Costa Rica: La Fortuna

After spending a few days in Manuel Antonio, then Santa Teresa, we headed inland to the Volcanic town called La Fortuna.

Day 8: Drive to La Fortuna, Visit the WaterFall

Everyone warned us how rainy it would be in La Fortuna. While driving there we left the sunshine and entered the clouds and the rain. After checking in at our hotel, we decided to take advantage of the private trail behind our lodge. After that, we went to visit La Fortuna waterfall which was expensive, but still neat to see.  If you go when it is not raining, you can swim in the water right below the waterfall. Because of the weather we didn’t have a lot of options, so we just relaxed!

Costa Rica

Day 9: White Water Rafting

Our day started off enjoying the gorgeous view of the Volcano from our backyard. It’s rare to have such a good view (minimal cloud cover) so we were very thankful!

Colby and I have both been rafting – once for him in Colorado and once for me in Slovenia, but we had never been together. When talking about what to do in La Fortuna, we agreed it was time to raft together! We decided to do the 3-4 grade rapids and had a blast. It was a full day excursion, including the drive there, a stop to see Iguanas, rafting down the river, with a stop half-way (they gave us fresh fruit as well as time to swim and jump off a cliff), a local lunch and the trip back.

View of Arenal Volcano from our backyard!Arenal

White Water Rafting

White Water Rafting White Water Rafting

White Water Rafting

White Water Rafting

 

Day 10: Hot Springs, Arenal National Park, Travel to San Jose

Thanks to Trip Advisor, we started off our last day by enjoying the free hot springs. The hot springs can be a very touristy place to visit, and staying at a nearby resort that features them typically costs about $80 just to enter. That was not an option for us, and the free ones turned out perfect! We got to sit in the middle of the rain forest and enjoy the stream of warm water. The best part was we had it all to ourselves. After, we drove to the Arenal National Park and hiked all the trails there. We had great views of the lake and volcano as well as saw the oldest/biggest tree ever! We left after lunch and coffee to make the drive back to San Jose before our flight in the morning.

Free Hot Springs

Arenal National Park Arenal National Park Arenal National Park Arenal National Park Arenal National Park Arenal National ParkIMG_4903

Day 11: Fly home 🙁
Our tips:
  • If you go white water rafting and you do not have small kids with you, do the 3-4 grade rapids. If you prefer to relax, then I would stick with the 2-3 rapids.
  • Don’t pay for the pictures unless you are in the front of the boat. We switched to the front half way through, but the photographer didn’t take any more pictures so now we have too many pictures of people we do not know.
  • The waterfall was fun to see, but as said earlier, way overpriced. The water is cold, and we could not swim around it that day, because when it rains it is too dangerous.
  • Definitely hit up the free hot springs! Relaxing and awesome and FREE!
  • Arenal National Park was also overpriced. It wasn’t anything too special, but we did really enjoy the views as well as the tree!
  • Soda Viquez had really delicious smoothies/juices for $1.50! The carrot juice was delish!

I didn’t start sharing our traveling adventures on the blog until the end of 2013, but you can see some of our trips below as well as how to travel on a budget here.

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28 Comments
  • Elena
    Posted at 06:31h, 17 June Reply

    That tree is amazing and that volcano and hot springs?! Beautiful and fun! Love your travel posts!

  • Marianne
    Posted at 07:47h, 17 June Reply

    Such beautiful pictures! Sounds like a great trip. xx

  • Leigh-Taylor Hester
    Posted at 09:05h, 17 June Reply

    I LOVE how you guys always go on amazing adventures together! Thx for sharing with us!

  • Missy Desiree
    Posted at 09:21h, 17 June Reply

    Wow what a beautiful trip!!

  • Biana @Blovedboston
    Posted at 09:23h, 17 June Reply

    You guys are so adventurous!!! I’m dying over how big those iguanas are – they are like dinosaurs!! xo, Biana –BlovedBoston

  • Kara
    Posted at 10:08h, 17 June Reply

    Beautiful pics!! I loved Costa Rica and we hit hot springs too that were awesome!!

