Home > San Jose > Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Day Trip from San Jose
USD $133.00
Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs Day Trip from San Jose
San Jose, Costa Rica
Experience Costa Rica’s world-renowned Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs on this exciting full-day trip from San Jose. Feel the rush of adrenaline as you visit Arenal Volcano National Park and view one of the most active volcanoes in the western hemisphere! Enjoy a complimentary lunch and spend time relaxing in the thermal region’s rejuvenating hot springs. Then, indulge in a gourmet dinner as you continue admiring the stunning Arenal Volcano – a truly unforgettable experience! Receive personal attention on this small-group tour, limited to 20 people.
Combine adrenaline and relaxation as you view Arenal Volcano and soak in Baldi Hot Springs on this rejuvenating day trip from San Jose! Your expert local guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Arenal Volcano National Park. En route to La Fortuna, stop for approximately 30 minutes in the artisan town of Sarchi, where you’ll have an opportunity to admire the colorful oxcarts or shop for souvenirs.
When you reach the park, experience the thundering Arenal Volcano from a safe viewing area. Since a major eruption in 1968, this stratovolcano has been one of the most active in Costa Rica, with mild and nearly continuous explosive activity from the conical crater, whose summit reaches an elevation of 5,436 feet (1,657 meters). As you watch for any lava flows, clouds of smoke or ash, your guide will share information about the park’s thermal features.
After your thrilling show, enjoy a complimentary lunch at the Arenal Volcano Inn Resort or La Perla Restaurant. Spend your afternoon soaking in the region’s rejuvenating thermal baths and mineral pools at Baldi Hot Springs Hotel and Spa. This family-friendly spa consists of several therapeutic pools of varying temperature, allowing people of all ages to steep in relaxation.
Later, enjoy a gourmet dinner under the stars at the hot springs and continue admiring one of the world's most active volcanoes!
The tour started off with a stop at a souvenir shop which included very rude sales people. The lady cheated me out of my change and told me it was no big deal maybe not to her. I would recommend Viator to find another souvenir shop besides this one. We left this location and had lunch at a very nice restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious! I was a little disappointed that we had a 20 minute stop at the volcano look out point. I was hoping to get closer to the volcano or at the very least have more of a tour about Arenal Volcano. Everybody on my tour went to Tabcon so I did too. I loved it! This tour was literally an all day event which worked for me.
Review by: Amy B, February 2018
Really enjoyed Arenal Volcano and Baldi Hot Springs were AMAZING!!!!!
Review by: Australia, February 2018
Great trip!
Review by: Jose R S, January 2018
This tour was excellent. I recommend it to everybody.
Review by: raipe.peltonen, January 2018
Exellent guide, nice warm springs
Review by: Mat G, January 2018
Not much to see in the tour
Review by: Richard D, January 2018
First the best thing: we had an outstanding, helpful, safe driver whose skills and personality helped make a lengthy trip through often bad weather as comfortable as possible. Weather cannot be controlled so we do not consider this a reason for a less than positive review. On the other hand, there were 2 factors that we found extremely disappointing. The bus was OK overall not great but not awful but the microphone and sound system were substandard. 1 After repeated reports from multiple passengers that transmissions from our guide were undecipherable, the guide made some adjustments and , though of marginal quality, most but not all of the guides commentaries could be understood NOTE: we have normal hearing. 2 Upon reaching the walkway to the viewing platform near the volcano, the guide led us in the upward direction and failed to direct us first to the readily available walking sticks not in our site looking ahead toward our guide as they were behind where the bus had been parked. These were provided at no charge as aids for tourists and , as we met other groups after climbing to the top, we noted how many folks up there were using walking sticks. Though we're highly active, the slippery walkway for climbing was somewhat difficult to negotiate and left us wishing for an alternative pathway. Actually, there was an alternative as, on our way done, another guide leading others emerged from a side trail and told us that he'd taken his group on an alternative easier, less steep route which did not have workers redoing a large section of the main path upwards where our guide had directed us. If another guide knew this and accounted for the conditions to adjust the route for those in his group who preferred an alternative, it seemed striking that our guide either did not know of or chose not to mention that option. The Baldi Hot Springs were extremely enjoyable and dinner there was fine but our guide did little to help us find our way around the place or make sure that we were aware of all of the options. This was an important lesson for our future travels: opt for an individual guided tour from a reputable provider. We did not feel that this tour was worth what we had paid and this was not due to the weather - we're realistic, highly experienced travelers
Review by: omaralaa92, January 2018
The volcano was a bit under whelming as you only see it from far away but the view is beautiful and you can take lots of nice photos. Hot springs are in a nice five star hotel and the facility is very large with several warm pools. It is nice an relaxing and I had a good time.
