La Fortuna de San Carlos, Alajuela

Often simply referred to as La Fortuna, the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos is the gateway to the magnificent Arenal Volcano. Not to be confused with a town of the same name 70 km northwest of here, La Fortuna de San Carlos is located in Alajuela province, and connects the Volcano Arenal National Park area with the cloud forests of Monteverde and Santa Elena and the northern lowlands of Costa Rica.

A charming and quiet town, La Fortuna is easily accessible from the Costa Rica's capital city San Jose, and offers some panoramic views of the spectacular Arenal, Costa’s Rica’s most active volcano. Sitting around 10 kilometers away from town and regularly spewing smoke and ash for some time now, the Volcan Arenal is the country’s top rated tourist attraction and is indeed a sight to behold.

Over the last few years in particular, La Fortuna has become quite a bustling town. However, there are plenty of accommodations, Arenal hotels and resorts here to suit every budget. A must try when in La Fortuna are the amazing resort spas surrounding the volcano.

When in town try and stay in the main plaza area, as the hotel rooms here offer some of the best views of the Volcan Arenal in the distance. On a clear day you can watch the volcano erupt and if you wait for nightfall, the Arenal puts on a brilliant show with bright red rocks tumbling down its sides.

Beside the Arenal volcano, this town has other great tourist attractions like the La Catarata de la Fortuna, a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall that falls from a dizzying height of 70 meters. A stunning sight to see and a lovely short trek away, this beautiful waterfall makes for a picture perfect moment.

Another key attraction nearby are the Tabacon Hot Springs in the area, where one can go to relax and unwind after a long tiring vacation. Set amidst stunning lush greenery, rare orchids and superb waterfalls, the Tabacon Hot Springs is among the many here that offer the ultimate indulgence for those who just want some peace and quiet.

For the more outdoorsy person, this region of the country has plenty to offer as far as Costa Rica adventure tours go. White water rafting, hiking excursions, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, horseback riding, canopy tours and Caño Negro Boat Tours are just some of the many activities that one can enjoy while you are here.