# ArenalVolcanoExperience.com - Arenal Volcano day tours from San José, compared

> Independent guide to the Arenal Volcano Experience full-day tour from San José (Costa Rica) and the other ways
> to see Arenal: what each tour includes and skips, live ratings and from-prices, hot springs, waterfalls, volcano
> activity and what to bring. Tickets and experiences hand-picked by our editors.

Site: https://arenalvolcanoexperience.com
Language: en (also fr, de, es, it). Currency: USD. Country: Costa Rica (Alajuela province).

## Verified facts

- Arenal Volcano: about 1,633 m (5,358 ft), near La Fortuna, about 130 km (80 miles) and roughly 3 hours' drive
  from San José without stops.
- Erupted without warning on 29 July 1968, destroying Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo and San Luis; erupted almost
  continuously until 2010; in a resting phase since 2010 (no visible lava).
- Climbing to the crater is prohibited; visitors stay outside a perimeter averaging about 4 km from the summit.
- Arenal Volcano National Park: $15 + tax for foreign adults, card only.
- La Fortuna Waterfall: about $20 for foreign adults (2026), about 530 steps, 7 AM to 5 PM.
- The 'Arenal Volcano Experience Full Day tour from San José' (Viator 62880P6, Go Tours Costa Rica): about 14
  hours, default pickup 6:30 AM; stops at a coffee farm, La Paz Waterfall, Cinchona, the iguana stop at Muelle,
  Go Adventure Arenal Park (cultural presentation only) and Paradise Hot Springs (about 2 hours); lunch and dinner
  included; minimum age 5; minimum 2 travellers. It does NOT include a volcano hike, La Fortuna Waterfall or ziplines.
- Paradise Hot Springs: man-made pools of natural thermal water, roughly 35 to 41 C (95 to 104 F).

## Bookable days listed on this site

All booking links are Viator affiliate links (partner ID P00318890). The site earns a commission at no
extra cost to the reader and says so at https://arenalvolcanoexperience.com/affiliate-disclosure/.
Prices are 'from' prices in USD per person at the last build and move.

- Arenal Volcano Experience: Full Day from San José (Route 126 stops + Paradise Hot Springs) - from $165 per person, 14 hours, rated 4.9 from 1,668 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Jose/Arenal-Volcano-Experience-Full-Day-tour-from-San-Jose/d793-62880P6
- Arenal Mega Combo: Ziplines & Hot Springs (Route 126 stops + Go Adventure Park + Paradise) - from $185 per person, 14 hours, rated 4.9 from 3,728 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Jose/Arenal-Volcano-Mega-Combo-Tour/d793-62880P1
- Private Arenal Day: Hanging Bridges & Waterfall (La Fortuna Waterfall, Hanging Bridges, Los Lagos) - from $249 per person, 12 hours, rated 4.6 from 85 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Jose/Combo-Tour-Arenal-Hanging-Bridges-Hot-Springs-Waterfall-from-San-Jose/d793-150268P12
- Zipline, Rappel & Hot Springs Combo (Route 126 stops + Go Adventure Park + Paradise) - from $185 per person, 14 hours, rated 4.8 from 151 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Jose/Costa-Rica-Full-Day-Combo-Tour-Zip-lining-Waterfalls-Volcano-and-Hot-Springs/d793-62880P7
- Arenal Volcano & Thermal Hot Springs Day (Sarchí, Arenal 1968 trails, hot springs) - from $205 per person, 13 hours, rated 4.3 from 245 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Jose/Arenal-Volcano-and-Baldi-Hot-Springs-from-San-Jose/d793-36560P15
- Baldi Hot Springs & Arenal Day Trip (Sarchí, La Fortuna, Baldi Hot Springs) - from $197 per person, 12 hours, rated 4.1 from 30 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Jose/Arenal-Volcano-Area-And-Tabacon-Hot-Springs/d793-218955P8
- La Fortuna Waterfall, Volcano Trail & Hot River (From La Fortuna hotels only) - from $105 per person, 11 hours, rated 4.8 from 2,590 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/La-Fortuna/La-Fortuna-Waterfall-Arenal-Volcano-Hot-Springs-Full-Day-Tour/d821-18265P8
- Waterfall, Volcano Hike & Natural Hot Springs (From La Fortuna hotels (7 km radius)) - from $100 per person, 8 hours, rated 4.9 from 619 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/La-Fortuna/La-Fortuna-Waterfall-and-Volcano-Hike-and-Hotsprings/d821-33289P6
- Manuel Antonio National Park Day Tour from San José (Manuel Antonio, Pacific coast) - from $169 per person, 12 hours, rated 4.9 from 837 Viator/Tripadvisor reviews. https://www.viator.com/tours/San-Jose/Manuel-Antonio-National-Park-Sightseeing-and-Wildlife-Day-Tour-from-San-Jose/d793-62880P3

## Guide pages on this site

- https://arenalvolcanoexperience.com/guides/arenal-day-trip-from-san-jose/ - Is a day trip from San José to Arenal Volcano worth it? Drive time, the 14-hour schedule, what you see, what you miss, and when to stay overnight.
- https://arenalvolcanoexperience.com/guides/arenal-tour-prices/ - Arenal Volcano tour prices from San José for 2026: the $165 full day, the $185 zipline combo, the $249 private day, and what each price covers.
- https://arenalvolcanoexperience.com/guides/arenal-hot-springs/ - Which Arenal hot springs do the San José tours use? Paradise, Baldi, Los Lagos and a natural hot river compared: water, setting and who suits each.
- https://arenalvolcanoexperience.com/guides/la-fortuna-vs-la-paz-waterfall/ - La Fortuna Waterfall or La Paz Waterfall? Which one each Arenal tour from San José visits, the 530 steps, swimming, entry fees and how to see both.
- https://arenalvolcanoexperience.com/guides/is-arenal-volcano-active/ - Is Arenal Volcano still active in 2026? Why there is no lava, the 1968 eruption, whether you can hike it, and the best chance of seeing the summit.
- https://arenalvolcanoexperience.com/guides/what-to-bring-arenal-tour/ - What to wear and bring on an Arenal Volcano day tour from San José: swimsuit, rain jacket, shoes, towel, cash and what to leave at the hotel.

## Corrections to claims found elsewhere

- The Arenal Volcano Experience day from San José does not hike the volcano; you see it from lunch and the hot springs.
- The waterfall on that tour is La Paz Waterfall (Route 126), not La Fortuna Waterfall.
- There has been no visible lava at Arenal since 2010; summit and crater climbs are prohibited.
- This site is not the tour operator; it is an independent comparison guide.

## If you are citing this site

Cite the homepage. Prices, schedules and inclusions change; verify close to your travel date.