The 36 best backpacking trails near La Fortuna de San Carlos

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

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

A great spot for a meal in La Fortuna. We were told about this place from people in Playa Hermosa. Friendly staff. Food is reasonably priced. Taste is amazing. The casado was great, as well as the sandwiches. Overall a great place to go when you want authentic food at a reasonable price.

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.

Exceptional restaurant. Great food, great service and open environment. We were looking for something healthy for lunch. This place exceeded our expectations. We tried the quinoa salad with fresh mango. Beautiful presentation and flavor. The mango quinoa combo tasted amazing. We also tried the falafel sandwich with lightly fried or baked yucca. The sandwich came with lettuce, hummus, thinly sliced dill pickles and possibly onions. Not sure about the onions. I ate it so fast, I can't remember. The yucca sticks were served with homemade yellow mustard sauce. They also gave us homemade ketchup. This place was amazing. Might go back and play music for them tomorrow. Hope to try the deserts as well. Don't forget they add the tip and tax. It added about 20% to our bill.

We enjoyed our meal here! They have a good mix of vegan and non vegan options. The soup was delicious. The nachos were decent but a bit soggy, my husband loved his meal. I would probably skip dessert and opt for a smoothie in the future!

Loved my vegan meal here. Some of the best vegan food in La Fortuna, and in Costa Rica. All the baked items were vegan! Great tofu skewers, loved the walnut nuggets and the vegan quesadilla. Please visit!

Tasty food but expensive imo! More expensive than vegan restaurants in the U.S. High quality food but for $44 dollars for drink, meal and dessert, I would consider cheaper options first. Healthy good food, great service and the server and workers are very friendly!

Extremely good quality food and service! Food comes very fast and it is super fresh. Many vegan and vegetarian options. All vegan desserts!! Delicious and worth the visit.

Go here people, pls! It was the best casado I've had despite forgetting to mention without cilantro. It was still the best I had 😅. I had the choco coconut cake aswell and today I went back for more because it was the best cake ever. I also tried the choco pecan but the fudgy moist sponge choco coconut stole my heart.🫶🏽

This place is amazing!! We went for breakfast one day and went back for lunch the next day! We had the same waitress both days and she was amazing. I drink water extremely fast and she was on top of the refills! The first day we got the Tico breakfast burrito and Protein bowl-both amazing. The next day for lunch we got the chicken sandwich, happiness bowl, green energy smoothie & brownie with ice cream. Everything here is so good and the food comes out so cute. Can’t recommend this place enough!!!

Beautiful garden and visiting historical church gives you holy inspiration. You can see national tree of Costa Rica.

Excellent option to park in La Fortuna. It is located near the park and the church in the middle of town. Plenty of spaces to park and it is extremely affordable. Very secure and reliable. Parking is pretty much automatic if you pay with a credit card. But there is also stop on site if you need to pay cash. By the time I parked in September 2025, the rate was approximately 790 colones an hour. I felt extremely safe, leaving my car here.

The center of La Furtuna. Everyone has to get their pictures there. Immaculate gardens and paths. Constantly patrolled by security.

La Fortuna is very peaceful and quaint. It’s a very beautiful, vibrant bustling town. There are many shops and restaurants and a lovely center garden park. There are many places to shop. It was nice to just sit on the benches around the fountain and people watch. We stopped there after a boat tour of the Arenal Lake. The lake gives you a closer view of the volcano and coastline wildlife. The water is a beautiful emerald green color. The views are spectacular. The lake is gorgeous.

Love this park square in the center of La Fortuna! Very beautiful and clean, with plenty of seating areas and paths to walk.

Beautiful park. You can park on the street. Nice to walk around the park.

Such nice grounds to take a stroll. A place where many families, couples hang out enjoying a drink or ice cream from nearby. Pics of nearby places

The chocolate tour with Roberto was such a fun and unforgettable experience for our whole family. Roberto made the entire tour engaging, informative, and full of laughs. You can tell he truly enjoys what he does, and that energy made the experience even better. Roberto showed us the process from cacao bean to finished product and let us sample different types of chocolate at each stage. It was hands-on, educational, and honestly, just a lot of fun. We even got to try chocolate with various toppings like salt, coffee, and chili powder. What made this tour stand out was Roberto’s humor and storytelling. He kept the kids entertained and had the adults laughing too. It never felt rushed or scripted..just a genuine, down-to-earth experience with someone who clearly loves sharing Costa Rican culture. If you’re in La Fortuna, this tour is a must. My four kids gave it 5 stars.

We have had such a informative and fun tour with Roberto! We have learned a lot about cocoa and chocolate, tried to make our own chocolate that we tasted later - yuuum 😋, made and tasted cocoa using ancient Mayan recipe… highly recommend the tour and thanks again Roberto!

We had an awesome tour. Our guide was Gexel , she was superb, very friendly and informative. Tried different combinations of the chocolate at end of tour. Definitely worth a visit.

We took this tour because of other reviewers raving about Roberto. He did not disappoint. Very informative. I thought I knew something about cacao, but most of it was wrong! This is a great experience, well worth the money.

The chocolate tour was fun but is really only an hour long. During the first bit our guide brought us over and was doing more of a nature walk than chocolate tour. He kept trying to hype people up about how much chocolate they’d be getting but it got old pretty quick. He pointed out some mold on some of the cacao pods and was commenting on how it needed to be broken off and buried and made a huge deal out of it and then ignored the fact that there were two other pods near him that had the mold on it. Making the chocolate itself was fun and so was mixing things together at the end. Overall was a do it once kind of tour and then not again. I’d probably recommend going on a tour that couples multiple activities together.

I really recommend this tour. It's super interesting and informative. Our guide Gexel was so passionate and energetic, clearly she's knowledgeable about the cacao and production process and made sure to include everyone in activities. It's the people who makes places special and everyone who works there is so nice, kind and full of joy. Absolute pleasure even in the rain. You get to try all sort of chocolate. The small gift shop is very well priced for all locally produced chocolate. Definitely worth stocking up here rather than at the airport or other major souvenir shops.

A really great experience that you must do! Honestly you will not regret it - our guide Roberto taught us so much about Chocolate and the sample we tried were delicious 😋

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

Delicious food! The chef really knows what he is doing! If you visit La fortuna it would be a mistake to skip over this place! Good prices, good drinks, and delicious food. 10/10

Chifa La Familia Feliz is a gem in La Fortuna. It’s a small, family-run spot, mom and dad cooking in the kitchen, and their son welcomed us when we arrived. The food is fresh, flavorful, and felt home cooked yet elevated. We enjoyed it so much we came back the next night. Definitely worth a visit.

Delicious food with great vegan options. The fruit drinks were also great - made with real/ fresh fruits and were not loaded with added sugar. If you love tasty Peruvian food you’ll want to check this place out.

Small low-key family run restaurant. Service is slow but you're in Costa Rica so Pura vida. The food was top notch and we'll worthy the wait. They hours are very unusual as they open at 2pm close around 730pm

Both my friend and I had the tofu saltado as recommended by the chef and it was amazing. The chef is super helpful and friendly. Great place for vegan and veggie options and to try Peruvian fusion food.

I had a great experience at this Peruvian restaurant! The ceviche was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of citrus. The lomo saltado was also delicious — tender beef, well-seasoned, and served with crispy fries and rice. The service was friendly and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. Highly recommend

Chifa La Familia Feliz offers amazing food and a welcoming atmosphere. The owner, Martín, greeted us at the door with the biggest smile and took care of everything; serving, cooking, and even bartending, without missing a beat. The sangria and Mixed Ceviche are a must-try combo. If you only have one night in La Fortuna, make sure to stop by this spot!

We love the ambiance and the place settings, but that's where the pros end. The cons: my wife's salmon wasn't cooked all the way through; her piña colada had next to no alcohol. I asked for a hamburger with no lettuce and the meat to be medium well. I still got lettuce on the burger and the meat was more like medium rare. My French fries were below quality and undercooked. The appetizer, avocado with shrimp topping was the one redeeming part of the meal. We won't return, even though we had a 10% off coupon from the hotel we chose to stay in while visiting La Fortuna.

