Thinking about visiting La Fortuna during your Costa Rica family vacation? Perfect choice! La Fortuna is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica. Surrounded by lush rainforest and nestled near an active volcano, La Fortuna has tons of kid friendly activities, packed with fun for the whole family.
This post will be about the best things to do in La Fortuna with kids, breaking it down by age. That way, if you are traveling to Costa Rica with a large group or with multiple families, you can see what tours the kids can join.
These are the tours that our tour partner in La Fortuna offers and if you are interested, we offer a small La Fortuna tours discount for all activities listed below. All tours listed below are as shared services, not private.
For those of you renting a car, thus not needing tours with transportation, I’ll share with you how to visit the places on your own.
This post has affiliate links.
La Fortuna Know Before You Go
- Location: In the Alajuela province.
- Why visit: Rainforest, wildlife, outdoor adventures, hiking, volcano and lake
- Distance from international airport: ~3 hours from Guanacaste Airport and San Jose International Airport by car
- How to get there: Direct public bus from San Jose, domestic flight from San Jose Domestic Terminal, private or shared shuttle, driving or a taxi-boat-taxi from Monteverde. Also can arrive as an interconnection from a Pacuare whitewater rafting tour from San Jose or Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the Caribbean coast.
- Airport: La Fortuna has its own domestic airport, 10 minutes outside downtown
- 4×4 Required? No.
- Currency: Credit cards, local currency and USD are readily accepted.
- Weather: Hot and humid all year long (average 70-85° F or 21° to 29° C). As tropical rainforest, it can rain any time of the year, even during the dry season months (December through April). Rainy season is May through November.
MUST BRING: sunscreen, mosquito repellent, swimming goggles for the kids, swim/sun shirt, hat, dry fast/moisture wicking clothes, water shoes or sturdy walking/tennis shoes. Get our FULL Costa Rica packing list and our FREE packing check list in the link.
Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids of All Ages (No Minimum Age Requirement)
Here are the things to do in La Fortuna with kids that all ages can participate.
The minimum age requirement may vary among different tour providers, please check with your booking agent to confirm their age requirement.
To get our La Fortuna tours discount, click the link and fill out the form!
Hot Springs
A visit to one of the La Fortuna hot springs resorts is a MUST DO. If your hotel does not have their own hot spring pools, you can book a day pass to one of the many hot springs resorts in La Fortuna. See our recommended family hotels in La Fortuna at the end of the post.
All the hot springs resorts open to the public allows kids, but here are a couple that are especially kid friendly.
- Baldi: Has their own kids section with waterslides, whirl bowl slides and a water park. They sell day passes with and without meals. Kids 5 and under are free. 6-10 are kid rates, 11 and up are adult rates. $$
- The Springs Resort: Luxury rainforest resort offers day passes without meals. Kids can enjoy a waterslide, the natural pools and splashing around in the waterfalls. Down by the river, they offer activities like a rock wall, river tubing and horseback riding for an extra fee. Get our discount for The Springs hot Springs day pass here. Infants 0-2 are free. $$$
- Tabacon: Has luxury hot springs. Kids 5 and under are free, 6-11 pay the child rate. 12 and up are adult rates. Children under 16 must be supervised and accompanied with an adult at all times. They offer day passes with and without a meal. $$$
Most people visit the hot springs at night when the temperature goes down. It’s a great way to end a fun day out in the rainforest.
Sunset on Lake Arenal on Boat
Enjoy a beautiful and relaxing cruise on Lake Arenal in a covered motor boat to watch the sun going down over Arenal Volcano. Can be a nice romantic activity without kids as it includes wine and cheese but you can also bring all the kiddos along for a chill evening family outing. Pick up time around 330 PM, return around 7 PM.
This is a tour run exclusively by our partner.
Danaus Eco Center
This private 3 hectare reserve is only 4.3 kilometers (2.7 miles) from downtown La Fortuna and is a fantastic half day outing for the family who loves nature and animals.
