The Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs tour is an all-inclusive day-long adventure immersing you in Costa Rican culture, visiting a volcano, and ending with a relaxing soak at a luxury hot springs resort. During your stay in San Jose, you might like to journey outside the city lights to explore a few of the treasures found in the scenic surrounding countryside.
Your day will begin bright and early when you are picked up from your hotel and driven first to the small artisan town of Sarchi, known for its talented artist. You may already be familiar with the colorfully painted mandala-like ox-cart wheels, paying tribute to the national symbol of traditional transport.
Known to have originated in Sarchi, this art form along with splendidly made leather tooled wooden rocking chairs and other handmade hardwood furniture will introduce you to the artisans creating them. Bring some extra spending money in case you’d like to bring home a souvenir or two! (Arrangements can be made for shipping furniture.)
After visiting Sarchi, you’ll hop back in the van and continue onward through pineapple plantations, vegetable farms and cattle ranches until you reach the lively little town of La Fortuna. Here your guide will take you to a local restaurant with a front seat view of the majestic Arenal Volcano towering over the village. Your delicious typical Costa Rican style lunch will likely consist of rice, beans, plantains, salad and a choice of meat or veggies with a beverage included. This is the traditional mid-day meal and the main meal of most families.
From this perfect vantage point you will be able to take epic photos of the volcano. On a clear day, you might capture the dried lava fields as well as a wisp of white steam swirling out the top.
Next it will be time to relax and luxuriate at Baldi Hot Springs, one of the most popular and decadent hot spring resorts in the area. Your guide will drop you off to give you plenty of free time to change into your suit and soak in the many lusciously landscaped thermal pools as well as enjoy the included dinner at your own pace. You’ll walk along stone paths and perfectly manicured gardens that wind through luxurious, diversely-heated hot spring pools. Make sure to explore the whole park to see the beautifully engineered waterfalls, caves, and jacuzzi sites, excellent for star gazing. There is even a separate, colorful area especially for children to enjoy. You will be picked back up at a designated time to be driven back to your hotel.
This tour includes a bilingual guide, Baldi entrance fee, lunch, dinner, and transportation from your hotel in Alajuela or San Jose. One way transport typically takes between 2.5 to 3.5 hours allowing for the stops you’ll be making along the way; although it has taken longer on occasion due to traffic conditions in the San Jose area. Total time of visiting Sarchi, stopping for lunch and volcano viewing in La Fortuna, dinner and soaking in Baldi's hot springs with round-trip transportation, can take between 9 to12 hours depending on your hotel location and San Jose traffic.
Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes, plus bring your camera, binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, bathing suit, towel, as well a dry change of clothes for dinner and the ride home. This tour is especially designed for you to experience, all in one day, a sampling of the many adventures that makes visiting Costa Rica so special!
The Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs is available from Alajuela, Alajuela suburbs, Escazu, Heredia, and San Jose
3 and up
Latitude: N 10° 28' 59.19"
Longitude: W 84° 40' 49.24"