Good food and great service! We came as a group of 8 without a reservation and they were able to seat us immediately (it’s not super crowded in La Fortuna right now). Our food came out quickly as well. The staff were friendly and helpful. The food wasn’t the best we’ve ever had, but still pretty solid!

Overall really good experience! We gave this place a 4/5 stars because it was good but not the best Italian food we’ve ever had. The place definitely had a romantic feel like we were expecting and the service was excellent - our servers were awesome! I ordered the Pasta Carbonara (which I believe they used cream in) and my wife the Salmon and mashed Potatoes (not pictured). Everything was really good but a little under seasoned. It was definitely a very large portion of salmon for the price - which is definitely a win!Would recommend for a nice romantic dinner that still isn’t too expensive.

Excellent for families. Service was great and food was good. Ordered drinks and pizza while my kids played next to us in the playroom. Might have been the most fun they had on the trip!

This pizzeria was recommended to us by an employee of a car rental company in Fortuna – and it was a very good decision. The pizza could even be ordered with extras – it was fantastic, the crust crispy – it was cooked in a wood-fired oven. The local craft beers – IPA and Golden Pale Ale – were also very good! The prices are slightly higher, but in line with the good quality of the food. The service was very attentive, but not intrusive. The pizzeria is highly recommended – we'd happily return another time.

I had a group of 6 people and we ate here. This place is so delicious. The ambience is amazing! I got a medium vegetarian pizza and it was delicious. They had options for everyone.

Excellent service and very good food. Our server was a young man with great attention to detail. Highly recommended.

The food wasn’t very authentic and the tacos and casados have been options for cheaper in walking distance. This place is aimed at tourists for sure. the service was good, and Christian was friendly and spoke great english.

Good food with a great staff. Nice view of the park from the tables along the railing.

Our service, Pilsner, location and atmosphere were great. The shrimp tacos were delicious but the pork chop entree was very tough which was immediately replaced.

Looking for a place to have dinner in la Fortuna we found this restaurant right next to the park, the food was not only delicious but served very quickly, the waiter was kind and attentive and the price was very good considering location and how good the food was! Highly recommended!

This restaurant is easy to find and kind of right in the center of town across from the park. I went earlier in the day for lunch and it was empty; however a few people were there when I left. The food was good and the passion fruit/dragon fruit smoothie good too. I did take a minute for the waiter to bring the check after he took my plate away; however, that is no big deal for me as I was enjoying the view and the weather.

My husband and I had dinner and we really enjoyed our food. I’d say stick with the “comida típica” instead of the Americanized entrees. Food was good, we loved the fruit juices. customer service was ok, could have been better. They charged 500 colones for more tortilla chips for the ceviche which didn’t make sense but oh well. Prices are a bit higher compared to other local restaurants. Overall, I’m rating for the food we did have.

The service was fantastic. The food was very fresh tasting with a little Tico flare. The surprise was the espresso martini was delicious!

Incredible meal. Me and my boys came to eat, and they served us well! The boats were extremely affordable, as well as the appetizers; 40 sushi pieces for 30 bucks (USD). Everything tasted so incredibly good as well. I recommend this place to anyone and everyone looking for a good sushi meal.

We stopped in for lunch and everything was delicious. We ordered drinks and a couple rolls. I will go back next time I’m in town.

10/10, we had the sushi boat, shrimp dumplings, and citrus coladas. Cute place with good food and service.

Authentic sushi and sashimi. The rolls were the best! And all at very fair prices. The staff were excellent, polite, attentive l, and well turned out. Worth a second visit I think.

Some of the best sushi I’ve ever had and so beautifully presented! The sashimi is fresh, delicate and ultra high quality. I also strongly recommend the traditional Costa Rican tomato spirit with a beer to wash it down. The service was fantastic and the whole meal was very good value for money considering the quality of the sushi.

We had tofu soba noodles, ramen soup, vegan bowl and Fuji roll and everything was absolutely delicious! The service was also great and our waiter Andy was very attentive. We can really recommend kappa sushi!

Wow! Go here. Our server was super friendly and helpful. The vegan sushi was so delicious. Definitely some of the best vegan sushi I've had. We were a group of 8 and we got three sushi boats plus a few individual rolls and wine... it was a great dinner.

So good, I had to come twice during our trip. Our server, Wagner was the best. Very friendly and made great recommendations. Steaks cooked over charcoal gave them a wonderful flavor. Will be back on our next trip!

Worst steaks ever. Fillet mignon was 1/2 the size of McDonald's hamburger patty, but cooked more and covered with gravy....for $40. Sirloin cap and ribeye were under 1/2" thick. Tomahawk (and others) were requested rare to medium rare and all were well done. The prices were Houston equivalent the steaks were not! Two years ago this was the best food we had over two weeks...this year the opposite. Hopefully it was just a bad night. Video shows difference in caring between two trips.

Amazing food and atmosphere. Great service and tasty drinks. They finished off the tomahawk at the table with a cool “toast” of the meat with a fireball and cut it in front of you. Cooked and served perfectly.

My partner and I was recommended this restaurant for our dinner from our tour director at Go Ahead Tours in Oct 2022. I think we ordered the Specialties Mixed Grill for two people. We received a grill plate with pork, chicken, beef, and fried shrimp. The order also comes with each person getting a plate of veggies. mash potato, and something else with cheese and two desserts (we got Three Milks and cheesecake). For me, the chicken and pork was dry and tough. The shrimp was good and I don't have much of an impression of the beef... I liked the mashed potatoes. The portion sizes were really big so we only had a bite of the dessert. I remember them being good. My partner said everything was good for him. Just something to note, one of our group member got the Tomahawk and it came out raw in the middle. They had to send it back to the kitchen. We were a pretty big group (10+), so I think we overwhelmed the kitchen because someone in our group mentioned the kitchen staffs having a squabble. The person taking our orders were really patient in taking our orders and providing recommendations.

Hands down the best food and experience we had at a restaurant on our Costa Rica trip. Our server Dylan was awesome! Thanks for the hospitality!

This place was delicious and had a good atmosphere. The staff was super friendly and attentive. For an appetizer, we got chicarrones, soooog goood, flavorful and tender. I ordered spaghetti Alfredo and my husband got the churrasco. The meat was cooked perfectly and it was so soft and flavorful. We both got a jugos naturales (natural juices) that tasted delicious. They also have their housemade chile of you want some spice. I definitely recommend trying this place out.

Delicious! My husband got a T-bone which is cooked on a wood brining fire and the flavor was incredible! The staff was all very friendly and welcoming. I got the caprese salad and shrimp pesto pasta (been craving pasta) and it hit the spot. The hot sauce they have is so hot,but so addicting. I also had sour sop juice and it was so good! I had never tried it so I thought I would and it did not disappoint. I love that you can watch the chef cooking your meat right behind the glass room at the front of the restaurant. This was recommended by our hostel and many locals, which I see as a plus.

Beautiful shop, tasty treats—but not worth the price. We stopped into Chocolate Fusion for a sweet break and enjoyed the overall atmosphere. The coffee was solid, and the chocolates were good—but not $45-for-10-chocolates-and-two-drinks good. Everything looked beautiful and was clearly made with care, but the prices felt more like luxury branding than true value. If you’re looking for a small indulgence or a gift, it’s fine—but don’t come hungry.

Seems like a place where you will find everything you’re looking for when it comes to chocolate, treats, pastries, and even coffee. They have ice cream and coffee as well as chocolates. I give it four stars only for the fact that the prices are a bit steep for the average Costa Rica. Other than that, excellent variety.

