La Fortuna Waterfall is a 230-foot cascade set in the lush Costa Rican jungle, normally flowing into a calm, clear pool where visitors can swim. But when we visited, several days of unusually heavy rain had turned the waterfall into a powerful, surging force. The current was so strong that they had to close off the usual swimming area for safety. Even though we couldn’t take a dip, the experience was still incredible. We loved watching the bats flit in and out of the cave behind the falls, adding an unexpected bit of wildlife magic to the moment. On the way back up, my daughter and I decided to count every step—supposedly 500, but we came up with 472. Whether we miscounted or a few had been lost to time, it made the steep climb its own little adventure. Definitely a memorable stop in the Arenal region.
