Fortuna (Costa Rica)

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Fortuna (La Fortuna de San Carlos) is a small town in the north of Costa Rica. It is mostly famous for its nearby Arenal Volcano (1633m) that has been constantly erupting since 1968. The Arenal Volcano is a destination for scientists and tourists alike as it erupts on an average of 41 times a day.

Arenal volcano

[edit] Get in

Direct buses from San Jose or transfer in Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos). Local bus from Tilaran.

By car it is a 3-1/2-hour drive from San Jose, but the junctions are not very well marked, so bring a good map.

[edit] Get around

Most tourist activities will include transportation. For other purposes you can use taxi.

[edit] See

• 'Arenal Volcano

[edit] Do

The main attraction in Fortuna is of course the Arenal Volcano, but there are a lot of other activities/tours to be found. The prices listed are typical prices, but there are a lot of operators, so you should check around. Full day tours usually include lunch and soft drinks. Most tours start between 7 and 8 in the morning.

• Arenal Volcano tours usually start out in the early afternoon and include walking for about an hour through lava rocks before reaching El Mirador, the best place to view the eruption from the volcano. There are also possibilities of skipping the lava rock walking and go straight to El Mirador. At the observation point you hopefully will see eruptions and lava flow that can be quite spectacular set against the black night sky, but often it will be so cloudy that you won't see a thing. Most tours state that they will stay for a hour/hour and half at this place, but if there is nothing to be seen probably a lot less. Also be aware that it might be chilly, so bring a jacket. The tours come in a variety of options: with buffet dinner and entrance to the Tabacon hot spa $64, with entrance to Baldi hot spa $30, just the tour $25. There is also a possibility of a no frills tour by mini-bus to El Mirador and back to Fortuna for $10.
• Rain Goddess fishing boat - for entertainment the boat navigates around the Arenal lake, so that you can appreciate the unparalleled views. They have kayaks and other water activities you can do at the lake. Of course the main attraction is the fishing. The lake has many species of fish but the "Guapote" Bass is most prevalent; this fish is a close relative of the peacock bass and is just as strong. Other fish like the Muhara are also prevalent, think 'kin to the piranha but fruit eaters'. Using the fish you catch, Clifford, the amiable chef will cook them for you. Enjoy the fruits of your day's fun along with his many special recipes!

• Tabacon Hot Springs (www.tabacon.com) Entrance fee $45. The fee includes modern changing rooms with locks, towels, and access to the multi-level hot spring with a slide, artificial waterfalls, view of the volcano, and bars for drinks without leaving the water. For a higher price, there is a magnificent buffet.
• Baldi hot spa
• White water rafting on the Sarapaquí river. Class 3 and 4.
• Caño Negro wildlife tour $49
• Venado Caves $35
• Fortuna waterfall by horse $25. Stone steps lead to the bottom. Take a swimsuit for the pool in the lovely stream below. The entrance is accessible by road, so a cab works fine too.
• Canopy tour by horse $45. You'll go on horse back for about 40 minutes to the place of the canopy. Don't worry if you never have ridden a horse before, they'll set you up with friendly one. Recommended.
• Safari boat on the Peña Blancas river $44

[edit] Buy

Standard souvenirs, photos of the erupting volcano, machetes at the hardware store.

[edit] Eat

• Kioro is located at El Mirador and is the restaurant closest to the Arenal volcano. You can sit in the restaurant and watch the erupting volcano or the red lava glow from the top. Specializes in meat. A steak will set you back 4500-5000 Colones. Tel 461-1700.
• Los Nenes, not a very attractive setting one block from the main street and two blocks from the park (when entering from east), but reasonably priced food (but not as good or big portions as Rocas de Lava). 2000-3200 for a dinner. The nachos with everything (1200 C) is really good.
• Rocas de Lava (Lava Rocks Café) on the main street, just after the park. Tel 479-8039, lavarocks@racsa.co.cr. Good food, generous portions. Try the Casado de pollo (1900 Colones).

[edit] Drink

[edit] Sleep

• Jardines de Arenal, 2 km east of town. Tel/fax 479-9728, cellphone 353-3633. jarenal@racsa.co.cr http://www.jardinesarenal.com. The friendly owner Hernán Blanco will usually give you a lift into or back from town or you could take a taxi for around 650 Colones. 15 rooms, all with AC and fan, 1 double and 2 single beds. $27.50 per person with volcano-view and slightly bigger bathroom, $23 pp for the others. A typical breakfast with gallo pinto, egg, ham, cereals, fruit, bread, coffee and juice is included. The owner can help you order tours to the surrounding attractions, and if you're lucky, he might give you a free ride to the volcano (and back). He can also get you shuttle service to or from San José for $15 (one way) leaving Fortuna at 06:00 and returning at noon. Friendly and helpful staff. Recommended.

• Arenal Paraiso [[1]] Phone: +506 460-5333, Email:mailto:info@arenalparaiso.org. Located about 6km from the town, each hotel room has a small patio and offers a view of the volcano. There are also 14 hot springs pools on the hotel property where one can enjoy a drink and take advantage of the varied temperatures in each hot spring pool (pools higher up are warmer while the base pool is relatively cool). The hotel also has the famous canopy tour on the property which costs $45 and lasts about 3 hours. Rooms range from standard to superior to suite style with costs ranging from $60 to $300 (not including tax). The standard room offers excellent amenities (double bed, tv, fridge, coffe pot, hot water) and is worthwhile for the frugal traveler.

• Arenal Country inn Located in the foothills of the Arenal volcano, it has 20 rooms with view of the volcano. The rooms have air conditioning, safety deposit boxes, hot water, flat screen cable TV, phone and private terraces. The hotel has swimming pool, beautiful gardens, restaurant service and conference room. Tropical breakfast included in the room rate. The price of a simple room hill 100,10 dollars, a double room hill 100,10 dollars and one triple room hill 114,06 dollars.

• Tabacon Grand Spa Member of the Leading Hotels and the Leading Spas of the World (www.tabacon.com) is the region's most luxurious and best known destination. Entrance to the renowned hot springs and spa is included in room rate. Room rates start at $235 + tax per night in garden or forest rooms, with buffet breakfast included. The property features the Grand Spa, one of the top spas in Costa Rica.

[edit] Contact

There are two internet cafes in the main street, by the park. At Destinytours (tel 479-9850) 50 meters north of Banco National you can download pictures from your digital camera and burn to cd.

[edit] Get out

From Fortuna you can go to Monteverde with a combination of jeep and boat or horse. Or you could take the bus to Tilarán, and from there to Santa Elena, Monteverde, or down to the Interamericana that takes you north to Guanacaste or south in the direction of Puntarenas. You can get to Los Chiles, Puerto Viejo and San Jose via Ciudad Quesada. And of course there's the direct bus back to San José, both the regular bus and the Interbus express ($25).