Walking the Mistico Hanging Bridges through the rainforest canopy at dawn, floating the Peñas Blancas River on a wildlife safari, and soaking in geothermal hot springs with Arenal Volcano on the horizon.
Vibe
Rainforest & Volcano
Peak Season
Dec – Apr
Getting Here
3hr from SJO
Footprint
Arenal Basin
The Honest Pitch
The Arenal Volcano will probably be in cloud when you arrive. That is the first honest thing to say about La Fortuna.
The Honest Pitch
The Arenal Volcano will probably be in cloud when you arrive. That is the first honest thing to say about La Fortuna. The cone appears on clear mornings — most reliably in the dry season from December through April, most reliably before 9am — and when it does, framed above the hot springs or visible from the hanging bridges at dawn, it is one of the great Central American views. The rest of the time the rainforest does not need the volcano to justify itself.
Getting Here
SJORecommended
Juan Santamaría International Airport, San José
3 – 3.5hr Drive or 40min Domestic Flight
3 – 3.5hr Drive or 40min Domestic Flight
FON
La Fortuna Arenal Airport
40min Domestic Flight · 10min to Town
40min Domestic Flight · 10min to Town
A rental car gives the most freedom in the Arenal area — trailheads, river access points, and properties off the main road all benefit from having your own vehicle. That said, many lodges on the volcano's slopes run transfers and excursion shuttles, and some properties are best reached by arranged transfer rather than self-drive on steep unpaved roads. Confirm road conditions with your property before renting.
Seasonal Conditions
When to visit
Bar height = overall visitability. Color = conditions tier.
Arenal Volcano is cloud-covered the majority of days even in dry season. Clear views are most likely December through March, in the early morning before 9am. This is not a flaw — the rainforest that surrounds it exists because of that moisture. Come for the ecosystem, not the cone.
Green Season Is a Real Alternative
May through October delivers the same wildlife, the same hot springs, and the same hanging bridges at significantly lower prices and with far fewer visitors. The trade-off is afternoon rain that experienced travellers plan around by scheduling all outdoor activities before noon.
The Region
Activity Windows
What's good, and when
Feb— activity overview
Wildlife Watching
Sloths, Monkeys, Caiman & Tapirs
Peak
Birding
Toucans, Scarlet Macaws & Resplendent Quetzal
Peak
Paddling & Rafting
Peñas Blancas Safari Float & Río Toro
Good
Hiking
Mistico Bridges, Arenal Trails & Cerro Chato
Peak
Horseback Riding
Valley & Rainforest Trail Rides
Good
PeakGoodOkayNot in season
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Wildlife Watching
Sloths, Monkeys, Caiman & Tapirs
Birding
Toucans, Scarlet Macaws & Resplendent Quetzal
Paddling & Rafting
Peñas Blancas Safari Float & Río Toro
Hiking
Mistico Bridges, Arenal Trails & Cerro Chato
Horseback Riding
Valley & Rainforest Trail Rides
PeakGoodOkayNot in season
February: Driest Month
Best for
The most reliably dry month of the year — lowest rain probability
Volcano views most consistent of any month
Trail conditions at their best — dry paths, clear sight lines in the forest
Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge day trip in ideal dry season conditions
Workable
Continued peak season crowds and pricing
Some trails dusty and dry underfoot
Skip
Nothing — February is the finest weather month in the Arenal basin
February is when the Arenal basin delivers on the dry season promise — clear mornings, manageable heat, dry trails, and a volcano that shows itself reliably enough to plan around.
Getting Here
SJORecommended
Juan Santamaría International Airport, San José
3 – 3.5hr Drive or 40min Domestic Flight
3 – 3.5hr Drive or 40min Domestic Flight
FON
La Fortuna Arenal Airport
40min Domestic Flight · 10min to Town
40min Domestic Flight · 10min to Town
A rental car gives the most freedom in the Arenal area — trailheads, river access points, and properties off the main road all benefit from having your own vehicle. That said, many lodges on the volcano's slopes run transfers and excursion shuttles, and some properties are best reached by arranged transfer rather than self-drive on steep unpaved roads. Confirm road conditions with your property before renting.
Ready to plan your trip?
Tell us when and how you travel — we'll match it to the right months, the right properties, and the right price.
Where to Stay
Hotels & Lodges
Arenal Volcano
Hot Springs Resort
Nayara Springs
A private subterranean sanctuary carved into 800-year-old lava.
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.
Morning First Always
02
The hot springs vary dramatically
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.
Private Springs vs Commercial
03
Caño Negro requires a full day but rewards it
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.
Full Day Required
Reference
Month by Month — Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Jan
Best odds for clear volcano views — mornings reliably clear before clouds build
Feb
The most reliably dry month of the year — lowest rain probability
Mar
Dry season still fully operative through mid-March
Apr
Prices dropping as peak season crowds clear
May
Waterfalls at increasing flow — La Fortuna Waterfall dramatic and powerful
Jun
Río Toro running at full volume — the best whitewater of the year
Jul
Waterfalls at peak volume and drama
Aug
Wildlife at its most abundant — dry season visitors have cleared and the forest is fully alive
Sep
Rain beginning to ease from August peak
Oct
Rain decreasing week by week through October
Nov
Dry season beginning from late November — skies clearing and rain easing significantly
Dec
Dry season conditions establishing — mornings clear and volcano visible
Activity Guides
Explore Arenal Volcano & La Fortuna, Costa Rica by activity
