Volcanic Hot Springs, La Fortuna | Costa Rica | Tabacón vs Free
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ก.ค. 2024
- #HotSpringsCostaRica #Tabacón #LaFortuna
The volcanic hot springs at the base of Arenal volcano are one of the main tourist attractions in La Fortuna, Costa Rica. These natural thermal spas (or Agua Termales) are around 38°C/100°F but different pools have different temperatures.
La Fortuna has a wide range of hot springs and spas where you can soak in the mineral rich volcanic water. These include Ecotermales, Baldi and the most famous one, Tabacón which is part of the Tabacón Resort & Spa.
We visited Tabacón thermal hot springs as well as the free hot springs in La Fortuna, which are right next door. We wanted to see whether the $70 USD entrance fee to Tabacón was worth the spa experience....and whether you should visit the premium hot springs and spas or just got to the completely natural spas (that are free).
Whilst you can stay at Tabacón resort and gain access to the spa, most people pay for a 4 hour visit either 10am - 2pm or 6pm - 10pm with prices starting from $70 depending on the time of year. You can also buy a full day pass with lunch or dinner (or both) with prices ranging from $85 - $105 USD. Finally, as a spa they also offer a range of other services such as massage on site.
To book: www.tabacon.com/thermal-exper...
The free hot springs are just across the road from Tabacón and use exactly the same thermal river! They may not be as pristine but you are still surrounded by nature and the rainforest that covers much of La Fortuna.
Shot on GoPro Hero 9 Black & Go Pro hero 8 Black.
Timecodes:
0:00 - Intro
1:43 - Tabacón thermal spa
4:06 - Cold Pool
6:47 - Cost of Tabacón thermal spa
7:52 - Lunch (included in entrance fee)
8:54 - Free hot springs in La Fortuna
9:55 - Is Tabacón worth it, or are the free hot springs better value?
Full blog post here: www.withthesparrows.com/costa...
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Just came back from La Fortuna.. enjoyed both, just to experience both.. each are amazing in their own ways..
That had to be so relaxing. It would be hard to choose which place to pick. Both had some advantages I believe. Good video you two! Thanks! 😃
@JD Jones - it's incredibly relaxing...that's no surprise though as the whole place is designed to be a spa! Although yeah, the free one would also be a pretty chilled spot.
The best place I ever been!
@Karla Urquidi - haha that's high praise for Tabacón indeed!
Great review ! Loved it
@ticktockticktock Glad you liked it!
Marvelous !!!! I will go for free one ! For me looks best !
@Rosario Verastegui - have fun! There are lots of hot springs so they aren't the only two options for sure. Lots of people have mentioned that Baldi is a good option.
Great video man, I love Costa Rica.
@Bryan Bonilla are you here now? Also have you been to La Fortuna? I really enjoyed it!
@@WiththeSparrows I’ll be there next Monday. I haven’t been to la fortuna but I’ve heard lots of it.
Recommended highly or highly recommended! Either way, an outstanding spot to relax....oh for the opportunity!!
Absolutely, both Tabacon and the free hot springs are well worth a visit if anyone is in the area.
Very Nice review and comparision. Many useful info. Thanks
Glad it was useful!
We had a wonderful time at the free one. When you park your car you just pay some guys a few hundred colones and you're off down the hill.
Some of our best memories from our trip came from that experience! Toucans flying overhead, wild natural springs...what's not to love?
We went to Tabacón years ago and it's nice to see how luxurious it looks now.
You shouldve gone to the free ones first! Lol
@Julie Quenneville - glad to hear, and you're probably right! By the time we had left Tabacón we were all hot springed out. Would have been nice to have the comparison the other way around.
Could you please tell me, at which place you have been? :)
@@timmi5110 I'm not sure what you mean? In La Fortuna, Costa Rica or in general?
Great video!! We are in Costa Rica now and trying to decide whether or not to do the public or pay for the private one. This was really helpful! Thank you! :)
@Jillian Paciella - Glad that it was useful, that's the exact reason why I make the videos!
Loved your recomendation hahahahh, if you have 17 dollars go to the spa, if you have 3 go to the other one, as your friend says all is about what are you looking for. Totally agree
@Ricardo Vasquez - it's often the case! Although it's $70 USD vs free so the stakes are a little higher this time. With the lunch it makes it worth it, but on this occasion either option is good depending on your budget.
@@WiththeSparrows well that amount then better think, and double check the pocket.
When you go early to the free ones you can be there alone. It's a nice place
@Dani B - good point. You don't have to wait for it to open so you could get it all to yourself!
Excellent video. I am a local and I've only been to Tabacón a couple of times. I didn't know the ponds across the street were free. Maybe I should go again...
@borracho19 maybe you should - I'm happy that I've included something that a local didn't know about! Have you been to Baldi? There's a few people asking what it's like and whether they should go there instead of Tabacón, I believe it's cheaper as well.
@@WiththeSparrows I have never been to Baldi but I have seen pictures and it looks amazing. Less expensive than Tabacon however it is a good idea to go on a weekday because I remember how during the weekends buses loaded with tourists would park outside, at least in pre-pandemic times. It's probably more quiet right now.
10:37 what is that guy staring at lol😏
Thanks for the video!!!
I'll park my camper truck on the road and see how it goes
I am from Costa Rica but I live in Canada for now. And where are you from? I think you are a good youtuber regarding the way you talk (express) and the way you interact. Good luck with your journey uploading videos. Costa Ricans are very very nice people. Here in Canada my heart gets sadder and sadder as here they dont seem to have the same level of happiness that we have in Costa Rica.
