Tagged: arenal, budget travel, costa rica, costa rica travel, hot springs, la fortuna, nature, rainforest, tourism, travel, travel tips, vacation
- This topic has 36 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 11 years, 1 month ago by Nikki Solano.
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May 12, 2014 at 3:40 pm #195005ShayGuest
I visited CR about 9 years ago. At that time we stopped at a small place that had a minimal entrance fee to get into the heated river (not pools). I remember it was affordable and nice but not too fancy. They had paved sidewalks and some natural pools but it was pretty much the river…I also remember a few wooden plaques describing plants and lizzards and “Jesus lizzards” would run across the water. I’ve looked at the pics of the places you have here but they don’t seem to look like the place I visited before. Does this ring a bell? I’d like to return there if it’s still open when I visit in a few weeks. 🙂
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May 22, 2014 at 12:47 pm #195006Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hi Shay!
Great question! Was the heated river in the La Fortuna/Arenal region or in another part of Costa Rica? In this post, we touch on the popular hot spring options in the La Fortuna/Arenal area, but a few others exist in different parts of the country, so it’s possible you visited a different area. I’d love to help you narrow down the search. Perhaps we can start by trying to figure out where you went during your trip.
Pura vida! 🙂
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May 27, 2014 at 12:07 pm #195007ShayGuest
Thanks for the response! I thought it was this area…I remember crossing a lake in a boat to get to the town we were staying in. While there we did zip lining in Monteverde at Aventura and also visited the river I described above.
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June 11, 2014 at 8:45 am #195008ShayGuest
Just returned from our trip. I spoke with the girl at our hotel and she said there are more regulations now and the place we’d gone to before is closed (only the places you list here are open now). We decided to just get in the river below Tabacon for free and it was great!! The trail is easy to find (cab driver knew right where we wanted to go and told us where to walk down) and easy to follow to find the best place to get in. We had the place to ourselves and it was so beautiful and relaxing. I highly recommend it!!!
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April 15, 2021 at 10:22 am #195228Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hey Shay!
Thanks so much for reporting back! After receiving your penultimate comment, we left some messages with colleagues in the Monteverde area to ask their opinion. We’re familiar with the various hot springs in the La Fortuna/Arenal region; however, after hearing that you had crossed the lake and visited hot springs while zip-lining in Monteverde, I was stumped as to where you might have found hot springs there. (Most hot springs are located in/around the La Fortuna area near the Arenal Volcano, or in other areas of the country near other volcanoes.) Now that you have reported back that you visited the river by Tabacon, which is just outside of La Fortuna, things make sense! What likely happened is you visited La Fortuna/Arenal and the hot springs river there, followed by a trip across the lake to Monteverde where you went zip-lining; I am 99.99% sure that the river you visited was indeed in the La Fortuna area, not Monteverde, and I bet we can narrow down which river it was. Does the place we describe in this blog post look familiar?
Local Free Hot Springs In La Fortuna / Arenal
Pura vida! 🙂
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April 15, 2021 at 10:26 am #195229Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hi again Shay!
Awesome! Thanks so much for the helpful update. Sounds like you ended up at Rio Chollin (mini-Tabacon). We’re glad you had a blast! 🙂
For anyone else reading this, you can learn more about Rio Chollin here: Local Free Hot Springs In La Fortuna / Arenal
Pura vida!
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July 3, 2014 at 4:51 am #195009flyingfeet2anywhereGuest
This is an awesome written work 🙂 Love to see this place one day 🙂
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April 15, 2021 at 10:06 am #195224Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hello flyingfeet2anywhere!
You’re so kind! Thank you for your comment. We hope you make it to one or more of these beautiful hot springs someday!
Pura vida! 🙂
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October 24, 2014 at 8:07 am #195011psychologistmimiGuest
so excited to go there
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April 15, 2021 at 10:10 am #195226Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hi psychologistmimi!
Great to hear it! Are you planning an upcoming trip? Or dreaming about a visit one day?
