Costa Rica's Best Hot Springs (Arenal & La Fortuna)
Arenal's geothermal hot springs are heated by the volcano itself. A handful of premium resorts near La Fortuna each offer a different experience: from Tabacón's river of pools to Eco Termales' quiet, intimate evening soak. Here's how they compare.
Compare the resorts
| Tabacón | Baldi | Titoku | Eco Termales | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pools | 5, from 77°F to 122°F (25°C–50°C) | 25, hot and cold | 8, cascading in temperature | 4, from 91°F to 105°F (32°C–41°C) |
| Grounds | Gardens, a cold river, a waterslide, spa facilities | Large and small pools connected by walking paths, with volcano views | Lush gardens, indoor & outdoor seating | Rainforest setting with volcanic-silt paths; capped at 100 guests for privacy |
| Food & drink | Swim-up bar | None | Full-service bar with food items | On-site restaurant (traditional Costa Rican cooking) |
| Time needed | Half a day | Half a day | About 3 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Best for | Variety of pools & grounds | Volcano views, most pools | A bar-side soak near Arenal Kioro | Dinner, drinks & an evening, intimate soak |
Pool counts and temperatures as published by each resort. Hours change seasonally: your Local Insider confirms them when you book.
Day pass vs. staying at the resort
A day pass gets you the pools, grounds and (where offered) food and drink for a few hours. Staying at a hot springs hotel means you can soak whenever you like during your stay, without booking a separate visit: worth it if you want more than one soak.
How to choose
Want the most pools and volcano views? Baldi. Want extensive grounds with a swim-up bar? Tabacón. Want a bar-side soak near Arenal Kioro? Titoku. Want a quiet, private evening with dinner? Eco Termales caps its guest count and pairs the soak with its own restaurant, our pick for a relaxed dinner-and-drinks evening.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best hot spring in Arenal?
It depends what you want. Tabacón has the most extensive grounds and a swim-up bar; Baldi has the most pools with volcano views; Eco Termales is the smallest and most private, best for an evening soak with dinner; Titoku pairs cascading pools with a full bar, steps from the Arenal Kioro resort.
Do you have to stay at the resort to use the hot springs?
No, all four are open to day visitors, not just hotel guests.
Which hot spring is best for an evening visit?
Eco Termales, capped at 100 guests for privacy, with its own restaurant for dinner and drinks after your soak.
Which hot spring has the most pools?
Baldi, with 25 pools of varying temperatures and volcano views.
Can you visit more than one hot spring on a trip?
Are there hotels with their own hot springs?
Yes, see Arenal hotels with hot springs if you'd rather have on-site access whenever you like.
What about Los Laureles Hot Springs?
Los Laureles was a small, local, budget hot spring: no restaurant, bring-your-own food. We've moved away from featuring it in favor of the premium resorts above, which offer more amenities, food, service and grounds for a similar half-day out.