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Costa Rica Expat City Guide

La Fortuna, Costa Rica

La Fortuna, Costa Rica, also known as La Fortuna de San Carlos, is located in the Northern Highlands, around 2.5 hours from San Jose’s international airport (SJO) and a bit more from Liberia’s international airport (LIR).

The town is centered around Arenal Volcano and offers a diverse range of adventure and nature activities. Despite being a tourist destination, La Fortuna retains a charming small-town vibe, with a lovely park and church at its heart, surrounded by fertile agricultural lands. The area is affordable, although options are more limited than in larger expat cities.

Arenal Volcano is highly active, ranking in the top 10 or top 20 most active volcanoes globally. La Fortuna is less than 10 kilometres (6 mi) from the peak and less than 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the Arenal Volcano National Park entrance, west of the peak. Other local attractions include La Catarata de la Fortuna waterfall, hot springs, adventure parks, and activities around Lake Arenal.

La Fortuna lies on the eastern side of Lake Arenal, with expats typically traveling to the San Jose region for shopping and travel. Expats residing on the western side of the lake tend to travel to Liberia instead.

La Fortuna Location

Map of Costa Rica

La Fortuna Climate

Climate Type: Tropical Savanah

La Fortuna experiences its warmest month in April, with an average temperature of 24.5 °C (76.2°F). On the other hand, January is the coldest month in the area, with temperatures averaging 22.2 °C (71.9 °F). The average temperature in La Fortuna throughout the year falls between 20 °C to 26 °C (68 °F to 78 °F). Humidity is high throughout the year, and the region receives an average of 2445 mm (96.3 in) of rainfall annually.

La Fortuna Weather

La Fortuna, CR
6:55 am
temperature icon 25°C | °F
L: 25° H: 25°
overcast clouds
Precipitation: 0 inch
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 5:40 am
Sunset: 5:14 pm

At a Glance

Population: 19,004 (2020 data)

Largest Regional City: Alajuela

Vibe: mountain, rural, agricultural, tourist, blue zone, natural beauty, adventure-seeking

Distance to Nearest International Airport: Juan Santamaria International Airport – 114 kilometers (71 miles) – approx. 2.5 hours without heavy traffic.

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