La Fortuna
City in Costa Rica
La Fortuna is a town in Costa Rica with a population of 16,150 as of 2022. Located 86 kilometers from the capital, San José, it serves as a base for exploring the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.
What to see
The primary natural features near the town are the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. The La Fortuna Waterfall is also located in the area.
When to go
The driest months are February and March, which see between 3 and 5 rainy days and moderate rainfall totals. April is the warmest month with a high of 30 °C. The period from May through November experiences significantly higher rainfall, with monthly totals ranging from 306 mm to 448 mm and rainy days often exceeding 20 per month. Temperatures remain relatively stable throughout the year, with daily highs between 26 °C and 30 °C and lows between 20 °C and 22 °C.
Getting there
La Fortuna is 86 kilometers from San José. The nearest airport is La Fortuna Arenal Airport, located 7 kilometers from the town. For international travel, Juan Santamaría International Airport in San José (Alajuela) is 71 kilometers away.
Top sights in La Fortuna
Weather by month
The warmest month is April, with an average high of 30 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 26 | 27 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 26 | 26 |
| Average low, °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 |
| Rainfall, mm | 239 | 132 | 99 | 91 | 306 | 413 | 447 | 446 | 412 | 448 | 373 | 336 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 22 | 25 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 19 | 9 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for La Fortuna (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- La Fortuna Waterfall