On a clear morning, the cone of Arenal Volcano rises above the cloud line in perfect symmetry — a textbook stratovolcano, the kind children draw. For most of its history, it was classified as dormant and largely ignored. Then, on July 29, 1968, it erupted without warning, killing 87 people and burying three villages under pyroclastic flows in a matter of hours. It remained continuously active for the next 42 years, one of the most closely watched volcanoes in the Americas, before settling into a resting phase in December 2010.
That geological history is what makes the La Fortuna hot springs unusual. The thermal water feeding them doesn't come from pumped municipal sources or distant boreholes — it emerges from the volcanic earth itself, heated by the same magmatic system that drove four decades of eruptions. The temperatures are consistent, the mineral content is genuine, and the setting — dense rainforest, cascading waterfalls, the volcano visible through the canopy on clear days — is unlike anything else in the region.
La Fortuna now has no shortage of hot spring operations. Dozens of pools line the road from town toward the national park, ranging from five-star resort thermal rivers to roadside soaking spots that cost less than a cocktail. For the luxury traveler, the field narrows considerably — and two properties in particular deliver at a level that merits some attention.
The thermal water doesn't come from pumped municipal sources — it emerges from the volcanic earth itself, heated by the same magmatic system that drove four decades of eruptions.
Tabacón has been the reference point for luxury hot springs in Costa Rica for over two decades, and its awards track record reflects an experience that has held up: Travel + Leisure named it the #2 Best Destination Spa in the World at the 2024 World's Best Awards, and it holds multiple Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice recognitions for best resorts in Central and South America.
The property's central distinction is its thermal river — the only naturally sourced, non-pumped hot spring flow in the Arenal area. Water emerges from the volcanic earth at the base of the mountain and moves through a series of pools, cascades, and channels across 570 acres of protected rainforest, ranging in temperature from 72°F to 105°F. Guests move between them freely, working from cooler pools near the river's edge to the hotter soaking pools tucked deeper into the forest, with the sound of thermal waterfalls steady in the background. On a clear evening, the cone of Arenal frames itself above the tree line. It is one of the finest outdoor wellness settings in the Americas.
The 105-room hotel keeps the guest-to-space ratio low even at capacity. Rooms are furnished in natural materials with jungle outlooks; all rates include breakfast and full access to the springs. Hotel guests also have exclusive access to the Shangri-La Gardens — an adults-only thermal section that day visitors cannot reach. The spa operates from open-air bungalows with private jacuzzis, and the volcanic mud wraps and thermal hydrotherapy treatments are the natural complement to an afternoon in the pools.
Day passes are available for non-guests but cap capacity strictly, and they sell out days — sometimes weeks — in advance during high season. If you're visiting without staying at the resort, book well ahead. If the budget allows for a night or two, the full-access experience — Shangri-La Gardens, late-night springs under the stars, breakfast on the terrace — is worth the premium. Rooms start from around $473 per night including breakfast and springs access.
Positioned on a mountain ridge 1,000 feet above the Arenal Valley, The Springs Resort offers something Tabacón doesn't: a panoramic view of the volcano from virtually every point on the property. CNN Travel placed it among the seven resorts with the most spectacular views in the world, and that designation is easy to understand once you're standing at the edge of one of the resort's 28 hot springs and pools, looking across the valley at Arenal's symmetrical cone.
The 165-acre property operates at a different scale and register than Tabacón. Where Tabacón is intimate and focused on the thermal experience itself, The Springs works more as a full-service luxury resort where hot springs are the defining amenity. There are five restaurants — including a grill encircled by waterfall pools and a sushi bar — a spa with volcanic clay body treatments, and an on-site wildlife sanctuary operated in partnership with Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment, housing animals confiscated from poachers and rescued from illegal captivity. The sanctuary alone — where visitors may encounter sloths, macaws, and spider monkeys being rehabilitated for release — would justify a half-day visit on its own.
The Springs is the stronger choice for families or travelers who want the hot springs experience embedded in a larger resort infrastructure, or for those who put Arenal volcano views above everything else. The pools are designed rather than natural, but the setting and the quality of the spa programming are serious.
For travelers who find the above properties busier than they'd prefer, Eco Termales offers a deliberately quieter alternative. The operation limits daily admission strictly — fewer than 150 guests per session — and the result is a genuinely unhurried soaking experience across nine pools of varying temperatures (seven thermally heated, two cold-water), set in primary rainforest. There is no hotel attached, no large groups, and no particular rush. The thermal water is naturally sourced, the setting is appealing, and the comparative calm is the point. Eco Termales is the clearest recommendation for travelers whose priority is contemplative immersion over resort amenities.
Tabacón limits its day-pass capacity and the Shangri-La Gardens stay exclusive to hotel guests — at the highest volume times of year, staying at the resort is the only reliable way to get the full experience.
The spectrum of hot spring options in La Fortuna is wide enough that the right choice depends almost entirely on what kind of experience you're after. A comprehensive breakdown of the best hot springs in La Fortuna covers the full range — from luxury resort thermal rivers to quieter, soaking-only pools — including current pricing, crowd levels by season, and the logistical differences worth knowing before you book. The short version: Tabacón for the benchmark natural thermal experience; The Springs for volcanic views and resort infrastructure; Eco Termales if tranquility is the priority.
One variable worth factoring in: La Fortuna's dry season (December through April) brings reliably sunny weather but peak crowds at every property. The green season (May through November) brings afternoon rain, lower rates, and noticeably thinner visitor numbers across the board. The pools feel more atmospheric in the rain, not less — particularly at Tabacón, where the natural thermal river runs through dense forest and the setting improves in low light.
La Fortuna sits approximately 2.5 hours from San José by road, accessible as a long day trip but far better suited to two or three nights. Fly into Liberia (LIR) if you're combining La Fortuna with a Guanacaste beach stay; fly into San José (SJO) if La Fortuna is your primary destination. Private transfers are available from both airports and are the most practical option — the mountain roads into the area are manageable but easier in a vehicle you're not driving yourself.
Arenal Volcano National Park, the Arenal Hanging Bridges, La Fortuna Waterfall, and white-water rafting on the Sarapiquí River are all within 30 minutes of town, making La Fortuna one of the most activity-dense destinations in Costa Rica for travelers who want both adventure and recovery in the same itinerary. The thermal springs are the natural end to any of them.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa: From $473/night including breakfast and full springs access. Day passes available — book at least one week ahead during high season. Shangri-La Gardens exclusive to hotel guests. tabacon.com
The Springs Resort & Spa: From approximately $250/night. Day access to springs available. Five restaurants, wildlife sanctuary, adventure center on site. thespringscostarica.com
Eco Termales: Day pass only, strictly limited to 150 guests per session. Advance reservations required. Open to all ages. ecotermalesfortuna.cr
Best time to visit: December–April for dry season and clear volcano views. May–November for lower rates, thinner crowds, and a more atmospheric forest setting.
Getting there: Approximately 2.5 hours from San José (SJO) or 3 hours from Liberia (LIR). Private transfers recommended.