They offer a guided day walk, guided night walk, butterfly garden, bird watching and Maleku indigenous tour. You can also buy a day pass to walk the trails on your own without a guide.
The trail is only 1 km (.6 miles) on a flat path and the guided day and night walks take about 2 hours.
You can book this as a tour or if you have a rental car, drive yourself and do the self guided walk. A 4×4 is not required. If you go on your own, you must make reservations for the 2 hour guided tour.
Proyecto Asis
This wildlife sanctuary is 26 km (16 miles), about a 35 minute drive from La Fortuna downtown.
They offer a 1.5 hr wildlife tour, 1.5 hr sloth sanctuary tour, 2.5 hr wildlife volunteer and a 5.5 hr full day tour. They are all great experiences for kids to learn about animals.
You can book this as a tour with transportation or drive if you have a rental car. Make reservations for the tours. No 4×4 required.
Coffee, Sugar Cane and Chocolate
Although these tours are normally more fun for adults, kids of all ages can join the coffee/sugar cane/chocolate tours as it does not require any strenuous movement. There is little walking on these tours and besides the farm part, takes place mostly under a covered presentation area.
So if the whole family would like to do the tour and stay together, that is no problem. One parent will need to stay with any little ones. The kiddos will like the chocolate and sugar cane tasting for sure.
Tours are around 2.5 hours.
Caño Negro by Boat Los Chiles
For a fun wildlife outing for the whole family, the Caño Negro by Boat at Los Chiles is the best option. The other wildlife boat tours like the safari floats have a minimum age but babies and infants can join the Caño Negro by boat tour because it’s on a fully covered motorized riverboat. Furthermore, this tour does not require any walking.
It is around a 6 hour tour with lunch included. About a 1.5 hour drive from La Fortuna downtown to the river and about 2.5 hours boat ride.
You can see animals like iguanas, caimans, 3 different types of monkeys, herons, kingfishers and other river birds.
Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids Ages 0-4
Unfortunately, kids ages 0-4 will not be able to participate in majority of the adventure activities as they are too young. But for the ones they can do, ages 0-4 do not have a fee.
Safari Float at Peñas Blancas (4 years minimum)
The Peñas Blancas wildlife watching safari float is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna with kids. It does not require any strenuous movement. You sit on an uncovered inflatable raft for about 2-2.5 hours, floating down a slow moving river to see animals.
The Peñas Blancas River is about a 25 minute drive from La Fortuna downtown and the entire tour is approximately 3.5 hours total.
They offer a morning and afternoon tour. Pick up in the morning is around 730 AM, return around 11 AM. The afternoon pick up time is around 130 PM, return around 5 PM.
Pure Nature Safari Float (4 years minimum)
The Pure Nature Safari float is another great wildlife watching safari float for families looking for a more private experience. There are key differences between this one and the Peñas Blancas Safari float.
- This tour goes on the Rio Frio River, not the Peñas Blancas river.
- Exclusive tour run by our partner. No other tour operator goes down this section of the Rio Frio River.
- The Rio Frio river is more scenic and pristine than the Peñas Blancas river.
- Peñas Blancas is very popular so there can be a lot of rafts at once.
- ~1.5 hour drive one way to the start of the Pure Nature safari float down the Rio Frio River so the drive time is longer.
- Pure Nature safari float costs ~$101 USD per adult and $85 USD per child. Peñas Blancas safari float costs ~$91 USD per adult and ~$65 USD per child.
This tour offers an AM and PM option. AM pick up time is around 730 AM, return around 1230 PM. PM pick up time is around 130 PM, return around 630 PM.
Sloth Walk (4 years minimum as a tour, no age minimum if you go on your own)
A sloth walk is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna with kids who love animals.
If you want to book a sloth walk tour with transportation, with our partner, the minimum age is 4. Their tour goes to a rainforest trail away from town and focuses on finding sloths and birds.