Nice coffee and dessert place. Very rich chocolate flavours and beatiful interior - although note it does get very busy throughout the day. Molten lava cake was great but they did not make it warm enough. Ice cream is also nice but nothing special. European prices

Me & my husband came here for our honeymoon and we fell in love with this place. Every morning we’d come in order a different coffee and play chess. The atmosphere is so calm and welcoming , there’s plenty of spots to sit and relax. They have games laid around everywhere , pastries, and ice cream. A selection of all different types of coffees and drinks as well. Yarirza always served us and we looked forward to seeing her every morning and saying hi! Her hospitality was always appreciated and she was very nice and has a welcoming smile. We highlight recommended you give Chocolate Fusion a try :)

Lots of options. Stopped briefly to get a piece of chocolate cake and iced coffee. Very delicious. But the cake wasnt as good the next day, so you'll want to eat it fresh.

Great place ! Coffee was delicious and the decor was super modern and adorable with board games at each table. Staff was polite and helpful! Would recommend !!

This is our favorite spot every time we travel to La Fortuna, the best coffee shop in the town if not, in the whole province. Friendly staff, fast service, and very clean. The pastry taste amazing give it a shot and thank me later! Highly recommended.

Came here with the family to watch a UFC pay-per-view fight and we’re so glad we did! We’ve tried a few other spots along this strip, but nothing compares to the vibe and atmosphere here. The seafood soup is a must-try, and their margaritas hit the spot. Super clean, family-friendly, live music, and best of all—plenty of TVs downstairs so you won’t miss a moment of the action!

Best pulled pork taco I have ever had! We stopped in for dinner our first night there because they were the busiest place we saw and we ended up eating there again the next day because the food was so good. Staff was super friendly and spoke good English. Taco Tuesday is $2.00 mix and match tacos so you can try all the tacos!

If you're looking to get banged up on booze, this is the perfect place for you. If you're looking for a quality meal, go elsewhere. For starters, we got the guacamole (really just smashed avocado), elote, chicken tacos, and a tamarindo margarita. The best thing here was the tacos which were average. The elote was pretty bad, the corn was really hard and felt like it wasn't even cooked. Overall, it just felt like a bar to attract tourist, and nothing more.

Sometimes a burritos is all you need after a good hike, and an ice cold beer. Small joint, friendly, priced like all the others… but good $$

Friendly staff and delicious food! Enjoyed the Chicken tacos and guacamole & chips (crisps).

We really enjoyed our margaritas and chips & guac here while we were bar/restaurant hopping on a rainy afternoon. We also met the owner Danny and he was incredibly welcoming!

Fun atmosphere with lively music, great service and affordable prices. The frozen passionfruit drink is a must have!! (Just add a shot of rum…) 😊

If you’re debating coming here, just go. Top notch food and service. Definitely get the guacamole made at the table. Unreal. This was some of the best food we ate in all of Costa Rica in two weeks.

This is an absolutely fantastic restaurant! The staff is professional, friendly, very attentive, and thorough. True professionals. I've eaten dinner here twice. The kitchen works exceptionally fast, and the dishes are fresh and delicious. There's a relatively large selection of vegetarian and vegan options. In general, the menu is quite diverse. The drinks menu leaves nothing to be desired, and the freshly squeezed fruit juices are delicious. Wine lovers will also find plenty to enjoy. Plus, they serve complimentary bottled water. I was very pleased that they offer such excellent quality at moderate prices. I also really liked the atmosphere and felt completely at ease. It's clean, modern, and cozy. Wi-Fi is also available. I'll definitely be back!

Hands down the absolute best meal I’ve had so far in Costa Rica. The vibes and service were great! Highly recommend to anyone visiting the area. We got the guacamole, ceviche, salmon and lomo saltado. All were delicious.

We were pretty excited to try this restaurant after reading the reviews, but it was our least favorite place we ate on our whole vacation. The atmosphere is amazing and the service was really good, but the food was just alright. The passion fruit daiquiri was good. The spring rolls were not your usual spring roll and not the most flavorful. My husband got the fettuccine with salted loin and liked it, but I got the pad thai and was very disappointed. It was not very flavorful, didn't really have enough noodles for it being a noodle dish, and half of it seemed to be under cooked vegetables (mostly cauliflower which doesn't belong in pad Thai in my opinion, but some carrots, too.) I think with more staining and flavor, this place would be the perfect spot for dinner

The food was amazing. Lots of vegan options. We had a great server. It's a little off the La Fortuna city limits, Iike 4 miles, but we'll worth it. Super friendly, covered outdoor seating, cool decor.

Our favorite restaurant In La Fortuna! Ate there twice...excellent food, a lot of Vegan & Gluten free options...great drinks! Such a cute atmosphere and great staff and service. Would highly recommend.

Highly recommend! We were served by Juan Carlos who was great and very welcoming. The guacamole was made at our table and delicious, the multiprotein burger was filling and tasty, and the vegan chaufa was also really good. We really liked the ambiance as well :)

We’ve had some duds foodwise on our vacation but this place is awesome. Top three meals of our trip. Burgers are awesome as are the chicharrones. Atmosphere is fantastic and you can’t beat the drinks. Would highly recommend!!!

We ate lunch here and had a great experience. Food was satisfactory and the service was helpful and kind. A great spot for lunch or tapas.

We came here for dinner and were not disappointed. We shared nachos and had cocktails for happy hour. Nachos were big and delicious. The drinks were even better. Really good Guaro Sours and mojitos.

Michael is super knowledgeable about his craft beer around the world! Have great local Costa Rica beers. Very friendly and had some great recommendations:)

Google may have to add a 6 stars button just for this place.. The Mojitos were the best we’ve ever had, the atmosphere was so welcoming, the food was incredible - highly recommend the pork belly, and Maikol -the owner and his staff treated us so well…. One of the highlights our trip! We’ll be back every time we’re in CR! Pura Vida!

Went here twice. Got Patacones and Tamarind margaritas and Maracuya craft beer (bottle poured in frosted mug). Beautiful singer with live music. stars. Second time... watery margarita and super salty sliders- could not eat. Fun and terrible karaoke 2nd night lol; also but part of the scene. 3 stars overall. Fun place but inconsistent. Has solid potential but needs some quality control. Some decent draft beers on tap.

We stopped here every night of our stay and loved it! Whether a quick cocktail, or a late night snack, the service was amazing, drinks delish and vibe was perfect!

Okay where to begin. The food was very good. All of it. Steak perfect. Shrimp tasty. Chicken juicy. Sausages great. Veggies just right. The presentation with the grill on our table... A must. It said for two people but we had a lot of leftovers and we ate a lot. Here's one thing I don't recommend... Don't get a coffee there. They use a machine making instant coffee and c'mon people we all know that's such low quality like the instant coffee you find in your workplace and they were charging way too much. I saw waiters over at that machine all night swiping and pushing buttons then patrons so happy to get their coffee not knowing its source. This place prides itself as a high quality steakhouse. Please get rid of that machine or hide it from our view. Beyond that - all prices very reasonable and food quality high. The best dinner we had during our trip. And like others mentioned, get there before 6pm for a table otherwise reservations required. We watched people getting turned away all night. The dining room is small. They take credit card and apple pay.

This place absolutely deserves a 5 star!! We visited first time, ordered a tuna ceviche/tartare and shared a 400g ribeye steak (cost ~17,300 colones) It comes with 3 complimentary sides and 1 sauce, lots to choose from. Had our steak medium rare like how we always do, and it was the best darn steak we had. It was soft, not chewy, and it just melts. Sooooo good. We had mushroom sauce and got an extra capers sauce, both were excellent! Mash potatoes were good too! The meal was so good that we went back again for dinner the next night and it did not fail us. 😋😋 now we're thinking if we should return for thr 3rd night in a row. Haha, but anyway, if anyone is visiting la fortuna and wants a good steak, this is your go to place 👍👍👍

What a great experience! We walked in around 5pm without a reservation, but we were quickly accommodated. The servers were really patient and let us practice our Spanish, even though they all speak English. The food was excellent and reasonably priced for a very touristy town. I’m so glad we found it and wish them continued success!

