My trip to Costa Rica was planned last minute but ended up being one of my favorite trips. Also, it was my first vacation together with my best friend of 23 years! Since we wanted a mix of adventure and relaxation, we split our six days between La Fortuna and San Mateo. Below, I’m sharing recommendations on where to eat, stay, and play in Costa Rica.
Where to stay
Where to eat
Where to play
Hotel Lomas del Volcán
Located in the center of La Fortuna, Hotel Lomas del Volcán provides one of the best Arenal Volcano views. Although the hotel is centrally located in La Fortuna, it’s also tucked away from the noise. Instead, all you hear are the birds chirping and wildlife around you. I love that Lomas del Volcán is surrounded by nature and has a diverse range of plants from the region.
Activities & amenities
Because of its location, there’s an endless amount of activities to partake in. From ziplining and chocolate tours to horseback riding and hanging bridges. Hotel Lomas del Volcán can arrange activities and excursions and recommend tour companies to check out. Also, there’s a one-mile private nature trail onsite that you can hike.
After a long day, relax and unwind by the pool or hot tub.
Food
Hotel Lomas del Volcán has a restaurant called “Lomas” and a bar called “El Volcan Bar”. The hotel offers breakfast (which is part of the rate) and includes fruit, coffee, and a dish of your choice. I got to try their traditional dish — gallo pinto, omelet, and even toast with eggs.
We ate and drank at El Volcan Bar twice and the food and drinks were delicious. We also had dinner once, and it was also delicious — I highly recommend their passion fruit daiquiri!
Rooms
Pick between the bungalow and the bungalow deluxe rooms. We got a bungalow, which included: two queen beds, a TV with cable, two terraces, a refrigerator, and more.
The bungalow deluxe has the same amenities but also includes a jacuzzi on the balcony overlooking the Arenal Volcano.
Finca Chilanga (Airbnb)
I’m going to start this review by saying, wow! Finca Chilanga was actually a last-minute find, we wanted to book another Airbnb around Jacó, but it got booked. In reality, I’m thankful the other listing was taken because this place is absolutely breathtaking.
Finca Chilanga has three villas and an infinity pool overlooking the valley and mountains – we stayed in the “Caoba” villa.
Activities & amenities
Besides relaxing in, or by, the pool, you can do a lot of things nearby. Like: hiking trails, swimming in Rio Jesus Maria, and/or utilizing their yoga platform.
If you’ve rented a car, then day trips to Jacó Beach, Carara National Park, and El Encanto Waterfall are feasible. Also, the host has a guidebook filled with things to see and do nearby.
I love that Finca Chilanga has laundry service on-site for only $10. There’s a hamper in your villa, and once ready, simply let Dan know and place the hamper on your patio. We left for a day trip to Jacó beach and our laundry was done by the time we returned.
Food
Breakfast is included in the price and differs every day. One morning was gallo pinto with eggs, plantains, and fresh watermelon from their farm. Another morning was fried eggs with toast and fresh mangoes from their farm.
The food at Finca Chilanga is farm-to-table, in fact, the chef owns and lives on her farm nearby. Everything tasted so fresh, including our dinner — which was $20 per person.
Villa
All of the villas have a wrap-around patio. Ours provided a view of the mountains on one side, and a view of the pool on the other.
The villa is very spacious and clean, however, they don’t have TVs or air conditioning, which I didn’t mind. I’d suggest leaving the fans on, and also leaving the doors open at night since there’s a screen door. I loved having the fresh air seep into the room at night.
Sodas
While in La Fortuna, we ate at Soda Hormiga (a popular soda) and Soda Mima. We actually went to Soda Mima because it was highly recommended by our hotel — which we now understand why. Both sodas served delicious food, and the service was great!
Besides the sodas, we stuck to our accommodations for lunch and dinner.
Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges
Known for the suspension bridges (the name probably gave it away), you can choose between a self-guided or guided tour. For a self-guided tour, the entrance fee is $26, and takes between 2-3 hours to explore. You’ll see different species of mammals, birds, plants, reptiles, and more. This was a fun experience, however, if you’re terrified of heights then this can be unnerving. Historically, I’ve been scared of heights but this wasn’t that bad, for me.
La Fortuna Waterfall
One of the most popular waterfalls in Costa Rica, and for a reason. This majestic waterfall can be heard before it’s even seen. You’ll have to trek down a 500-step staircase to the base of La Fortuna. Which is fine, until it’s time to come back up. Luckily, they’ve included areas to stop and rest going up and down. Entry is $18 and they accept both cash (colónes and USD) and credit cards. They also have bathrooms with showers, a cafe, and a gift shop near the entrance.
Canopy Tour (zip lining) & Tarzan Swing
We booked our ziplining tour with Ecoglide Arenal Park and ended up loving the company, receptionist, and guides! The receptionist handles their WhatsApp, and she responded so quickly and was excited to see us when we arrived. Our guides (Bryan, Andres, and Miguel) were so funny and made sure we had the best experience.
The ziplining portion of the tour consists of 11 cables — which range in height and length. The tour costs $50 and includes the equipment and a drink (water or beer) after the tour. We didn’t do the Tarzan swing, but if you’re interested it’s an additional $28. Also, after the tour you can purchase the professional videos and photos that were taken for $20.
Titokú Hot Springs
Part of the Arenal Kioro Suites & Spa, Titokú Hot Springs offers eight pools ranging in temperatures and sizes. I loved this hot spring because it feels like a treasure hidden in plain sight, and it’s affordable! Entrance is only $23.10 per person, and because we arrived when they opened, we had the entire place to ourselves. Titokú is surrounded by bigger thermal resorts, like Baldi Hot Springs Resort Hotel & Spa which is next door.
The entrance fee includes access to their dressing rooms and lockers and a complimentary towel. You’ll also find a full-service bar on-site, as well as optional snacks. The service was amazing — we got a complimentary drink and then I ordered a sangria, which was delicious.
Jacó Beach/Playa Jacó
We did a day trip to Jacó Beach since it’s only an hour away from Finca Chilanga. The beach itself is beautiful and clean, and the sand is dark brown. And since Jacó Beach is within the town of Jacó, you’ll find many restaurants and bars, hotels, souvenir shops, and more.
