Arenal Volcano And Thermal Hot Springs From San Jose

The tour was pretty much a transport service. The guide spoke mostly Spanish and only the bare minimum was translated into English. The hot springs was my highlight and the reason why I booked this tour. The group ended up being divided into 3 different hot springs which was weird and we also had to wait for everyone to check in so if you are the last one you easily loose 30min. The drive is long and the roads are very curvey across the mountains so beware if you get motion sickness. I had to discuss with the guide cause she insisted that I should sit in the back just because I was solo. 3 stars cause the driver and the sights were great incl. the food but the guide was terrible and did not make me feel welcome.

I give this tour 5 out of 5. Eric was absolutely amazing. I love the fact that he spoke English very well. He was so knowledgeable and friendly. He definitely gave superb customer service. He represented Costa Rica very well. My absolute favorite part of the tour was the Hot Springs. You definitely have to get a massage. I received a massage from a woman named Caroline, and she had the hands of a goddess! So good. I love the fact they provided lunch and dinner, but the food could have been a little bit better.

They never came to pick me up from my hotel for the trip as they said they would, in writing. After waiting for them to come, I tried calling and texting them and they never responded. They never notified me they weren’t coming. I hope to get mymoney back for this non trip.

Excellent guide with lots of knowledge . We had a comfortable ride and stopped at interesting places as well as a wonderful restaurant. We were never felt hurried.

I am not going to sugarcoat this review, we had a terrible experience. I booked a trip for six people (3 couples). I sent the link for this excursion, yet everyone else had a proper reservation, yet our reservation was not found. After going round and round about the happening, we ended up having to pay $404 (which was more than the original cost) to book with another company so that we could all be together. Perhaps it was a mistake on my end and I am fine with acknowledging that, but the bigger issue is no one ever showed up to pick my wife and I up from the original reservation. No communication or anything. We were able to get our money back from the first reservation due to this fake, so this company has to be held accountable for bad business practices. Book at your own discretion.

On the way to Arenal we stopped at a park and factory where we learned about the history of oxcart manufacturing and painting. The walk to Arenal and view were beautiful. Hot sptings at Los Lagos worth the trip.

Absolutely horrible!!!!! No communication whatsoever… whoever runs this experience needs to get fired! I’m coming for the United States my number doesn’t work here so I have WhatsApp and the tour guide should have had WhatsApp as well for 1 week now I emailed I tried calling from the hotel I contacted support absolutely horrible! I hope the same thing happens to them!

This trip ended up being 9 hours of driving with 2 hours to “see” the sights. Twice a person got sick in the car due to the erratic driving. Although he appeared to be trying, the guide wasn’t helpful at all.

This tour was very long but very good. We went to a different hot springs named Los Lagos and it was spectacular. I will come back here and stay as the hot springs were unbelievable. The volcano was beautiful and Peter was an outstanding tour guide. He was very nice and informative. Just know that if you go on a Sunday the 3 hour drive back turns into 5 hours very quickly due to traffic. It was a 15 hour day which was exhausting. It’s definitely worth it including the lunch and dinner. Both meals were very good and filling. I would recommend this tour to people on their first trip to Costa Rica.

My tour was canceled at the last minute despite multiple email confirmations from the Viator corporate office. Robert at the local San José office promised a callback but never followed up, and repeated calls went unanswered. I was waiting in the hotel lobby at 6:30 a.m. when the tour was canceled at the last minute, wasting my entire day. To make matters worse, my card was charged in full, and corporate redirected me to the local office for compensation. I strongly discourage booking with this company due to poor communication and lack of accountability.