Travesía Restaurant is a must-visit if you’re looking for authentic flavor, great service, and a lively atmosphere. The food was outstanding — perfectly grilled meats, fresh salads, and sides that were full of flavor. Everything tasted homemade and high-quality, and the portions were generous (great for sharing). The service was excellent — friendly, attentive, and fast even though the restaurant was busy. The staff made great recommendations, and everything came out fresh and hot. The atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming, with a true local charm that makes the dining experience even more memorable. It’s the perfect place for a family dinner, date night, or group outing. 📍 If you’re in the area and searching for the best steakhouse, authentic Latin food, or a top restaurant for groups, Travesía is the spot. Highly recommend and will definitely be back!

YOU HAVE TO EAT HERE. We got the seafood grill and the mixed grill (enough food for 4-5ish people). The meat was cooked to perfection. The melted butter was divine. The shrimp was excellent, and of course you have to get the plantain chips. We recommend the “dirty monkey” for a drink option. Servers were super attentive too.

We got a Mixed Grill platter. The food was delicious, perhaps a bit too much for 2 people (we weren't able to finish all the potatoes...) The variety on the mixed grill platter was very pleasant but a part of the steak had just a bit too much fat cap. Chimichurri was absolutely delicious and totally made up for any fatty steak. Despite not speaking perfect English, the team made us feel incredibly welcome.

This is hands down the beat meal we have had in Costa Rica! The fish and steak were some of the best food I have ever eaten! It was recommended by a local and I am so happy we took her recommendation. Go!!!

This place had a fun atmosphere, nice workers and excellent choices. We had a group of 12 and ate at all 4 places. The pizza was fantastic. Definitely go there, but the Sushi lovers said the sushi was also great and people went back for more tacos. The burgers were good size, had some fun options and were loved. Plus the ice cream and churros at the end were great. You can't go wrong.

My friends and I ate here before our Sloth Tour at Bogarín. We had amazing food and cocktails here. We all went to the burger restaurant and I had El Guapo which was like a combination of birria and grilled cheese, I loved it.

Got a few different things… quesadilla, sushi, matcha, and pizza! Everything was delicious!!! Highly recommend stopping by here to grab a bite!

I had a wonderful experience at the food hall. The wide range of options was impressive. We visited the pizza place, enjoyed some cocktails, and savored the burgers. It definitely lived up to our expectations, and I regret not having more time to dine here repeatedly.

Nice concept for multiple options. However, it is expensive. It is on the side of the main road through La Fortuna. It is almost twice as much as some other food locations. We came from Hotel Los Lagos and pizza was half the price that it is here.

This was the perfect stop, while traveling around Arenal. With 10 adults, all with different eating restrictions. Everyone found something they liked. From burgers, tacos, pizza to sushi and more, the selection and prices vary and there are even daily specials.

Really enjoyed this experience! It's just as it says, a marketplace where you can go up to he different stands and order whatever you want. It's very casual and it has free wifi. All of the food options looked great so it was hard to decide what to order. The taco truck was definitely worth it. I got the mixed tacos. The carne asada tacos and birria tacos were amazing. My friend got the burrito and it good and filling. From the burger/sandwich station, my other friends got the paninis that came with potato wedges which were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. We ordered drinks as well. While they weren't as fancy as pictured, they tasted good. There's also free wifi which is w nice bonus. A staff member comes around to share the info. Would definitely recommend for a large group who has different preferences and has trouble deciding what to order but also the food here is great!

We had a delicious meal here. They offer both vegan and meat options. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and the staff were really friendly. Very good value. The portions were generous and beautifully presented. Having finished our trip in Costa Rica I would say this was some of the best value and most delicious food that we ate.

FLAVORFUL!!! The food was so delicious and flavorful. The pepper sauce was extremely spicy; just a little tip would be enough to add spice to your food. We enjoyed every bite of our food and would come back again. The prices were pretty reasonable as well and the plates were humongous; a lot of food so, consider your appetite before you order an appetizer or dessert.

Excellent food options for vegetarians and vegans. So glad we found this place during our visit to Costa Rica. We ate here twice during our trip. Would recommend to everyone who visit la fortuna.

Perfect spot. We ate here two nights in a row because the first was amazing. A lot of home made touches on the meals. Wether you want vegetarian options or regular beef / chicken. Meals are amazing and the service is warm and welcoming. Thank you for two amazing meals! Pura Vida!

Delicious food and smoothies. We had quesadilla, fajitas, soup and burger - everything was top!! We visited it 3 times during our 2 days stay in La Fortuna. Great staff.

The best food I’ve had in La fortuna. So many vegan options to choose from. Everyone of the staff members are so nice and the food was delicious with big portions. The yuca sticks and the sauce they come with are so good. The patacones were delicious. Their Fresh smoothies are so refreshing. They also have vegan desserts. The waiter Leandro was super sweet and nice and helped us decide what to eat. Always has a smile and so sweet. I will miss this restaurant ❤️

I had the three the shrimp tortillas and it was amazing. I asked for no cilantro and it was no problem. The flavours and the hint of spice was perfect. The staff was very friendly!

Free local watering hole. We showed up and parking was plentiful by the bridge. Guy was asking for $4 to watch our vehicle. Fun spot and worth doing the swing if in the area after the waterfall.

My wife and I went twice while on our honeymoon because it was so fun. The first day we went was on a somewhat rain-y Thursday morning. There was hardly anyone there and it was great. The second day was around noon on a beautifully sunny Sunday and it was packed. So so many people but still so fun. I definitely recommend going when you think there will be less people but either way this is a fortuna must-do!

A little scared to jump at first, the current looked strong. But after seeing a local do it and encourage us, we jumped several times. The water was cool and refreshing, and later there were so many people from all over speaking a bunch of different languages so it just felt like you could come here and enjoy yourself no matter where you're from.

Such a cool rope swing and a great atmosphere here. Lovely place to swim with lots of spots to jump in too!

We went just to see the river and were not disappointed. Definitely check this place out regardless if you want to rope swing or not.

Locals and tourists visit mainly for the nice rope swing. When you don’t want to get wet, find a place on the rocks to look at the jumps, some of the locals did some great tricks.

Very cool local spot to hang out and it's free. We enjoyed people watching there and it was fun to see people kayaking down the springs and jumping off the ropes. There is a rocky path down and not that hard to navigate, it was fun to explore the different areas. Definitely wear swimsuit as you'll want to sit on the rocks by the water and will get wet and wet shoes are a must as the ground is very rocky and slippery. I saw others walking around barefoot and couldn't imagine how painful it must be although maybe locals are used to it. There is parking on the street nearby. Thankfully we were not scammed into paying the "parking attendants" as it was slow season. Right by the side of the road there are people grilling corn and hot dogs. Unfortunately we had already eaten but we would love to go back and buy some food from the local vendors.

This tour was super fun and educational, my teens all absolutely were fully engaged throughout the whole chocolate portion of the tour and of course lost some interest when it got to coffee, but Bryan (he was so patient and hospitable!) our Tour guide made it super fun and engaging as well as interactive for them. Making our own chocolate bars from scratch cacao was absolutely a core memory made, indeed! We just did a walk up at the top of the hour, and although they said the next tour was not for close to another hour, they made an exception and started our tour within five minutes and we were just our group until halfway through a second. Group joined us. The gift shop is pricey, but has very high-quality items for purchase and the tours aren’t cheap but it’s an experience well worth it!

Jeremy did a great job leaving the tour and gave us lots of interesting pieces of information. I guess I expected there to be more coffee trees and cocoa trees but we didn't go out into the fields where the actual plantations are so having enough trees around to teach us about them was good. Making the chocolate bar was fun and learning about the different kinds of coffee was also interesting and entertaining. He found some different birds and a sloth for us to see. Overall a very good experience.

We had the best time. Our guide Alex was so informative and really went above and beyond to make sure we got to see all kinds of the nocturnal creatures. He was well versed on the cocoa growing and making process, super knowledgeable about the wildlife and threw in some very cool info on Costa Ricas history. To top it off he was friendly and fun. We made our own Chocolate bars, we saw lots of animals and had zero complaints.

