This was so much better than we were expecting! We booked a guided tour and I'm so glad we did. Our guide Alfonzo was FANTASTIC! He was so knowledgeable and clearly loved what he did. He was so excited about the wildlife and was able to spot things we never would have noticed. He got us some cool pictures with his lense and told us all about the wildlife we were seeing and some about the trees and different plants. We were lucky enough to see spider monkeys, an anteater, and a few different types of birds.

I cannot write enough good things about our experience. Myself + my Mom visited here at the end of September. We chose the 8am guided tour (7am was too early and it looked like 9am was going to have a lot more ppl). And we got so lucky! It ended up being just the two of us and our amazing guide Jorge. He was very knowledgable about the area, the plants, animals and ecosystem. We observed howler monkeys, countless birds, insects, frogs, a snake and even a tarantula!! It was just incredible. The views of the volcano and walking up high amongst the rainforest canopy cannot be described in words. Highly recommend.

This was such a fun experience for my family (ages 11-46yo). We arrived about an hour before our guided tour and ate lunch at their restaurant. They were doing some remodeling (so not their full menu) but still had something for everyone. We did the 1pm guided tour with Luis A. he was so kind and knowledgeable. He took so much time to talk about Costa Rica, the rainforest, and help us find animals. We LOVED every minute and the hanging bridges are such a cool experience. Don't miss out on this experience!

We had a fantastic experience on the guided Hanging Bridges. Spend the extra money and book the guided tour, it’s absolutely worth it! You’ll see several animals and have excellent close-up views. We would have missed them on our own. Our guide Roberto was very knowledgeable friendly, professional, and enthusiastic. At the end of the tour, he shared several photos and videos with our group. The tour exceeded our expectations and highly recommend him and this tour!

Amazing park. I saw some exotic birds lizards snakes and endless nature. The views of the arenal mountain from the hanging bridge was amazing. There are 5 bridges in total but I recommend visiting with a guide for best experience.

We had a wonderful experience on the guided Hanging Bridges tour and came away with new knowledge and beautiful photos. Spend the extra money and book the guided tour — it’s absolutely worth it! You’ll see many more animals and enjoy incredible close-up views through the guide’s binoculars and scope. We spotted two types of sloths, several birds, and even a viper — all things we likely would have missed on our own. Our guide Alonso was friendly, professional, and genuinely enthusiastic. We highly recommend him and this tour!

I visited by myself to walk the hanging bridges and see wildlife and it was such a life changing experience! I was just feet away from a 3 toed sloth 🦥 and everything was beautiful! Highly recommend and there are many ways to book guided tours as well as walking without one if you choose.

This was a phenomenal experience! We parked on the road right outside the entrance across the resort. We paid $5 to the gentleman who helped us. We arrived at 8:30 am on a Monday and we had the whole place pretty much to ourselves. At around 9 it started becoming busier. The water was pleasantly warm and relaxing and the experience of sitting on the warm river while surrounded by the beach trees was just magical. Highly recommend this!

NO CELL COVERAGE HERE - Read reviews before you travel there! 1. Not easy access. Highly recommend you take sandals/ water shoes to walk on the VERY rocky river bed. 2. The best pools you turn LEFT at the bottom of the steps and go through the dark tunnel - then turn RIGHT at the wall/ artificial waterfall and climb onto the dry river bank. (The guy in red is going the wrong way) THEN you can easily access an empty pool. VERY hard to go directly through the waterfall or left as you will see once you are there! 3. Some people don’t go through the tunnel at all and stay in the water right by the steps entrance. This is much faster flowing water and less places to keep your things dry. 4. Take some drink and speakers if you like! Some people stay here hours. The water is amazing! 5. Uber is the cheapest way to get here, however no cell coverage means you must walk uphill 5/7 mins before you can order a pick up to get back into town. Pics attached

Our experience at Tabacon was amazing. We came here for the first time in 2006 and it’s even better now. The hot springs are beautiful and relaxing, the food in the restaurant and wet bar was delicious, the staff were friendly and helpful. We got a day pass and booked a massage ahead of time. If you don’t book ahead of time you’ll unlikely get a spot the day of. The locker rooms were basic though, and make sure to bring a plastic bag for wet items as they don’t provide those. Overall, an incredible experience.

In our search for top attractions to visit in Costa Rica, we came across Tabacón Hot Springs—and I’m so glad we gave it a try. We purchased the one-day pass that included dinner, and it turned out to be a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. The hot springs are absolutely breathtaking. Imagine a lush tropical setting with natural flowing hot springs that feel like waterfalls—yes, you can literally sit under these warm, soothing waterfalls and relax. It’s unlike any hot spring I’ve ever seen—spacious, serene, and beautifully integrated with nature. Best of all, it wasn’t crowded at all during our visit. At times, it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves, which made the experience even more special and rejuvenating. As for the dinner, we were genuinely impressed. It was a well-thought-out three-course meal with a creative presentation, delicious flavors, and top-notch service. From the starter to the main course and dessert, every bite was a delight. I’m truly glad we added the dining option to our package—it elevated the experience. Overall, Tabacón exceeded our expectations in every way. From the natural beauty of the springs to the peaceful atmosphere and exceptional dining, it was one of the highlights of our time in Costa Rica. If you’re visiting the area, do not miss this place—it’s the best hot spring I’ve ever been to and an experience you won’t forget. Highly recommended!

This was one of favorite things about Costa Rica. I thought it would be more crowded but we almost always had an area/pool all to ourselves. The resort is very clean and beautifully maintained. The restaurant was wonderful and everyone was very nice. We can’t wait to come back again.