I unfortunately cannot give this tour more than 3 stars. 3 feels generous for what I went through, but my tour guide was a saving grace. He has a natural passion for his work, and it made the first part of the day absolutely amazing. The Arenal volcano is beautiful, the drive was scenic, and lunch was great. My problems started when we got to the hot springs. I was told the night before that "we" would be visiting a diffent resort, which was fine with me, except I did not know until day of that I was going to be left there alone while the rest of the group went to a different resort. This was not a fault of the guide, but something the agency did for some reason. Why? I don't know. As a solo traveler and someone with extremely bad social anxiety, it was a scary experience and I felt really lonely. I was there by myself for 3.5 hours. I felt trapped. It was crowded. I did not know anyone. I was stared at because I was alone. I simply could not have fun. I cried to myself because I was very overwhelmed. I asked around to the staff if anyone knew where my group was they didn't have any context of my situation and I looked even more pathetic. The dinner was buffet style, and the tables at the resprt filled quickly with families. Unable to find a table, I stood in a corner of the buffet and ate by myself. During this, I reached out to the tour company's emergency support line on WhatsApp (that they provide by the way) out of desperation and I recieved no help. This trip was my last day in Costa Rica and I expected so much more, but the hot springs experience honestly ruined everything for me. When I finally got reunited with my group again, I was very depressed because they had a good time together at their hot springs resort. Again, my guide-Harold- was a wonderful spirit; I just wish the tour company planned this better. I don't recommend this tour to any solo travelers because of the risk of what happened to me happening to them.

It was very frustrating because rather than having people meet at one location they picked every single person up at each individual Hotel. It's a nice idea but they should have someone picking people up and bringing them to the bus. We spent almost 2 hours picking people up before we even got on the road to head out to the volcano. Which that ride took several hours, by the time we got there there was a tropical storm and did not even get to go up and see the view! We did get a little extra time at the hot springs because of that but it was way more than enough time that we needed there. Then spent several hours going back to San Jose and again having to drop every single person off individually and if you were one of the first people to get on the bus you were the last to get off!

Everything but the first stop was worth it. Didn’t spend enough time at Arenal 1968. Felt too rushed.

The company failed to update us, communicate with us, or even show up at our hotel. We made every effort to contact them, being on time and waiting over an hour beyond the pickup time. They never showed or tried to contact us ! We tried to contact them via WhatsApp, Tripadvisor App, and even regular call and text, and heard nothing.

Terrible customer service! Our tour got cancelled after 1 hour past our pick up time, they never show up! They don’t pick up phone calls, no respond on whatsup, only messages we got that our spots got sold out, we can change date or they can cancel my reservation.

What a wonderful full day experience loved the food,views, and Hot springs. The tour guide did an amazing job with explaining everything and the history. He was super friendly and very professional. The driver also made us feel safe with his driver. Super great experience.

Pablo (our guide) and Alejandro (our driver) were truly wonderful — kind, knowledgeable, attentive, and professional. They made the long day as pleasant as possible, and I really appreciated their care and friendliness throughout the tour. Lunch was excellent at a cozy local spot, and the stop in Sarchí was charming. A few days prior to the tour, the company reached out to let me know Baldi Hot Springs was no longer available and asked if Los Lagos could be substituted, which was completely fine with me as Los Lagos felt less commercial than Baldi. One small but important heads-up for future travelers: towels are not included at Los Lagos and must be rented separately on-site. That said, the overall experience still didn’t fully align with what was advertised or what I was personally hoping for. We never stopped at the Arenal 1968 Volcano View & Trails, which was a key reason I booked this tour. Instead, we spent additional time at the hot springs. While the weather wasn’t great and the volcano wasn’t visible (which I understand is no one’s fault), there was no clear explanation provided as to why the volcano trail stop was skipped — whether for safety, timing, or other reasons. It was framed simply as wanting us to have a longer hot spring experience. For me, this tradeoff wasn’t ideal and I wish I would have known that there was a chance of not doing this part of the trip. After roughly six hours of driving on winding mountain roads, spending the bulk of the day at a hot spring resort — even a calmer one like Los Lagos — didn’t feel worth the journey. Others on my tour shared the same sentiment.