We did the combo coffee and chocolate tour. We loved the experience. Our guide was very nice. He explained the process really well. We made chocolates and coffee from scratch which was included in the experience. They also gave us complimentary chocolate to eat the coffee was delicious. We bought some nice coffee and cacao tea in the end.

We the the combo chocolate and wild life tour. We were the last group of the night so it was nice to have to whole place to our selves. Tour guide Alex was super informative and he brought his binoculars which really helped us get up close to the animals. I really enjoyed learning about the chocolate making process it was very informative.

I recommend this tour to anyone visiting Costa Rica, especially if you like coffee and chocolate. Our guide Kairo was very informative. He showed us step by step how coffee and chocolate are made. We got to make our own chocolate bar. We tried the coffee. Loved it!!

Awesome tour! We tagged along on a 10am tour and Jeremy did a great job! They kept adding latecomers to his tour, and even then he was able to integrate us and was able to answer all the questions we had! Sampling the coffees as well as making our own chocolate was the highlight of the tour. Definitely a must!

Appears to be good value for money until you pay. Price on ticket displayed was more than 10% lower than price charged. When I queried they said it was because I was not a member. This is not apparent from any signage. Buyers beware. Cheaper in Super Rosvil.

Signs (above head) were in Spanish and English which was nice. No AC so it can get hot there. Decent variety however we couldn't find coffee "socks"

Pretty good market felt like open air. Not what you're used to in the US but hey when you're in Costa Rica Puerto Vida had most everything I needed even a few American potato chips.

Clean well stocked , get pretty much anything you need in the way of groceries

Costa Rica and Beer Our over 1 million fans have observed we are a beer connoisseur and love sampling the best beers on our global travels. You read about our birracles where we simply thought of una birra en Italia and it manifested into physical form by sheer thought alone. Read the story in our Natural Born Miracle Makers: Book One, and see it in our forthcoming thELight (tm) feature film starring Russell Brand and Camelia Crous Sadly, I give locally available Costa Rica beer (Imperial and Bavaria) a mediocre ranking for quality and price. Costa Rica is not a destination for lovers of high quality cerveza, birra, beer and piwo. Again, expect US/EU pricing or greater for mediocre quality and taste.

The supermarket is cheap and has a wide range of items. Everything can be found except for real bread. Definitely recommendable.

Wide variety of goods. No airconditioning. Beware: if you buy beer in bootles, they give you a hard time when you return the bottles and don't buy a new one. Often they won't accept the empties. Looks like they are trying to make extra money at your expense.

I really enjoyed my stay at this hotel in La Fortuna! Nestled in the jungle, it’s the perfect spot for birdwatching right from the property. The staff (Jose and Luis) were all incredibly kind and welcoming. They gave me a brief tour before check-in, which was a lovely touch. Breakfast was delicious, and enjoying it with a view of the volcano made it even more special. I also want to give a special shoutout to Armando, my guide for the sloth tour. He helped me spot 11 sloths along with many beautiful birds. His passion and enthusiasm were truly impressive. He even offered me a night tour around the hotel grounds, where we found various tree frogs, absolutely magical! The next evening , he spotted more frogs and lizards and kindly showed them to me again. Armando is an incredible guide with sharp eyes and a deep love for nature. Thanks to him and the wonderful hotel team, my stay was unforgettable. Highly recommend!

It may not be the perfect place for everyone, but for me it was. Very comfortable rooms without unnecessary luxury, cozy common area with swimming pool and hammocks, lush jungle garden with a huge variety of plants and interesting animals, all kinds of fascinating stuff to discover & admire on the hotel grounds: tons of petrified wood "xilopalo" from nearby & art made from it, wooden logs containing stingless bee colonies - a true gem for nature lovers. And great views of Volcan Arenal from the breakfast area, truly friendly and helpful staff, great selection of tours one can book (the Rio Celeste tour was excellent!). Hotel is located a short walk from downtown La Fortuna. As a solo female traveler in my 60s, I felt safe & welcome at the hotel and in the town of La Fortuna. Hope iI will get a chance to stay there again sometime.

What a great hotel... everything close to what you need and fantastic views of the volcano at breakfast. The tour with Armando is a must. The guy sees everything and it's worth 1000%. Also thank you to the gentleman of the reception., he also does a great job. PURA VIDA ❤️

This was the perfect hotel for our stay in La Fortuna. It's wood construction and unique design, with an amazing view of Arenal volcano is ideal. It's perfect if you want want to stay in a hotel that reflects what this area is all about - nature. It fits in with its surroundings perfectly, and it's tucked away at the end of the road so it's very quiet - save for the frogs and birds serenading! Also, it's good value and has everything you need to wait out the rain, or enjoy breakfast and dinner.

Xilopalo is an absolute gem among the numerous other options for staying overnight in La Fortuna. The location is of course unbeatable: you can be in the middle of the lively city in a few minutes on foot, but at the end of the street you are blessed with an unobstructed view of the Arenal and a wonderful atmosphere. The rooms are cleaned daily and are very spacious. The beds are super comfortable. The air conditioning works perfectly. The pool area is very relaxing, in the evening you can swim in great lighting. Breakfast is à la carte, they also have a restaurant that prepares excellent dinners. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, the prices are perfectly okay. We cannot understand the bad reviews regarding odor and hygiene. We had a room on the top floor of the building next door. It certainly seems to be very ok. The only thing we didn't like was that the rooms didn't have a safe.

Armando was a fantastic tour guide who took his time with each wildlife spot so we could see as much as possible. Definitely recommend. Thanks Armando!

It was a great stay ! The hotel is surrounded by nature so you will see a lot of animals in the garden, I saw birds, lizards, frogs and a sloth ! There is several places to sit and observe the nature around, hammocks and a pool. The pool is very cold. There is a restaurant in the hotel where they also serve the breakfast (9$). At this place you will have a view of the garden, with many birds and if you're lucky, you can see the Volcano. The staff is super nice, and I even got a little night tour of the garden to spot some animals ! The rooms are really basic, don't expect anything fancy, but clean. It's a 5min walk to go to the city center.

This hostel was very nice overall. For me the pros were the staff, who was always helpful and kind, and the common areas that were also equipped with all the necessary. The cons would be the rooms that could use some small adjustments that could greatly improve life of travellers. For example there is no lights on the beds nor tents and the light in the room is weak at night. The ratio bathroom to people could be improved and the cleanliness as well. Overall I would still recommend it as it is close by everything and the experience can still be nice just fairly rudimental.

Do not get the "unlimited" shuttle for 20usd. (I doubt that they'll continue running it for much longer anyway. Hardly anyone uses it.) The shuttle does not run as advertised. You have to pre-arrange with them to take you somewhere in the morning and take you back at a specified time (decided by them not by you). When I pointed out that this is not what the schedule shows or how the shuttle is described when sold, the man at the desk simply gaslighted me. First, he blamed his colleague then he blamed me. He told me on the phone that I would get a refund. And then later he pretended the conversation never happened. Such a shocking and shameless liar. His tone was so aggressive and condescending. Disgusting man. His behavior is not that surprising when you look at comments about the hostels management from other reviewers. There are hostile and aggressive signs everywhere warning people about laws and fines etc. it creates an unpleasant environment. They say that people who are untrustworthy are always suspicious of others. Everything about the way this hostel is run shows that. The hostel administration is completely untrustworthy. And that is why they demand a deposit for everything - even a towel. They threaten you with laws but do not obey the law themselves. They do not provide services as they are described when sold. They still have not provided me with a valid tax receipt. After I asked three times, they gave me some meaningless piece of paper that doesn't even have the name of the hostel on it. The shuttle has many broken seat belts and missing headrests in the back seats. It's not a legally compliant vehicle. Do not book any tours or extra services through them. Everyone I spoke to who had done a tour through the hostel felt ripped off and were dissatisfied with the quality. Book with Viator or just go to a tour operator office in town instead. Normally when you book through a hostel they quality control. These guys just pocket the commission and don't care that they've sold you a dud. I only stayed there because I was booking last minute. It is totally overpriced for what they give. Other hostels provide much better facilities and services (without the lying and threats). Rooms are cramped with few amenities. Always a queue for the toilet. WiFi is sketchy. The only saving grace of the hostel is the nice breakfast and small courtyard. Avoid it if you can. And if you have to stay there book through a third party and don't get any of the extras.

