La Fortuna de San Carlos

La Fortuna de San Carlos, located just 45 km northwest of Ciudad Quesada is one of the most popular tourist centers in all of Costa Rica. It may seem like any old Tico town, and thus the basis of its relative charm for a tourism mecca, but looming just 6 km away from La Fortuna is the rumbling giant, the Arenal Volcano. This convenient location makes La Fortuna the choice takeoff point for a number of great tours in the area. (La Fortuna's location is no accident, by the way, as the town was developed in this strategic spot over the volcanic rubble after the 1968 Arenal eruption that marked the beginning of the daily eruptions)

This town of 8,000 has an amazing array of tours from a vast number of agencies. Local tours include the La Fortuna Waterfall, which can be done independently by taking a $4 taxi ride to the rainforest reserve that surrounds it. There you will pay a $7 entrance fee (2007 prices).

La Fortuna also has a number of different hot spring baths. There are three main venues, all of which are pricey, but upon arriving you'll know why. I am more of a budget traveler myself, but I have experienced all three of the hot springs in La Fortuna and consider them all well worth it. All three are not the same, however. So, read up on all three of them and check out our Hot Springs Comparison Chart.

• Tabacón Hot Springs
• Baldí Hot Springs
• Eco-Termales Hot Springs
• Costa Rica Hot Springs Comparison Chart

Where to stay in La Fortuna

The independent and thrifty traveler (that's what I am and that's who I cater to) has many options in La Fortuna. I highly recommend Posada Roca Virgen for the traveler who wants to stay in a quiet, calm, and pleasant place without breaking the bank. These cabañas have excellent shared areas, including a patio with tables and a hammock, a living room, a kitchen, and a fooseball table. The basic rooms with the shared facilities cost $6 per person and the rooms with a fridge and private bath cost $8 per person (2007 prices). Directions: Stand in front of the Banco Nacional in front of the park with the Arenal Volcano to your left. Walk ahead for 100 meters and take a left on a small unpaved side street. Half-way in on the right is the Posada Roca Virgen.

Another great place to stay is the busier, more sociable Gringo Pete's, a hostel that has cozy rooms and great shared facilities where international travelers can meet people from all parts of the world. "Gringo Pete" is from Washington State and can help you find the right tours in La Fortuna. The hostel charges $3-4 for dorm-style accomodations and $4/$5 per person without/with bathroom. Contact: 479-8521, gringopetes2003@yahoo.com. Directions: From the center of La Fortuna, walk away from the Arenal Volcano on the road that leaves town towards El Tanque. Near the end of town (or at the beginning if you're on your way into town), just after passing the high school on the left, you will turn right onto a little unpaved side street. The building is an unmistakeable shade of purple.

Nightlife in La Fortuna

Many would say that nightlife in La Fortuna has a single name, Volcán Look (would that be two names?). This huge two-story night club attracts local youth and tourists alike, making for an interesting, diverse atmosphere. They play all forms of dance music, usually starting out with a mix of various dance beats, and then later in the night (when the Ticos make their way to the dance floor at around 11 PM) they start to play cumbia, merengue, and salsa. I strongly recommend this place if you are into upbeat nightlife, and not just because it's the only option. Volcán Look is located near Baldí and Ecotermales Hot Springs and will cost about $4 each way in a taxi to/from La Fortuna.

For more low-key nightlife in La Fortuna, I recommend Vagabondo and Vaca Muca, two restaurants/bars that offer a nice chill atmosphere for dinner or cocktails. Take a taxi from La Fortuna towards the volcano and it'll run you about $2 each way.

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