  • Crystal
    Posted at 10:27h, 17 June Reply

    This looks like an amazing trip! The pictures are awesome.

  • Heather @ The Deans List Blog
    Posted at 10:52h, 17 June Reply

    This looks like a wonderful getaway!

  • jess
    Posted at 11:19h, 17 June Reply

    What a beautiful trip! The photos are amazing!
    I think I fixed the form for the giveaway…try it again and see if it works. Someone else just filled it out about 5 minutes ago so I am not sure what happened. Who knows with technology lol
    Jess
    LiveRandomlySimple

  • Suzanne
    Posted at 11:26h, 17 June Reply

    STUNNING photos! Looks like an amazing trip!

  • Rebecca Jo
    Posted at 11:29h, 17 June Reply

    OK… you look like a ant in some of these pictures… or on the scene of Honey I Shrunk the Kids – that grass (reeds) & that tree… WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I’m so jealous – I always wanted to go white water rafting.

  • Amie
    Posted at 12:31h, 17 June Reply

    Wow that tree is massive!! White water rafting looks like so much fun but I’d probably do the 2-3 lol

  • Tiffany @ A Touch of Grace
    Posted at 13:47h, 17 June Reply

    You guys did so much while you were there! What a great trip! Love Costa Rica.

  • Síochána Arandomhan
    Posted at 16:29h, 17 June Reply

    Fun! been to Costa Rica twice, loved it. Glad you could go!

  • Mimi Zackery
    Posted at 18:25h, 17 June Reply

    Wow you guys look like you had a ton of fun. Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure!

  • Cheryl Smith
    Posted at 20:36h, 17 June Reply

    Wow, I can’t get over that tree!!! So neat! So thankful you two had a great time. 🙂

  • Angela
    Posted at 23:37h, 17 June Reply

    Gorgeous!! And so many fun adventures. The trip of a lifetime!

  • Marissa
    Posted at 10:09h, 18 June Reply

    Wow – Amazing pictures. Love the tips, we are waiting for vacations like this until our kids are older and we can enjoy activities together. I can’t wait!

    Marissa

    Reading List

  • Kelli {A Deeper Joy}
    Posted at 14:26h, 18 June Reply

    Oh my gosh y’all did so much when you were there! So fun! That whitewater rafting looks super fun. These are my kinds of adventures!

  • Rene D
    Posted at 15:31h, 18 June Reply

    Wow those photos are spectacular – the ones of that massive tree!! And the rafting, you are so brave. I love this day and age of technology that people can capture amazing moments as these and share them!! When I was a little girl in California my neighbor had a pet iguana (as big as the ones you see in your pics). Her name was Elizebeth – wish I could have gotten a pic of her 🙂 thanks for sharing.

  • Andrea
    Posted at 17:09h, 18 June Reply

    looks like you guys had a BLAST!

  • Nicole
    Posted at 21:17h, 18 June Reply

    What beautiful pictures!! I would love to visit a place like this, but in the meantime thanks for taking me along virtually. 🙂

  • Victoria @ Creative Home Keeper
    Posted at 09:42h, 19 June Reply

    I’ve heard how beautiful is Costa Rica is but your photographs are stunning!

  • Alexis
    Posted at 11:38h, 24 June Reply

    That all sounds like SO much fun. I love rafting so I would totally be up for that and the hot springs sound amazing! I love hearing about your adventures!

  • Lauren English
    Posted at 08:49h, 25 June Reply

    This looks so fun! My hubby and I love to travel together and Costa Rica is on our list. We’ll have to check out some of these places!

  • Ang
    Posted at 02:53h, 27 June Reply

    Wow! Looks like you had a ball, and the photos are absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for sharing an amazing holiday with us all – I have vacation envy big time!

  • Laura @ Making Baby Provence
    Posted at 16:02h, 29 June Reply

    This might be my favorite vacation entry that you have done. The volcano, the massive iguanas, the rafting…all such cool pictures! I love your travel posts.

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