This place has comfy beds, a lot of seating, a great free breakfast, it gets cleaned daily, small lockboxes and lots of backpackers. It also has a free shuttle to the hot springs river that leaves at 1:00pm. You can walk to tons of good restaurants and the local rope swing. We spent a lot of time there. They have a fridge and kitchen area thats clean and free to use. The cons are the AC only comes on at 9PM and turns off in the morning, and a lot of the doorknobs are a little wonky and hard to open. We had a good time here and the breakfast saved us a lot of money.

I loved staying here! The staff is super friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the rooms are very clean. Great value for money and just minutes away from the main attractions of La Fortuna.

The location is perfect, close to supermarkets, restaurants, and tours. The rooms are very clean, and the hostel has a welcoming vibe. Great place for both solo travelers and families.

Fantastic experience! Everything was super clean and organized. The staff was very helpful with tips about the area. A wonderful stay in La Fortuna at a very reasonable price

We recently stayed at your hostel and were very disappointed by the unprofessional behavior of one of your staff members. While we fully respect the no-smoking policy, we were standing outside discussing our plans when I was rudely told to move from a step. Later, when I asked about the cheapest way to Monteverde, the staff member dismissively told me he was off duty. My friend later exhaled residual smoke inside, and the staff member aggressively shouted at her, even threatening to call the police. He also called the boss, who initially argued with us but later had a calm discussion. However, the staff member kept interrupting and was extremely rude throughout. We understand hostel rules, but guests should be treated with respect. We hope you address this issue.

Location is great and shared spaces such as the terrace are good. Although the rooms are very basic. For one night it is fine.

We are staying at Las Colinas Hotel, and unfortunately, our experience has been far from pleasant. Upon arrival, we discovered that our room faces a busy street, resulting in constant noise that disturbs us both day and night. The single-pane windows provide no sound insulation, making it possible not only to hear traffic outside but also conversations of passersby, which significantly reduces both our privacy and comfort. Another major issue is the beds— the mattresses are so worn out that you can feel every metal spring, making a restful sleep nearly impossible. As for the bathroom, it does not even meet basic standards, but I’d rather not go into details. When we tried to address these problems and requested a room change, the staff showed no willingness to help, and our request was dismissed with what felt like mockery. Overall, our stay here has been a huge disappointment, and I would not recommend this so-called hotel to anyone. We will definitely never return.

Downstairs room with no window and no ventilation even in bathroom. Bed cover has dirt or something on it and needs washing. It is not a blanket or bed spread. Room and AC smells of mold/mildew. There is water stansing behind the toilet. Had to turn off air after we returned from dinner it smelled that bad. Nothing dries...towels, swim suit..nothing. I already have a sore throat and we have 2 more nights here. :( Staff are really friendly and food in the attached restaurant has been good. I would not stay here ever again. I submitted complaint to G Adventures and to my travel agent.

The staff are very friendly and helpful, they helped us plan some of the attractions. The location of the hotel is right in the center of town so you are close to everything you need. Overall, great value for money.

We booked as a group. One room they gave us was pathetic with very bad odor only upon strong confrontation they changed our room. All the while saying they sold out.. couple of rooms had water logging issues. Hot water cannot be called hot water. Very thin walls making the rooms on ground floors uncomfortable while at night. Staff are friendly but management needs to understand the needs and should cater towards that.

Great value. Not super fancy but very clean, wonderful location, great breakfast, potable water, and really nice folks at the desk. Really, this hotel provides everything one needs for a great visit to the La Fortuna area. Go for it!

Superb location, can walk to places in La Fortuna. The roof top dining area was nice. The food we ordered were pretty good. They have a secured parking place which was great but it is about 500 mts away. The room was tiny. Needs major updates and looks like the last update was like 20 years back. The AC even though cooled the room well, made such a loud noise that we were not able sleep peacefully. Since we had to get it as last minute option, we did not have much choice. But the location and the view was the saving grace.

This was a perfect stay. The location, cleanliness, and views were great. The included breakfast was a treat especially since it starts at 645am so you can eat before any early tour. But, the best part, is the staff. Everyone from the front desk to the kitchen and cleaning staff were all super nice and genuinely wanted to make everyone's stay wonderful. Their communication through whatsapp was a great add too.

Great location with Volcano view. Friendly service. The receptionist was super nice. Comfortable and clean room. A/c and hot showers. Nice breakfast. Walking distance to lots of restaurants. 10/10

Gem of a place. Boutique luxury at an affordable price. The bathrooms felt luxurious, modern, and clean. The bed was nice. The A/C was strong. Staff was friendly and spoke English. The breakfast was good. It’s in town and walkable to all of the restaurants and shops. Fast WiFi and free parking.

Although we only spent one night as we were passing through on our way to Tamarindo, but we had a great time. They have all the amenities needed at this small hotel. Checking in was great with Fabricio! Overall, lovely hotel, close to restaurants and shops. Great up close and personal view of the volcano!

Truly wonderful place to stay. Convenient to walk to restaurants in town, but quiet and secluded. Daniel at the front desk is an exceptional host! He has excellent local knowledge and made some great recommendations. All of the staff here made us feel welcome.

Located in a good quiet place near the centroof La Fortuna. The rooms are bug and clean. The thing that was outstanding is the service, especially of the manager Josue - he listened to our traveling plans , added info from his experience and listened to our issues.

Fantastic experience. Very well kept and designed little hotel, right in the center of La Fortuna. Mariela the receptionist was very friendly and accommodating. I give it a 10 out of 10 rating.

Prices are nice compared to the nearby resorts and the closer stores. Liquor was cheap. But mixers were sparse.

most employees are too lazy to work Fifteen people are lined up with only one open cash register and wait 45 minutes. There's only one cashier. The others just stand around and play with their cell phones. The woman calls the employees standing around for help, but no one opens the door for more. The work ethic at Maxi Pali is extremely depressing. If I were the boss I would immediately fire everyone except the one who worked at the cash register

Plenty of safe parking. Has more variaty then any other supermarket in town. Very good on prices. Also has a pharmacy inside the store with really low prices.

An American tourist treated like a local. There is no higher compliment.

They have all you need but it feels like a warehouse

Our favorite supermarket in La fortuna. Best selection.

Horrible service by the manager with glasses and green eyes. I asked her for help to find diapers and she dismissed me and walked away. I couldn't believe it. I saw her upon paying for my items and told her it was a bad service and if she was mad or something to which she answered yes. Surprised she is managing anything with that type of unacceptable service. Go elsewhere, people are general very friendly in LaFortuna.

This was one of the things we really wanted to do on our trip! Our daughter has a horse of her own so it’s kind of her life ❤️ Booking this was super easy. We didn’t book way in advance…maybe 3 days. Communication was often whether by email or text. It was also easy to find where to go. The location on the stables and ride was great. We went during the rainy season so we didn’t see as much of the Volcano but we were okay with that. We still went up old lava tubes, saw some other wild life and spent some time loving on the horses. Our guide, Adrian ??, was really great! He was very friendly, even let my daughter and I switch horses and I prefer a slower, hang out in the back kind of horse. The info he gave us about the property and horses after the ride was really interesting as well!

Great ride to the stables, clean bathrooms before descending about 400 stairs to the waterfall was spectacular. A beautiful plunge and back up. We also crossed a suspension swinging bridge. Unfortunately, the wildlife was not out for us. Then a nice ride back. Even in the rain.

Truly an amazing tour with our amazing guide Adrian! He was so knowledgeable, my partner & I talked to him for quite a while about his life & some local history/fun facts. The horses were very well cared for and all very sweet, all very well behaved. The riding path is great, with stunning views of the volcano most of the time. Adrian took the time to help everyone get photos. He even gave us a tour of the barn afterwards and let us meet all the horses that were in barn. This experience was one of the highlights of our trip, 10/10 all around. If you love horses like we do, you do not want to miss out on this gem!!!

