The Northern Zone of Costa Rica experiences a tropical climate with distinct wet and dry seasons. However, the specific climate can vary depending on the elevation. Generally, the lowland areas have a hot and humid climate, while the higher elevations are cooler. 

The lowland areas in the Northern Zone have a tropical rainforest climate. They typically experience high temperatures throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees Celsius (ca. 77 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit). The region receives abundant rainfall, with an annual average ranging from 2,500 to 4,000 millimeters (ca. 98 to 157 inches). You'll find lush tropical rainforests in the lowland areas, like, for example, in the region of the Arenal Volcano. These forests are characterized by dense vegetation, tall trees, and a wide array of plant species. 

As you move to higher elevations, the climate becomes more temperate and cooler. The temperatures in these areas range from 15 to 25 degrees Celsius (ca. 59 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit). The higher elevations also experience more distinct dry and wet seasons, with the dry season usually occurring from December to April and the wet season from May to November. The temperature and rainfall statistics below are averages over a longer period of multiple years. The 'Average Days with Rain' statistic shows the average number of days per month that had rain, but this does not say anything about the duration of rain per day. Weather, especially rainfall, is difficult to predict and varies per year due to different influences. Visit the Seasons page for more information regarding weather and climate.

La Fortuna

La Fortuna is a town located in the Alajuela Province. It is best known as the gateway to the Arenal Volcano National Park. The town is surrounded by rainforests, hot springs, and various privately owned or national park trails to discover. There are many tour operators that are happy to take you hiking, ziplining, rafting, horseback riding, birdwatching, and more, making La Fortuna a popular tourist destination to explore the area.  Most parks have easily accessible trails for which you do not necessarily need a guide. The town of La Fortuna itself offers a wide range of accommodation options, various restaurants, and shops. 

The main attraction near La Fortuna is the Arenal Volcano, which is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica. The perfectly cone-shaped volcano is a true landmark that can be witnessed from the town and the surrounding area. Occasionally at night, lava streams can be witnessed coming from the top of the volcano. 

Other recommended attractions in La Fortuna include the La Fortuna Waterfall, which is a stunning 70-meter-high waterfall located in the jungle, and the Arenal Hanging Bridges, which offer a unique perspective on the rainforest canopy. The list goes on, as La Fortuna is also known as the adventure capital of Costa Rica. I really recommend checking out the Highlights Map on this one to get a better idea of what this area has to offer.

Hot Springs

La Fortuna is also famous for aguas termales, or hot springs. The hot springs in the area are heated by the volcano and offer a relaxing and therapeutic experience. Tabacon and Baldi are the most famous hot springs in the area. The pictures are taken in Tabacon. A luxurious site with a main pool with a restaurant and a pool bar. The garden is home to various smaller and more secluded pools. Baldi offers a similar experience but is a bit more kid-friendly. Los Lagos is also a great option to consider. These hot springs are amazing, but they come with a serious price tag. Note there is a free hot spring close to Tabacon named El Choyin. 

Arenal Volcano National Park

Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal, or Arenal Volcano National Park, is one of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica due to the centralized location of the park. It is relatively close to both the international airports in San José and Liberia; it easily fits in almost any itinerary. The park covers an area of approximately 12,000 hectares and was established in 1991 to protect the volcano and the surrounding rainforest. The perfectly cone-shaped Arenal Volcano rises to an elevation of 1,670 meters (5,479 feet) and is one of the most active volcanoes in Costa Rica, with its last major eruption occurring in 1968. The park offers several trails and observation points where you can view the volcano from a safe distance. For more information about the national park itself, visit the official website:  SINAC ACAHN Arenal NP.

There are a lot of places worth visiting in the vicinity of the national park, maybe even more popular then the national park itsef, like Sky Adventures Arenal Park, Mistico Hanging Bridges, Arenal 1968 Lava Trails, and, of course, one of the hot springs, just to name a few options. 