Our tour guide was absolutely amazing! One of the best tour guides I’ve had in a long time! Definitely book this tour.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Must-Do Experience — Especially with Eric as Your Guide! The Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Full Day Tour was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Costa Rica, and that is largely thanks to our incredible host, Eric. If you’re looking for a tour that immerses you in the true culture, history, and rhythm of Costa Rica — this is it. From the moment we started, Eric’s passion for his country was undeniable. He didn’t just point out landmarks — he taught us about the central cities, the number of volcanoes in the region, and even the crops that are planted and valued across Costa Rica’s beautiful wetlands. His knowledge was as impressive as his heart, and he made sure every member of our group felt welcomed, informed, and included. We were able to eat like locals, stay perfectly on schedule, and have all our (many!) questions answered with patience and enthusiasm. Some of the most memorable parts of the experience included:     •    Friendly, engaging tour guides at every stop     •    Fantastic food at thoughtfully selected local restaurants     •    A meaningful stop at an ox cart workshop, where we learned about the labor history behind ox carts and the traditional hand-painted designs created by paid local artists Although the weather didn’t allow us to see the volcano due to fog (a reminder to avoid travel during peak wet season if a clear view is a must), the day was still unforgettable — and honestly, we’d gladly return just to tour with Eric again. He was professional, kind, funny, and kept the group engaged from start to finish. We always knew where we were headed next, when we’d eat, and what to expect — which made the full-day tour feel smooth, organized, and relaxing. Highly recommend this tour — and even more so, highly recommend Eric. Costa Rica came alive through his eyes, and that’s something we will always remember.

Our driver and tour guide was amazing. We got to see 30% of the volcano and enjoy the wonderful hot springs of Los Lagos. The overall tour was good for our family but we would have planned it better for us. I would do things differently. We literally only saw the volcano for 5-10 mins, which is fine, but not what I expected.

This tour makes for a long day. We were picked up at the hotel at 8:30, and weren’t back until 10:30. I was really expecting a relaxing experience at the hot springs, and a lunch with a view of the volcano (like the pictures)- neither happened. We drove 45 mins or so to Sarchi and the Ox Cart Factory (by far the highlight of the tour), and then 3 hours to lunch (not at the Arenal 1968 as advertised), then to a view point at the hotel hot springs - Los Lagos (not the advertised Baldi). The hotel hot springs were not peaceful, or relaxing- lots of families and kids (not a bad thing, but I felt like I was at the pool back home). I wouldn’t do the tour again, it feel short and is pricey. The guide also forgot to repeat things in English, but would talk at length in Spanish (which made it challenging for English speakers only to follow along).

OMG!!!!! The experience was exceptional, the Driver Jose and Tour Guide Roberto took very good care of us. Whether it was making sure that we were ok from the bumpy drive or ensuring that all of our needs were met. Roberto was very knowledgeable, and even had the driver pull to the side of the road stopping traffic so that we could get pictures of a sloth sleeping lol. I truly enjoyed this tour and would do it over and over again. Thank you Jose and Roberto

The experience was great. My favorite part was lunch & baldin hot springs! It rained most of the day so the volcano viewing was an epic fail but it was still a good experience. The guide & driver took great care of everyone!

I booked this tour about a month in advance, and everything from the booking consultation to the payment and hotel pick-up arrangements went very smoothly. On the day of the tour, the guide/driver picked me up at my hotel right on time, and the trip began. The schedule was followed exactly as planned, and along the way, the guide explained the scenery, Costa Rican culture, and history, which made the ride very informative and enjoyable. We stopped in Sarchí to see traditional Costa Rican handicrafts and enjoy some delicious coffee. On the road toward Arenal, the guide also shared insights about the country’s different climates and natural environments, which made the journey even more fascinating. At Arenal and La Fortuna, we enjoyed a delicious lunch and had a chance to see the volcano. On the way, we spotted sloths, colorful birds, and even ants carrying branches—such a unique experience! Finally, we spent a relaxing time at the Baldi hot springs and ended the day with a tasty buffet dinner. Afterward, we were safely dropped off back at our hotel. For someone visiting Costa Rica for the first time, this was an incredibly meaningful and unforgettable experience. It was truly a memorable trip that I will cherish.

The tour was great and so were the tour guide and driver. Traveled with a great group and would recommend this tour

I thoroughly enjoyed this day-long tour! Erick and Henry were thorough and compassionate guides who went above and beyond to make sure we traveled to our destinations safely and were informed of all the local sites. Even as a solo traveler, I had no problems!