I bought day pass for $100. You only get access to the pool and thermal river- which is almost the same temperature every where, and has some waterfalls. No access to jacuzzi or saunas section. No maps were provided- we had to walk around just to figure out where is what. The grounds are nice. We were bored and had nothing to do after 2hours. This is not worth the price and definitely not a whole day activity.

Excellent service, very good rooms, and outstanding restaurant for dinner. The tours are well crafted, the hot springs are quite therapeutic with a natural feel. Will come back.

Amazing place to be. We have spent the full day there and it was such a relaxing day! The place is designed really well, very green, so you don’t fill like it is crowded. We also got a lunch at the bar + some drinks. Food was good (hamburger and pad thai), served quite fast.

A group of friends and I were celebrating a birthday in Costa Rica. The itinary was planned by said birthday girl. This was what she wanted to do for her birthday. While the pools were beautiful and photogenic, there was many disappointments. 1. The food that we ordered was not amazing. A 5 star resort having mediocre food is startling. Ordered a burger that was supposed to be angus beef chuck, it wasn’t. Ceviche was mediocre, and they only had one option of fresh juice (in a tropical paradise) - pineapple. 2. The check in and checkout were quite outdated. Took 5-7min to check in and out of a day at a hot spring. 3. There wasn’t a pool that was really hot. Was hoping for a hot pot or the like, but the warmest was around 90 degrees. To summarize, this place is not worth the price and amenities. $80 is just way too much to be spending on a mediocre experience. Won’t be back.

Gorgeous view, delicious pizza and lots of options. On our way to Mistico we decided to stop here for lunch. It was easy to park and pull into. The menu had a lot of sandwich, pizzas and full entree. They also had some great photo spots set up along with swings right in front of volcano arenal. A small kids area and lots of seating does make it kid friendly too.

This place is amazing! The atmosphere is excellent, service top notch, and the food makes me want to come back for more! We highly recommend. We were looking for steaks specifically, their menu has a variety.

We were in our way to our next destination when we saw this restaurant. Absolutely beautiful open air restaurant with high quality food. They pay attention to the little details, like they branded the logo into the bun! The IPA has their own private label. I know we shouldn't have cheeseburgers in another country but I had to scratch that hitch and it was good! Funny The waitress tried to serve the burger to my son.... The responsible kids had a traditional Costa Rican dishes that I tried and the beef was so tender. The portions were a large and generous and the prices were fair. I highly recommend going out of your way to dine here!

Ceviche was amazing! I'm drooling just thinking about it now. Best hamburger! If you're craving one in Costa Rica... Go here! It melted in your mouth. We got the virgin Piña colada and the mango smoothie too, both were so delicious! Another huge hit was the fish platter and Carmen's chicken! The ambiance there was so beautiful. Scenery is stunning, cute hanging swings in the front, wide open dining area with the smell of smoked wood in the back from the meat chef. it was delicious and just perfect. We were all satisfied. Our friends last night in Costa Rica was this night and they said this was the best food they had their whole time here.

Tommy like steak!!! Man what a great meal I just had. Staying at Tabacon and found this restaurant just a stones throw away. The beef was fantastic as were the sides. Angela was super sweet and such a good server. A++++

Three of us ordered the grilled sea bass but received fried tilapia and steamed vegetables that lacked flavor. While the meal didn't meet our expectations in terms of taste and presentation, the service was friendly and welcoming. However, the food must match the description on the menu to create a satisfying dining experience.

Found this restaurant when staying at the Kioro resort across the way. About 1 minute drive from the resort in case you’re wondering. We had several dishes on the menu including several cuts of steak and every one of them was amazing! Not sure if they serve grass fed beef, or cook over a wood fired grill, or what, but they’re very good. Everything else that was grilled was also excellent including the brownie a-la-mode. Highly recommend!

Do NOT pay extra for a tour guide for this hike. We loved the fact the hike is almost all shaded. The waterfall is beautiful and we got a decent workout on the way back up. The water is refreshing and very clear. Expected a more environmentally friendly space. We also didn’t see a single animal except for a few fish in the water.

500 stairs up and down but it is a really nice walk. Down you can have a refreshing bath in two places a natural swimming pool surrounded by trouts or directly down in the waterfall, (careful it is very slippery)

Absolutely breathtaking and beautiful. The waterfall and surrounding flora are something to behold. Very romantic as well. The stairs are tough. Consider it will take you a lot longer to go up the 500+ steep stairs. Absolutely worth the trek.

The waterfall was amazing! You could swim and hang out in the creeks the water felt like a cold plunge so refreshing. There was 500 stairs so it was a hard time coming back up. But they have stopping points on the way to take breaks.

A Must See. Breath taking. It’s a bit of a work out getting there but worth it. There are over 500 steps. Plenty of rest stops. We weren’t able to swim near the falls due to heavy rains but did get to go in the river. Cool and refreshing. Bring water shoes if possible.

Changing down by the falls makes it little tricky. If you need to change do it upstairs. Walk down is not but coming back up takes a while. Some area is very steep. Water is cold. We were allowed to swim today. There is a life guard in couple of sections.

One of the most amazing experiences ever. Beautiful views and the cold water was so refreshing. The stairs all the way down there was not too fun but I guess worth it. We will be back to this amazing place for sure.

Great tour to see alot. Definately get a guide. Cost was 45 usd for 2 of us to have a guided tour. We did not make a reservation and only had to wait about 20 min for a tour to start. Our guide, Dennis, was able to find so many things that we wouldnt have found on our own. Also, the guides have tripod monocular to see better and get photos with your phone. Let the guides take photos for you. They'll get the best shot.

