Arenal Volcano
A near-perfect cone that rises above the plains of northern Costa Rica. It has been in a resting phase since about 2010, and visitors come to see it from trails, viewpoints and the lake shore.
La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano
Near a cone-shaped volcano, visitors find white-water rafting, zip-lines, waterfalls, hanging bridges and hot springs.
Attractive locations
La Fortuna Waterfall
A tall waterfall that drops into a forested canyon outside town. A stone stairway leads down to a swimming pool at the base, popular with people who like a cool dip.
Lake Arenal
The country's largest lake, created by damming a river valley in the 1970s. Steady winds make it a favourite for windsurfing and kitesurfing, and the shoreline road has wide views of the volcano.
Arenal Hanging Bridges
A series of walkways and suspension bridges strung through rainforest near the volcano. Walking at canopy height gives a close look at birds, trees and plants that are hard to see from the ground.
Arenal Volcano National Park
Protected forest around the volcano, with trails that cross old lava flows and lead to lookouts over the lake. Wildlife such as monkeys, coatis and many birds live here.
Airports
La Fortuna Arenal Airport FON
It is about 7 km in a straight line from La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano.
Juan Santamaría International Airport SJO
It is about 71 km in a straight line from La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano.
Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport LIR
It is about 99 km in a straight line from La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Costa Rica page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan22.3 °C34 mm
- Feb22.8 °C22 mm
- Mar23.8 °C26 mm
- Apr24.9 °C60 mm
- May24.8 °C195 mm
- Jun24.0 °C183 mm
- Jul23.7 °C153 mm
- Aug23.7 °C177 mm
- Sep23.6 °C233 mm
- Oct23.3 °C283 mm
- Nov22.8 °C179 mm
- Dec22.5 °C60 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Mar. Wettest months: May, Sep, Oct.
Costs
Prices here are about 59% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
911 for all emergencies.
local government
Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT)
Helps with: Costa Rica's national tourism institute. Its site links to complaint channels, including a form for complaints against tourism companies. The page gives the main office number but no tourist helpline.
Who qualifies: Visitors and others dealing with Costa Rica's tourism sector.
Phone: +506 2299-5800
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Costa Rica
Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in Costa Rica since 1954. It works on migration management and crisis response, including support for migrants seeking to regularise their status.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Costa Rica and government or other partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: (506) 4052 3500
Address: Sigma Business Center, Costado Oeste del Mall San Pedro, Torre C, Piso 1, San Pedro, San José, Costa Rica
local government
Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)
Helps with: Reaches the police, ambulance and fire services in Costa Rica. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 911