While this is a nice clean park, I really didn’t feel like there was much to it. Except the huge volcano of course. You can get guided hikes or hike on your own but we took the car as far as you can go and just sat there amazingly beautiful and so lucky the weather cooperated giving us a full view of the majestic volcano. Stunning clouds and wisps of steam. Really something to see. We stayed volcano gazing for about 1/2 hour then left the park. I’m not sure that was worth the admission fee but we were happy to pay so national parks can stay clean and well taken care of. After we left, we went on an adventure to find a place called Jungle Love Lounge. A very sweet and small restaurant/cocktail bar very secluded on the mountainside with the absolutely incredible view of the volcano. We sipped cocktails in the breeze there with not a tourist in site.

Breath taking. Food was wonderful surf and turf a plate full.Hiking at your own pace. Nice trails. But the waterfalls to get into is the most spectacular part.

Been there for a short w hours hike. The trails are pretty clear, although few of the signs are worn out. Seen there few animals abe great views. Everything is green and "screams" to your eyes. Recommended!!!

As someone who loves National Parks in the USA, this is definitely more like a state park and it felt like it was a high price for what you get. We walked all trails (3, 4, 5, 6) and it took us around 2 hours. Trail 5 was very beautiful and felt more immersive. We saw a sloth off the road on driving path Trail 6, lots of birds, and coati in the parking lot. Plenty of parking and bathrooms available.

Cloudy day but nice hike. We did the 2 km one each way. Hard to see peak of volcano due to weather.

There are a few trails which were really fun! Lots of wildlife to see. It was cloudy so we couldn’t see much of the volcano, but still worth the trip.

It's great park with a good mixture of easy and difficult trails. We saw tons of wildlife.

A very good place to view Arenal volcano! Entrance is $15 and you have access to the volcanic side and lake side of the park. We got to see a sloth, Armadillo ( in the parking lot) , snake. You’ll get a good view on a sunny day. For the lake side of the park, once you exit the volcanic side , take a left turn. After a few meters , you’ll find a dirt road that would continue for 1.7 kms. Lake was peaceful.

Worth the money, a nice hike and we saw a little bit of wildlife. Not the best view onto the volcano though, you dont need to pay to have a nice look onto it. But if you like a hike in the rainforest, its worth it! Unfortunately the large tree "El Ceibo" broke down in 2024 so the roots are still impressive, but the upper half of the tree is gone.

Had an awesome hike! What great views, hikes, talks and more. Saw sloths with babies, monkeys, snakes, bugs, ants, lizards, birds, raccoons and more. So many cool plants along the way - which was just unbelievable 🤩 Our tour guide Jose was really awesome and even took some great photos he sent us afterwards which was super nice. We did the combo with the bridges, volcano and waterfall with lunch and we were very impressed - this was probably our favorite part!

My son and I went for a short trip in the park. Oh what an awesome view and amazing animals. From one side the volcano, from the other side Arenal lake. The nature at it's full glory, all done to make sure humens will not interfere the wildlife. Enjoy!

Great value for the view you get! Even on a rainy season day I saw nearly the full volcano from way close than you’d ever see in la fortuna town, and hiking in the surrounding rainforest is amazing too, with many species unique to Central America visible here. Cannot miss this if you visit la fortuna.

We had an amazing tour with Gabi of the National parc! You can’t dream of a better guide, her passion and joy is contagious!! I can recommend very strongly! Ps: my husband understood Gabi but I understand Dani.

This is a great place to hike and see amazing plants and wildlife! In the rainy season, some of the paths flood and get muddy, but it's an awesome walk through the jungle of Costa Rica.

The Trail was nice, a little and easy hike through the rainforest. Don't park right at the entrance, but drive up the 600m to the first large parking area. Start your hike there. After the round-trip, you can drive all the way to the very top. We saw some nice wildlife on the hike. View on the mountain was mediocre, nothing special. From la Fortuna you have a better view, the lavatrails are already covered in rainforest so.. nothing too fancy to see.

We did the 5km trail which I can definitely recommend. Some parts are more open like the viewpoint, while others are more dense jungle areas. The black lava rocks are beautiful to walk through. Bring good shoes!

Very lovely hike, not demanding for an able bodied, moderately fit person. Despite a cloudy day with a couple fits of rain, we enjoyed the trails immensely. The Lava Flows are nothing much to look at but the forest and the views were pleasant. The whole experience cost us (me and my partner) 52$ (26$ pp) which is a bit on the pricey side.