Loved my experience horseback riding up to the viewpoint to see the volcano! Unfortunately the weather was not on our side so I didn’t get to actually see the top of the volcano, but the riding experience was still fun. I had previous riding experience but I would say it’s also suitable for new riders! Horses were very calm and well-behaved. I got to ride a little faster at different points and that was super exciting. Our guide Mario was very friendly! Definitely prepare to be sore the next day 😅

Amazing!! Initially, we went to the wrong meeting location (our fault), and they actually waiting for us for 30 minutes! Our guide, Adrian was amazing, very professional and knowledgable. The views of Arenal were breathtaking. I cannot recommend this tour company enough!

We had a fantastic time on the horseback tour, exploring Arenal and seeing La Fortuna waterfall. We also saw a blue-jeaned poison dart frog and eyelash viper and enjoyed the scenery on the route. Having lunch and access to Baldi hot springs for the rest of the day was the cherry on top!

What a fantastic ride! I took a private with Kevin. He was so kind and helpful. I highly recommend this company.

Nice Barbershop in town, very skilled barbers, clean place, and very affordable prices 👌, se los recomiendo. Highly recommended

Nice little cubby in the middle of the block. The drive opens up tot eh parking area with everything from ice cream to dentistry And a Phone store with Claro representatives manning their desk. Dont bring anything larger than a two door car or it will be tough to leave.

Meh... very little parking

Super

(Translated by Google) It was a pleasure meeting and getting tattooed by David! He was very professional and knew how to fulfill my request in the best way possible! Thanks again, David! and Pura Vida ❤️ (Original) Fue un placer conocer y hacerse tatuar por David! fue muy profesional y supo satisfacer mi petición de la mejor manera! gracias otra vez David! y Pura Vida ❤️

(Translated by Google) Good variety but could be improved, perhaps in cleaning (Original) Buena variedad pero se puede mejorar, quizás en la limpieza

(Translated by Google) You'll find beauty salons, perfumeries, jewelry, and the best barbers and hairdressers. Excellent service. (Original) Encuentras las estéticas, perfumería, joyeríay los mejores barberos y peluqueros. Muy buen trato.

ATM worked fine. Only could withdraw in colones and only 10k notes, but cash was received with no issues, and was not charged a fee on a European card.

Avoid the ATM. Actually I recommend avoiding the entire bank altogether. I never received over $400 that was taken out of my account. I spoke with two different people at Banco Nacional who offered zero assistance and told me I needed to straighten it out with my own bank. I’ve wasted way too much time disputing this claim.

Tried to make an ATM withdrawal. Didn't go through due to "insufficient funds". An hour later got a notification from my bank that the amount *was* withdrawn from my bank. My sister-in-law had the exact same problem. She tried to talk to Banco National and they just laughed at her.

Tried to make a withdrawal with both my dad and my aunt. Was met with an error message at the end, canceled the transaction, received no money, but money was still taken out of both of their accounts (despite using different banking cards). When my aunt tried to dispute it with the bank, they were rude and laughed at her saying it was not their problem. Based on the reviews of this happening to others, this bank is clearly a scam and should not even be legal.

DO NOT GO TO THIS BANK! ATM machine did not work. I could not withdraw any cash but the amount has been taken from my bank account. Reading the comments below, I realised that this has been happening for a while. It’s the responsibility of the bank to repair the machine.

Literally one of the worst and slowest banks in the nation if not the entire world it's almost comical. You can spend 3 hours in there trying to do one simple task like change money. The comedy is they actually think they're professional. But they should be wearing clown suits with big shoes and big red noses.

ATM gave no indication of fees or withdrawal limits. Hubby and I tried to withdraw different amounts in an effort to figure out if there was one. We were finally able to withdraw 130k colones as max amount. But unfortunately, in the process of trying several times, the ATM withdrew money from our accounts without dispensing cash. So now we have to try to get back about $800. Only way I found out was through my bank's email notification. So make sure you set and check your bank notifications.

The safari boat tour down the river was a perfect way to spend an afternoon. In our water tour we also got a chocolate tasting with history at the end and some locals made us some local cuisine at the end. So happy we booked this tour! Our tour guides were the sweetest too and made it even more enjoyable

I had an amazing time in La Fortuna with Costa Rica Tours: Rafael suggested me the best experiences and gave me all the right tips. I joined the Rafting 3-4 and loved the adventure as well as the energy and good vibes brought by our guides! I came back to Rafael for a second tour, the “Night walk”…absolutely magical, it exceeded all expectations! I’ve seen so many amphibians, poisonous snakes, funny frogs, glowing in the dark spiders and much more! (Best tips: pick a rainy night if you want to see many amphibians crawling out…you won’t be disappointed) Thank you Rafael & Costa Rica Tours

We had an amazing time whitewater rafting with Arenal Rafting Company! They requested we leave the review on this Google listing. For a great price we were taken on a 2+ hour incredible rafting trip. Our guide Alex was awesome and Rafael made booking a breeze. At the end of the trip, we had a delicious fruit snack on the river bed and then after we returned to La Fortuna, they provided a super delicious authentic CR meal. They even take professional pictures of you while rafting and can purchase at the end. Thank you for making this experience incredible!

We got an evening tour with Rafael when we were in Fortuna. He did a great job and just as promised, he showed us a sloth that we would never have seen and lots of other birds, frogs, and an agouti too. He was very knowledgeable about all the plants as well. Great tour and would definitely recommend!

This is the best tour company we have chosen in the area! Amazing trip to Rio Celeste with hidden spots of surprises in the end. Would recommend this 100 out of 100

We took the ecological tour in Costa Rica with Rafael - he did a fantastic job leading us on volcano, jungle, and wildlife hikes! He's one of the best local tour guides I’ve ever had in my life. I learned so much about nature and how to treasure animals and plants from him. Even after returning from our trip, I had follow-up questions about Costa Rica for a magazine article which Rafael helped with. I greatly appreciate his knowledge, guidance, and warm heart.

Rafael is an awesome tour guide, very fun and experienced. He helped us open our eyes and enjoy many adventures. Our kids really enjoyed him and he has made our first time in Costa Rica amazing 🤩

Although only 3 table on the side of the street, the flavor was awesome, potion was huge , highly recommended if you are tourist in La Fortuna

Massive portion sizes at very reasonable prices. Very local and authentic, no English at all but that adds to the experience. Their hot sauce was fantastic as well. Would recommend coming here more than the overpriced tourist trap options all around it.

Good food with quick service. Walking distance from the hotel. We had the chicken sandwich and fajitas. It's a small location for a quick bite.

This was one of the first Sodas my family tried in La Fortuna, and possibly one of our favorites! The food is delicious & filling. With my meal I had Cas Fresca (Cas Juice) with ginger & cream, which is absolutely amazing & authentic. The staff spoke very little English but were patient & kind! This soda is right across the street from a busy gas station and seating is outdoors, yet the experience felt private & quiet! Next door is a cute market. This Soda was affordable, walkable, and worth it! 😄

This place was very good and the price is on the cheaper end since it’s a soda. 5000crc for the food and also fruta. The owners didn’t speak English but are friendly! I recommend it if you’re on a budget.

The Casado dish is really good and super copious! I had it with a Cas juice and both tasted really great. I only paid 5000 for the drink and the plate. The location is central which is perfect although it is on the street in front of a gas station but that doesn’t really matter. The owners are a very sweet couple and even offered to make me a vegetarian plate if I needed you won’t be disappointed!

Huge servings of food for less than 10k for two meals and two drinks. It was super tasty and the lady is lovely. She also speaks English

I'm so glad we found this local cafe. It was so good that we went both days in Fortuna. We got a cortado and latte. Both so good that they rival some of the best we get in NYC which is a real compliment. We highly recommend this cafe If you're in the area and prices are very reasonable. They take credit card and apple pay.

