Is Costa Rica on your travel bucket list? It’s such a popular destination, especially for those of us on the West Coast. With easy direct flights from Los Angeles to Liberia, lush rainforests, incredible wildlife, natural hot springs, and plenty of adventure, it’s easy to see why. We loved our time in La Fortuna so much that I wanted to share all the details to help you plan yours!

A few years ago, we explored a different region of Costa Rica while staying at Marriott Los Sueños Vacation Club . This time, we wanted to experience somewhere different, so we chose La Fortuna. Nestled at the base of Arenal Volcano, La Fortuna is known for its natural hot springs, wildlife, lush rainforest, and adrenaline-filled adventures. It’s the perfect destination for both exciting excursions and relaxation.

We visited La Fortuna as the second half of our 10-day Central America adventure after several days surfing and slowing down on the beaches of Rancho Santana in Nicaragua. The two destinations complemented one another perfectly. We traded beach sunsets and ocean views for volcanoes, waterfalls, thermal hot springs, and tropical rainforest.

Traveling with three generations, including grandparents and tweens/ teens (ages 11, 13, 14 and 19), I planned our itinerary to balance adventure with downtime. While there were still a few experiences we would have loved to add, that gives us some reasons to come back!

Trip at a Glance:

Length: 4 nights (3 full days), arriving in the evening and departing after lunch

Where We Stayed: 2 nights at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, 2 nights at Nayara Tented Camp

Perfect For: Couples, families, multigenerational travel, or anyone looking to for adventure, wellness, and luxury.

Trip Highlights:

• Soaking in Tabacón’s natural hot springs
• Waterfall rappelling with Pure Trek
• Whitewater rafting
• Mistico Hanging Bridges
• Wildlife spotting (including sloths and red-eyed tree frogs!)
• Spa time and yoga
• Enjoying beautiful tropical gardens in Costa Rica

Getting There:

• Closest airport: Liberia International Airport (LIR)
• Drive time (La Fortuna from Liberia): ~3 hours
• Rental care or private transfer? Most couples and small families choose to rent a car, but since we were a group of 10, I arranged private transfers through Jacamar Tours. This worked really well for us, giving us the flexibility to customize our stops and take the time we needed.
• We came from Rancho Santana in Nicaragua, their team arranged our private transfer across the Nicaragua–Costa Rica border and on to Liberia, where we met our Jacamar driver for the journey to La Fortuna. To read more about our lovely experience at Rancho Santana – click here!

Day 1: Arrival and evening soak at the Tabacón Hot Springs

By the time we arrived at Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, the sun had set. One thing to keep in mind when visiting Costa Rica is that, because it’s so close to the equator, the sun sets around 6:00–6:30 p.m year round. Rather than unpacking, we immediately changed into our swimsuits and hopped on the resort shuttle for a short ride from the front desk to the famous Tabacón Hot Springs.

Although the hot springs are open to day visitors during the day, overnight guests enjoy exclusive access into the evening (until 10 p.m. during our stay), making it a great time to enjoy without crowds. Even in the dark, we could tell this was a magical place! Unlike traditional hot spring resorts with just a few pools, Tabacón is designed around a naturally flowing thermal river. We followed the kids along winding pathways until we found our own nook, soaking in a small cascading waterfall surrounded by the lush rainforest. There are also larger pools if you prefer a more traditional hot spring experience, but we loved the smaller hidden spots tucked throughout the property.

When we got hungry, we moved over to the pool area, where we ordered burgers, nachos, and fresh ceviche from the swim-up bar. After a long travel day, it was so nice to unwind before our big adventure day!

Day 2: The Ultimate Adventure Day in La Fortuna

The La Fortuna area is known for adventure so after reading reviews and getting recommendations from friends, we decided to book the Pure Trek Waterfall Rappelling & Whitewater Rafting Combo for my brother’s family and mine. We packed two unforgettable experiences into one adrenaline-filled day! Although my parents are active and fit, they decided to sit these out and spent the day enjoying Tabacón’s beautiful gardens and relaxing in the hot springs at their own pace. The teens loved this day. They kept shouting, “This is awesome!” after every rappel, and loved the thrill of the whitewater rapids.

Waterfall Rappeling with Pure Trek

I won’t give too much away because the fun is experiencing it yourself, but the canyoning portion was an absolute blast. We rappelled down waterfalls, scrambled through the canyon, and tackled a few surprises along the way, including the famous Monkey Drop. I’ll admit, I was really nervous for that one! But it happened so quickly that I barely had time to scream before I splashed into the pool at the bottom.

