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Free Natural Hot Springs River

Free Natural Hot Springs River

Free Natural Hot Springs River
4.5
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  • guerrero1920
    92 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Free hot spring
    Laid-back environment with local patrons away from touristy crowds. The best way in locating this hot spring is to look for the gentleman with the neon parking vests on guiding people to park. Yes they would like a small tip 3 collones, however it is not necessary as the parking is free. Be warned you will have to walk a small walk onto the street to reach the entrance and you will walk down a short muddy rocky dirt path, so be careful. Once there you can leave your bag on the sides as most do just keep your eyes on your belongings. Also, be warned the ground inside the springs is very rocky and hard on the feet, water shoes would've helped!!! There were people of all ages in the spring. Locals say the left side is the best, the side the hotel is on. Enjoy, I almost fell asleep 😴
    Visited November 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 13 November 2023
  • shihtzulover1
    Orange, California63 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing afternoon at the thermal river
    This was an awesome experience. There are two sides to this river where most tourist go and across the highway is the least crowded. If you are driving from Monte Verde it will be on the left side(tabacon) there are usually a couple of gentlemen controlling traffic there but they are not officials you do not have to pay for parking. But they appreciate tips. You will have to walk along the road down to muddy in Rocky pathway. You can be a little dangerous if you’re not careful. Water shoes are a must here. Normally people just placed a belongings on the side and enter the water. It was amazing, very warm like an unlimited bath water. We spent here about 2 1/2 hours.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 8 March 2024
  • Meg & Matt N
    The Woodlands, Texas12 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best hot springs!
    Such a chill place, in my opinion it was way more fun than Tabacon or Baldi. For a true Costa Rica experience definitely go to this amazing river and be one with nature! Easy to find. Lots of cool scenery. Try the mud on your face! Cheapest facial I’ve ever had 🤣
    Visited April 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 18 April 2024
  • KathTraveler5
    San Anselmo, California21 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Yes, get suited up and lounge in free hot springs river!
    What a cool local spot, and rare free access. We didn't come prepared to be able to change on-site by the river, so we didn't end up going in, but if you come with your suit on or bring a cover-up so you can change "in public", you'll be all set to wade into the shallow water and find a comfy spot to sit on the riverbed with the warm water rushing around you. Parking is a little tricky, on the side of a curvy road with lots of traffic as it is right next to the Tabacon Resort and on the way to all the resort hot springs and La Fortuna. A guy in a yellow vest charged us $10 to guide us to a roadside spot, barely clear of the driving lane. Walk along the road (yikes) for 4 minutes and down a dirt path to the river, it's easy to find especially when crowded. Wished we could have returned the next day better prepared on our way out of the area, but then we had luggage in the car and all advice seems to be, don't leave items in cars.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 27 June 2024
  • 59ericaf
    Houston, Texas96 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Hot time in the Free Hot Springs
    Great experience in the warm water. Right cross from Tabacon Resort and walking distance to a great view of the Arenal Volcano. Went at 7 am and there were about four people out there. The water was so warm and refreshing. A very therapeutic experience. Yes there is a gentleman who will charge you $10 for parking. He is harmless and let the man have his hustle. The $10 doesn’t compare to the experience. Great experience in La Fortuna!
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 4 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Everydaytraveler1978
Billings, MT17 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
We had driven by cars parked along the road right outside of Tabacon resort for a couple of days until we finally asked what was going on and we were so glad we did. There is a local there directing parking and collecting a couple bucks that he claims helps maintain the natural pools. It was well worth the $4...the River is a series of pools created from lava rocks. You can explore above and below the bridge. We had a backpack with us which was the only downside because it was hard to find a dry spot to stash it and keep an eye on it while moving around the river so I’d take nothing with or a dry bag. Grab a beer or whatever you like to drink and just hang out in the river with locals and curious tourists alike. Super chill. Bath water like temps.
Written 16 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Akurtis28
Nashville, TN41 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2021 • Friends
The coordinate points attached with Trip Advisor is a little off. Enter in Tobacon Resort on your GPS, and you’ll find it. It’s right past the second entrance of the resort. Attached are photos to make it easier to find. I recommend going early in the morning, and the few road side spots to park fill up fast. Highly recommend wearing crocs or good water shoes, as there are a lot of rocks that will hurt your feet without good shoes on. There was a little trash around which sucked, but not as bad as it could be. Pay the attendant a few dollars and leave your car and walk down. It’s really beautiful and highly recommend checking it out.
Written 17 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Courtney K
Morgantown, WV30 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2021 • Friends
The hot spring river is honestly nuts. I don’t know how something so amazing just exists in the middle of the woods like it does. The water is the perfect temperature and the rushing water is beautiful, although you do need to be careful it doesn’t knock you over! A couple notes: you will get very dirty if you sit in the water, so plan a shower after. Also, you will get hustled by guys wanting payment to watch your car. Make sure to have a set tip in mind and stick with it even though they’ll try to guilt you into giving more. Finally, bring as little personal belongings with you as you sit in the springs and make sure you know where they are at all times.
Written 13 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Tenkster
Paddock Wood, UK65 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2022 • Family
Well worth a visit if you’re in the area, after all it is free! Quite busy but plenty of spots to seek out. Parking on the side of the road with a local to guide you in and will keep an eye on your car for a few dollars. Water shoes or similar a must.
Written 15 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

