Attractions in Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Volcanic thrills and rainforest adventures for the whole family 🌋🌿
Showing 49 attractions · Sorted by importance
Arenal Volcano National Park
📍 La Fortuna
🌲 NatureCosta Rica's most iconic stratovolcano offers family-friendly hiking trails through ancient lava fields and primary rainforest with panoramic views.
La Fortuna Waterfall
📍 La Fortuna
🏛 LandmarkA powerful 70-meter cascade dropping into a scenic emerald pool, easily accessible via a well-maintained staircase through the jungle.
La Selva Biological Station
📍 Sarapiquí
🔬 ScienceA world-renowned research station offering families a rare look into tropical ecology through scientific exhibits and guided rainforest walks.
Lake Arenal
📍 Nuevo Arenal
🏔 Scenic ViewCosta Rica's largest lake offers families scenic boat tours, kayaking, and windsurfing with the dramatic backdrop of the Arenal Volcano.
Rio Chollín
📍 La Fortuna
♨ Hot SpringA natural, undeveloped geothermal river open to the public for free. The water is heated by the Arenal Volcano and flows over volcanic boulders through a dense jungle canopy. It is the primary natural hot spring experience in the region without built facilities.
Tenorio Volcano National Park
📍 Bijagua
🌲 NatureHome to the world-famous Rio Celeste, where chemical reactions create a stunning turquoise river and waterfall amidst dense tropical forest.
Arenal Vida Campesina
📍 La Fortuna
🐄 FarmA traditional organic farm offering educational tours on tropical crops and hands-on Costa Rican farm-to-table cooking experiences.
Arenal Volcano Lava Flow Trail (Sendero Coladas de Lava)
📍 La Fortuna
🥾 Hiking & Cycling4km moderate loop, 2 hours duration, 120m elevation gain. Located in the Sector Volcano of Arenal Volcano National Park, this trail traverses the jagged basaltic rocks left by the 1968 eruption and offers the closest possible legal views of the volcano cone.
Baldi Hot Springs
📍 La Fortuna
🌊 Water ParkAn expansive complex featuring twenty-five thermal pools, extreme high-speed water slides, and lush tropical gardens at the base of Arenal Volcano.
Don Juan Tours
📍 La Fortuna
🐄 FarmAn interactive organic farm experience where visitors learn about sustainable agriculture, coffee production, and sugar cane processing.
EcoTermales Fortuna
📍 La Fortuna
♨ Hot SpringExclusive standalone thermal complex featuring four naturally heated pools ranging from 37°C to 41°C. The water is rich in calcium, magnesium, and chlorides, filtered naturally through volcanic rock. Located within a private rainforest reserve with stone-lined paths.
Lake Arenal Scenic Drive (Route 142)
📍 La Fortuna
🚗 Road Trip75km paved winding highway (approx. 2 hours) that skirts the northern shore of Lake Arenal. The route features constant panoramic views of the Arenal Volcano, access to lake recreation, the quaint community of Nuevo Arenal, and the massive wind turbines of Tilarán. It is considered one of Central America's most beautiful drives.
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
📍 La Fortuna
🧗 AdventureAn expansive eco-adventure park featuring a circuit of suspension bridges through the rainforest canopy for exceptional wildlife viewing.
Parque Francisco Alvarado
📍 Zarcero
🏘 Town / VillageA whimsical historic town center famous for its elaborate topiary gardens of sculpted cypress bushes and the colorful San Rafael Church.
Proyecto Asis
📍 La Fortuna
🦁 ZooA leading wildlife rescue center offering educational tours to see and learn about rescued monkeys, sloths, and tropical birds.
Rio Celeste Trail (Sendero Misterios del Tenorio)
📍 Bijagua
🥾 Hiking & Cycling6km moderate round-trip hike, 3-4 hours duration, 250m elevation gain. This trail in Tenorio Volcano National Park leads to the famous turquoise waterfall, the blue lagoon, and the 'Teñideros' where two rivers meet. The path involves several steep staircases and can be very muddy.
Rio Celeste Waterfall
📍 Bijagua
🏛 LandmarkA stunning natural landmark within Tenorio Volcano National Park, famous for its otherworldly turquoise water and lush tropical surroundings.
Sky Adventures Arenal Park
📍 El Castillo
🧗 AdventureA premier adventure park offering an aerial tram, high-speed ziplines, and hanging bridges with panoramic views of Arenal Volcano and the lake.
Caño Negro Mixed Wildlife Refuge
📍 Los Chiles
🌲 NatureA premier wetland sanctuary ideal for family boat tours to spot caimans, monkeys, and rare tropical birds in their natural habitat.
Sarapiquí River
📍 Puerto Viejo de Sarapiquí
🏔 Scenic ViewA scenic waterway famous for its lush banks and biodiversity, offering families gentle boat tours for wildlife viewing or exciting whitewater rafting.
Arenal Mundo Aventura Park
📍 La Fortuna
🧗 AdventureA family-friendly ecological adventure park offering canopy tours, horseback riding, and cultural visits to a Maleku indigenous village.
Danaus Eco-Center
📍 La Fortuna
🌿 GardenA biological reserve featuring a butterfly garden, a medicinal plant garden, and a natural lagoon frequented by sloths and waterfowl.
Don Olivo Chocolate Tour
📍 La Fortuna
🐄 FarmA family-run plantation offering a personal rural experience focused on cacao cultivation, tropical fruits, and traditional chocolate making.
Ecoglide Arenal Park
📍 La Fortuna
🧗 AdventureAn outdoor activity center known for its two-cable zipline safety system and a thrilling Tarzan swing through the secondary rainforest.