This was the one hike I wanted to try in the area and we were not disappointed. We did the longest trail and it was truly beautiful. We stopped at the end for a refreshing drink and talked about how great the day was. We also tried the new naatural waterfall springs they opened up down the road and it was a hidden gem. It is not heated but way worth it after a day of hiking.

If you're like me you'll probably want to know as much as possible beforehand to be best prepared for the experience. So I'll try to give you a few details, which hopefully help a bit. First of all the entrance area offers plenty of parking space. We arrived there mid of August 2025 at around 8:30 and were the 2nd car at the parking lot plus one guided tour entering the trail ahead of us, which we overtook pretty quickly. The good thing about the round-trip trails is that you don't have to make a decision in advance. All three trails (red, yellow and green) start at the same point and then divide some time later. So you can make the decision at each bifurcation depending on how you feel at that point of your hike. The green trail is more like a stroll and avoiding any of the lore difficult lava area. Which also means you're missing the vista platform, which the red and the yellow trail offer. We originally planned to do the Red trail, but after going up and down through a lot of lava, my 19 y/o daughter and I decided at the fork between the red and yellow trail to take the yellow trail instead. The best parts were already behind us (going through the lava and the jungle) and we also had had our share of steep steps and loose rocks. We weren't sure if the yellow trail was really the easier way (surely it's the shorter way with only 3 km vs. 5 km for the Red trail), because right at the fork the yellow trail continues to go down steeply. But that fortunately ended pretty quickly and the rest of the yellow trail was quite pleasant. I can't say what you're getting to see extra taking the red way, but it looked to us like more of the same and definitely some additional up and down. Since we had covered a lot of jungle already during our days in Monteverde, I don't think we missed something that we hadn't seen before. I will add a map of the park for your convenience and also a few photos of the trail itself showing the worst parts you'll encounter so that you can make a good decision. We covered the yellow trail in roughly 1 hour. We were slowed down by the many steps up and especially the steps down, since you have to watch your step to not end up putting your foot on loose rocks and pumice stone. We also took plenty of photos. All in all it's a great walk, but even in the morning with only 25 degrees Celsius you'll be sweating profoundly due to the height differences you need to cover. I'll give the yellow trail a medium difficulty rating. It's not an easy stroll and you have to watch your steps, but it is doable if this is not your first 5 km walk. Bring solid footwear and don't even think of bringing a stroller. You will definitely regret it unless you choose the green trail. Even without a guide, we got to see a single (male) coati right at the beginning of the trail, plenty of different birds, a big frog, a few butterflies, a small dragon fly, plenty of ants and lots of lava rocks and jungle. We've had enough guided tours in Monteverde, so we didn't want to spend too much time listening to detailed explanations here again. But if this is your first tour in the jungle, you might want to consider taking a guide to get to see more of the animal life, which you'll otherwise most likely miss.

Arenal 1968 is a paid trail. 26$ per adult. I expected more from it for the price we paid. I felt it was overhyped. The view was nice but you can see that view from a lot of other places as well. A bit disappointed

Visiting Arenal 1968 during our time in La Fortuna was one of the best decisions we made on our trip. We explored the original craters from the historic 1968 eruption while riding ATVs, hiked scenic trails, and even saw the lava flow markings on the volcano up close. We also went horseback riding through the lush landscape—it was absolutely unforgettable. One of the highlights of our visit was the on-site restaurant. The food was exceptional, the service was warm and attentive, and they even brought us fresh local fruits straight from their garden to sample—such a special touch! To top off an already incredible day, we ended our adventure with a visit to Kurú. Pure magic. The springs were absolutely breathtaking, like stepping into a secluded paradise. We spent the entire afternoon floating in the crystal-clear waters, enjoying the natural massage of the cascading waterfalls, and savoring more fresh fruit thoughtfully provided by our guides. I especially loved the thoughtful touches—towels and comfortable lounge chairs made it so easy to completely unwind. I even drifted off to sleep to the soothing sound of the waterfalls. It was the most relaxed I’ve felt in ages. I can’t recommend this experience enough. If you’re visiting La Fortuna, this is an absolute must. Don’t miss it!