However, if you have your own rental car, you can visit the two sloth walks right in La Fortuna with your kids of all ages, infants included.
The two popular ones are Bogarin Trail and the Sloth Watching Trail (both entrances go to the same forest). Easy well maintained walking paths of about 1 km (.6 mile).
Recommend babies and infants in a carrier. The path is a dirt path that can get muddy.
From La Fortuna downtown (where the park and church are), both places are an 8-10 minute walk. You can also call an Uber or take a red taxi.
You can book a guided walk at the front desk, but we recommend to make reservations during the high tourism season. They offer 2 hour guided walks.
Arenal Lake by Boat and Peninsula Trail (3 years minimum)
This tour goes to the Peninsula Sector of Arenal Volcano National Park for an easy walk through the rainforest out to Lake Arenal to see beautiful views. Then, you’ll get on a fully covered boat to cruise around the lake, for even closer views of Arenal Volcano.
Do not need to be in top physical shape as the trail in the Peninsula Sector trails are only about 1 mile (1.6 km) on a concrete path. Despite the short trail, we saw more wildlife here than in the Visitor Center of the national park.
This is a fantastic tour for families with young kids or older seniors who can’t/don’t want to walk much. This tour is easy with little walking and the boat ride is super fun. You’ll see the rainforest and get beautiful views of Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano.
AM tour pick up time is around 730 AM, return around 1130 AM. PM tour pick up time is around 130 PM, return around 530 PM.
Rio Celeste Tubing (4 years minimum)
This is a full day tour to enjoy the wonders of Tenorio Volcano National Park. You will first walk to the Rio Celeste waterfall, to see the spectacular sky blue river and waterfall in the jungle. After the walk, you’ll experience the sky blue river in a different way – by floating on a tube.
Children must be active with a good attitude and high energy for this tour. Teens will love this tour as they get to hike a bit and then enjoy some adventure tubing down the river.
The drive from La Fortuna to the national park is approximately 1.5 hour drive one way.
Pick up from La Fortuna downtown around 730 AM, return approximately 330-4 PM. Lunch is included.
Cooking Class (3 years minimum)
This tour is a fun one for the whole family! The farm tour and cooking class provides great bonding time as the kids can learn about where their veggies and fruits come from, pick their own ingredients and then get fully hands on in the kitchen.
This is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna with kids for them to learn more about where their food comes from.
Morning tours start around 830 AM and ends around 12 PM. Afternoon tours start around 220 PM and end around 6 PM.
Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids Ages 5-12
Kids between the ages 5-12 can participate in a lot more activities.
For families with kids of different ages, the ones too young can still go to the tour as an observer with one parent accompanying them at all time. The price of the observer fee depends as the tour company still has to charge for the transportation and if any, snacks, entrance fees and meals.
Ziplining (5 minimum)
Ziplining is another must do activity in La Fortuna and this is one of the “can’t miss” things to do in La Fortuna with kids. Many ziplining tours allow children as young as 5 years of age. Children can ride with the guide if they don’t want to go on their own or if they can’t (some cables require more weight).
Popular canopy tours are Sky Adventures, Athica, EcoGlide and Arenal Mundo Aventura. Our partner runs Arenal Canopy Adventure which is a very family friendly and beginner friendly ziplining tour.
Ziplining tours are usually around 2-2.5 hours with two schedules in the AM and two schedules PM. You can book a tour with transportation included or if you have your own rental car, make reservations and drive to the park yourself.
Biking Tour around Lake Arenal (5 minimum)
On this leisurely biking tour, kids as young as 5 can hop on their own wheels to tour around Lake Arenal. This route is a total of 8 miles (13 kilometers) on a low traffic path and the guide can go as fast or slow as the group needs. This is a great tour for the active family who loves the outdoors.
There is an AM and PM schedule, with pick up around 8 AM and 1 PM. The total tour time is 3 hours. Must go with a guide, they don’t offer just bike rentals.