rthyagar
novi, michigan34 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2022
Basically this is a cheap (free!) way to experience the Arenal hot springs. We stayed 3 nights at the Arenal Paraiso which has 11 hot springs, but in reality, we found that this location was better. Why? It was cleaner (water in the springs at the resort was muddy and murky), the river water was flowing much more, and also the water itself was warmer. In addition, the atmosphere/ambience was much more natural at the river.

Ok to get here, you need to take a taxi ($10 each way from any of the resorts, or downtown La Fortuna) to the Tabacon Resort and Spa. The taxi driver will know where to drop you, just tell them you are going to the river hot springs. Also recommend that you arrange for the taxi to come back at a pre-determined time and pick you up. Or you can walk up to the Tabacon Resort and request the front desk to get you a taxi.
Written 11 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Astria
Dallas, TX54 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
What everyone said has been absolutely correct. Great spot for free hot springs. The water was warm, and there was a good mix of locals and tourists. Coming earlier is better for parking and fewer crowds. We paid the man 'watching' our cars 3K colones just to be polite, although I'm sure if you want to escape it you can. He was very polite, so we didn't mind. We would have spent hundreds of US dollars elsewhere. There are places to leave small bags along the rocks, but a wet bag would have been great. Water shoes are a must. There are two sides - one has stronger currents while the other is great for smaller children. Our two boys loved it and asked to go again the next day. Look for Tabacon springs, and you'll see cars parked along the road. Look down, and you'll likely catch a glimpse of people.
Written 31 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GKARO
13 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Friends
La Fortuna has many hot springs, but most of them cost >$20, the more expensive ones being ~$80 per person. We did not want to spend hours in the hot springs or spend that amount of money, per person, to visit a resort hot spring. We really wanted to get the most natural hot spring experience as possible, and this was perfect for that.

This hot spring is technically free, but unless you go early in the morning, there are people standing in the street with vests directing you where to park (on the side of the street). As you should know, these people are not official and you do not technically need to pay them, but giving whoever directs you just a small $5 or $10 doesn’t hurt. They were not very bothersome (in begging to be paid) and considering we’d have to pay at least $20 per person for a resort hot spring, we didn’t mind.

Those people directing you where to park did give us some guidance on how to get down to the hot spring but if you just follow other people, you will find it. At the bottom of the hill (on the road), there are guardrails on either side. Both sides of the road, around the end of the guardrails, have paths going down to the hot springs.

The hot springs themselves were in fact hot, but it was a little crowded (we went in the early afternoon). If we visited again, we would likely go back in the morning when there are less people.
Written 29 October 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KathTraveler5
San Anselmo, CA21 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Family
What a cool local spot, and rare free access. We didn't come prepared to be able to change on-site by the river, so we didn't end up going in, but if you come with your suit on or bring a cover-up so you can change "in public", you'll be all set to wade into the shallow water and find a comfy spot to sit on the riverbed with the warm water rushing around you. Parking is a little tricky, on the side of a curvy road with lots of traffic as it is right next to the Tabacon Resort and on the way to all the resort hot springs and La Fortuna. A guy in a yellow vest charged us $10 to guide us to a roadside spot, barely clear of the driving lane. Walk along the road (yikes) for 4 minutes and down a dirt path to the river, it's easy to find especially when crowded. Wished we could have returned the next day better prepared on our way out of the area, but then we had luggage in the car and all advice seems to be, don't leave items in cars.
Written 27 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Igge
Kvicksund, Sweden1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022 • Couples
Go here if you want to enjoy the hot springs in Arenal/Fortuna. Easy to find, just stop where all the cars are parked along the road close to Tabacon resort. "Parking attendants" will guard your cars for a couple of thousand colones. Very relaxing and jungle feeling if you just go a few meters from the road. Highly recommended to go here instead of artificial high priced resorts in the neighbourhood.
Written 25 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marina
47 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
It was so great we went twice! But, the parking helpers will stop your car on the road and demand 5000 colones to help you park by side of road. Place is free. I gave them 3000 colones so they don't scratch the rental car
Written 25 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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FREE NATURAL HOT SPRINGS RIVER (2025) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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