Firstly, William was a fantastic guide. Incredible knowledge and eagle-eyed skills to spot all sorts of animals and critters. Thank you for your insight and kindness. Plainly: You will see many animals and more on this tour. We saw our first sloth within one minute on the trails. There is an interesting history to the property that the guide will share with you. The lush, dense forest is fascinating. We didn't even book ahead, just walked up. Most tours are on the hour, so plan accordingly. Bring water.

It was nice, but felt a little bit like walking around in the zoo. Without a guide, you're not gonna see sloths that aren't moving. We went for a guided tour at 8am and saw a few moving sloths which we spotted ourselves. The telescope by the guide is nice to make higher quality pictures or videos for sure. The guide also spotted some owls and a relatively big brown lizard.

We did a morning sloth walk tour and it was great. Our guide was really knowledgeable and had an amazing eye for spotting animals we never would have seen - he was also great at taking photos of the animals for us. We only saw a few sloths as there was a lot of rain but we also saw a ton of different frogs and some birds.

not just sloths! while we did see four sloths on our walk, there were also plenty of other animals like frogs and birds to see and take photos of. our tour guide William was fabulous. he was really good at taking photos with and without the telescope that each guide carries and had eagle eyes to see the animals. the cold pineapple at the end of the tour was the cherry on top. definitely worth a trip!

We had an incredible visit with a guided tour. Would recommend using a guide, they are extremely knowledgeable and speak great English. You won’t see a lot without their telescopes, and they will help you take videos and photos through their lenses. We saw about 7 sloths, including mothers with babies. Don’t be put off going around midday, the guides will know where to find the sloths from trips earlier in the day

You absolutely need to go with a guide if you want to see anything. My guide, Alex, was wonderful. He obviously cares very deeply for the animals, and he is very knowledgeable about them. He was dedicated to making sure we saw sloths and helped us take great pictures of them.

A must visit location in La fortuna, about $72 cad per person to enter but so worth the money. Multiple hot pools at different temperatures and lots of swim up bars. The drinks are priced and an expected price and service is good. The slides are wild, I'm not sure I enjoyed any of them to be honest, fun would be the wrong word, they were very quick and the toilet bowl pool is to shallow and my partner cut his head open hitting the pool. There's lots of fun to be has but be very cautious on the slides.

We weee there in off season and the place was pretty quiet which was wonderful. The grounds are well taken care of and the place is so beautiful. The pools always felt clean and there are so many of them to choose from. The rooms were comfortable and had all we needed. The rooms were clean when we got there and they kept them clean during our stay. The breakfast was delicious, and we had some desserts that were also amazing. Baldi is one of the best places I have stayed, they treat you like VIP the whole time you are there! The food in the upper restaurant was good, but nothing spectacular. It is a buffet style and there was a lot to choose from and had good flavor.

I spent at the Baldi a relaxing day at the thermal area with a day ticket. I bought it with getyourguide. It was more expensive so you can buy your day spa ticket also at the main entrance for less money what I would recommend now. First of all the thermal water and spa area is wonderful and very nice. I really liked it and could relax in the end. What I really did not like in the Baldi was in the beginning at the reception. The operator I booked the ticket and the computer system of the hotel did not fit together. I understand that technical problems can happen. The problem was the customer service. They saw my valid ticket and that I paid everything correctly but at the same time they treat my like a foreigner who did something wrong. They let me wait outside of the hotel for more than one hour in the rain. Just to find out in the end that it was there fault because of their IT-systems. I could not even speak to the Manager and they did not give me a written confirmation of not letting me in (for getyourguide or the insurance). And after all this negative experience they did not Even excuse for their shitty behaviour. So for the customer service zero points.

Very nice experience. Stayed with my family and 2 small kids. During the week in October was so nice, not busy and totally relaxing. I have stayed with Tabacon before, but this resort is way more for fun kids and incorporates more bars into pools. They are currently not accepting credit cards, so bring your cash. Located near downtown Arenal, so you can explore there easily and take tours.

We paid $98 for a day pass for two adults, included parking and ability to leave and come back until 10 pm. There was an ability to upgrade to include a meal. Drinks were a bit overpriced, cocktails ran about $20-25 each. Overall, the multiple different hot springs was cool to see but I don’t think we needed to spend more than a day there. The natural sauna was really cool to hangout around. All the pools have slightly different temperatures, and the swim up bars were covered so we could still hangout while it rained.

Our family booked a one-day resort pass, and we had the most amazing time. They have a few fun water slides which the kids loved. They are a little dangerous I might add. They also have many different thermal pools. We spent our day exploring all of them. We arrived around 1pm and left at 8pm. We had the most relaxing time! Their cocktails and food were very affordable and tasty. The service was also great. Great place to add to your itinerary when in La Fortuna. You'll easily spend one whole day exploring their different pools. I highly recommend!

We had a great day exploring the different pools, there were plenty to hop between, each offering something unique and variety of pool temperatures, which made it easy to find something comfortable. The hidden sauna was a nice surprise, and the water slides were extreme and fun. One slide near the kids area could use a deeper landing pool. I hit the bottom both times I tried it and hit my elbow on the second ride. Parking was plentiful, even on a Saturday, and I liked that the changing rooms were separate from the restrooms. My only complaint was about the drinks. They were overpriced and not so good, with barely any alcohol. Plus, they only accepted cash, which is pretty inconvenient when you're in swimwear. Not many people carry cash while in a pool area, credit card payment should definitely be an option.

