Travel tips for La Fortuna

Costa Rica has no island-specific or region-specific entry rules, but a handful of practical points shape every trip through La Fortuna. Visitors from the EU, the UK, the United States and Canada don't need a visa for stays of up to 180 days, though an onward or return ticket is checked at boarding, not just on arrival. The official currency is the colón (CRC), but in practice almost everything in La Fortuna, from hot springs entry fees to shuttle tickets, is priced and paid in US dollars, and cards are accepted almost everywhere in town.

Electrical outlets are the same flat two- or three-pin Type A/B sockets used in North America, running at 120V and 60Hz, so US and Canadian appliances need no adapter. The emergency number nationwide is 911. Costa Rica sits on UTC-6 year-round and does not observe daylight saving time, so the gap to Europe or North America shifts with their own clock changes rather than Costa Rica's. Driving is on the right. Restaurant bills already include a 10% service charge and 13% sales tax by law, so no further tipping is required there, though a guide on a tour is usually tipped separately, around 5 to 10 US dollars per person per day.

Tap water is treated and safe to drink in La Fortuna and in Monteverde, which isn't true everywhere in the country and is worth checking locally elsewhere. Two international airports serve the region: Juan Santamaría (SJO) near San José, about 3 hours away by road, and Daniel Oduber (LIR) near Liberia, about 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours away — which one suits a given itinerary better often comes down to whether Monteverde or Rincón de la Vieja is also on the plan. Roads around La Fortuna include several one-lane bridges where the right of way isn't always obvious to visiting drivers, and the shortcut route via Route 702 toward Upala is unpaved and can be rough after rain.

Health-wise, dengue fever is present in the lowlands during the green season and repellent is worth using after dusk, and the fer-de-lance, one of the region's more dangerous pit vipers, is occasionally encountered on forest trails, which is one of several reasons guided night walks stick to marked paths and use a flashlight at all times.