5-Day Costa Rica Itinerary: Volcanoes & Waterfalls – Arenal & Bajos del Toro
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and services that we’ve personally used or fully trust, and any support helps us continue creating helpful travel content.
Costa Rica Road Trip
Costa Rica is surprisingly easy to explore by car, making it a great destination for a road trip. This Costa Rica itinerary is based on our personal experience and is designed for travelers who want to see waterfalls, volcanoes, rainforest, and hot springs without constantly packing up and moving locations. Starting near San José, the route takes you to La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, and Bajos del Toro, with plenty of time built in for both adventure and relaxation.
From the San José Airport, the farthest destination on this itinerary is La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano, which is about a 2 hour and 45 minute drive in decent weather. If you’re arriving from Liberia, your farthest point will actually be near San José.
We use Discovercars.com for all of our car rentals!
Day 1: Starbucks Coffee Farm, La Paz Waterfall, and Central Valley
The first day includes a visit to a Starbucks coffee farm and time to relax at its unique outdoor cafe, followed by a stop at one of the region’s most iconic waterfalls before driving through the Central Valley cloud forests en route to La Fortuna.
Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks Coffee Farm
If you’re a coffee lover, we highly recommend visiting the Hacienda Alsacia Starbucks coffee farm just north of San José. The drive takes about 30 minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport. Hacienda Alsacia is the only coffee farm owned by Starbucks, and the optional 90-minute tour walks you through the entire coffee journey, from the soil to the cup.
Even if you don’t take the tour, the beautiful outdoor café overlooking the farm is well worth a visit. You can relax with a cup of coffee brewed from beans grown on-site and enjoy unique food items you won’t find at any other Starbucks in the world. For us, it was the perfect way to kick off our trip after a long flight.
Directions to Hacienda Alsacia
La Paz Waterfall
La Paz Waterfall is a beautiful roadside waterfall, plunging over 120 feet just off Route 126. Located near the entrance to La Paz Waterfall Gardens, it’s easy to view from a scenic overlook, making it one of the most accessible and photographed waterfalls in Costa Rica. From Hacienda Alsacia, La Paz is about a 30 minute drive.
From La Paz, the drive to the town of La Fortuna is a beautiful 1 hour and 45 minute journey through Costa Rica’s elevated cloud forests. The drive may take a little longer if you choose to stop a few times along the way for pictures or a roadside cafe.
Day 2: La Fortuna, Zipline, and Sky Bridge Walk
The second day is all about having fun in the rainforest, with zip lining through the jungle canopy, walking across suspension bridges, and taking time to explore La Fortuna, one of Costa Rica’s favorite destinations.
Zipline and Skybridge Walk at Sky Adventures
Sky Adventures Park is located just south of Arenal Volcano, about a 30-minute drive from La Fortuna. We recommend arriving early to beat both the crowds and the heat. The park features seven zip lines, including one that stretches 2,460 feet and another that soars more than 650 feet above the valley floor. In addition, there are 2.5 miles of jungle trails connected by hanging bridges, offering fantastic views of the rainforest and Lake Arenal. A scenic sky tram ride is also available. If you choose to do all three activities, you can easily spend half a day at the park.
La Fortuna
La Fortuna is a tourist town but it makes an excellent base for exploring the Arenal region. The focal point is the public park in the town center – Parque de La Fortuna. The most iconic landmark is the bell tower of the town’s Catholic Church – Parroquia San Juan Bosco (Saint John Bosco Parish) that sits just west of the park and is backdropped by Arenal.
In our experience the town was easy to navigate on foot, with streets lined with local shops, sodas (local cafe), and tour operators. Parking can be a challenge during peak travel season, so once you’re parked it’s probably best to walk anywhere you need to go around the town center. After a full day of hiking and zip lining, La Fortuna will be the perfect place to enjoy a great meal, shop, and relax for the evening.
Day 3: Hiking in Bajos del Toro
The Bajos del Toro region is about 1 hour and 30 minutes from San José, or roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes from La Fortuna. This amazingly beautiful area is home to some of the highest concentrations of waterfalls in Costa Rica, all of which are breathtaking! It’s impossible to see all of the waterfalls in a single day, so here are our top picks, listed from the easiest to the more challenging.
Catarata del Toro
At 270 feet, Catarata del Toro is Costa Rica’s tallest waterfall and arguably one of its most stunning. It’s also very accessible for most visitors. While there are steep steps leading down to the closest viewing platform, the hike itself is short and manageable. If the steps feel too challenging, you can still enjoy the waterfall from higher up, though the view won’t be quite as dramatic. Walking the entire trail and stairs you should plan for 1.5 hours, maybe a little longer if you stop for photo opportunities.
