About Tabacon Hot Springs
Tabacon is La Fortuna's most iconic hot springs resort, home to the only naturally flowing thermal river in the Arenal region. Heated by volcanic activity deep beneath Arenal Volcano, the mineral-rich water emerges from the earth and winds through lush tropical gardens, forming natural waterfalls, cascading pools, and quiet soaking alcoves at temperatures ranging from 22 to 38 degrees Celsius. The resort has been welcoming visitors for decades and is widely regarded as the highest-quality hot springs experience in Costa Rica.
Day passes grant access to the thermal river, multiple landscaped hot spring pools, cold plunge pools, and tropical garden trails. The resort also operates a full-service spa offering volcanic mud treatments, massages, and hydrotherapy sessions. On-site restaurants serve high-quality Costa Rican and international cuisine, and several bars are positioned throughout the thermal area so guests can enjoy drinks without leaving the warm water. Combo packages bundle the hot springs visit with Arenal Volcano hikes, hanging bridges walks, and other area activities.
What elevates Tabacon above the many hot springs facilities in the La Fortuna area is the natural setting — the thermal river is not a pool complex but a genuine flowing waterway through old-growth tropical forest — and the level of service, which approaches luxury resort standards. The grounds are meticulously maintained, the water quality is excellent, and the atmosphere at night, with the pools illuminated under a canopy of stars, is genuinely memorable. It is the signature must-do experience for any visitor to the Arenal region.
