We’re just back from three weeks in beautiful Costa Rica. It’s a country of contrasts, and a nation of geographical riches. And there are loads of reasons why you might want to travel there!

One of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica is La Fortuna, an area filled with natural wonders and stunning landscapes. Hop a shuttle from San Jose–there are several options–and you’ll head north for a couple of hours. You’ll know you’re getting close when you start curling through the mountains. (If you tend to get motion sick, you may want to bring your bag of tricks.)
My friends and I had a blast in La Fortuna. Here are three things that totally rocked.
Three Reasons to Roll to La Fortuna, Costa Rica
1. Arenal Volcano
No matter where you are in La Fortuna, chances are you’ll have a breathtaking view of Arenal Volcano. Though it may look intimidating as well as beautiful, the volcano has been dormant since 2010. Watching the sunrise on the volcano is particularly rewarding.


2. The hot springs
Whether you want to soak in natural hot springs, or a more manicured, posh setting, La Fortuna delivers.
We went the manicured route, and spent an entire day at Tabacon Hot Springs, soaking in various pools, each with different temperatures and water features. The grounds are green and lush and immaculately cared for.
Our day pass included a wonderful meal in their dining room overlooking the grounds and Arenal Volcano.
We stayed right up until closing time, maximizing our experience. And we even enjoyed cocktails at the pool bar. It wasn’t a cheap day, by any stretch, (expect to drop $20 on a burger if dining ala carte) but it was worth the splurge.
3. The spa treatments
As part of our splash-out day at Tabacon Hot Springs, we each added on a massage at their spa. One of my friends remarked that it was among the best massages she’d ever had–and I concur! Clients soak in an indoor pool prior to their treatment and are served delicious smoothies, nuts and cut fruit both before and after their spa indulgence.
When it’s time for your massage, you stroll through the gorgeous, tropical gardens to an open-air cabana where you strip down to your skivvies amidst the jungle foliage! An hour or so later, you’ll emerge with that blissed-out feeling that can only be achieved through great pampering.
Photos were not allowed inside the spa, so you’ll have to use your imagination!
RBGenius tip: Be sure to ask about any day pass package deals at Tabacon Hot Springs that include spa credit–it can save you some cash, as it did us.
La Fortuna, Costa Rica: Worth the Roll!
There you have it–three really good reasons to travel to La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Bring your swimming suit, some bug spray, your mad driving skills, and enough of a budget to handle paying U.S. prices, and you’ll have three times the fun!
Charish Badzinski is an explorer and award-winning features, food and travel writer. When she isn’t working to build her blog, she applies her worldview to her business, Rollerbag Goddess Global Communications, providing powerful storytelling to her clients.
Posts on the Rollerbag Goddess travel blog are never sponsored and have no affiliate links, so you know you will get an honest review, every time.
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Rollerbag Goddess Rolls the World by Charish Badzinski is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.