$75 a day survive in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

La Fortuna can be enjoyed on a budget with a little planning. Stay in a hostel or budget guesthouse, eat at local sodas for affordable and authentic meals, use public transportation when possible, and focus on free or low-cost attractions like waterfalls, hot springs, and hiking trails. With smart spending, $75 a day is enough to cover accommodation, food, transportation, and a few activities while still experiencing the best of La Fortuna.

Money-Saving Tips:

My recomendations on where to stay:

Arenal Backpackers Resort

Dorms often $18–25/night

Pool, bar, social atmosphere

Walking distance to town

Popular with solo travelers

Poshtel Arenal

• Dorms usually $20–30/night

• More upscale hostel vibe

• Excellent location

• Good kitchen and common areas

  
  
  

Viajero Hostel (in the past called Selina)

• Dorms generally $20–35/night

• Coworking spaces

• Organized tours and social events, live music and more!

• Good for meeting other travelers

  
  
  
  

4 days activities itinary!

Day 1 — Arrival & Nature Day ($58)

📍 Accommodation

• Hostel dorm: $25

☕ Food

• Breakfast from supermarket: $5

• Casado lunch at local soda: $8 (always look for "Sodas", these are the tipical costarrican restaurants, good food and good prices. I recommend you La Hormiga (it is not open for dinner)

• Dinner: $10

🌿 Activities

• El Salto rope swing (free)

• Walk around town and enjoy volcano views

• Free hot springs at El Chollín

🚐 Transportation

• Local bus/taxi share: $2/10 as groups (Ask your hostel for this)

💵 Total: ~$58

Day 2 — Hanging Bridges ($72–75)

📍 Accommodation

• Hostel dorm: $20

☕ Food

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner: $30

🌳 Activities

• Mistico Hanging Bridges: $32 pp

• Rainforest trails

• Wildlife spotting

🚐 Transportation

• Shuttle/shared taxi: $10 as groups (Ask your hostel for this)

💵 Total: $72

Day 3 — Volcano Day ($47–50)

📍 Accommodation

• Hostel dorm: $20

☕ Food

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner: $30

⛰️ Activities

• Arenal Volcano National Park: $18 pp

• Lava fields and viewpoints

• Nature walks

🚐 Transportation

• Bus/shared taxi: $5–10 as groups (Ask your hostel for this)

💵 Total: ~$68–75

Day 4 — Waterfall Day ($70-75)

📍 Accommodation

• Hostel dorm: $20

☕ Food

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner: $30

💧 Activities

• La Fortuna Waterfall: $20 pp

• Swimming

• Explore the surrounding trails

🚐 Transportation

• Local shuttle/taxi share: $10 as groups (Ask your hostel for this)

💵 Total: $70

So basically it will look something like this:

🛬 Day 1 — Arrival & Hot Springs
🌉 Day 2 — Hanging Bridges
🌋 Day 3 — Volcano Trails
💦 Day 4 — Waterfall Day

I have created a free visual Itinary of this on the "Itinary Section", so go ahead and find it more visual with the exact locations and more description per places!

I just wanted to have it more in "paper" for those that like it like this.