Whitewater Rafting with Wave Rafting

After canyoning, we headed back to La Fortuna, where we transferred to Wave Rafting, Pure Trek’s rafting partner. We were given a small snack and waited in their office to catch a bus, for an hour long ride to the rafting spot. This trip is marketed as family-friendly Class II–III rafting, and it was really exciting! There weren’t many long, calm stretches between rapids. Instead, it felt like we were constantly paddling through wave after wave. We absolutely loved it! Note: Class III-IV rapids are available for those ages 12 and up.

Every raft had its own guide, and despite the large number of boats on the river, everything felt well organized and safe. Our guide told us exactly when to paddle hard, when to duck into the center of the raft, and how to navigate each rapid without anyone ending up in the water. About halfway through, we pulled over for a refreshing tropical fruit snack along the riverbank – enjoying the super sweet local pineapple and watermelon.

After rafting, we went for lunch. We purchased the rafting photo package for $40 USD.

Tips for the Pure Trek Combo:

This is a full-day excursion, so expect to be wet almost the entire time. We visited in July during Costa Rica’s rainy season, but we hardly noticed the rain because we were soaked or splashed continuously!

Wear or Bring:

• Wear: Swimsuit and rash guard or other quick-dry clothing
• Footwear: Water shoes or secure sandals (my family all wore KEEN Hyperport sandals)
• A quick-dry towel (we brought Nomadix towels) Although Pure Trek provides a small towel after canyoning, it’s nice to have your own towel to dry off or stay warm on the air-conditioned bus ride.
• A GoPro with the correct helmet mount if you want your own footage
• A waterproof phone case with a lanyard if you plan to bring your phone.
• A magnetic charging power bank. If water gets into your phone’s charging port, it can take a while to dry before you can plug it in. I learned that one from experience.
• Here’s a link to our packing list for this Central America trip!

We returned to Tabacón around 5 p.m, and since we were already in swimsuits, we headed straight back to the hot springs. My parents met us there and we soaked for a bit before having dinner there. After a full day of rappelling and rafting, it was the perfect relaxing evening.

A few tips if you’re staying at Tabacón:

• Breakfast is complimentary and begins at 6:30 a.m.
• If you have an early excursion, you can grab a quick bite before you go. If you ask nicely for a takeout box, they will provide one.
• If you’re visiting during the rainy season, your swimsuits may not dry overnight. The combination of humidity and rain meant ours stayed damp, so I was glad I packed dry bags to keep our wet gear separate from the rest of our luggage.
• You can wear robes (provided per person to Tabacon guests) on the hot spring side , including to dinner!

Day 3: Mistico Hanging Bridges & Checking into Nayara Tented Camp

After breakfast, it was time to check out of Tabacón and explore another side of La Fortuna. We made the most of this day exploring Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park.

Because we were traveling as a big group, hiring both a private driver and a naturalist guide through Jacamar Tours allowed us to move at our own pace, stop whenever someone spotted wildlife, and ask plenty of questions without feeling rushed. Although most people spend 2-3 hours at this park, we spent more than 4 hours and loved every minute of it! The beautifully maintained trails wind through the rainforest canopy. We crossed a series of suspension bridges with incredible views. Our guide pointed out birds, insects, and several camouflaged creatures that we would have completely missed on our own, including a poisonous snake and tiny frogs. If you’re debating whether to hire a naturalist guide, I absolutely recommend it for Mistico – you’ll get so much more out of the visit.

Originally, we had planned to visit La Fortuna Waterfall afterward. However, with grandparents in our group, we were a little hesitant about the 500+ steps down to the falls. Then the rain started and our guide explained that the stairs become slippery and swimming by the falls become restricted when the water levels rise. Instead, we decided to take a long leisurely lunch at a local soda recommended by our guide. After lunch, it was time to check into Nayara Tented Camp.

First Impressions of Nayara

I’d been getting targeted ads for Nayara for years, and as someone who loves glamping, I was more than ready to experience this fabulous tented resort! We booked our stay with points—our favorite Chase Travel redemption to date. After several busy days of transfers, rappelling, rafting, and adventures, we were also ready to slow down and enjoy the resort. And Nayara really is a destination in itself!