Canyoning (5 minimum)
Canyoning, or waterfall rappelling in La Fortuna is an awesome excursion for the adventurous family. Kids as young as 5 can participate in this thrilling tour. Hop down waterfalls deep in the rainforest and get wet while splashing in the rivers and pools.
The best way to do a canyoning tour is to book it as a full tour with transportation included. Canyoning tours normally include lunch and are half day tours. This is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna with kids, for both the parents and kids as it’s a really fun adventure in pure rainforest.
AM pick up time is around 730 AM with return around 1130 AM. PM pick up time is around 12 PM with return around 4 PM.
Night Walk (6 minimum)
Our partners run an exclusive La Fortuna night walk on their own private reserve that has a minimum age of 6. They offer it as a full tour with transportation, guide and snacks.
However, if you go to the Danuas Eco Center, you can sign up for a night walk with them and they allow children of all ages. You will need to make reservations directly with them and drive yourself to the center.
Night walks are great for any kids who like animals like insects, spiders, frogs and snakes. These are the most common animals you will see on night walks. The night walks are around 2 hours.
Horseback riding (7 minimum)
Horseback riding is a great family activity to soak in the views of the La Fortuna valley and Arenal Volcano.
Our tour partner is very strict on the minimum age for horseback riding. Even if a child under 7 years of age has riding experience at home, they cannot join the tour and ride on the same horse with an adult. Each child 7 and up has to ride their own horse.
There are normally 2 AM schedules and 2 PM schedules. Riding time is around 2 hours, total tour time around 3 hours.
White Water Rafting Class 2 and 3 (7 minimum)
For an even more adventurous and thrilling activity, take the family white water rafting class 2 and 3. This rafting tour allows kids with a minimum age of 7 so they can paddle and raft through a beautiful river surrounded by rainforest for a fun day with the whole family.
This tour is normally a little over a half a day, with lunch included.
You can even combine ziplining and white water rafting Class 2 and 3 in one day to make it a full day of adrenaline. Our tour partner offers this combo and it is appropriately called the “Adrenaline” combo tour.
Things to Do in La Fortuna with Kids Ages 12+
Kids ages 12+ can do nearly all activities save for just a few. Many tour operators consider kids ages 11 or 12 and up as an adult price.
Pacuare River White Water Rafting Class 3 and 4 (12 minimum)
For the older family, don’t miss out on the Pacuare River white water rafting Class 3 and 4 tour! This tour provides the ultimate water fun in the jungle. This is one of our favorite excursions in Costa Rica, hands down!
It’s a long day with pick up around 530 AM and return around 330 PM but it truly is one of the most epic outdoor adventures you can do in La Fortuna.
Get our discount for the Pacuare River white water rafting tour in the link.
ATV (16 years minimum but 5+ can ride with an adult)
To drive their own ATV, kids must be at least 16 years of age with a drivers license for La Fortuna ATV tours. But younger kids can actually join in on this tour too and ride along with an adult. They must be at least five years old to ride the ATV with a parent.
The Arenal Volcano ATV Tour is one of the best things to do in La Fortuna with kids for parents who want a fun yet easy way to sightsee. This is especially fun for older teenage boys who just got their drivers license.
There are normally 2 AM schedules and 2 PM schedules. Tours are either 2 or 3 hours. The 3 hours might be a bit long if you’re bringing any little kids. They do include a couple of stops throughout both tours to take a break and drink water.
Peñas Blancas Kayaking (18 minimum)
If you find the safari floats a bit boring, you can do the same tour but kayak instead for more fun and exercise. For families with adult kids ages 18+, they can kayak down the Peñas Blancas River on slow moving rapids to see wildlife up close.
The tour is around 3 hours with an AM and PM schedule, same as the safari float.
Hanging Bridges (5 as a tour, none if direct)
If you need to book a tour with transportation, entrance fee and bilingual guide included, our partner has a minimum age of 5 for the Arenal Hanging Bridges tour. This is as a shared service.