Pura vida! 🙂
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January 26, 2015 at 10:24 pm #195012robinGuest
we want to visit to CR. for 3 weeks. We love hot springs, We want to spend our time on hot springs.Can you give me recommendations for p;lace where We can eat, sleep and enjoy in hot springs
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January 27, 2015 at 8:47 pm #195013Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hey Robin!
We love hot springs too! These exist in areas where volcanoes are present, and the two most popular destinations in Costa Rica where you can find them are the La Fortuna and Rincon De La Vieja regions. The Rincon De La Vieja area is more remote. Since you mentioned that you would like to visit a place with hot springs where you can eat and sleep, we would recommend the La Fortuna/Arenal area given its multitude of accommodation and dining options (you can learn more about the destination by reading our city guide: Must-Know Info About La Fortuna Costa Rica From Longtime Residents). La Fortuna is home to many unique, public hot springs properties; of the top choices, these ones have hotels and at least one restaurant on-site: Baldi, Tabacon, Springs Resort, Paradise, and Los Lagos. Other hotels in the La Fortuna/Arenal area also have hot springs (and a restaurant) on-site, but the pools tend to be smaller and private for overnight guests. You can learn more about the top public hot springs in La Fortuna here:
Baldi Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Tabacon Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Springs Resort Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
EcoTermales Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Los Lagos Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Paradise Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs GuideIf you decide to go to Rincon de la Vieja, check out Hacienda Guachipelin; it owns the Rio Negro Hot Springs, which is about a 10-minute drive from Hacienda Guachipelin’s accommodations. Of course, if your vacation time, itinerary, and budget permit, you could always plan to visit both the La Fortuna and Rincon de la Vieja areas during your trip. They’re about a 3.5-hour drive from each other.
Pura vida! 🙂
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August 24, 2015 at 11:02 pm #195014Bali Driver and Tour GuideGuest
Good post, and please read my original article about travel blog too
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April 15, 2021 at 10:32 am #195230Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hi Bali Driver and Tour Guide!
Thank you for visiting! Will do, and all the best to you and your service in Bali! 🙂
Pura vida!
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January 31, 2016 at 8:42 am #195015jacquelineGuest
Great information!! I’m really struggling to decide whether we stay at Tabacon or the Springs Resort with 2 kids? Both look great! I was leaning towards Tabacon but the Springs looks awesome as well with lots for the kids to do…I want to explore the area around La Fortuna as well…any thoughts?
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April 15, 2021 at 9:15 am #195219Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hi jacqueline!
I don’t believe you’ll be disappointed by either one. Tabacon and the Springs Resort are La Fortuna’s top two hot springs. Also to confirm, both are about the same distance away from downtown La Fortuna (about 15-20 minutes by car). This being said, with kids, I’d go with the Springs Resort. In addition to offering a ton of pool variety (to keep the kiddies moving and entertained), you can combine your hot springs visit with time spent at the resort’s on-site activity center (Club Rio) where the kids can experience river tubing, river kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, rock climbing, and wildlife exhibits. Plus, the resort’s monkey slide waterslide is a blast! While we love Tabacon too, especially for its free-flowing river, some kids don’t like the feeling of slimy rocks beneath their feet, and some parents don’t like how slippery the rocks can be. Here are links to our reviews of Tabacon, the Springs Resort, and Club Rio:
Tabacon Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Springs Resort Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Club Rio Costa Rica Outdoor Center ReviewPura vida! 🙂
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February 8, 2016 at 3:24 pm #195016joanne haseltineGuest
If you are staying in one of the four mentioned hot springs resorts, is the use of the hot spring free? Like Baldi, Tabacon and Springs Resort?
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April 15, 2021 at 9:21 am #195220Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hello joanne haseltine!