We arrived just as the complimentary 4 p.m. sloth walk was starting. The staff invited us to join before we even finished checking in! It was the perfect welcome—we spotted two sloths within minutes! Afterwards, we were taken to our tent, and it was even more stunning than I expected. We stayed in Sloth 31, which gives you views of the top of Arenal Volcano on a clear day. The volcano never quite emerged from the clouds for us, but the rainforest setting was beautiful. Our family tent had a king bed, two twin daybeds, an oversized soaking tub, indoor and outdoor showers, and our own thermal plunge pool. It was easily one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever stayed. Here is a slideshow of our tent.

That evening, we took a golf cart to La Terraza del Arenal restaurant on the Garden side, spotting two adorable creatures along the way.

Tip: If you’re traveling with a larger or multigenerational group, reach out to the concierge before your trip so they can help coordinate dinner reservations. My parents stayed at Nayara Gardens, and it was easy for all of us to meet up and enjoy the property together.

Day 4 : Slowing Down at Nayara

After several days of travel and adventure through Nicaragua and Costa Rica, we were ready for a relaxing day. I started the morning with a yoga class with my sister in law and niece. Then we met up with the rest of the family for Nayara’s complimentary breakfast, a mix of made-to-order dishes and a buffet.

After that, we headed to the thermal pools. We loved having our own private plunge pool, but the larger, tiered hot springs surrounded by tropical gardens were definitely worth a visit too.

The rest of the day was spent wandering the property, which honestly is one of the best things to do at Nayara. Wildlife is everywhere! We spotted colorful birds, a woodpecker and another sloth that completely captivated us. We spent over 30 minutes watching it slowly move from branch to branch, convinced it was heading up to the canopy for lunch…only to watch it change its mind, curl back up, and go to sleep. It was so cute!

Later that afternoon, we squeezed in a family photoshoot with Fabian Madrigal of Famalo Arte Visual. I found him on Instagram and literally confirmed our shoot just a couple of days beforehand. He was so flexible and accommodating, and reassured me that even if it rained, he could create beautiful photos. If you’re in La Fortuna, I highly recommend booking a shoot with him!

That evening, we had dinner at the main restaurant, Ayla. On the way back to our tent, one of the golf cart attendants, Justin, offered to take us to the resort’s frog pond. Despite the rain, he and another driver grabbed umbrellas and flashlights and helped us spot several frogs hiding among the leaves—including Costa Rica’s famous red-eyed tree frog! We never would have found them on our own. This was honestly one of my favorite memories from the entire trip!

Tip: The frog pond isn’t a formal tour, but you can ask concierge or one of the golf cart attendants if someone is available to show you the frog pond or point out wildlife around the property. The staff know exactly where many of the animals like to hide, and their knowledge made our stay even more memorable.

Day 5: One Last Morning in Paradise

On our final morning, we ordered breakfast to our tent so we could soak in just a little more time in our incredible tent. Sitting on our private deck with coffee in hand, listening to the birds chirp and sing, was the perfect way to end our stay.

Before checking out, Jason and I slipped away for one last treat: a couples massage at the spa. I chose the signature coffee body wrap, which left my skin incredibly soft. It started raining during my treatment and the pitter patter of the raindrops on the roof literally sounded like the nature sounds cd – but it was real! It was so relaxing.

Soon it was time to say goodbye. Our private driver from Jacamar Tours picked us up for the drive back to Liberia International Airport, and before we knew it, we were heading home.

Tip: We especially appreciated was Nayara’s laundry service. Since we visited during the rainy season, many of our clothes never fully dried after our adventures at Tabacón and Pure Trek. We left our laundry at the door in the afternoon and it was returned clean and dry the next morning, making packing for the flight home so much easier.

Final Thoughts

We indulged in two world-renowned luxury properties in La Fortuna and loved every moment of it! Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa and Nayara Tented Camp offered two very different experiences that complemented each other perfectly. This was definitely a splurge, but I’m so glad we were able to experience both and, most importantly, enjoy this trip together as a family. Being able to treat my parents to these places and share these adventures across three generations made it even more special.

La Fortuna gave us the perfect mix of adventure, wildlife, relaxation, and time together. We have so many memories we’ll treasure forever! If you’ve been eyeing these properties or curious about visiting La Fortuna, I hope I’ve convinced you of how magical this part of Costa Rica is. Pura Vida!

Disclosure:  This was not a sponsored or hosted trip. As always, all opinions, experiences, and recommendations are entirely our own. We only share destinations we genuinely love and would recommend to our own family and friends. Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.