As others said, the top of the tree fell about a year ago. But also, the trail to get to El Ceibo is blocked by another fallen tree; it's not written anywhere, and the people working at the park didn't advise us. Nice views of the volcano and lava trails on the rest of the trail, and other nice old trees, so still worth it, but not that much for El Ceibo.

El Ceibo is down! Looks like it might have been struck by lightning or something but it’s down and there’s caution tape around it. It’s a jungle trail and you are going to encounter some big bugs and hear and potentially see animals. Get there early to avoid crowds and for it to be a bit cooler.

During the rainy season, this trail turned into a mud hole. It was one of my least favorite hikes and experiences in Costa Rica. A little bit of trail maintenance and drainage construction would go a long way here. The tree is impressive, but there is a much better one to see just off the highway on the north side of Lake Arenal. That one costs $4/person but is much more striking and perhaps 2x as tall and wide. After hiking through the mud, I was a little disappointed because I had already been blown away by the other yesterday.

Really cool old tree. Definitely make the time to see it, but the trail can be pretty muddy so keep that in mind. Make sure to look up! And look for bats flying down at the bottom hiding in the tree.

Sadly I was there a day to late :( I guess it was hit by lightning or it just felt.

Better than expected! It is really amazing and the trails are nice too

Enjoyable hike and the tree is incredible

This is one of the best sodas in La Fortuna 100% recommend. We ordered the pollo casados and the portion was huge!! So fresh and tasty for such a reasonable price , the owner was also so friendly and made us feel so welcomed we will definitely be back

Best soda in la fortuna. The price is amazing and the staff gave us free shots. Portion size is great, you get a mix of everything in Costa Rican cuisine if you get their plates.

We had an excellent experience at Soda Viquez. Don’t be scared to sit down even if there aren’t other people eating. Glasses of water were brought to our table immediately after being seated and then we ordered mango juices as well which were really delicious. For our food we tried the sea bad with garlic and the tenderloin with mushroom sauce. Both were really good! We also received complementary rice pudding for a dessert.

Wonderful service, and very tasty food on the menu. We ate local fish with special sauce at the top (shrimp on the picture). It’s is definitely value for the money! Place with infant, we got equipments for the baby in plastic and the first time we found a comfy chair after a week in Costa Rica for our baby. She loved it. Ar the top of all, we got a taste of their special shot, home recipe. Don’t miss that if there’s the chance

Great food, great service, even better price! Vegan options are only the casada or a sandwich but my gosh does the food here taste superb. Huge portions and 4,000 colones for a casada is just unreal. The service is brilliant so make sure you add a tip as they don't include service charge :)

Been in Costa Rica for almost 2 weeks and this is the best food I’ve had so far. So tasty. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming too. 10/10

Recommended by my apartment manager and the soda didn’t disappoint. I wanted an authentic Costa Rican experience and received more than I bargained for. The picante chicken was excellent and bursting with spices. I wanted a little something extra and asked for a side of plantains, that weren’t on the menu. The soursop juice was fresh and quenched my thirst. The prices were very reasonable for the area. I was given free rice pudding and a shot of their homemade alcohol. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

Excellent restaurant! We made a reservation for 5:30pm which was perfect because we got to step out and see the sunset at 6pm (see photo below with a clear view of the volcano)! The drinks were delicious! We ordered the Moroccan Salad (fantastic, flavorful, perfect portion for sharing between two people), the kabocha squash risotto with shrimp (tasty, a little too heavy for my liking but the flavors were solid! Too much food for one person), and the mushroom lasagna with squash (excellent choice for a vegetarian, flavorful, well constructed - didn’t fall apart, filling). Quite pricey for what you get but if you’re willing to spend a little extra, it’s a good experience!

Had an amazing birthday dinner here. We ordered the tasting menu, the staff provided phenomenal service and every dish wowed us! So much flavor in every bite. I had the standard wine pairing and it was 100% the right choice. The staff truly made our time here exceptional. Come see for yourself!

10 stars out of 5! The mushroom lasagna was absolutely delicious, unlike anything I’ve ever tried before. The fresh local beer was great, and the octopus was perfectly served and beautifully balanced with rich flavor. The banana dessert was incredibly fresh. This place should definitely be on Michelin’s list. I only wish they delivered to NYC!

