Hiking & Trekking in Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna, Costa Rica
The Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges is not a conventional hike — it is a two-mile loop through 250 hectares of private wet rainforest on six suspension bridges, flat enough for any fitness level and rich enough in biodiversity to occupy a serious naturalist for a full morning. On clear days the Arenal cone is visible from the highest bridges. The national park trails cover the hardened lava field from the 1968 eruption through forest that has regrown over fifty years, with wildlife throughout and the volcano visible on clear mornings.
Cerro Chato is the serious option: a four-hour round trip to a crater lake of jade-green water on the dormant cone adjacent to Arenal. Steep, muddy, and genuinely strenuous — not a casual addition to a resort day, but the most rewarding hike in the region for those who want to earn the view. Best in dry season when the upper trail is manageable; green season turns it into a significant physical challenge. Every hike here rewards a start before 10am.
Weather & Conditions
| Month | High / Low | Rain Days | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 84° / 68°F | 10 | Peak |
| Feb | 85° / 68°F | 7 | Peak |
| Mar | 87° / 70°F | 9 | Peak |
| Apr | 87° / 70°F | 16 | Peak |
| May | 86° / 70°F | 22 | Good |
| Jun | 84° / 70°F | 24 | Good |
| Jul | 83° / 70°F | 24 | Good |
| Aug | 83° / 70°F | 25 | Good |
| Sep | 82° / 69°F | 26 | Good |
| Oct | 82° / 69°F | 25 | Good |
| Nov | 82° / 68°F | 18 | Good |
| Dec | 83° / 68°F | 12 | Peak |
Where to Go
Gateway town. Restaurants, tour operators, gear shops. Base for all Arenal activities.
1,670m dormant volcano. Last major eruption 2010. Cloud-covered most afternoons year-round.
Hiking on the lava flow and peninsula trails. Wildlife throughout. Entrance fee required.
Costa Rica's largest lake. Kayaking, windsurfing, and wildlife along the forested shores.
250-hectare private rainforest reserve. Six suspension bridges. Best wildlife walk near Arenal — sloths, toucans, howler monkeys.
70-metre waterfall in the rainforest. 500+ steps down to the pool. Cold, clear water. 20-minute drive from town.
Safari float through old-growth jungle. Class 1. Caiman, monkeys, kingfishers, herons. Year-round operation.
1.5–2hr north of La Fortuna. Motorboat tours on the Río Frío. Jabiru storks, caiman, freshwater turtles, migratory birds.
Class III–IV whitewater. Half-day rafting trips from La Fortuna. Higher water and better rapids in green season.
Dormant volcanic cone adjacent to Arenal. Strenuous 4-hour hike to a crater lake. Permit required.
Know Before You Go
Whether you visit in dry season or green season, the Arenal basin follows a consistent pattern: mornings are clear, afternoons bring cloud and rain. Every activity — the Mistico Hanging Bridges, the volcano hike, horseback riding, the La Fortuna Waterfall — is better before noon. Guides who have worked here for years build all their tours around early starts. Follow their lead.
There are dozens of hot spring operations around La Fortuna, from large commercial parks with multiple pools and swim-up bars to smaller, quieter pools fed by the same geothermal source. The best experiences are at properties with their own private springs. The commercial parks are crowded in peak season and serve a different purpose entirely. Know which you want before you book.
The Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is 1.5 to 2 hours north of La Fortuna near the Nicaraguan border. A day tour by motorboat on the Río Frío delivers jabiru storks, caiman, freshwater turtles, migratory waterfowl, and a density of birdlife that makes Mistico look like a warm-up. Most operators include lunch and run from roughly 7am to 4pm. Book it for a day when you want something different from the volcano.
Hotels & Lodges for Hiking & Trekking
Nayara Springs
A private subterranean sanctuary carved into 800-year-old lava.