If you have children under 5, you can book this as a private service. For babies and infants, a carrier is required.
If you have your own transportation, you can make reservations on the Mistico Hanging Bridges website to buy your own tickets and go to the park on your own with the family. They allow children of all ages including infants when you book directly with them for the entrance fee.
One short trail in the park is fully accessible for wheelchair and strollers. The rest of the trails are not stroller friendly.
Direct tour is around 2.5 hours, 3.2 km (1.9 miles).
Arenal Volcano Hike (5 as a tour, none if direct)
Our partner does not go to the Arenal Volcano National Park Visitor Center for their volcano hike tour, they go to Arenal 1968. Arenal 1968 is a private reserve right next to the national park.
The minimum age for this tour is 5, if you want a full tour with transportation, entrance fee and bilingual guide.
If you book it as a private service, younger children may join. Must have a carrier for babies and infants to do any of the walking trails.
If you have a car, you can drive yourself to the national park or reserve and buy entrance tickets at the door. Both the national park and private reserves allows kids of all ages.
Arenal Volcano National Park is not stroller friendly.
La Fortuna Waterfall
Children of all ages can visit La Fortuna Waterfall. It is just important to note that there are over 400 steps to go down to the waterfall, meaning you also have to walk the 400 back up. The trail is not stroller friendly so you need to carry any babies or infants.
Also be careful at the pool. There is an incredibly strong current so do not let kids swim in the pool. It is better to go to the calm river section to swim.
Not stroller friendly going down to the waterfall.
You can drive there, take a taxi or an Uber to the park and buy entrance tickets at the door.
Don’t forget to get our La Fortuna tours discount to save some $$ on tours!
Recommended Hotels for Families in La Fortuna
Airbnb is also a good option as you can find full homes with a fully equipped kitchen and multiple rooms and bathrooms. This can be a better option for larger families or multiple families who want to stay together.
We stayed at one Airbnb in La Fortuna called Arenal Luxury Paradise that had multiple bedrooms for up to 8 people.
Below are some recommended hotels in La Fortuna for families, all with their own hot springs. Prices are in USD and an estimation as rates fluctuate depending on the season.
Los Lagos Hotel
One of the most highly recommended hotels in La Fortuna for families with kids of all ages.
They have a great pool area with water slides, a wet bar, hot spring pools and cold pools. Lots of fun things to do in the property, including their own ziplining tour and lake activities. I didn’t go on their water slide, but we saw a lot of kids having a blast. Their hot springs are not exclusive to hotel guests, non hotel guests may purchase day passes to the property.
Hotel Los Lagos has standard/superior rooms for up to 4 people and a 2 floor villa that fits up to 9 people. If you have older kids that want their own room, you can request adjoining rooms.
The hotel has an amazing volcano view and a cool viewpoint of the lake and volcano. Yummy restaurant. 9 minute drive to downtown Fortuna.
Check rates for Hotel Los Lagos here. ~$300 USD a night for up to 4 guests with breakfast included.
Arenal Manoa & Hot Springs
Another highly recommended hotel in La Fortuna for families.
They have two hot springs pools, a swim up bar and a jacuzzi. Lots of nice views of Arenal Volcano from the large property with beautifully kept gardens and grounds. Their restaurant is excellent and lots of options from the hot breakfast buffet.
They offer suites that hold up to 4 people with cribs available on request. The junior suite and superior suites would be best for families with 2 kids.
13 minute drive to La Fortuna downtown. Also lots of wildlife on the property.
Check rates for Arenal Manoa here. ~$400 USD a night for up to 4 guests with breakfast included.
Arenal Springs Resort
Another top rated hotel in La Fortuna for families. They have their own hot springs with four pools of varying temperatures and a swimming pool.
They also have a kids game room with foosball, shuffleboard, toys, games and books which is really nice. For the parents, they have a large yoga deck.
