, so the best way to experience the lake is on the water!

On this Paddleboarding or Kayaking Tour on Lake Arenal, you’ll get the option to take out either a stand up paddleboard, a one person kayak, or a two person kayak on Lake Arenal. If you’ve never kayaked or paddleboarded before, no worries, the guides will be there to show you how its done and keep an eye on you if you need assistance.

10. Private ATV + Hot Springs Tour in La Fortuna 

⭐ Rating: 5 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here (This tour has ONLY 5-star reviews)

On this Private and Customizable ATV Tour, you’ll have an incredible experience exploring the backcountry and splashing through mud pits as you drive deeper into the countryside of around Arenal. The rolling hills of La Fortuna make for an exhilarating course with beautiful views.

At the start, you’ll first be outfitted with boots, a helmet, and a bandana and taught how to drive the ATV. Once you’ve mastered driving, you’ll be taken onto private land and trails to explore La Fortuna’s beauty up close! While this particular excursion is sure to get your heart rate up, the guides go out of their way to make sure you always feel safe and in control!

This tour is incredible – it’s just your group and a really friendly, kind, and helpful guide. You get the chance to ride through a variety of terrain, including fields, back roads, and muddy areas, stopping to see wild animals and great views as you go along.

A massive bonus to this ATV tour is that you’ll stop at a secluded, natural hot spring at the end of your ride!

11. Mistico Hanging Bridges Park Tour

⭐ Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

Mistico Hanging Bridges Park is a really fun attraction in the Arenal/La Fortuna area. You walk through the rainforest on a semi-paved trail, where you cross 6 suspension bridges (aka hanging bridges), and then cross another 12 smaller, stationary bridges. I adored the Mistico Hanging Bridges – the hanging bridges are just SO FUN.

They are all at different heights, and they go through the tops of the canopy and give gorgeous views out. If it’s a clear day, the very first hanging bridge gives a perfect view of the Arenal volcano.

This Guided Tour of Mistico Park is an excellent way to experience the hanging bridges and rainforest, as your guide will point out all sorts of birds, insects, frogs, sloths, coati, and more, that you wouldn’t otherwise notice. They will have a telescope so you can see animals up close, and describe the ecosystem of the rainforest as you walk through it.

Plus, with round trip transportation and all entrance fees included, this guided tour is just an all around excellent value.

12. Horseback Riding Near the Arenal Volcano Tour

⭐ Rating: 4.9 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

This Arenal Volcano Horsebacking Excursion takes you through pastures and the rainforest and up through the hilltops near the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal, giving fantastic views of both.

The horses are very well-trained and gentle, and the guides are playful and friendly, and very committed to the safety of everyone and the care of the horses.

You’ll have the chance to observe any wild animals that may be nearby, and the guides are good at taking plenty of pictures for you.

13. Ecocentro Danaus Night Tour

⭐ Rating: 4.75 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

On this night tour in La Fortuna, you’ll get the chance to see nocturnal animals awake and in their natural habitat. On this two hour guided tour, you’ll walk through the jungle with your local guide, who is an expert at spotting and photographing these animals.

Types of animals you may see typically include tropical frogs, sloths, lizards, and other reptiles.

14. Best Combo Tours in La Fortuna

What if you want to do several activities and attractions in La Fortuna in one day? This section highlights some of the best “combo tours” in La Fortuna, where you’ll spend a half or full day visiting some of the most beautiful sights and doing the best activities that La Fortuna has to offer.

➡️4-in-1 Tour of Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, and Tabacon Hot Springs

⭐ Rating: 4.98 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

On this Full Day 4-in-1 Combo Tour, you’ll spend the day with your guide hiking on the trails of the Arenal Volcano, visiting the La Fortuna waterfall, and walking through the hanging bridges high in the rainforest, and then soaking in the gorgeous hot springs at the Tabacon Resort. Lunch, dinner, and transportation are all included in this price.

➡️4-in-1 Tour of La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, Hanging Bridges, and the hot springs river

⭐ Rating: 4.91 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

On this Full Day 4-in-1 Combo Tour, you’ll enjoy guided tours of the La Fortuna Waterfall and the Mistico Hanging Bridges, as well as a great hike around the Arenal Volcano. You’ll end the day soaking in the natural waters of the hot spring river before heading home.

Visiting this natural hot spring vs being in a resort hot spring is the primary difference between this and the previous tour. Transportation and lunch are included in the price.

➡️5-in-1 Adventure Tour that Includes Canyoning, White Water Rafting, Ziplining, the Superman Zip, and a Tarzan Swing

⭐ Rating: 5 of 5 stars | Read all reviews here

I mentioned this 5-in-1 Adventure Combo Tour higher up in the article, but it’s worth repeating in this section. This tour gives you the most adventurous and popular activities in La Fortuna in one epic all day tour that includes transportation, lunch, and several snacks.

Final Thoughts on the Best La Fortuna Tours to Experience

Visiting La Fortuna gives you the unique experience of having access to SO MANY high quality, high-fun adventures and excursions within the beautiful rainforest landscapes of the region. Whichever of these La Fortuna tours you choose to go on, you are sure to have an incredible time and make some amazing memories on the way!

Check Out My Other Costa Rica Articles:

• Where to Eat in La Fortuna
• 9 Best Things to Do in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
• Best Hotels and Resorts in Manuel Antonio
• A Complete Guide to Driving in Costa Rica

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