We had the luxury room, our view of the volcano from our balcony was gorgeous. The staff greeted us upon arrival were very polite and professional. Our room was nice however the room with the hot tub in it was very slippery maybe some matting would be safer for clients. Also we went out in evening and returned and found an enormous amount of ants. All in all nice room good staff not far from town .

Paradise Hot Springs is our go to spot for thermal pools! The pools are amazing and there are so many different temperatures! There is even an amazing swim-up pool bar. ( with things for kids)The food is delicious; there is something for everyone. The lady who personally makes you eggs is so skilled! The rooms are amazingly comfortable, even if you don’t stay in the most expensive ones(though I do love their view). And you get a special pool just for guests! The girl who checked us in was so nice, friendly and helpful! As for the location, it is perfect! The hotel is right in front of the Arenal Volcano, perfect for photos. All in all, I highly recommend Paradise Hot Springs.

It’s the place to enjoy the Hot springs in the area. Very tastefully designed and decorated aswell as located. A boutique experience. Nice hot springs . Multiple pools. Very well maintained. Good breakfast. Amazing staff. It’s the place to be away from the madness but still get to enjoy the Hot springs at your convenience.

Paradise Hot Springs in La Fortuna is truly a gem! The location is beautiful and peaceful, surrounded by nature with amazing views of the area. The rooms are comfortable and well-kept, and the hot springs are absolutely relaxing — the perfect way to unwind. It’s a great getaway from the city, with excellent amenities and delicious food. Highly recommend for anyone looking for rest, relaxation, and a touch of luxury in Costa Rica!

We flew from Maui and drove from San Jose and after traveling for almost 24 hours this place was like heaven. Truly paradise. If I could stay here for a whole month I would. Hot springs were all amazing. Food was great. Service was great. If I ever come back to Costa Rica, I will definitely come back.

We only came for the hot springs on a day pass! Fantastic for a rainy day!! All the pools were amazing and the swim up bar is always a good idea!!

Our room was big with a hot tub and always very clean. They arranged for rides to and from airport ~$200 US each way for 2.5 - 4 hr trip. Van had great air conditioning and drivers were very friendly. Hotel staff was great. Pool was very nice and warm. Great view of volcano from roomy balcony. Breakfast was 3.5 stars. Had very fresh fruit and juice. Coffee was inconsistent ranging from 1.5 - 4 stars. Eggs were a little runny at times but overall decent breakfast. Had a really fresh and tasty poke bowl and upstairs cafe with nice volcano view. We did have like 40 ants in the room first night but we killed them and hotel staff sprayed. It is in the jungle and right by the mountains so some to be expected. Was very clean rest of stay. We loved the super comfy bed and shower was great. Great location with cheap Uber less than 10 mins from most places. 30 mins or so to hanging bridges. Birds can be loud starting at sunrise but we had earplugs and headphones with noise app so no issue. Nice to hear birds once up. Air conditioning worked great. Had it in 19-23 range throughout day and colder at night. No issues.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A magical place in the heart of nature Arenal Observatory Lodge is a truly beautiful spot inside one of Costa Rica’s most stunning natural reserves. It’s surrounded by incredible biodiversity and offers breathtaking views of the Arenal Volcano and the lake. This place feels magical — perfect for anyone who loves nature, hiking, and peaceful surroundings. It’s also ideal for couples, honeymooners, or anyone looking to reconnect with the natural world in a respectful and mindful way. Birdwatchers will absolutely love it — every sunrise and sunset is filled with the sound and color of countless bird species. I highly recommend this lodge to all nature lovers who want to experience the true essence of Costa Rica. 🌿✨

The room was amazing, and we were even upgraded. The view from the room was incredible. We also enjoyed the activities offered within the property, like the hanging bridge, the frog pond, and the waterfall. Just beautiful. The staff was wonderful and paid attention to every detail to make sure we had a great experience. We had a very pleasant stay and I definitely recommend this place. Big thank you to Howard who went above and beyond during our stay.

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails is a jewel in the world. The proximity to the volcano is awe inspiring. The facilities are truly what I love about Costa Rica, traditional, comfortable and real. The rooms are so amazing with views that will be in your memories for ever. Service is refunded and a focus of this location, from check in to check out, the staff is wonderful. We have had dinner in the restaurant twice and the food is very good as are the craft beers and specialty drinks. We have had the pleasure of being looked after by Maria at the first dinner and Marcela at the second dinner. Such a pleasure to have met them and have enjoyed their hospitality. This lodge is taking great effort to curate a unique and very special experience. Please add this place to your list of special trips in your list of life’s adventures.

AOL did not disappoint! We stayed for 4 nights and didn’t need to leave, there was plenty to do and see. Overall we had an amazing experience. The White Hawk villa deck each morning was our personal bird watching; we were able to add 27 species to our bird list! We booked several tours and were very satisfied with the animals:monkeys, birds, frogs, & snakes. I recommend booking the night tour with Abner and the bird tour with Aaron.

Great experience!!! I have been her already three years ago and came back, because it was so impressive and beautiful! Great accessibility, lots of animals, great service, the rooms are also very nice! Service staff in the restaurant is very friendly and attentive. I know it is quite expensive in the high Season, but in low season they have very good offers and even gave us a room upgrade :) So worth coming back!!!

Arenal observatory was above expectation. We went there 3 nights, for our wedding anniversary & my birthday. I got a little attention that always make the difference. The staff are amazing ! The food is really great, we ate there the 3 nights. Breakfast is also delicious. Special mention to Howard, that was very attentive & also speaks French :)

We had such a great time here! We came out for the day to do the trails and eat at the restaurant. We saw a band of coatis. The views were amazing and Maria our server went above and beyond for us at lunch. They didn't have the poke bowl I originally wanted but the chef made me something very similar which honestly was probably better then the original lol. The rest of the food was cooked perfectly and tasted great! We will definitely come back!