They have standard rooms and large suites. Their master suite is the biggest with two bedrooms and two sofa beds, holding up to 10 people. Their junior suite deluxe has two bedrooms, one with a king size bed, another with two queen for up to 6 people.
We stayed in a junior suite and enjoyed it. But a family with a baby stayed next to us and these rooms have thinner adjoining walls so we were able to hear crying throughout the night.
The property is large and well kept. 12 minute drive to La Fortuna downtown.
Check rates for Arenal Springs Resort here. ~$300-1000 USD a night for junior suite and master suite.
El Silencio del Campo
For a more intimate experience, El Silencio del Campo is a great family hotel in La Fortuna. The property is smaller with immaculate gardens, stand alone villas and their own hot springs.
Their largest villa holds up to 5 people (family villa) and the standard villa is for up to 4 guests. They can offer a pack and play for those with babies.
A special thing they offer at El Silencio del Campo is a farm tour where kids can pick their own eggs, milk a cow, make local cheese and feed the farm animals. The hotel grows the majority of the food they serve in the restaurants so you can feel good about eating organic farm to table produce.
They have a normal pool and their own hot springs. 8 minute drive to La Fortuna downtown.
Check rates for El Silencio del Campo here. ~$350 USD per night for family villa.
Casa del Rio
A hidden gem perfect for families, inside a large gated property with beautifully well kept gardens.
They have lots of kid friendly amenities like a soccer field, a waterslide, hot tub, basketball court, ping pong tables and sun deck.
This is probably one of the best hotel options in La Fortuna with large groups or multiple families as they have a private home with four bedrooms that can hold up to 14 people. The other standard rooms and villas hold 3-4 people.
5 minute drive from La Fortuna downtown.
Check rates for Casa del Rio here. Starts at $300 USD a night for standard room, $800 a night for the private home.
The Springs Resort & Spa
Although it is one of the most expensive hotels in Costa Rica in general, it’s also one of the best hotels for families in La Fortuna that are not traveling on a budget.
Their huge property has a ton of amenities for kids including a very well equipped game room, a pool, hot springs and their very own adventure club down by the river. Club Rio offers activities like white water tubing, kayaking, horseback riding and a rock wall climb.
This hotel is amazing for families that can swallow the price. Rates start ~$800 a night for a standard room for 2 people (depends on season/time of year).
20 minute drive to La Fortuna downtown.
Read our full review of here. If you aren’t a hotel guest, they offer a hot springs day pass (2 days) to enjoy their hot springs amenities. Get our The Springs hot springs discount here.
Arenal Kioro
Another option for luxury family travelers is the Nayara Gardens, which has an absolutely gorgeous property, surrounded by lush gardens, flowers and rainforest.
It is located extremely close to Arenal Volcano and every villa has floor to ceiling windows for the most impressive views.
Their family suites can hold up to 4 guests (2 large double beds).
One of the best things about Arenal Kioro is their exclusive lush hot springs and pool, all with amazing views. Rates also include an entrance fee to another hot springs facility, Titoku.
The hotel has a gym and game room, with ping pong, billiards, pool tables and foosball. 16 minutes from La Fortuna downtown.
Check rates for Arenal Kioro here. ~$350 USD per night per villa.
Sample La Fortuna Family Itineraries
Here are some quick ideas for La Fortuna itineraries for families. Tourists normally spend 2-4 nights in La Fortuna for 1, 2 and 3 full days.
Day 1
10 AM Arenal Canopy adventure + Horseback Riding (minimum age is for kids 7+). Ends around 1 PM. Go back to hotel to rest and play in the pool.
Night walk tour from 5-730 PM.
Day 2
Morning: Peñas Blancas safari float tour.
Lunch in La Fortuna town.
Afternoon: Sloth walk or go back to play in the pool at the hotel.
Day 3
Canyoning in the morning (lunch included).
Short-medium afternoon walk in the Arenal Volcano National Park or Arenal 1968 reserve on your own.
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