Many have recommended Tabacon as area with lots to do/see. But this must be general area as Tabacon is not listed on map we are using. Just started planning trip and not yet familiar with areas. Please inform where it is and why you like the area. We will be traveling with two kids, girl 11 and boy 8 and Tabacon Hot Springs and Resort was recommended. A bit expensive but breakfast is included and hot springs is free entrance. Please advise.

Tabacon is merely the name of a hotel/resort/hot springs complex near the Arenal Volcano. It's about 15 km west of the town of La Fortuna in northern Costa Rica.

Hi,
I would probably say that Tabacon springs is one of the most visited areas of Costa Rica. It sure is beautiful.

Most areas of interest in Costa Rica come with a specific name. They are usually attached to a small town. Sometimes you do not hear anything about the town.

For example: Manuel Antonio is not city. It is a National Park. It is near the town of Quepos. So when you look on your map, you see Quepos and you might note just south of it is Manuel Antonio National Park.

La Fortuna is the small town with the giant cone shaped Arenal Volcano shading it. Many people call it Arenal. Some people call it Tabacon.
Actually, as the first reply stated, Tabacon is a resort. It is a hotel, resort, hot springs, spa, etc. located around the other side of the volcano from La Fortuna. By taxi it is about 20 minutes and cost $5 from the tiny town. You can find it at www.tabacon.com

In the Arenal area there are large hotels all around the volcano itself that are a bit pricey. The good thing about Tabacon is that your entrance to the springs is included in the price of the room. Most of the larger hotels include breakfast, too.

It does rain in La Fortuna a lot. The volcano is very active and hot. Therefore, clouds cover it quickly and rain happens. When we are there, we just sing in the rain and keep on bathing in the springs!

On good days or for some short periods, all of the clouds lift and it is simply awesome to see little puffs of smoke coming out of the volcano. And, at night, red hot spots. That is a premium vacation! Hope you have that experience.

There is a huge La Fortuna Waterfall that is accessable by road, horseback tour and climbing down to see the bottom of it, and swimming if you dare... it is really cold.

From La Fortuna there are trips to various places such as Caño Negro Wildlife Reserve. A day-river trip.

There are trails, tours, hikes, pools, other hot springs, and just walking around the farm-like small town and saying hello to all you meet.

It is a special place in Costa Rica and going to Tabacon makes it more special!

Hopabout
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Thank you both. Hopabout- I looked on map and see Arenal is near Lake Arenal and La Fortuna is actually closer to Tabacon Hot Springs and possible volcano. Can't make out volcano confines from map. Do you know if the Tabacon Hot Springs Resort and Spa is in La Foruna? I checked website to no avail. Sent them an e-mail yesterday with no reply yet.

ciaodeb

There is a good map of hotel locations in this region at www.arenal.net

Click the link at the bottom of the page for 'map'.

Have fun planning your trip.

Thanks, Mary! I got the map but need to wait for my color printer to return from shop! It is a good one. I really appreciate you giving me site.

No, Tabacon is not "in" La Fortuna. On your map it would be on the main road between La Fortuna and Lake Arenal, I'd say 10 kilomemters or so outside of town (but that's just a rough guess).

Airwayvz, I just thanked you in a canopy/zipline reply and thank you again.