A volcano, warm rivers and cloud forest, best seen early, with a private guide and a slow afternoon.
Arenal and La Fortuna sit in Costa Rica's northern lowlands, where a conical volcano rises over rainforest, a large lake and mineral-warm rivers. It works best as a short, unhurried stop between the coast and the highlands.
Three moments an advisor can arrange here, each built around early light, a private guide and unhurried pacing.
Walk the national park trails at dawn with a private naturalist guide, crossing old lava fields from the 1968 eruption. Clouds often cover the cone by mid-morning, so the early start matters.
The volcano heats the springs of the area. An advisor can arrange an unhurried evening soak, timed for the quieter hours where the property allows, followed by a late dinner without a schedule.
Spend a morning on the water or on rainforest trails and canopy bridges with a private guide. Early hours are usually best for birds, monkeys and sloths, and the lake is calm.
Not a package — a starting point. Each is a journey we have designed and refined; your advisor reshapes it for the version only you would recognise.
Volcanic hot springs, forest stillness and a slow Pacific coast, in six unhurried days.
Volcano country and a gentle Pacific beach, with guided days that suit all ages.
Cloud forest, jungle canals and the Osa coast, with private naturalist guides.
Each a starting point — our advisors weave them into a single, seamless journey.
The most popular choices are guided walks in Arenal Volcano National Park, rainforest trails with hanging bridges, a visit to the La Fortuna waterfall, kayaking or boat time on Lake Arenal, and soaking in thermal springs. An advisor can arrange each with a private guide so you avoid group schedules.
Two or three nights is usually ideal. That allows a full day for the volcano and rainforest, another for the lake or a river activity, and a relaxed evening in the thermal springs. One night rarely feels worthwhile once the road transfer is counted, which is why your advisor will plan travel days carefully.
December to April is usually the most reliable, with clearer mornings and better odds of seeing the volcano. May to November is greener, quieter and often more atmospheric, with rain commonly in the afternoon. Cloud can cover the summit at any time of year, so plan outdoor activities for the morning.
The summit is not open to hikers. Visitors walk national park trails to viewpoints and across old lava fields, and the volcano has been resting since 2010. Your advisor can arrange these walks with a private naturalist guide, and confirm current trail conditions before you travel.
Yes, the springs are heated by the volcano and fed by warm rivers. They range from simple riverside pools to landscaped spa settings inside hotels. Your advisor can match the setting to your style and arrange the visit for the quieter hours, where the property allows it.
Yes. Children usually enjoy the hanging bridges, the waterfall, the lake and the warm pools, and the distances between activities are short. Choose a property with space and a guide who adapts the pace to younger travellers. Your advisor will suggest suitable ages and activities for your group.
Forest Travel stays in Costa Rica start from around US$1,000 per person per night. The final figure depends on the property, the season and how much private guiding you want. Your advisor builds a proposal around your dates and confirms what is included before you commit.
Neither is better; they offer different things. Arenal is a volcano, hot springs and rainforest wildlife, warm and open; Monteverde is cool, misty cloud forest and birdlife. Most private journeys include both, with one night more in the place that matches your interests. Your advisor sequences them to avoid long road days.
Every journey here is a starting point a private advisor reshapes entirely around you — your pace, your people, the Arenal & La Fortuna only you would recognise.
A real person answers: an in-house luxury travel advisor, in English or Spanish. The first conversation is complimentary.