Review by: Chad S, November 2017
Highly recommend this excursion! Great food, very relaxing, and Eric the tour guide was the best!
Review by: Keleigh P, November 2017
The drive was long three hours each way but 100 worth it. On the way up you get great views of different areas of Costa Rica and the tour guide provides lots of information and on the way back most people slept. The volcano was beautiful but be aware that due to the uncertainty of Costa Rica weather visibility can vary. You get about 30 minutes at the look out point to take pictures and soak in the views, then head off to the hot springs, but Baldi had great views of the volcano as well. Lunch is in La Fortuna and dinner is at the resort- both were delicious. I thought Baldi was great but one thing to note is the same tour is offered and goes to Tobacon for only 10 more, which our tour guide said is the nicer resort. 5 people out of our group went there and the rest went to Baldi and we weren't aware that we could have done that option. However, both are probably very similar.
Review by: Carike P, October 2017
This tour was amazing, will definitely recommend.
Review by: Stephen M, October 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Eliagne S, September 2017
Amazing
Review by: Philip, August 2017
Excellent tour with experienced Tour Guide
Review by: mimihti, August 2017
Amazing Tour.Execellent guide. Food at la Perla was very good and Baldi is a great place to enjoy. Be careful using the toboggan as we learned it the hard way.
Review by: mimihti, August 2017
Tour was great! The food at la Perla restaurant was excellent and our guide Carlos was very knowledgeable and kind.Baldi is an amazing place .the springs are superb and the dinner buffet was very good.Thee only thing I wish to change is they should make more serious warning before using the toboggan as someone from our group fell from it and broke his pelvis.He had to be rushed to hospital and operated next day .Even we made our way back to home , he is still in costa Rica .This incident sound the death knell of our vacation.
Review by: cecilia, August 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Belinda H, July 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Keri D, May 2017
This was a really great tour! The drive from San Jose was LONG 3-4 hours but it is worth it to see the countryside and the volcano/ hot springs area! The tour guide made the drive entertaining, and the bus was pretty comfortable. They stopped for bathroom breaks on the way there and on the way back. Stopped at a really nice souvenir shop, lunch was decent plenty of menu options and they had some sort of delicious fresh fruit punch and ice cream dessert. The volcano view was lovely and was a short easy walk. The Baldi Hot Springs Resort was AMAZING- very beautiful, plenty of different pools w/ different temperatures and swim-up bars, and then buffet dinner was delicious!!
Review by: Briana B, April 2017
Amazing excurision !
Review by: Naveensnaidu, April 2017
This is the best trip ever. The hot springs and volcano are fantastic. Our tour group was diverse and very friendly. Tour guide and driver were the best ever they take such good care of you. The sites and experience are memorable. I would highly recommend this tour.
Review by: Kelly Maria G, April 2017
This trip was worth every penny! Mario was our guide and he was very knowledgeable about the history and ecology of his country. He is a conservationist and promotes sustainable tourism. He is very funny too! Food was great, Arenal was awesome and Baldi is a must visit!
Review by: Shana S, April 2017
It was okay.
Review by: Liu Y, March 2017
It was great view of Arenal volcano. However the part is quite short than we expected. We spend good time in the spring.