Not enough time seeing Arenal Volcano and longer time in the thermal springs lunch was great nice restaurant dinner was in the spa buffet

Love love love this. Seeing the ox cart painting in Sarchí was amazing. The restaurant that we had lunch at had an amazing atmosphere…especially listening to the rain pattering on the tin roof. Started to rain at Arenal but that didn’t matter cause the views were breathtaking and we got a full view in a few minutes after the clouds passed. Finishing at the hot springs was such a good end, I was exhausted and it was so relaxing chilling in all the many different springs and natural sauna. Again, loved loved loved this experience.

If you’re looking for a proper day out of San Jose, this is a good place to start. Erik, our guide, was incredibly knowledgeable and personable throughout the entire experience. Our driver, Edgar, deserves a statue built to him for being able to drive through the fog, mountains, and around all of the other traffic with ease and comfort for those of us on the bus. It was a decent sized group, 13 adults and 1 child, and everything was included, minus breakfast. But we were given opportunities at each stop to pick up other guests to quickly grab something if we wanted to. The stop at the ox cart factory, while interesting, was a bit long, especially considering that the trip is to a volcano viewpoint and hot springs. It was an interesting addition to the trip, just a bit too long. Especially when you consider how long it takes to get from one place to the next. Overall, definitely recommend this excursion. It gives a solid foundation of what is available to travelers outside of major urban centers. Erik even pointed out other locations along the way that he recommended we take advantage of if we had the time. That was very much appreciated.

Great itinerary, good food but be prepared for no breakfast. First to be picked up, last to be returned added 3 hours of travel time. Come hungry as advetised but no breakfast. Lunch was at 1345 hrs. Guide was chatismatic, friendly but expected me to wait for a toilet stop in town ( not when we were on the bus travelling) and then forgot all about it until the end of the next stop - I decided to find my own way after a second prompt. Saving grace, both lunch and the dinner buffet were good. The itinerary was great once it got started.

Alejandro and Roy were a fantastic duo. Alejandro was very attentive and very personable! They went out of their way to make the trip memorable. Fantastic view of the Arenal volcano, the lunch spot was amazing, and the relaxing hot springs had me sleeping on the bus ride back. Also got to check out some towns along the way including La Fortuna. Roy was a great driver!

It is a fun, long, but relaxing day. We didn't get to see much of the of Volcano, but the stops were beautiful. It was dark for dinner, so no view at all.

Pedro was a great guide, very knowledgeable, patient and funny! This trip is very long so brace yourself but it was incredible! Also don’t get distracted in the short stop in Sarchi, the gift shop was one of the best so you’ll be want to focus and make your rounds! Haha!

The destination is a 4, but the trip there and back is a 2 during the day and a 1 at night. The small van (don't sit in a back) was bumpier than a can on a road of rocks. But on the way, you at least stop to break things up. The Baldi spa is a tourist destination. Nice to spend some time in the hot pools (especially after getting bumped around on the drive). The lunch was good. The dinner was bad (dorm food at best). Then we were asked to fill out the tour survey prior to the van trip back. Smart request as the three hour torture that ensued had me crying and praying. No road lights, one lane bridges, sudden dead ends, animals jumping in front and then areas of sudden dense fog - not to mention again the jolt and bumps from the roads - I really prayed that I'd survive. I'd rather pay for a helicopter flight to LaFortuna (Aeral area) than experience the to/from debacle again.

Great trip. Baldi hot springs was a great highlight. Got to see a lot of sights in one day and it didn’t feel rushed.

Great tour guide. Very informative. Long day but loved every aspect of it. Would highly recommend this tour.

Such an incredible experience. Our guide was funny, knowledgeable, and a heck of a driver. We ran into thick clouds that covered the view of the road & he was incredible. The weather changes…. A LOT, so dress comfortably & prepare for humidity. The food was great, the people were great, and the hot springs made me want to move here.

The tour guide was kind of rude and not very informative about the area. We would randomly stop a long the way for what seemed liked her personal snacks. Additionally the tour was over priced. Baldi and Arenal are worth going to, just go with a different group.