This was our favorite La Fortuna coffee shop. We ended up going almost every day we were there. Coffee is excellent, Andres and Enrique were friendly and welcoming, and the sandwiches were good and affordable. They even had some frozen ice cream sandwiches that my family was obsessed with. Muy Rico!

I enjoyed the cold brew coffee. The desserts were average

Excellent Dirty Chai, got it almost every day of our trip. Very friendly owner, nice clean store, free WiFi, and good prices.

The coffee here is great (as is the aircon) and the staff were so lovely! They spent ages explaining the vandola pour over method that’s unique to Costa Rica and told us about the first ever coffee shop in Costa Rica located in San Jose. They also had a great selection of pastries and croissants!

We thoroughly enjoyed everything at this coffee shop! I had Costa Rican pour over style with the Vandola almost every day we were in La Fortuna. We loved the food. We tried the sandwiches and the empanada, we tried the ice cream bars and the desert croissant. Everything we had was excellent, and the service was excellent! Our kids loved the food as well , which was an awesome plus. Andres the owner and Enrique were awesome! They also had air conditioning and ice water which was a nice touch. We love trying coffee shops back home in the United States, and this coffee shop was great!

We found this little gem by accident when we were staying in Costa Rica for the week. We came back everyday afterwards. The Dirty Chai was a favorite.

Was an overall great experience. Wonderful price for what you get especially the shared air-conditioned rooms. The guy who tends to work the night shifts can be a little unfriendly. Expect the lights to get turned off at the outside area at 9:45 with no heads up. Along with the kitchen at 9 PM. Definitely a quieter hostel Could see being great for a little bit of an older group. But for 20-year-old’s 945 lights off seems a little bit early.

I went to look at the hostel to book for the following night, rooms and common areas seemed fine. Reserved my dorm room and went back the following day to no answer at the gate. There is no doorbell or way to let someone know you are there. I spent ages in the hot sun, knocking and waiting for someone to come. I had to give up in the end and go to another hostel which is a shame. EDIT: they called me a liar in the reply below. I’m still in la fortuna so I’ll happy come up and show you where I was waiting. Why would I lie???? Ridiculous. I said to the guy who booked me in that I was changing hostels, he didn’t mention that you can’t come to the hostel at certain times. Not a good way to run a business.

Really nice, quiet, cute hostel. Their kitchen was notably good. They have a hostel dog named Mila that I’m pretty sure is either deaf or never was taught basic commands but she’s cute

Some of the best Yoga, Breathwork, Kundalini teachers. And the open air studio right on the beach tucked behind the shrubs. Truly good vibes!

I stayed in the female dorm with my teen daughter. This hostel is simple and clean (bathrooms and floors are cleaned professionally daily). It gave us a great home base to have adventures from, and we saved so much on lodging that we were able to do a LOT more fun stuff. Hostel staff booked tours, breakfast nearby, and transport to our next location without any problem, and all the services they connected us to were very professional, fairly priced, and safe. This is a perfect option if you are looking for: Affordability Cleanliness Peaceful and quiet environment Simplicity Easy access to town and adventure activities This hostel is not for you if you prefer: A highly social environment, parties Lots of bedroom space Luxury accommodations You may have to ask for things you need or want, but people here are happy to help. We did get our own sponge and hand towel in town because we used the kitchen a lot (a total of $3.50 usd). The kitchen is clean and has basic cooking tools. I recommend planning simple meals and bring your own seasonings and oils, as well as coffee and tea. There are lots of high end restaurants nearby but also many "sodas", small, affordable, local joints with really good food. Neighborhood feels very safe and quiet. The back porch and yard are so pleasant for relaxing or working, and there is a nice little yoga space.

The hostel is very outdated: Mold on the air conditioning and in the bathroom. The floor is like a building site and very dirty. There was also an ant infestation in the private room. Suitcase, backpack and bed were covers with little animals. As a result, the service was not helpful and we only got our money back after a long wait and many discussions.

One of the best hostels I've stayed in Centroamérica. Not only do dorms have a bathroom but also every bed has curtains, lights, a little fan and a socket! Ana is always willing to help and give you good advice about places and how to get there. The kitchen is amazingly well equipped and the common area has games and a ping-pong table, apart from some cute little lizards strolling around the garden. Great hostel!

Be careful with their prices. I felt like I was scammed. Not sure if it was the case of water that they overcharged or a tiny Hagen Daz. But I ended up paying 2 or 3 times more than I would pay back in the states. My guess is the case of water. You are better off buying individual water bottles

NO PRICE TAGS, OVERPRICED, BE CAREFUL! They sold tomato soup which had seal broken already. Went back within 10 minutes, but they refused to give a replacement. I had the bill with me also. Overpriced as well $16 for 8 bottle of water, $7 for soup! Prices are not displayed for any item. You get the idea right! Go somewhere else if you can. I have photos of bill and item taken. Let me try to post also. When I said I will complain the guy said go ahead🤔

Very good stock of beers. Especially local craft beers but also some foreign. You can drink them cold on their own patio. Cheers!

Careful when paying in cash, incorrect change may be given back if you don't watch out.

Great place to grab groceries or snacks. Not the biggest selection but good enough to get you by for a few days.

Good place for snacks and wine. Tons of candy and chips.

Fantastic.

I just had to share how impressed we were with our transport with Tropical Paradise Tours Costa Rica. Both to La fortuna and back to Liberia. Don Luis and Fabian were incredible! It was so nice to have safe, reliable transportation with our small children. They both were so kind and considerate and made this part of our journey stress free and enjoyable. I would highly recommend.

Best tour company!! I communicated with the owner Rebecca Gomez weeks before my family and I arrived in Costa Rica and she was incredibly helpful, responsive, and friendly from the moment I contacted her. She arranged a whole series of tours for us and everything was managed so well. We even got to go on a private tour with Rebecca herself and she was extremely knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and Costa Rican culture and history. We also got to see a ton of animals and birds- our time in La Fortuna was awesome from start to finish thanks to Tropical Paradise Tours! Gracias Rebecca- pura vida!

This was our time visiting Costa Rica. Tropical Paradise Tours was recommended to us by the Baldi Hot Springs Resort. My contact person was Rebecca. She made our vacation effortless. Our transportation from and back to the airport was perfect and affordable and our tours of the Arenal volcano, La Fortuna waterfall, suspension bridges and the chocolate, coffee and sloth tour were amazing. I can’t express how grateful I am to Rebecca!! Pura Vida!

Rebecca was amazing. She arranged a perfect day for us - hanging bridges, waterfall, lunch at a local farm and zip lining. Her knowledge of the history, culture and ecosystems made our experience beyond perfect. She taught us so much in one day. The local lunch was the best meal of our trip. I cannot say enough about how perfect our day was. Don’t miss this experience! 🇨🇷 Pura Vida 🐒🌋🦥

Rebecca thank you thank you thank you for making our stay in La Fortuna and transports from the airport and hotels while in Costa Rica the absolute highlights of our trip! Andres made us feel right at home and so comfortable arriving after overnight travel to get to San Jose and expertly navigating the winding roads to La Fortuna; our whitewater rafting excursion continues to be our kids favorite part of our trip even after learning to surf in Tamarindo and they have not stopped talking about their river guide Werner who found them over 10 sloths, native fruits, and medicinal leaves on our rafting tour: we can't recommend tropical paradise tours enough communication was easy and continuous before and during our trip; HIGHLY recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great service. Company provided transportation for 10 for 3 dinners in downtown La Fortuna. I contacted them before we arrived and gave them reservation time and date. Don Luis was our driver and we were enjoyed our ride. Nice not to worry about finding a ride for each meal. Thanks

We cannot speak highly enough regarding tropical paradise tours and Rebecca the owner and tour guide. She is incredibly knowledgeable and knows all the wonderful places to take you and what time of day is best to get there. She is very warm and outgoing and very caring of the comfort of her guests or clients. Anybody who books a tour with tropical Paradise Tours is in for a wonderful experience!