The best way to celebrate my 40th birthday dinner! Delicious food and wonderful service. The fried shrimp furikake, the tenderloin & and the Almond Financier were the highlights of this dinner - simply amazing. Best restaurant so far in Costa Rica. Thank you to the staff for a wonderful evening. Special thanks to Raul, Jose and the lovely lady bartender (didn't catch her name)! 🥳🤙🏼

DELICIOUS. everyone was so kind. Service was great. We loved our food! Got grandmas chicken and the pesto pasta and shared it. Also had the short rib app which was amazing.

Very good service, nice food options and very delicious. Came here for a birthday dinner, we had a great time, we had very tasty food and enjoyed our visit. Prices are on the higher side but worth it. Large options of wines as well! On street parking!

My husband and I both agree that we had the best meals during our week long stay in La Fortuna at Don Rufino! We were absolutely floored that we both ate for under $30 USD and had some left overs as well. The atmosphere and service was equally amazing. Some menu options are more expensive, but don’t worry if you don’t want to spend much because the lower price options blew our socks off. I had the Grilled beef sirloin, and he had the Costa Rican Casado from the lunch menu shown. 1000% recommended, we will go back on our return trip later this year

Absolutely beautiful restaurant. The vibe and the ambience is very nice. The service was excellent. The food was pretty good. I got the caprese sandwich, which was one of the best caprese sandwiches I have ever had (the pesto was exquisite). My friend got the enchiladas which he liked. Both of us got the nachos which were ok but still alright.

I have nothing but good things to say about this restaurant. The service was incredible. The food was delicious and the atmosphere is amazing. It was so good that we went back two nights in a row. Our server was called Jimmy and he was phenomenal. Very attentive to our needs and delivered exceptional service. Really good prices made the whole experience even better. A must visit restaurant if you're going to La fortuna! :)

Amazing experience at El Fortuneño – La Fortuna! The food was delicious, fresh, and full of authentic Costa Rican flavor. But what really made the visit special was the outstanding service — Jimmy and Carlos were amazing! They were friendly, attentive, and made us feel truly welcome from start to finish. The atmosphere is relaxed, the portions are generous, and the prices are fair. If you’re in La Fortuna and want great local food with exceptional service, El Fortuneño is definitely the place to go. Highly recommended! 🇨🇷🔥

TLDR; great atmosphere, amazing sea bass, average enchiladas, and the kind of staff you actually appreciate. I’d come back, but hoping they tighten up the seating and show a little more love to the veggie dishes. Details: Loved the vibe here—super lively, cozy lighting, feels like a spot you want to hang out in for a while. Only downside was getting a table. The seating process is kind of all over the place, so you end up waiting without really knowing what’s happening. Not a deal-breaker, just a little chaotic. Food-wise, it was a mixed bag. The Queen Sea Bass was so good — perfectly cooked, rich, salty in the best way. I’d come back just for that dish alone. The vegetarian enchiladas… not so much. They came out cold and tasted just okay, like something that could’ve been great if the kitchen slowed down for a second. The staff were honestly awesome. Super friendly, easy to talk to, and made the night feel fun even with the hiccups.

The restaurant was incredibly busy and although was decorative - it was a bit touristy. That said, it was well worth it. The staff were working nonstop and they were phenomenal but the food was better.

Great place to eat with kids. We have been here a couple of times. The food is really good, the service is great, and they have a kids' playground so you can have your meal in peace. We ordered the combo #8, but everything in here is delicious. Highly recommended for family and if you're in La Fortuna.

I have mixed feelings about this place. Dont get me wrong, the ceviche of mixed fish and shrimp was delicious and the passion fruit cheesecake too. But, the service was horrible. Im usually patient when it comes to waiting for my food and service but i needed to ask the server to come see me, multiples times, even if i was looking at them. The first server told me there was a special drink on the menu, so i took it, to later know that is what NOT on special but it was a homemade drink invented by the house 🙄 it was the most expensive drink on the menu. 7000 colonnes When i ask the server to recommend me a ceviche, she listed the 5 ceviches on the menu! After, i ask another server for recommandation, Gérard was really polite and listened to me. He recommended a ceviche based on what i like. Then, i think i got two other servers because since i was eating alone, they keep forgetting me. Then when i ordered a passion fruit cheesecake, they brought me a strawberry cheesecake. At the end, i ask for the check, i had to wait 30 minutes so that the server can answer my question about my bill. I understand they were busy with services at other table but since i had 4 servers, there is none that came to check up on me. The server took my money and he never came with my change. I paid 20 000 colonnes, and it was 19 495 colonnes. Since i loved the food but i got angry because of the bad service, i would not recommend this restaurant.