Explore La Fortuna

• ✧ La Fortuna Waterfall, part of the Arenal Volcano National Park is an impressive 70 meters high waterfall with walking trails through the rainforest. Note that the way down to the base of the waterfall contains a lot of stairs, but well maintained and fairly easy.
• ✧ El Salto, a very nice watering hole with a small waterfall to cool down including a nice rope swing.
• ✓ Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges, Wonderful trails through the rainforest with various hanging bridges giving you the opportunity to witness the jungle canopy up close. If you want to try something different, try a guided night tour and you'll be amazed how alive the jungle is after dark.
• ✓ Sky Adventures Arenal Park, discovered this place the last time when I was in La Fortuna and I love the diversity of activities this place has to offer. When you are travelling with little kids or are not the best hiker, you can take the sky tram through the canopy up to platform with great views. You can either return with the sky tram or hike down over well maintained trails back to the entrance. If you are looking for a more thrilling way to go down, you can also go ziplining. 
• ✧ Arenal Volcano Lava Trails, as the name implies these hiking trails are located in the Arenal Volcano National Park and will let you experience the lava trails from when the volcano erupted in 1968.
• ✓ Tabacon Hotsprings, one of the most famous and my favorite hot spring in the area. There is a restaurant, spa and a bar within the main swimming pool. When you walk through the beautiful gardens with the rainforest in the background, there are various smaller hot springs to discover.
• ✧ Baldi Hotsprings, another famous and luxurious hot spring in the area is Baldi. Compared to Tabacon a better option when you are visiting with kids as it has a kids swimming pool.
• ✧ El Choyin Hotsprings, besides Tabacon and Baldi the area is full with other hot springs. The last one I will mention is El Choyin, because you have to know about this one. Where Tabacon and Baldi are beautiful and luxurious with a corresponding price tag, El Choyin is a free of charge hidden gem known by locals. Great for travelers on a budget.

✓: Based on experience | ✧: Based on research. Follow the links to check recent visitor photos and reviews on Tripadvisor.

Bijagua

The town of Bijagua is located near the Tenorio Volcano National Park. It is a great place to stay when planning to visit the stunning bright blue Rio Celeste river and waterfall, without a doubt the main attraction of the national park. The town of Bijagua itself is a small and rural town that offers a range of accommodations and some restaurants. It offers an authentic, peaceful, and secluded feeling in the midst of nature. Although the hike to the Rio Celeste waterfall is the most common attraction of the national park, there are also guided tours to experience the other natural wonders, like the Tenorio Volcano and its rich flora and fauna.

Note that visiting Rio Celeste is also an option when staying in La Fortuna. It is a doable 1.5-hour drive, and tours to Rio Celeste are offered from La Fortuna as well. Close to the Rio Celeste hiking trail entrance and the Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel, the road crosses a bridge over Rio Celeste. Here you are able to witness the bright blue river for free, and this place is also known as the Rio Celeste Free Pool. Here you are able and allowed to enter the river, something that is prohibited along the hiking trail in the park.

Tenorio Volcano National Park

The main attraction of Tenorio Volcano National Park is Rio Celeste. This river has an intense turquoise color caused by a reaction in the water. This occurs when the particle size of aluminosilicate minerals in Rio Buenavista is altered at the mixing point called El Teñidero. The enlarged particles work as a prism, causing the blue tones when dispersing white light. At the main park entrance, El Pilón, there is a hiking trail that takes you to the Rio Celeste waterfall, the mixing point of El Teñidero and Laguna Azul, and past thermal hotbeds called 'borbollones.'

You are able to take a shortcut and only visit the waterfall. After heavy rainfall, the trail can be muddy, and the turquoise color of the river might be less intense or not visible at all. Tenorio Volcano National Park can be visited as a day trip from La Fortuna, or you can choose to stay in the surroundings of the park, for example, in the Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel. For more information about the national park itself, visit the official website: SINAC ACAT Tenorio NP.

Explore Bijagua

• ✓ The Rio Celeste hiking trail at Tenorio Volcano National Park, This hiking trail will take you to the highlights of Rio Celeste like the mixing point, the waterfall, the blue lake and the thermal hotbeds.

• ✧ The Rio Celeste Free Pool is located outside the National Park. In the National Park yo are not allowed to enter the river, outside the park at the Free Pool you are able to do this. The Free Pool is located at a bridge near the Rio Celeste Hideaway Hotel.

✓: Based on experience | ✧: Based on research. Follow the links to check recent visitor photos and reviews on Tripadvisor.

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