Is the La Fortuna Waterfall entrance fee worth it?
As we walked down the steep stairs I couldn’t help but think of the climb which faced us on our way back up..
However, then it appeared high up above the rainforest.
La Fortuna waterfall is definitely worth the entrance fee!
The abundance of beautiful waterfalls is just one aspect of the world-renowned nature which covers Costa Rica, and La Fortuna is definitely one of the best waterfalls, but it comes at a cost.
The steep entrance fee matches the steep descent down to the natural wonder!
This blog details the costs, what you can expect and some awesome photos that I took of the tall impressive waterfall.
Let’s start with the logistics of your half day activity in La Fortuna.
The iconic La Fortuna waterfall.
How can you visit La Fortuna waterfall?
La Fortuna Waterfall is only 5.5 kilometres away from the town of La Fortuna, which translates to "Fortune" – fitting, considering the beauty that surrounds the jungle town.
La Fortuna Waterfall is a natural highlight of the Arenal Volcano Park, despite heavy competition, therefore, it should be on your La Fortuna itinerary.
The natural wonder is located in a tropical wet forest, within a 200 acre biological reserve, meaning that the scenery that surrounds the beautiful waterfall creates an awesome experience.
You can visit the waterfall through several methods:
Horse riding.
If you want to really feel the essence of La Fortuna then you can head to the famous waterfall in style.
Riding by horseback through the rainforests of La Fortuna will give you an experience like no other, as you can relax and absorb the beautiful scenery around you.
Imagine watching the Arenal Volcano in the background disappear behind an abundance of beautiful nature, and as you get close to the waterfall, you hear the might of the water crashing down, before a relaxing dip in the sunshine.
This tour lasts 3-4 hours so will fill up one of your mornings in La Fortuna perfectly.
Drive/Taxi.
It is only a 10 minute drive from the furthest point of La Fortuna town, so grabbing a taxi is a viable option, and if you have rented a car, there is also free parking on site.
Map showing directions from La Fortuna to La Fortuna waterfall.
Uber.
It was a 5 minute Uber ride from my accommodation in La Fortuna to the ticket office at the waterfall, and it cost $4 each way.
This is definitely the most convenient option as your driver will come and pick you up and offer live tracking on the way.
Walk.
If you want to get some steps in during the sunshine then walking is a viable option. It is around 5 km away, which takes around 1 hour for a fit and able person. The sunshine, high humidity, and 30+ daily temperatures year round do make it more difficult though.
You should also bare in mind the physical activity at the waterfall with the steep steps down to the landmark.
The colourful Fortuna sign on site.
What is the entrance fee for La Fortuna waterfall?
Adults over 9 years old = $20.
Children 8 years old and younger = Free.
Lockers are available for $2 each with a $10 refundable deposit.
All of Costa Rica’s beauty comes at a price.
What are the opening times for La Fortuna waterfall?
Daily from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
(4:00 pm last entry).
Ticket office.
Signing a waiver.
After purchasing your tickets, you have to sign a waiver, which at first I found to be a little weird.
However, when you see the amount of steps, slippery rocks, and strong currents in the water, it is no surprise that the company has protected itself in this way.
It is just a reminder to be careful as you enjoy the beauty of Costa Rica!
signing the waiver before you enter the site.
Are you prepared for your Costa Rica trip?
You may want to consider purchasing an e-sim in advance of landing into Costa Rica, as you get more data for a cheaper price, compared to buying a sim card in San Jose airport.
Another travel hack for your Costa Rican adventure is to hire a car.
Buses are slow and require changes, and shared shuttles are costly, so add up over your trip
If you’re travelling in a group, you can split the car hire costs and visit beautiful spots such as La Fortuna waterfall at your own leisure.
You can hire a car for a week for as little as £130 between the group, compared to a shuttle for one person costing around £50 per person per journey between most towns in the country.
A steep descent into the rainforest.
Now you have purchased your ticket and signed your waiver, it’s time to head to the waterfall.
The only thing between you and one of Costa Rica’s best natural wonders is a whopping 530 steps!
Be prepared for a steep descent!
The route down to the waterfall is professionally crafted, with hand rails and sturdy steps all the way down, and there is plenty of room to let others pass you, if you need to take it more steady.
Heading to the start of the descent.
Here we go.
The first glimpses of the waterfall.
You can hear La Fortuna waterfall before you get a chance to see it.
When I was about halfway down the descent, the waterfall started to come into view through the abundance of greenery.
The rainforest setting opens up as you wander down which makes for picture perfect scenery.
The first sighting.
Tips for your visit.
Following my afternoon enjoying La Fortuna waterfall, here are some tips to ensure your visit goes according to plan:
Wear either water shoes or old shoes to walk across the rocks if you are planning on entering the water at the base of the waterfall.
Bring your towel and swimming kit.
Be prepared for strenuous exercise with water, snacks and a full belly for energy.
Bring a friend with you to capture some awesome shots of you swimming by the waterfall.
Insect repellant is essential for all outdoor activities in Costa Rica.
Leave plenty of time to tackle the stairs both ways in a timely safe manner.
I would not recommend visiting La Fortuna waterfall after a busy active day elsewhere in La Fortuna.
A morning or evening visit will be easier to navigate for some less fit and able visitors, and will mean there are less crowds.
The waterfall is epic.
My experience of La Fortuna waterfall.
I visited La Fortuna waterfall at around 3pm after visiting the Mistico Hanging Bridges Park earlier in the morning.
I feel like heading to the waterfall at this time helped to avoid the busiest time of the day, as it wasn’t too crowded.
After a busy day exploring Mistico Park, I couldn’t wait to cool myself down in the water!
