La Fortuna is a town packed full of fun activities for one to engage in, and because it is a popular tourist destination in Costa Rica, access to most of these activities comes at a cutthroat price. However, there are still free and cheap things to do for fun here if you are on a budget.
For instance, dipping in the El Choyin hot spring and swinging the El Salto rope swing are all free things to do in La Fortuna, and the cheap ones like cruising at Lake Arenal or touring the butterfly garden in El Castillo do not cost more than $30 for you to enjoy.
Whether free or cheap, if you look in the right places in this pricey tourist town, you will definitely find something to enjoy without breaking the bank.
In this article, I have written ten fantastic things to do for fun in La Fortuna for free and cheap.
Key Takeaways
- Soak in the El Choyin springs for free.
- Swing the El Salto rope swing for free.
- Tour the butterfly garden in El Castillo for only $15.
- Visit Bajos del Toro for only $25.
- Cruise at Lake Arenal for only $20.
Free Things To Do
1. The El Salto Rope Swing
Cost: Free (You pay $5 USD for parking).
Guide required: No
Swinging on the El Salto rope swing into the river is one of the fun free things to do in La Fortuna. This spot is located just a brisk walk from La Fortuna town, and it is quite popular amongst locals and tourists.
When you arrive at El Salto ( Which means Jump in Spanish), you pull the swing rope, and it drops you directly into the river. I tried to after watching so many people swing into the river, but I could not because I was scared of not landing safely.
I’m a very cautious person, especially when it comes to activities like this. However, you needed to see how some locals were doing acrobats like back flips with the swing. It was fun to watch!
In the end, I hiked around the trail upstream to a more secluded section to take a dip. It was refreshing and free from the crowd at the main spot.
Overall, it is a great spot to cool off after a long day of hiking at the Arenal Volcano. One thing I can assure you is that this place is always full of people; do not expect to have it all to yourself.
However, you can escape the crowd if you visit on weekdays and early working hours.
2. Soak in El Choyin Hot Springs
Cost: Free (You pay $5 for parking)
Guide required: No
Just like the El Salto swing, this place has become a popular spot for locals and tourists to visit.
I found this place by chance, and it felt like I struck gold after digging for hours because, if you would agree with me, La Fortuna is expensive, and I never imagined a free natural hot spring like this would exist.
So it became my go-to place in the early morning hours for the duration of time I spent in La Fortuna after I noticed that I could have it all to myself at 6 am. For me, it was the perfect way to start my day!
Aside from that, it was also refreshing to take a dip, as the temperature was perfect for that time. I mean, you don’t want to dip in these hot springs when the sun is blazing hot.
So the best time to visit is in the early hours of the morning or late evening, but it is always crowded in the evening and free of people in the early hours of the morning.
If you are driving to this place, ensure you keep valuables out of sight and lock your car properly. You can pay the $5 parking fee to any of the Mafias you see around taxing people so they can provide a parking space and help you watch your car while you are away.
3. Tour La Fortuna town
Cost: Free
Guide required: No
La Fortuna is quite a touristy town, and most of the tourist attractions are scattered around the Arenal region because of the majestic Arenal Volcano, which is at the outskirts of La Fortuna.
However, one thing you can enjoy and do for free here is to tour La Fortuna town and visit the central park. The town is pretty, and an hour-long tour around it feels good too.
You can sit at the park and watch the stunning views of the volcano (the best views are on a sunny day) and visit local souvenir shops to browse through local crafts and arts made by artisans.
You can buy a thing or two to support the local economy and also eat some tasty food at local restaurants called sodas.
All of these can take an hour or two. Whatever it is, you are going to have fun!
4. Visit the Hule Lagoon
Cost: Free (guided tour cost $104)
Guide required: No
The Hule Lagoon is a must-visit spot if you are looking for free things to do in La Fortuna. It is at the bottom of the Cerro Congo Volcano and is well known for its hiking trails.
The main trail is about 4 miles long and takes you around a volcanic lake and through a lush rainforest. It is one of the top hiking trails in La Fortuna.
While hiking, you will get to a spot where you can see the Toro Hydroelectric Project and the gigantic 590-foot waterfalls.
Pro Tip
The hike is strenuous and not for the faint-hearted. So I advise you to be physically fit before you can go on this hike.
Carry enough water and snacks to make your hike easy.
Go with family, friends, or other tourists so you can enjoy it better.
5. Explore Iglesia San Carlos Park
Cost: Free
Guide required: No
If you ever find yourself in Downtown La Fortuna and you are thinking of a fun activity to engage in that won’t cost you a dime, then visiting the Iglesia San Carlos Park is your best bet.
The park is cute and safe to walk around or sit in a spit while you eat some ice cream from the nearby store. There is a church behind, not quite fancy but open for people to go in, sit, and pray.
When I visited, I went inside the church; there was a huge statue of Jesus Christ inside with many wooden pew chairs.
I sat on one of the chairs at the back for some time, said a silent prayer, and left.
