There are many hikes near the town of La Fortuna, however none offer quite as much variety as the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails. The drive from La Fortuna town takes about 30 minutes and includes a 9km gravel access road through the rainforest as a nice way to spot wildlife before even arriving on the property. Once there, you can spend the day exploring the 11km of trails that go to waterfalls and rivers at the base of the Arenal Volcano.

If you are not staying at the lodge then you have the option to buy a day pass, which will give you direct access to all of the activities on the property. In addition to the network of trails, you will also have access to a 28-meter high observation tower, hanging bridges, a small museum, and the “Arenal Crossfit Challenge”, which an 8 km outdoor multi-sport circuit perfect for fitness enthusiasts.

This place is known for being the only hotel located within the Arenal Volcano National Park, so you’ll have access to speculator views of the volcano all throughout the property. In addition, they have a natural reserve of about 350 hectares which makes for prime wildlife spotting and bird watching. You can also visit the beautiful Danta Waterfall and go for a freshwater swim, or hang out at the frog pond to look for unique species such as the Red-Eyed Tree Frog.