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.

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!

Very accessible hikes suitable for all ages. Most parts are tree-covered so it wasn’t too hot (early June). The mountain view at the end of the longest trail is a bit of a hike up some stairs and volcanic rock, so that part will be a bit more challenging for younger or older people. The whole hiking (all trails included) should take around 2 hours at a leisurely pace.

The park was pretty underwhelming. There were a total of three trails. And the viewing platform was roped off because it had holes in the floor. And the volcano was clouded over as it usually is. I didn’t get to see about five wild Toucans so that was good.

We visited the National Park , taking the half hour or so, absolutely stunning, scenic drive to the park from La Fortuna. It was really easy to get to, even if you're not great with directions or driving in foreign countries. FYI, their roads are pretty good there, for the most part, and they drive on the right side of the road. We had a Hyundai SUV, and it was fine with everything that we did. We drove down to the very last parking lot in the park, and looked at the maps. We decided to do #4 and #5, the Ceiba Tree path, and another one. The Ceiba Tree path was an offshoot of the lass challenging path. It was a bit harder than the main one. If you're really out of shape, have hip or knee problems, I would be hesitant to do it. There were a lot of roots and loose rocks on the path. There's a volcano lookout, as well. Along the route driving up and back from La Fortuna, that's where you will find all of the hot springs spas. Tabacon, Baldi, probably 6+. Those are definitely worth checking out! There are fabulous hotels at the hotel springs, as well, or you can buy day passes. Do not miss this park!

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.

So delicious!! Everything was amazing, we had a group of 15 and we were all tourists but they were so kind and gave us amazing service. I ordered the grilled tuna with shrimp and it was super delicious! The lemon pie with a scoop of ice cream is probably the best dessert I've had while traveling, if you're coming through I highly recommend!!

We stopped here for lunch following a tour with Nayara Springs, The lunch was fantastic and the beef was so tender. The place was super quiet but the chef came out to say hello. this place used only the best local ingredient’s and certainly worth a stop

A big place clearly catering to the tourists. It was almost too much for us but we decided to give it a try. The food was better than we were expecting and the service was good. It was a little pricey but still worth the visit.

What a beautiful restaurant. I went there for lunch on a Sunday. We had the pizza. It was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend the Selva Rustica pizza… I think it was the best pizza I’ve ever eaten. I definitely want to come back. We saw that they had all different types of seafood. They have dry steaks, a wide variety of cocktails, and a really nice wine selection. For me this place is a total package, the food the service and the atmosphere were wonderful. I highly recommend and I’ll definitely be back.

Food was amazing here. Lots of variety. I got a pizza only because it was wood fired. All other dishes were large portions. Saw a sloth there too!

Tomohawk : 8.5/10 Solomo Steak: 8/10 Sauces: Chimichurri 10/10 House Passion Fruit Margarita: 10/10 Neon Signs / artwork - fun and added character to tropical location. We had our last dinner in La Fortuna and we were treated to a wonderful steak dinner with incredible service. Mario was attentive and very friendly. The location is beautiful and had a wonderful outdoor feel. Glad we came to SelvaRustica.

The best restaurant we’ve tried in Costa Rica. + the octopus in tomato sauce, the seafood rice and the avocado stuffed with octopus and shrimp were delicious! + lovely menu with a great variety. Their specialty is seafood dishes in my opinion + the sangria is delicious. It doesn’t have added sugar, just lots of fruits and red wine + the waiters are friendly and very helpful; the service is very fast

Que Rico Arenal is a wonderful spot for tourists. They have ample parking and the vibe is very nice with an indoor/outdoor style that lets you cool off while also enjoying the sunshine and views. We had the focaccia original and the veggie pizza with jalapenos. They provide some seasonings like an herby olive oil, crushed red pepper and parmesan. The service was very friendly. Highly recommend to any vegetarians.

I was not expecting Italian food to be this yummy in CR! The pasta wasn’t made from scratch but the sauce and flavor were phenomenal and Karina was amazing. Clean and simple ingredients that elevated the flavor of the food. Highly recommend!

I was skeptical being a hotel restaurant, but this was the best food I had in La Fortuna. Quiet during slow season. Ambience is a little odd at night—could use better lighting and air circulation, but the food and service were excellent. Portions were generous for the price. Good sangria, too.

A delightful Italian restaurante & pizzeria with great selections on the menu and an amazing ambience. We stopped here for a late afternoon coffee and snack and ordered smoothies, coffee and focaccia bread. The coffee, though regular, tasted really nice and smooth. The smoothies were made using fresh fruits and we could taste the freshness, they were so yummy. We also ordered the margarita pizza packed to go, along with the coconut flan for dinner and both items were very good too! The restaurant have a wonderful exterior. Unlike a lot of other restaurants in this area, they do not have a view of the volcano or the lake to showcase; instead their guest seating opens into a lush green and well maintained lawn that is absolutely amazing to look into! The staff are friendly and had helpful suggestions to share. Lovely experience ❤️

We stopped for a late lunch/early dinner and decided to have pizza. A no rice meal. We actually each ordered a medium pizza wanting to have leftovers to take back to the hotel. The pizza was good, but not great. I think we may have had high expectations after reading some of the reviews. It was cloudy and rainy while we were there and we were the only customers. So it was a bit dark and gloomy in the restaurant, no view of the volcano.