Review by: Mark O, February 2017
Good tour, it and #39;s a long ride to the Volcano. We were lucky and the clouds lifted for a bit and we could see the summit. The hot springs were great with a wonderful buffet dinner. The windey mountain roads at night might not be a good experience for someone prone to motion sickness
Review by: Neil H, February 2017
This was an extremely uncomfortable trip. We were picked up from the hotel in some kind of Toyota van and told that this was to take us to meet the bus in San Jose, but all we did was drop off people for another tour. However this was the vehicle we stayed in for the whole trip. The headrest on the seat ahead was about a foot from my face. There was no lumbar support as the seats were so short. It was very claustrophobic. After an hour, Both me and my wife were in pain, mainly our behinds and back. After two hours my wife was car sick. This was the most uncomfortable ride of my life. Our guide was Spanish, and had learned a little English. He spoke over a terrible sound system in both languages. His accent was so strong, you couldn't tell when it was English. One just tried to 'tune out' after a short while as it was not understandable. The narrative just added to the discomfort. Lunch was welcome as we got to get out of the van. At our destination, we got a look at a volcano from a distance, during a break in the rain. Then we got left at man-made hot springs for four and a half hours. One hour would have been fine. The buffet supper was pretty poor, especially the meat dishes. Then the ride back, which was approx. three ours in the dark in the same van was excruciating. While the driver did open the window, the smell of exhaust gave me a headache to compliment the other pains. Overall I would recommend to people that if you really want to see a volcano from afar for a few minutes and spend most of the day at man made hot springs, take a tour with another company. It will take me long time to reconcile paying over 300 dollars for an unbelievably painful, wasted day in Costa Rica.
Review by: Donald C, January 2017
Tour was good but delays on road construction and repairs added a couple of hours to the long day. Tour guide spent more time talking in Spanish than English and conversing with driver
Review by: Mortoza A, January 2017
Excellent trip, I really enjoyed the tour. The guide Hugo was great. Lunch and dinner were outstanding.
Review by: Archana N, January 2017
A little disappointing as it was very cloudy that day but that's Mother Nature nobody's fault. We would have like to have done a short hike closer to the volcano. The hot springs were great they are built within a hotel resort which was somewhat disappointing we thought they might be in the open jungle. However a must do we felt so refreshed after and the facilities were very comfortable. The Buffett dinner was awesome at the resort. Well worth doing this trip.
Review by: Lalani J, January 2017
Hot springs and active volcano is great! Tour guide's communication was not clear for me since his English has a strong Spanish accent and spoke very fast.
Review by: Michelle W, January 2017
The tour was terrific! Our tour guide was so informative, and kept us entertained all day long!
Review by: Betsy B, January 2017
The bus ride took almost 3 hours, and then we spent about 10 minutes at the volcano before they us to get back on the bus. We weren't able to walk around any of the lake area. Apparently, it's normally very cloudy, so a very rare occasion to actually see the top of the volcano. With the clouds it looked more like a regular mountain that you can't get close to. The hot springs were fine, felt like a resort, but was nice to sit and relax for a bit. Guides were all very nice.
Review by: Heather B, January 2017
Had a great time on this trip. The food was wonderful, the guides entertaining and knowledgeable, and hot springs gloriously relaxing. I might have enjoyed a bit more of a hike or something at the volcano, because it was just an overlook, which was pretty, but I'd expected to see into the crater or something like that. However, it IS an active volcano, so I can understand why that wasn't possible.
Review by: Ritu J, January 2017
This was the tour I looked forward to the most but it didn't quite turn out to be what I expected. Our guide Max was phenomenal, kept everybody entertained throughout the long ride and was very good at keeping us on time. From San Jose it is a 3.5 hr drive to Arenal where you stop for 20 minutes at the viewing area to take some pictures of the majestic volcano. The views are great no doubt but basically this tour is just one long drive to the Baldi resort where you are left on your own. If you are not that into a water park and hot tubs then this is not for you. Me and my daughter got sick the day before this tour and didn't want to go into the hot tubs because basically that's what Baldi hot springs is all about. Its a beautifully landscaped resort with about 20 hot tubs and some water slides. Its beautiful but all man made and although we were told that the water is naturally heated from the volcano it just felt like any other water park. I wanted to either cancel it or cut it short so we can return after visiting the Arenal volcano but was told I will get zero refund. If I wanted to come back early then it was extra 70 per person. If you have little kids who enjoy water slides or if you just want to soak into hot water and have some drinks from the super expensive bar then you will enjoy it. But be careful the water can be super hot. Dinner was a huge spread but tasted just OK, it was big on quantity but not on quality
Review by: hvbendre, January 2017
I would rate my experience of the trip as 3.5 stars_br/_ Sarchi stop was just a visit to a gift shop nothing else. _br/_ The Arenal volcano view was over rated. I did not feel there is much to see but a distant volcano mountain covered in clouds_br/_ We enjoyed the Baldi hot springs. That Hot spring experience was amazing with a buffet dinner at the hilltop restaurant to end the day._br/_ The tour guide Max was very good with humorous narrations throughout the trip.