Yes! Of the 12 hot springs that we cover in the above article, Baldi, Tabacon, the Springs Resort, Paradise, and Los Lagos have hotels on-site, and all five provide their overnight guests with free hot springs use. Some even reward guests with extra perks. For example, guests of Tabacon are able to access the hot springs two hours before the public each morning, and they’re also able to access the private Shangri-La Gardens, an exclusive, adults-only section of the hot springs that’s reserved for hotel guests. Here is some additional information about these properties in case you’re interested in learning more about their hot springs and hotels:
Baldi Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Tabacon Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Springs Resort Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Los Lagos Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide
Paradise Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs GuidePura vida! 🙂
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April 12, 2016 at 3:19 pm #195210Kathryn WlodarczykGuest
Wow! What a great blog! I am planning a trip to the Arenal area for a group of 4. We would like to all stay in the same room, but are having trouble finding a place that allows 4 adults per room. We would like it to have hot springs on site because we are not going to have a car. We looked at the Tabacon and The Royal Corin, and almost booked each one until we found out that they did not allow 4 adults in one room. Do you have any that you recommend that would allow 4 adults? Our budget is around $250 a night for 4 people, but we would go lower of course if we found something we liked. How are the hot springs at Arenal Manoa?
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April 15, 2021 at 10:00 am #195223Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hi Kathryn Wlodarczyk!
You’re right: a lot of hotels will allow four people to a room but not four adults. If you’re not able to find a place with hot springs on-site that can accommodate your group, keep in mind that most of La Fortuna’s hot springs attractions are only a short taxi ride away from the majority of hotels, and since taxis can fit four adults, you can split the cost of the transfer. As for Arenal Manoa, it is a lovely hotel and it does have hot springs on-site (mainly one large pool, a smaller one, and a Jacuzzi), but they shouldn’t be compared to La Fortuna’s principal hot spring attractions (i.e., Baldi, EcoTermales, Tabacon, Springs Resort, and Paradise), which are large-scale properties that provide several hot spring pools/rivers that you can soak in at varying temperatures. If this doesn’t matter to you, and you’re simply looking for a hotel with one or a few thermal-water pools on-site, then several Arenal-area hotels are worth checking out, including Arenal Manoa (as you mention), the Arenal Springs Resort & Spa, El Silencio del Campo, and Volcano Lodge. Hopefully, one will be able to accommodate your group. 🙂
Pura vida!
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June 2, 2016 at 8:37 am #195211Cindi KirkmanGuest
Planning a trip to Costa Rica next year and would love to participate in the thermal springs experience, however I am somewhat mobility limited (using a cane and can’t walk long distances) I don’t see any suggestions for facilities that are more accessible, have handrails into and out of pools, limited steps up and down etc. Do those things exist at any of these?
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April 15, 2021 at 9:41 am #195222Nikki SolanoKeymaster
Hello Cindi Kirkman!
This is a wonderful question and one that certainly highlights an area of Costa Rica travel where improvements are needed. My father was visually impaired; he used a cane and wasn’t able to walk long distances either. We spent years helping him discover the accessible side of Costa Rica but it wasn’t easy. Hot springs provide an additional element of concern because splash water makes surfaces slippery. From what I recall from visiting all of the hot springs properties around La Fortuna/Arenal, none are fully accessible but several offer handrails in and out of pools. My best recommendation to you would be to go with the EcoTermales Hot Springs. Though you’ll need to walk from the entrance of the hot springs to the pool area (the path is flat), once there, you’ll have access to all of the pools in one place. Other hot springs attractions are much larger and pools are spread out over a larger geographical area which requires more walking. This is especially true for the Springs Resort, where the lagoon-like hot springs are down a sloped road, and for the Baldi Hot Springs (both properties are very large). Tabacon is a smaller property, but because the hot springs there are part of a natural river, you may find it difficult to climb into and out of the fast-flowing river and maneuver its slippery bottom. At EcoTermales, you don’t have to stray far to switch pools, some handrails are provided, and some pools have shallow parts you might enjoy wading in. You can learn more about the EcoTermales Hot Springs, see photos of the property, and decide if it’s right for you by visiting our related blog post: EcoTermales Hot Springs Review: La Fortuna Hot Springs Guide.
Pura vida! 🙂
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