Coming during the low season has been a blessing in disguise and this restaurant is no different. We happened to be the only customers around 5:30pm on a Monday but I can't tell you how great the service was as well as the quality of our meals. My wife enjoyed a traditional Costa Rican chicken and rice meal while I tried the chicken alfredo. Great meals all the way around paired with a margarita and you need to save room for the great desserts! The triple chocolate brownie and ice cream is 10/10. We will be back the next time we're here in Fortuna. ps - The views of the volcano are just an added bonus.

Delicious Italian food, very surprised! We stayed at the Arenal Inn and decided to have dinner at the restaurant on our last night. We got sangria, mango smoothie, tilapia fish, and pizza (volcan and prosciutto half & half) - everything was delicious! Service was caring and friendly. Atmosphere was relaxing and romantic with some classical music on the background.

Great Soda tucked away near La Fortuna Waterfall. Friendly Service along with great food. Free Wifi is a plus. Definitely Stop after the waterfall for s great meal. We came back for dinner and again we were not disappointed. If i child gives it more stars we would.

Excellent food at a very reasonable price. Highly recommend. Just to be clear, they don't have all of the fresh squeezed juices on hand. They have some of them from the main restaurant in town in jugs. But the casados are exactly how you want them. Really nice. Next time I am going to order pinto con Maduro y Salxhicon.

This Soda is about a 3 minute walk from my Air B&B. I got the Arroz con Pollo and a blackberry (Mora) smoothie. Everything was flavorful and delicious! I will be back to try some of their other items. The ladies there were very kind and provided great service!

This place was exactly what we were looking for! It was our first “Soda” experience, and it was so yummy. They were very nice, too! They also sell very cute jewelry.

The best soda we ate at in La Fortuna. If you know about this place you probably saw it on social media because you won’t find it, even if you were lost. The food was amazing and reasonably priced. Family run and amazing staff. I recommend ordering a couple of plates to try some different stuff. You eat outside, under some tarps in plastic chairs at a plastic table. It is literally everything I love about small hole in the wall style places.

I love small hole in the wall eateries that serve delicious local cuisine, fresh and vibrant full of flavor. I love supporting small businesses. The food was good, presentation was beautiful. Atmosphere was laid back and chill, I felt like I was at my Abueilas home for a warm plate of delicious food.

The best food in La Fortuna, hands down. We came here 2 days in a row and wish we had found out about it sooner. The family who runs it is super kind and welcoming and WOW is their food delicious. Huge, tasty, good priced portions. Don’t miss out on the jugos naturales, either! Tried soursop for the first time and it was so so tasty. They also have a little heladeria attached to it (we may have dabbled in a banana split for good measure after dinner). Go here and you will not be disappointed! (Also, tons of birds in the area and we saw 4 yellow-throated toucans as a bonus the first day!)

Our B&B owns thus restaurant, great breakfasts included, a few items to choose from. cooked to order, tasty and very local. The pizza is very good, no menu pick what you want on it!

A culinary delight with an incredible chief! Luisa's cooking is absolutely phenomenal and it is very obvious that she puts her heart and soul into every dish. The pizza is worth every bite and the chicken with pineapple salsa is melt in your mouth delicious. The honey garlic salmon is melt in your mouth incredible. The shrimp pasta was delicious. Jaun is a friendly guy and is a great waiter, although a little slow at water refills. Highly recommend this restaurant. Just try it, you won't regret the decision.

The Phoenix was absolutely incredible! The best ceviche I ever tasted. The salmon, which was a special, was so delicious! It had a tangy sauce that was divine, I had to order it again the next night! The steak was also phenomenal and the jalapeño chicken was so good with a nice kick too. Highly highly recommend this restaurant. The staff was also incredibly friendly and accommodating. We spent New Years there as well, and it was wonderful!

A hidden gem with a genius chef. Louisa makes the best pineapple salsa which tastes great on everything: chicken, pizza, fish. Juan is a kind server who appreciates and respects every guest. Their wood-fired pizza oven cranks out amazing pizza with any sauce or topping you can imagine. The honey ginger salmon is the best I have ever had. We have gone back again and again hungry for more.

The place is nice and serves really good food. Staff is extremely friendly and speaks well english. You need to be patient though since it takes same time to get your dish ready, we waited over an hour for our dinner and we were the only customers there. Everything was fresh. The prices are pretty high given the secluded area the restaurant is placed at.

A wonderful group of people that are so warm and accommodating. We often showed up late and early and were always welcome with open arms. The food is wonderful and the view is incredible.

Where do I begin?! Juan and his wife are absolutely amazing hosts. The view from The Phoenix is incredible. The food is made with amor, it is fresh and delicious. They have something on the menu for everyone from traditional Costa Rican to spaghetti/pizza. We will absolutely be back. Thank you for your hospitality Juan!

Nice place to go with kids The toilets and facilities are old, And not always super clean BUT the place has many pools and the kids loved the slides! Quite a nice idea for a few hours after the nature walks!

Very nice clean pools, beautiful landscaping and family friendly hot springs experience. This was a good value and great way to spend a day in La Fortuna. The waterslides were fun for kids and adults. Changing room and restrooms were clean. Overall a terrific experience for the family.

This was the best full day in Costa Rica so far. I am a huge kid and we were there on a weekday, there were zero lines and I went down every slide so many times. Also there were like 4 huge empty parking lots so I am assuming it could be very very busy depending on the time of the year. Best swim up bar I have found in my life, drinks are cheap and made very well with just enough booze to keep.you coming back for another one.

Great for families with young kids! We were lucky to have it almost empty and with discounts at the entrance. Beautiful surrounding with great termal pools.