After we paid and signed the waiver, we began our descent into the forest.
One of the most vivid memories from my visit was hearing tourists zip line across the top of the rainforest at regular intervals.
You would hear the screams of adrenaline reverberate around the surrounding forest.
Once we arrived at the waterfall and had some pictures taken, then it was time to enter the water.
Two things with the water, it is very cold, and the currents are very strong!
However, it was very refreshing!
We then chilled in the beach area where the currents are much calmer and the vibes are far more relaxed
Afterwards, one thing which I found to be a little frustrating are the prices in the restaurant.
$8 for an ice cream is outrageous, and after hiking up 530 steps in the heat, there are many tourists who begrudgingly pay it.
I found this to be a running theme throughout Costa Rica, even in the quieter season.
A thing of beauty.
Can you swim at La Fortuna waterfall?
You can swim at La Fortuna Waterfall which makes the experience much more enjoyable.
Although there are signs warning you to not swim right up to the falls, I saw many tourists doing this without getting into trouble.
Be prepared for a challenge though!
The force of the waterfall creates a lot of power and strong currents throughout the whole base of the waterfall, which makes it really difficult to swim or just to tread water.
One thing I will say though, is after a 15 minute walk down to the waterfalls in the humid and hot conditions, the water is freezing, and very refreshing.
It reminded me very much of the ice cold water at Kravica Waterfalls in Bosnia.
I would highly recommend water shoes, or trainers as you traverse the slippery rocks to the entrance point of the water, as I did not wear any, and the walk was uncomfortable and a little painful.
Warning information sign.
In terms of your belongings, there are plenty of spots across the rocks where you can safely place them, to keep an eye on them.
At no point on my trip to Costa Rica did I feel as though my belongings were in danger of being taken.
Taking the bare necessities is always a great tip for putting your mind at ease!
Posing in a good photo spot.
Posing after my swim.
A nearby beach.
If you don’t have the confidence to enter the water at the waterfall’s base then don’t worry, there is another great spot just round the corner.
The beach area is better suited to families with small children, or tourists who want more of a relaxing vibe.
If you head to the water in this spot, you will notice loads of colourful fish swimming around right at the shoreline.
We witnessed a school trip with many children, and they were all fascinated by the fish, therefore, if you are travelling to the waterfall with children, you can expect them to be entertained in this area for a while!
You will find that the water is also very cold and fresh at the beach area, so it takes a little push to enter the water.
Once you have your shoulders under it is all good!
There is a security guard & life guard in this area keeping an eye on everyone, so I felt safe the whole time I was in the area.
The beach is a cool spot near the waterfall.
Is La Fortuna waterfall better than Rio Celeste waterfall?
The waterfalls of Costa Rica are a massive draw for visitors, and La Fortuna is my favourite.
I thought that La Fortuna waterfall was better than Rio Celeste waterfall as you can swim in the water.
Aesthetically, Rio Celeste wins every time, as its sky blue water is a true natural wonder in Costa Rica.
By the time I reached Rio Celeste waterfall through hiking, I was really hot and bothered due to the humidity of the forest, so a swim would have made all the difference.
I respect the rules though, as the national parks in Costa Rica have strict policies in place to protect them, which is an interesting fact that I learned on my visit.
The refreshing water at La Fortuna waterfall combined with the setting, and abundance of nature offers a serene experience, which can be improved even more if you visit first thing in the morning, before the crowds arrive.
A rocky river.
A steep climb back up.
Once you are finished admiring the beautiful waterfall and relaxing at the beach area, it is time to tackle the 500 steps back up to the exit point.
This is not an easy task in the tropical heat of La Fortuna - I can confirm this first hand!
This is the only way to and from the waterfall from the ticket office, therefore, if it will really be a struggle, you should think twice about visiting La Fortuna waterfall.
Starting the walk back up.
It is no secret that the hike back up the stairs will be challenging for many visitors.
The locals have tried to introduce a little fun to the physical challenge through motivational checkpoint signs as you climb the steps.
I found this to be an awesome way of taking struggling tourist’s minds away from the struggles.
There are also benches and nice spaces to rest every 50-100 steps which are a lifesaver for some visitors.
A motivational sign on the way back up.
Ziplining high above La Fortuna waterfall.
If you want to add some adrenaline to your experience of La Fortuna waterfall, then you should consider the famous zip line over the waterfall and its surrounding rainforest.
Imagine zipping across the forest at 660 feet above it, with awesome views of the Arenal volcano and impressive waterfall!
There is no doubt that you will feel like Tarzan as you complete the 3 km zipline trail, zig zagging across the treetops.
This tour can be enjoyed in 3 hours, which includes briefing, harnessing, and the fun part!
It is similar to the one above Montezuma waterfalls on the Pacific coast.
Nearly there.
Some other awesome spots in La Fortuna.
Waterfalls are a very popular attraction in and around La Fortuna, however, there are many outdoor activities to enjoy.
One of my favourite tours was the hanging bridges at Mistico Park.
Walking high above the rainforest was incredible, and the wildlife I had the opportunity to see was awesome. I saw a viper, spider monkeys, some beautiful birds, along with frogs, and rare flowers.
There are also hot springs which you can enjoy, created by the Arenal Volcano.
I experienced the free springs just outside of the town, and then the paid Tabacon Hot Springs Resort. Both offered a unique experience of relaxing in naturally hot water.
If you want some amazing views of La Fortuna, you can climb the Arenal Volcano.
There are many legal hikes and tours around the volcano park, however, if you are feeling adventurous, you can climb to the very top of the volcano, but this is illegal, however, popular with backpackers.
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