My tour in Costa Rica was an unforgettable experience. I had the pleasure of having Max as my tour guide, and he was absolutely amazing. Not only was he incredibly knowledgeable about Costa Rica and its diverse vegetation, but he also had a fantastic sense of humor that made the trip even more enjoyable. Max’s helpfulness and expertise truly enhanced the journey, and I feel so lucky to have had him lead the tour. The adventure began with a pickup at 8:20 PM, and we returned around 10 PM. Although it was a long day, it was completely worth it. With only two days to explore San José and other parts of Costa Rica, this trip was the perfect way to get a glimpse of the country’s beauty and charm. The scenic views were breathtaking, even though the volcanoes were shrouded in clouds. La Fortuna was the highlight for me—I absolutely loved it. If you’re a fan of nature, hot springs, hiking, and wildlife, this area is a must-visit. I know that if I ever return to Costa Rica, I’ll plan to stay in La Fortuna to explore it even more.

Great lunch and very knowledgeable about history. Enjoyed the hot springs. Be prepared for an all day experience. Only gave a four star because of lack of clear instructions to everyone in the group , which lead to problems.

Pedro was excellent and our driver was amazing and friendly as well. He stopped so we got the rare chance to see a “ghost bird” and a sloth that was eating his lunch as we weee.

Our guide Eric and our driver Eduardo were great. Knowledgeable and fun! They get you from point A to B with no worry and, make sure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. Would highly recommend.

A great day! Max was a good tour guide and driver, very friendly and knowledgeable. I enjoyed seeing the sights along the way. There is a stop at a souvenir shop, which I thought the tour could do without, but if you need souvenirs at least you’re covered. Lunch spot was delicious with lovely views. Arenal is beautiful. The hot springs are worth the long day and the perfect way to spend an afternoon. A long day, but worth it.

Great experience! Max was great and energetic! Love the stories and we learned so much about the Arenal volcano. Gracias por todo.🤗🤗

Our tour guide was nice and informative, the view of the volcano were beautiful. Lunch was provided it was tasty- we had to preorder ahead while on bus, when we got there ppl on tour sat family style and our meals were served. ( it would be better if you can just sit anywhere- my of my group was split up because ppl sat where they wanted and not as directed). Baldi hot springs was a beautiful property, the water was a bit warm for my liking but we made the best of it. The buffet dinner was delicious and the drinks at pool bar were tasty.

Our tour guide was the best, very knowledgeable and friendly. The Arenal volcano views were beautiful. My family and I enjoyed Baldi hot springs. Hotel is beautiful and well kept. We enjoyed the pool bar. Drinks were reasonable and delicious. Lunch and dinner was delicious, we honestly can’t complain. Just Prepare to be out all day. Our tour left at 8am and we returned to hotel at 11:30pm. Definitely worth it.

Loved everything about it! Awesome tour guide and driver and loved learning more about Costa Rica and the different places we were going to during the trip. I also enjoyed how friendly and accommodating they were to all the guests. Definitely recommend 100%!

Rachel/Raquel was an energetic and enthusiastic guide throughout the tour keeping us engaged and excited about the tour and Costa Rica. Outside of that, my wife, myself, and a few others felt like things were a letdown. We understand the need to line things according to schedule, but the time distribution for this tour made things unenjoyable. The highlight of this tour was intended to see the beautiful Arenal Volcano and Baldi hot Springs. But we spent 40-45 minutes at Sarchi gift shop, less than 10 minutes at Arenal volcano and then 3-4 hours at Baldi Hot Springs. Sarchi included a 10 minute tour about ox cart making, which was charming and cute, but I did not think we needed 45 minutes there which could have been allocated towards something else in the itinerary. Arenal Volcano is a big attraction of the country as well as the tour, but we felt extremely rushed with only 10-15 minutes at the park. I understand that it was cloudy when we got there and rain was approaching, but if we were given another 5-10 minutes it was clearing out. Baldi Hot springs was an amazing way to end the trip but 3 hours and an extra hour for dinner was a little excessive. We left San Jose around 8-8:30AM and the trip finished at Baldi Hot Springs around 7PM. Despite the unpleasant times for each activity, the drive was very scenic, comfortable, and we appreciated that the tour company was accommodating to leave us at La Fortuna which we had previously booked a couple nights there.

It was my first time in Costa Rica and was amazing! Great memories from hot springs and the Volcano area, sarchi was good to talk with people there very polite and friendly. Such a great time!