Just finished with our visit which included 2 adults and 2 children which cost $71 USD ($36,000 colones). The check in was smooth and the employee was very nice although he didn’t speak English. He advised two if the main slides (tube required) were shut down for maintenance and the kids area was being repainted so we were unable to use those two areas. We were literally the only guests time we were there. We still highly enjoyed the 3 main slides, the open slide was slow and easy for the kiddos, the enclosed slide was medium/high speed, and the straight down was very fast. The family pool area is the natural hot spring which I’d guess is in the high 80’s or low 90’s. It was very enjoyable. None of the employees we ran into spoke English but they were all very kind. I’m sure once everything is open it’s an incredible value for the family.

The only redeeming factor at this place was that it was practically empty when we went, so we never had to stand in lines. But the slide equipment is in serious disrepair. You can see paint peeling off of all of the large slides, and feel it scraping your back when you go down. Water is gushing out of cracks under some of the slides, many of them didn't have enough water running down to keep our kids moving, they got stuck and had to scoot down. The staff actually doesn't monitor when other riders have gotten to the bottom of the slide, so we collided with another raft on El Mamut and almost knocked them off the side of the slide. My wife crashed heads with a child in the other raft, luckily he wasn't seriously hurt. They didn't even have a staff member monitoring the triple slide, kids were just going whenever they wanted. Shortly after that, both the largest slides were closed after only being open for 20 minutes. The triple slide was closed down when we left too. Don't expect that all of the attractions will be operating. All that said, it was cheap. About $35 for a family of 4 because they were having a 2 for 1 sale. Just be warned, it looks nothing like what you see on their website.

We had a good time, there are many pools with hot and warm water, different decorations, surrounded by jungle, overall quite lovely; there are bars on the pool, but mostly closed, as we were in low season and there were hardly visitors there at all :) so it was half-staffed, I'm guessing. The slides are also OK, a bit rusty in appearance, but it's fun and you have a view on Arenal just before you slide off the top! The kids enjoyed all the slides and the huge overturning bucket. For the price, it's definitely a cool place to spend an afternoon with family.

One of my favourite parts of our whole trip to CR! We did the outside loop 6km hike on a weekday morning during rainy season (end of May). The hike was not too difficult apart from the lava part which was a bit more challenging. It took us about 3h in total which included many stops for photos and animal watching (we were lucky enough to see lots of very active monkeys!). We unfortunately went on a pretty overcast day so couldn't see the volcano but felt the hike was absolutely still worth it. No issues with crowding and it was a bit cheaper than the other volcano hikes. Highly recommend!!

The park is amazing for birding. We went early in the morning and saw many birds on a sunny day. The paths are very nice and there are many. Saw many wildlife and birds to our surprise as we had not seen so many in a single place since we arrived in LaFortuna The view of the volcano there is better that in they Arenal park and on a sunny day, the view they have is incredible The nicest park we visited in Costa Rica so far and the best thing, it is only $10 per person to visit.

VERY hard and long steps so if you are mobility challenged take your pics from the parking lot (it's still a fabulous view) takes a while to get to the top so plan hours accordingly. Plenty of parking and guided tours are available.

It was fine. The jungle is dense & in the heat somewhat challenging. The viewpoint was nice & you have different trails you can take. Not much wildlife sightings when we were there

$10pp entry fee. During the hike you will see two lakes, cows, volcano view, and lava rocks. I highly recommend coming here if you are on a budget. The trails aren’t as well maintained as the more expensive trails but they were good enough. There are picnic tables at the second parking lot about halfway through to take a break.

This was my most favorite place in our entire CR trip. Just $10 each to get into some amazing hikes. We did the full route all around the park. There were times I felt like we were deep in the Amazon rainforest. At the top you come out into some open fields. We saw some wildlife like moneys. Also ran into some friendly cows. It was a cloudy day so we didn’t get a good view of the volcano, but it was still 100% worth the trip. It was quite a hike and did take some effort.

Awesome! $10 entry fee, not crowded at all, nice trails, beautiful volcano view, animals. What else could you ask for? Oh and lots of mosquitoes. Bring bug spray.

We loved this hike! We did the 3 mile red trail but there are shorter trails as well. It took us a little less than 2 hours. The trails are well marked and really interesting! A shout out to Jean Pierre at the reception desk who was very gracious and helpful, and to Nicolas working at the small outdoor restaurant where we enjoyed iced coffee and fresh pineapple on their patio overlooking the Arenal Volcano!

We did the long tour with 3 kids (youngest 6yo). Took us 2.5 hours. Nice walk around the volcano base with nice views. The walk might be challenging for the soundest one if they are not used to walk. We definitely enjoyed it ! Don’t forget to bring water

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!

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.

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!

Does exactly what it says on the tin. Well-marked trail. Not much else to say. Quite pricey - hence 4* I was expecting at least some evidence of previous lava flow, but just had igneous rocks/boulders on and around the trail. NB in terms of challenge - We did the yellow trail - our nearly-three year old toddler managed it all.

What an incredible hike. Saw a coral snake, incredible views, and had a great time. We did the long route, and it took about 2 hours. Definitely recommend this hike.

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.

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!!!

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.

Enjoyed seeing the volcano! The hike is very easy and almost completely flat. Entry was $17 per person (this ticket gives entry to every part, so the hikes as well as the peninsula) If it is too cloudy to fully see the volcano, just wait a bit, sometimes the clouds move a lot within minutes! I recommend the following order: 1. Hiking trail 4 or 5 (5 is just a small extra part) to the first viewpoint 2. Driving route 6 to another viewpoint 3. Driving to the peninsula for another short hike (route 1 or 2). This trail has 3 viewpoints. We saw a coati and some pigs as well! This took us about 4 hours. Not sure how hard it is to visit all this without a car.

