Volcon Arenal

From San Jose we caught a bus to La Fortuna, stopping halfway in Ciudad Quesada to pick up passengers and grab a snack. The ride was beautiful. We climbed up into the mountains outside of San Jose, taking in the crisp air and views of seemingly endless coffee fincas.

Once we got to the lowlands outside of Ciudad Quesada, the temperature rose steadily and coffee gave way to pineapple and sugar cane. Two hours later we were in La Fortuna staring at restaurants, hotels, and stores selling cheap knick knacks at the foot of an impressive volcano.

We checked into our hostel, grabbed lunch, and returned to a view of the smoking giant. The clouds had parted and so we settled on our porch, sipping Cacique and juice at the foot of the active Volcon Arenal.

As the sun began to set, we headed to Baldi Hot Springs. We didn't really know what to expect, only that it seemed like the place to go and part of everyone's tour offerings for the area. It was a bit expensive, but you tend to forget these things as you enjoy different thermal pools and the various water slides on the grounds.

Though we never got to see lava flowing down the mountain, it still proved to be a great time and I would recommend putting it on the Costa Rica itinerary.


Where We Stayed: Arenal Backpackers. It's the sister hostel of Hostel Pangea. While it's a nice clean place to drop your pack, it's the same hip-to-be-sterile feeling you get from Pangea. There are lots of options in La Fortuna and I'd probably pick another if I were to do it again. 

What We Did: Baldi Hot Springs (or Los Laureles for a more budget hot spring experience)

Where We Ate: Baldi Hot Springs offers lunch and dinner with admission. It's a buffet that made the admission price more tolerable. Not the best meal, but you could do a lot worse. Cheap dining options are limited in La Fortuna. It's definitely a tourist town. Expect to pay a premium for eating at the foot of an active volcano no matter where you go.