Hacienda Pozo Azul
📍 Sarapiquí
🧗 AdventureA major adventure center in the northern lowlands offering whitewater rafting, canopy tours, and horseback riding through a vast ecological estate.
Lake Arenal Cycling Loop
📍 La Fortuna
🥾 Hiking & Cycling100km challenging loop, 6-9 hours duration, 1,800m elevation gain. A premier road and gravel cycling route that circumnavigates Lake Arenal. The route features steep rolling hills and stunning vistas of the volcano. Bike rental: Bike Arenal (bikearenal.com).
Maleku Indigenous Reserve (Palenque Tonjibe)
📍 Guatuso
🏘 Town / VillageAn immersive cultural village where families can learn about ancestral traditions, Maleku language, and traditional craftsmanship from the local community.
Museum of Indigenous Cultures of Costa Rica
📍 La Virgen de Sarapiquí
🏘 Town / VillageThis educational museum showcases the heritage of Costa Rica's indigenous tribes through exhibits of carved masks, traditional pottery, and rainforest ecology.
Natura Eco Park
📍 La Fortuna
🌿 GardenA nature park showcasing Costa Rica's biodiversity through structured tropical gardens, orchid displays, and specific habitats for frogs and butterflies.
North Fields Coffee and Chocolate
📍 La Fortuna
🐄 FarmA high-quality rural experience showcasing the journey of coffee and chocolate from the field to the cup on a scenic plantation.
Paradise Hot Springs
📍 La Fortuna
♨ Hot SpringDedicated thermal water park and spa facility utilizing 100% natural mineral water. Features eight distinct pools with temperatures between 35°C and 41°C, hydromassage features, and a natural steam room, all set within extensive botanical gardens.
Rancho Margot
📍 El Castillo
🐄 FarmA pioneering sustainable ranch and eco-lodge providing guided tours of its self-sufficient organic farm, livestock, and medicinal gardens.
Route 702 Mountain Pass
📍 San Ramón
🚗 Road Trip70km paved mountain road (approx. 2.5 hours) ascending from the Central Valley through the cloud forests of the Cordillera de Tilarán. The drive features sharp curves, misty jungle peaks, the El Cocora cloud forest reserve, and dramatic descents into the San Carlos plains with distant volcano views.
The Butterfly Conservatory
📍 El Castillo
🌿 GardenThis facility features the largest butterfly atrium in Costa Rica along with extensive botanical gardens organized by tropical micro-ecosystems.
Tirimbina Biological Reserve
📍 Sarapiquí
🌲 NatureA non-profit educational reserve featuring one of the region's longest suspension bridges and immersive rainforest research and chocolate tours.
Arenal Peninsula Trail (Sector Peninsula)
📍 La Fortuna
🥾 Hiking & Cycling3.5km easy/moderate loop, 1.5 hours duration, 60m elevation gain. Located in the Peninsula sector of the National Park, this trail features a paved section and a lakeside forest path with a panoramic observation tower overlooking Lake Arenal and the volcano.
Arenal Volcano Museum
📍 La Fortuna
🔬 ScienceAn educational facility detailing the seismic history and geology of the Arenal Volcano with real-time monitoring equipment and geological samples.
Centro Neotropico Sarapiquis (Museum of Indigenous Culture)
📍 Sarapiquí
🏘 Town / VillageA cultural and educational center featuring a museum of indigenous history and pre-Columbian archaeological sites nestled within a rainforest reserve.
Ecocentro Danaus
📍 La Fortuna
🔬 ScienceA biological discovery center focused on conservation education, featuring a butterfly farm, medicinal plant garden, and natural history exhibits.
El Castillo to Rio Chiquito Mountain Bike Route
📍 El Castillo
🥾 Hiking & Cycling28km moderate/challenging out-and-back, 3-4 hours duration, 650m elevation gain. A famous gravel and mountain bike route that follows the southern shore of Lake Arenal through dense rainforest and rural farmland. Bike rental: Bike Arenal (bikearenal.com).
Juan Castro Blanco National Park
📍 Ciudad Quesada
🏔 Scenic ViewKnown as the 'Park of Water,' this high-altitude cloud forest features numerous springs and volcanic craters for families seeking an off-the-beaten-path hike.
Kalambu Hot Springs Water Park
📍 La Fortuna
🧗 AdventureA thermal water adventure park featuring multiple slides, pools, and interactive water play areas designed for families and children.
Onirica Art Gallery
📍 La Fortuna
🖼 Art GalleryA premier contemporary gallery in the heart of town, featuring curated paintings and sculptures by established Costa Rican artists in a bright, modern space.
Parroquia San Juan Bosco
📍 La Fortuna
🏛 LandmarkThe iconic central church of La Fortuna, serving as a picturesque urban landmark with the massive Arenal Volcano looming in the background.
Pierella Ecological Garden
📍 Sarapiquí
🌿 GardenA family-run botanical garden and butterfly farm focusing on native fruit trees and sustainable tropical agriculture.
Snake Garden
📍 Sarapiquí
🦁 ZooA specialized serpentarium and wildlife park showcasing a wide variety of native snakes, reptiles, and amphibians in an immersive rainforest setting.
Termales Los Laureles
📍 La Fortuna
♨ Hot SpringLocal standalone hot spring park focused on family recreation. It features seven pools of varying temperatures, including a large thermal swimming pool and slides, using natural volcanic water. The facility includes picnic areas and basic amenities.
The Bijagua Scenic Road (Route 6)
📍 Cañas
🚗 Road Trip35km paved route (approx. 45-60 minutes) traversing the lush valley between the Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes. This scenic approach to the Rio Celeste features rolling green cattle pastures, small farming villages like Bijagua, and sweeping vistas of dual volcanic peaks often shrouded in mist.