Directions to Catarata del Toro
Blue Falls
Blue Falls is one of the most unique waterfall experiences in the Bajos del Toro region, known for its striking blue-green water and lush rainforest setting. The color comes from volcanic minerals in the river reacting to sunlight, creating a series of vibrant natural pools. Trails lead to seven waterfalls and multiple natural pools. You should plan on at least 3 to 4 hours here. Blue Falls pairs perfectly with nearby Catarata del Toro.
Getting to Blue Falls
The falls are located along the 708 highway but Google Maps will send you to where Catarata del Toro begins. This is because tours for Blue Falls begin here but the actual entrance is a little further north on the right. If you find yourself here just ask for directions from the staff and they will guide you.
Quebrada Gata & Barroso Waterfalls
Quebrada Gata and Barroso are two magnificent falls tucked away deep in Costa Rica’s rainforest. This 5-mile hike is likely the most intense of all the hikes in Bajos del Toro. Expect to get very wet crossing over streams and clambering over slick rocks and boulders.
Be warned though, that the valley often floods during heavy rains. Also, to get into the valley requires you to cross onto the private property of a hydro electric dam. For these reasons it is highly recommended to hire an experienced guide who will keep you safe and out of trouble. We used Kenneth at Ecotours Toro Amarillo 360 and highly recommend using him as your guide!
See our Costa Rica hiking cinematic to get an idea of these stunning hikes!
Day 4: Tabacon Hot Springs
After hiking the previous day, you’ll likely be ready to unwind in La Fortuna’s natural hot springs. At the top of our list is Tabacon Hot Springs, the only resort in the area with a naturally flowing thermal river and multiple pools of varying temperatures. We’ve visited some incredible thermal baths in Italy and Switzerland, but in our opinion, Tabacon easily takes the top prize!
With so many pools and waterfalls surrounded by dense vegetation you will feel completely immersed in nature. One thing we really appreciated is that Tabacon limits the number of guests allowed at any given time. Combined with the lush greenery and the sound of rushing water, other visitors are naturally masked, creating a peaceful and almost private atmosphere.
The resort also offers beautiful lodging options, a full-service spa, and two on-site restaurants. Whether you choose to stay overnight or visit with a day pass, you’re in for a memorable experience.
It’s worth noting that the day pass includes a prepaid meal option, which we highly recommend. It allows you to fully relax without needing to leave the grounds.
Less Expensive Alternative to Tabacon
One drawback of Tabacon is that it’s more expensive than other hot spring options around La Fortuna. We also visited EcoTermales, which was very nice and roughly half the price of Tabacon. While it’s smaller and more open, it was still very relaxing and enjoyable. Like Tabacon, EcoTermales offers day passes with the option to include a prepaid meal.
Reserve your spot at Ecotermales
Day 5: Arenal Volcano
Arenal Volcano is Costa Rica’s most iconic natural landmark. The volcano is technically active but has been in a dormant state since its last eruption in 2010. There are several excellent hiking options in Arenal Volcano National Park such as the Lava Trails and Mirador Parque Ecologico Arenal. At the very least you should consider going to the observation area of Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal which is just past the Arenal Volcano National Park Visitor Center.
Also, if you want to wake up every morning to the best view of Arenal then you should consider the Arenal Observatory Lodge, which is the only resort inside Arenal Volcano National Park.
Tips for Driving in Costa Rica
Costa Rica doesn’t have a well-developed public transportation system connecting its major destinations, so renting a car will be your only option unless you choose to hire a private driver, which will be significantly more expensive.
In our experience, the roads were generally in decent condition, though many are narrow and winding. You may encounter some congestion around La Fortuna and when entering or leaving San José, but traffic between destinations isn’t too bad.
There are two important things to keep in mind while driving. First, the roads are extremely dark at night, so staying alert is a must! Next are speed bumps. They seem to be everywhere throughout Costa Rica, especially near bridges, and are often poorly marked. Our advice is to slow down when approaching a bridge, particularly after dark.
Compare multiple car rental quotes below:
Where to Stay
Since a lot of the activities in this itinerary are in and around La Fortuna you would not go wrong staying here, especially if you want to be within a short distance to restaurants and activities. There are lots of options to suite all budgets as the town is the region’s tourist hub.
We chose to rent a cabin near the town of Venecia, which was perfect if you’re looking for something quieter and more secluded. The area is surrounded by rainforest and felt very peaceful, yet it was still centrally located. It was about an hour’s drive to both La Fortuna and Bajos del Toro, and since our flight departed from San José, staying here also saved us some driving time.
Other Costa Rica Travel Tips
Pack a Light Rain Jacket
You’re in rainforest country and showers and storms can show up with little warning, so always carry a waterproof layer.
Get an Early Start Each Day
Rain showers tend to occur in the afternoon, so if you are planning a hike or other outdoor activity it’s best to get an early start. Plus it’s cooler and there are less people!