Cheap Things To Do
6. Walk on the Mistico Hanging Bridges
Cost: $32
Guide required: No
The Mistico Hanging Bridges is a famous private park near La Fortuna town. There are 16 bridges, 6 of which are hanging bridges that elevate up to 147 feet above the forest floor.
The main trail in the park connects to all 16 bridges and it is 3.5 kilometers (2.1 miles) long.
The amazing thing about visiting this place is that you will be walking among the treetops and be able to look down to the forest floor. On a good day when the weather is clear, you can have a wide view of the entire rainforest and see some sloths, howler monkeys, and birds on top of trees, which is mind-blowing.
If you are in La Fortuna, I encourage you to visit this place and see things for yourself.
Pro Tip
The Mistico hanging bridges can be crowded, so ensure you go early in the morning. Even if you don’t beat the crowd, it won’t be at noon or on weekends.
I advise you to go with a tour guide to be able to spot a lot of wildlife and probably take pictures of it.
7. Take a Butterfly Tour in El Castillo
Cost: $15
Guide required: No
An evening walk for a butterfly tour in El Castillo is not a bad idea at all. The tourist spot is just a ten-minute brisk walk from La Fortuna town.
The tour begins once you arrive at the butterfly enclosure. You then take a stroll around the garden while you watch the fruits and flowers grow.
As you continue your tour, you will notice different types of butterflies, like the blue morpho, come out of their chrysalis and perch on you.
It feels so good to give you that walking in paradise feeling. You can spend an hour or more here, and when you are done, you can head over to the bar area to sip some cocktails or smoothies.
Do well to check out the frog habitat, plant gardens, and greenhouses in this place too.
8. Visit La Fortuna Waterfall
Cost: $20 USD
Guide required: No
If you have $20 to spare, the famous La Fortuna Waterfall is your go-to place for fun and basking in nature’s goodness. It is the most famous and magnificent waterfall in La Fortuna, standing at 70 meters inside the Arenal Volcano National Park.
The trail to the waterfall is on a flat concrete floor and quite an easy one. As you are walking, you will come to the first view point and then climb a 500-step staircase to the base of the waterfall.
When you get to the base, you are allowed to swim in it. However, during the peak period of the rainy season (September through October), swimming is prohibited because the current of the waterfall is too strong, like that of an ocean.
If you still want to swim, there is a quiet spot where the waves are not that strong, You can take a dip, but don’t stay in too long because the water is very chilly.
When you are done, you can take the step back up to the entrance of the park.
9. Cruise on Lake Arenal
Cost: $20 USD
Guide required: No
Lake Arenal, also called Lago Atenal in Spanish, is Costa Rica’s largest man-made lake and is situated at the base of the Arenal Volcano.
The lake provides hydroelectricity to large parts of the country and extends over 85 square kilometers (that is, 33 square miles). To create this lake, the Costa Rican government had to sink down some towns in the area.
Aside from the generation of hydroelectric electricity, this lake also serves as a tourist spot for all kinds of water sports.
You can take a boat cruise to enjoy the sunset, go kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, or do any kind of watersport you can think of. All of which cost $20. However, without participating in these sports, you can just come here and sit to watch the lake and the majestic Arenal Volcano for free.
10. Visit Bajos del Toro Waterfalls
Cost: $25 USD
Guide required: No
Bajos del Toro is such a beautiful yet underrated place to see a dozen turquoise-blue waterfalls in La Fortuna.
The crowd here is reduced compared to what you will find in La Fortuna Falls, and takes you about an hour and thirty minutes to arrive here from La Fortuna town.
Bajos del Toro is a wonderland of waterfalls, with lots of waterfalls to choose from. If you have just one day to visit this place, I would recommend visiting Catarata del Toro and the Blue Falls of Costa Rica.
The Catarata del Toro is privately owned, the tallest waterfall in the area and one of the largest in Costa Rica. You are not allowed to swim in it because of its strong waves.
The Blue Falls, on the other hand, are a collection of six waterfalls spread across a blue river in a dense cloud forest.
Both falls are located next to each other and owned by the same person. So if you pay the $25 entrance fee, you can access both falls.
Also, both falls are closed on Sundays; if you plan to visit, you will have to choose to visit on a weekday, which will also give you the chance to have this place all to yourself.
So if you are looking for a place to have nature all to yourself, visit Bajos del Toro whenever you see it in La Fortuna.
While checking out free and cheap things to do in La Fortuna, do not miss out on relaxation; explore our guide on La Fortuna Hot Springs.
Wrapping Up
La Fortuna is a bundle of activities on its own. From free to cheap fun activities, you will never run out of things to do in order to feel and enjoy every bit of this beautiful tourist town.
So whether you are on a budget or not, I recommend you try out any of these free and cheap things around La Fortuna, and you will definitely love it.
About Michelle Schmidt
Born in California, Michelle traveled extensively through the USA and Europe before moving to South Florida during the pandemic. Her career in Marketing has taken her all across the world. Her favorite country is France but she'll never turn down a beach vacation!