What a vibe. The people are so lovely, the decor feels fun and there is also a local kitty. There are a couple craft beers from a microbrewery to try. And you should! They are excellent . I enjoyed the wild cat ipa. The caprese chicken sandwich was great and came with some delicious fresh cut fries. Diego is a fantastic host the other servers were good too

Great food and drinks. Had the chicken sandwich and a shake. Enjoyed it!

We were staying across the street at the Paradise Hotel Springs and Lava came up as a dinner option. Why there aren’t more reviews on this place is a mystery to me. The atmosphere at night is amazing. The views of the Volcano during the day spectacular. The food and service was excellent. We all had the filet with portobello mushrooms and potatoes. The presentation was very nice and the taste of the steak was excellent. While the cut was a filet it was not a filet mignon as I had anticipated the steak was by no means tough. I would go back in a heartbeat. There were several other menu items that I would like to try.

Heard lots about lava lounge never been, was a but disappointed in visit. There was a group of 4 we stayed there was 2 on staff only 1 other table . It was about 15 min I finally went to bar to get our drinks.. no one came after to ask us if we wanted more drinks we sat for about 30 minutes ..

This place is yummy, fun, and in the heart of the city. Food is packed with flavor. I ordered wings. They were huge. We don’t get wings of that size back home. The wings had great flavor and a nice kick but not powering spice. We also got the nachos. Super good and super in size. For drinks I had a pina colada and pineapple smoothie. They did not disappoint. Atmosphere was cool and hip. Great spot in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Lastly I love that there was this cute little cat roaming around

Located on high streets of La Fortuna. Great atmosphere with live music. Plenty of options of drinks and cocktails, however the food was disappointing. Pet friendly place and also stray cats and dogs were around. However disappointing was that while paying the bill there was too many surcharges and then they said their card machine isn’t working and to pay cash. We didn’t have that much cash, so they accepted whatever cash we had (100$) and remaining on card, as suddenly their machine started working. Artists are average but the whole ambience is nice. I would just go for drinks and avoid food!

Come for the food, stay for the dog! Great vibe and a little visitor if you need help finishing your plate.

Delicious! They have so many great options for Costa Rican cuisine and the prices are good as well. Very happy we came here. I really recommend the loin strips with the sweet plantain, corn, and papaya hash.

The service was exceptionally well organized by Osman and his team. The restaurant looks amazing, with a great atmosphere, and everything was arranged with enthusiasm and care! I'm truly very satisfied with how everything went. I highly recommend visiting this place - I came here because of the great reviews, and they definitely don't lie. Absolutely worth it!

This place was so good when we came for lunch that we came back for dinner the same day. The atmosphere is great and we loved the patio feel. Both our servers were very attentive, helpful, and took very good care of us. The mixed ceviche was great. Typically I'm apprehensive about octopus, but it was tender and tasty. The coffee is so good! I really loved my patacones and went on to get several orders of these throughout our trip, but none as good as Tiquicia's The steak was perfectly cooked and juicy and delicious. We also got the pineapple dessert with the fire show and that was both cool to watch and very tasty. You have to eat here if you're in La Fortuna! We wish we could go back.

We went first for lunch recommended by a local. Loved it so much we came back for dinner. Osman was a great server and person! Highly recommend you give La Tabernita a try while you are in La Fortuna!

Best meal in our La Fortuna 3 Day stay hands-down. The special last night was a steak medallion dish that was so good, we ordered it twice. Our server was incredibly kind and generous - we felt right at home. My only regret was that we didn't visit Tiquicia on our first meal, as this would have been our daily dining go-to.

Osman took great care of us, suggested us great stuff from the menu and overall food quality was great. So glad we found this place off a sub-Reddit.

This place reminds my Tica mother of eating in her abuelitas kitchen, so you know you’re getting an authentic experience! An open air cafe with a tin roof, the food and drinks here are delicious- definitely worth the 15m walk from La Fortuna center. My friend and I had dragon fruit margaritas and shared an arroz con pollo while rain pounded on the roof - the perfect end to a long day.