La Fortuna

Getting Here and Around

Choose from two routes from San José: for a slightly longer, but better road, leave the Pan-American Highway at Naranjo, continuing north to Zarcero and Ciudad Quesada. Head northwest at Ciudad Quesada to La Fortuna; or for a curvier but shorter route, continue beyond Naranjo on the Pan-American Highway, turning north at San Ramón, arriving at La Fortuna about 90 minutes after the turnoff. Either route passes through a mountainous section that begins to fog over by afternoon. Get as early a start as possible. Nature Air flies daily to La Fortuna (FTN); flights land at an airstrip at the hamlet of El Tanque, 7 km (4 miles) east of town. Van transport ($5 one-way) meets each flight to take you into La Fortuna.

Gray Line has daily shuttle bus service between San José, La Fortuna, and Arenal ($44), and Monteverde ($35). Interbus also connects San José with La Fortuna and Monteverde (each $45) daily, with connections from here to a few of the North Pacific beaches. Public buses depart five times daily from San José's Terminal Atlántico Norte. Travel time is four hours. Although billed as an express route, the bus makes many stops.

Desafío Adventures provides a fast, popular three-hour transfer between Monteverde and La Fortuna via taxi, boat, then another taxi, for $29 each way.