Review by: Kundan S, January 2017
We couldn't see the volcano as it was cloudy and raining. Tour companies should not organize such trips at this time of the year when the dry season has not fully started. Baldi Hot springs was good but I was not in Costa Rica to enjoy man-made hot springs.
Review by: m.damsteegt, December 2016
Great tour, Eugine was our guide and told a lot about Costa Rica, the different regions we crossed, the coffee, the coffee-process, animals and more. Unfortunately due to the weather we didn't get to see the Arenal Volcano. The Baldi Hot Springs were amazing, very lovely on a colder/rainy day, warming one-self up in the hot spings. Great tour, but a bit expensive for what was offered.
Review by: hamiltonch47, December 2016
We day trip was good. I tried to contact the local tour operator with the information provided on the back of the tour receipt and neither the local phone number or email address were good.
Review by: Anthony B, December 2016
Great bus ride is long to get to volcano, but well worth trip. Hot springs best part of trip. Loved it.
Review by: nishijgd, December 2016
It was a really good tour. The drive is long or it ends up being the afternoon before you actually get to the Volcano since they try to fill the tour with other random stuff. Our tour guide was great and very proud of his country. The view of the volcano is a hit or a miss, if you don't see it like we didn't then it could be a waste. The lunch and hotsprings were great. We had originally paid for the baldi springs but after the tour guide's recommendation and other people on our tour, we paid the extra 10 to switch to the Tabocon hot springs. They are so worth it. Overall, it was a nice experience but the drive is long and try to enjoy the rest of the activities because the volcano part could be a disappointment.
Review by: agasman6948, November 2016
Great tour. Great food. Gorgeous scenery
Review by: frances.marin, October 2016
The tour to the Arenal Volcano was great. Our tour guide was Filander. He started our tour with a great amount of information of Costa Rica. He was very knowledgeable about different topics, and he spoke in Spanish and English all the time. We went to Sarchí, to Arenal and then to the hot springs.
Review by: Pamela G, October 2016
WORTH IT!_br/_ Hot springs are unique. Excellent for couples in love. You need to spend the night in tabacon.
Review by: Patty, September 2016
The hot springs was the highlight of the tour and the meal at the springs was wonderful. You could see some of the Volcano, but we did not spend much time viewing. It was partly cloudy also.
Review by: Bart C, August 2016
Unfortunately, it was too cloudy/rainy to see the Arenal. Baldi Springs were excellent!_br/_ Very timely pick up, safe driving, nice guiding, delicious meals, no wildlife
Review by: Alma V, August 2016
Great tours love it.
Review by: Morgan R, August 2016
The day of our trip, was extremely clear! It was absolutely beautiful getting to see the volcano. Our tour guide was very educated about Costa Rica and all of the things we saw. I didn't just learn about the volcano I also learned about Costa Rican culture, animals, history, economy, and much more. The majority of the trip is spend in the car due to the long drive. But we made many different stops as well. We also spent 3 hours at the hot springs, which were beautiful.
Review by: Derek S, August 2016
Excellent. Trip.guide.and.driver.very.helpfull
Review by: John O C, August 2016
Good trip although very long day. A 2 day trip with an overnight stay may have been a better option but was not feasible with my timetable. Costa Rica certainly does the eco tourism scene very well.
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