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

Great! Very nice hike/walk. We saw a snake and some other small animals. Views of the volcano and Lake Arenal

Not crowded and was able to capture a glimpse of the volcano. Trails are decently maintained. You can arrive via Uber or taxi and walk into the park without a vehicle needed. You can access trails 3,4,5 from there. The longer trail will take you by the old tree (pic posted) which was cool. Great views, but make sure you access the viewing platform at the end of trail 4 down the steps. There is also a bus that will take you to the lake side of the park but we didn't make it there. Tickets are good for 1 day and at 16.95 you should plan to spend the day, but bring food and water.

We ate in this restaurant several times while staying at the Volcano Lodge, mostly for breakfast, but we had dinner and drinks one night. They put on a really good breakfast buffet, no issue there. Dinner was good, although I'd rate it as very average. The big disappointment was with the happy hour drinks, they were very weak. It was like drinking juice. I don't think I've ever experienced mediocre drinks at a happy hour, maybe I've been lucky. Anyway, no excuse for that, if they can't serve decent cocktails, don't do a happy hour.

Our experience was a mix of highs and lows. The sea bass was a highlight—perfectly cooked and full of flavor. However, the salmon didn’t feel as fresh, and it ended up tasting a bit bitter, which was disappointing. On the wine side, the Malbec stood out as a much better choice than the Cabernet. The real standout was the service: attentive, detailed, and genuinely welcoming, which made the overall experience enjoyable despite the food inconsistencies. With some improvements in freshness, this could be a great spot!

The food is delicious, the customer service is great and the interior environment is splendid. However, there's are few highlights I was to identify. there is a limitation of creativity in the Menu. It's a short list of options to choose from and the ones available are quite expensive; consider economic dishes for other budgets. There could also portray better lighting in the surrounding. It was quite dark outside and it wasn't a positive modest. Overall, the experience was quite enjoyable but I feel that there is more potential in food and environment. We'll visit again.

The food was great, the service was great. It all changed in the last 30 minutes of the meal when our desserts were sent to the wrong table. We were told it would take 10 minutes to get new desserts, and we finally got our desserts 30 minutes later. When the receipts came, they were all incorrect after we told them which rooms we were in. We asked to have them fixed, and the receipts were still incorrect.

Surprised by some very mixed reviews here but I’m glad that mine was a very good one. Good service, reasonable price ($30 for a bottle of French wine, $28 main). The food I had was delicious, tilapia fillet + shrimps in avocado sauce. It was very well made and plated.

I don’t know where to begin… this was by far the most exquisite restaurant I’ve been too. I’m not even kidding…hands down one of the best meals in my entire life. And I went (TWICE)!! I got the blackberry juice and Herb Chicken tonight, which is gluten free (Pollo a las hierbas) and it was divine. I wish I wasn’t leaving and could stay here for a week just to eat their food! They have an amazing breakfast too…an entire omlet and waffle station, and a huge buffet of food. From fruit , to rice, to pancakes, even sausage…you’ll be guaranteed to find something you like here. I want to applaud the staff at this fine establishment for all of their hard work. They have created fine dining with a beautiful view of Arenal Volcano. I would come here again , and I would recommend to family and friends. Thank you for making my dining experience memorable…this is a memory I will cherish forever, gracias Pura Vida 🇨🇷🦥

I can't rave enough about this restaurant. Before arriving to Volcano Lodge as a guest, I backpacked all the way up and down the Pacific coast and nicoya peninsula. I probably have eaten at 50-60 different restaurants in my time in Costa Rica, ranging from Soda's to steakhouses and bistros. I can say without a doubt that Sura is the best food I have had on my entire trip. I have eaten there a lot and every dish was nothing short of incredible. Their Tres Leches cake is the best tres leches I've ever had. Even if you aren't staying at Volcano Lodge, you must visit Sura for a meal. They allow non hotel guests to dine at lunch and dinner I believe. Thank you to the chef's and service people! Also I found the prices to be quite fair given the quality, portion size, and the fact that it is a resort restaurant. I can easily say this is what I believe to be the best restaurant in Costa Rica!

Tried this place out back in 2016 as it was located right next to our Airbnb. The pizza was absolutely mouthwatering and they were kind enough to cater to the vegan people in our group. Incredible and heartwarming service. Make sure to write on the wall before leaving!

Pleasent staff. Large calzones Scenic ride, heavy dirt/rocky roads to destination. Villages filled with all sorts of animals. Home/Owner/operated.

Amazingly friendly people. Great location with roof top seating that has amazing views of the trees and bird. Home made ice cream was delicious!

Beautiful humble restaurant! Great food! Amazing atmosphere and the best ice cream I have ever had in my life! I highly recommended the ice cream here!

Very cool place, romantic, peaceful, authentic pizza. The ice cream is amazing absolutely must when you go!

We read about pizza John's at our hotel, and we simply had to go there! We were not disappointed! Great staff, delicious pizza and the location off the beaten track is worth the effort! Oh, and don't forget the home made ice cream! When you're done, head down to the lake for an amazing view of the volcano!

Great pizza and calzones! Staff on duty only spoke Spanish so we had trouble ordering by phone. We drove there and ordered take out in person and with a little pointing and nodding our order went just fine, plus we enjoyed a cold beer in a frosted mug while we waited! Staff were really great to work with despite the language difference, highly recommend.