@Nick brooks I'm from the UK. Thanks - I try to give an honest opinion, especially when things like Tabacon hot springs are relatively expensive! I found the people in La Fortuna to be incredibly friendly and helpful, I'm sure you can find the same in Canada! Perhaps it's just a little different.
This is great! We are heading to Arenal towards the end of the year so have subscribed and am watching your other videos!
Also curious is you could let us know which go pro you used? The picture looks great!
@Casey Aldous-Ball Glad you liked it and you'll have a great time in Arenal. If you do one of the other hikes do let me know what it was like!
re: GoPro - the initial footage is done on a Hero9 Black with a media mod, and I use a Hero8 Black for the water shots.
Hope that helps.
@@WiththeSparrows absolutely will do! We are thinking of the 1968 walk so will let you know!
@@caseyaldous-ball1579 That seems like the better one!
Hi! About to head to Costa Rica for my bday and really glad to watch your videos for some good info. Thank you for being thorough! I do have a question: My friend is coming with me and is allergic to sulphur- so often times, being around volcanos and hot springs presents problems for her.... can you tell me how strong the odor of sulphur was around La Fortuna? It would be so helpful.
@JDH614 hey that's why I make these videos so I'm glad you found them useful! Honestly, we never smelt any sulphur around La Fortuna. Although I'm no doctor (or geologist) so have no idea what the sulphur content in the water is like. It's certainly not like Iceland where everything seems to smell like sulphur. Hopefully it's not too bad in La Fortuna, I don't think Arenal volcano is particularly active, not like Masaya Nicaragua (video on that coming soon). Having said that it did erupt in 1968....
Enjoy your time there! Are you planning to hit the coast?
I was just there no odor at all
I’m glad when I was there I just hiked in the woods and went to the real hot springs and partied with the locals. Those resorts they drill into the ground and pump the warm water up into fake waterfalls
@Nick P - I was wondering where the water was coming from! I couldn't see any river on Google Maps near Tabacon....I did read something about them not using pumps but perhaps that's not true.
How do you access the hike in the woods? I'm here now and I have no clue to get the main access point. Do you remember what specific area to go hiking?
It's all about the water to me so you know where I'm going.
Fair enough! You'll still have a good time at the free hot springs.
I highly recommend checking out baldi hot springs. It’s half the price and very nice with 23 pools
@Jane M - that seems to be the general consensus, although lots more families.
When I were a lad we only had the free ones, Tabacon was a building site (April '91)
@Tom Bley - I can imagine, must have been great!
@@WiththeSparrowsActually, the "free ones", as you enjoyed them, weren't there either. It was just a stream through a meadow, barely chest high sitting down...but we were grateful.
@@tombley5760 sounds even better, genuinely. All natural!
I’m curious what the taxi prices are? Like how much do you think a taxi is to tabacon from La Fortuna?
@Darby Driscoll - the taxi prices are pretty reasonable. I think you'll pay between $10 and $15 each way to get to Tabacon from La Fortuna town
I have a question. Did you drive the 3 hours to tabac on or get transportation there? If you did not drive how did you get there.
@EILEEN IYAAMI ATKINS NOVA - ummm we were staying near La Fortuna so it was only a 10 minute drive to Tabacon. Where were you thinking of driving from?
Definitely worth spending a few days in La Fortuna, there's loads to do there.
@@WiththeSparrows ok cool actually I was speaking of the Airport to La Fortuna. Did you fly into San Jose?
when you said it was 400 for 3 nights, where did you see that offer ?
@Ahmed Serour just on the website when I checked the dates. Hopefully they are still offering those prices!
What month did you visit? We’re planning our trip to Tabacón take end of may
@Anthony Cardenas - I think we were there around April. Enjoy!
same! end of May
So it was $400 just for the Spa and Hot Springs? Also the
Paid one looks more exotic and tranquil with the Palms IMO.
@Melanin Goddess - no it was $70 USD each to enter the hot springs for a half day (including lunch). The $400 was for 3 nights stay in the hotel (for two people), with access to the spa and hot springs......although I doubt you'll get that deal now as some people have commented.
They used to give complimentary drinks like champagne and rummy drinks inside bored out pipas at the swim up bar. There's 2 prices, despite it not being avertised. Some people I knew sang the costa rican anthem in pretty good tica spanish and got in for less money. It was $60 usd when I was there - that tells you how long ago it was. But at 16, I didn't think that paying 60$ for all I could drink was terrible at all.
@A Jaynes - sounds like you managed to go when they were giving out free champagne! Not sure if there are two prices anymore, it's a fairly popular attraction and they certainly weren't giving out free drinks. It's a nice half day though regardless.
Was it 70$ per person or 70$ for the both of your? Thanx!
@Timothy Morrill - $70 per person
Rooms are $541/night in Dec
@TigerLilyNo13 - that's a little steep isn't it!? Seems like I managed to check it at the lowest it's ever been, a few people have commented where the prices are nowhere near where I found them.
@@WiththeSparrows well, it could be worse. The Four Seasons is $1,200/night
@@TigerLilyNo13 Wow, I guess some people might be able to justify that. Not me though.
Man im looking at their website and not seeing anything close to three nights for $400!
@John Rossmiller - a couple of people have said that. Maybe I just checked at the right time, it seems to be WAY more now! I also don't think it's completely necessary to stay at Tabacón, unless you're intending on soaking 24/7.
It’s more than $500 a night now in 2024.
Of course they wont
What is your camera?
@Andrameda666 - just a GoPro Hero 8 Black
@@WiththeSparrows Thank you for your reply. Did you rent a 4x4 car? How are the roads in Costa Rica? I'm not sure if I should get an all wheel drive or not. What do you recommend?
@Andrameda666 - no we didn't, we just got buses and taxis everywhere in CR. I've been before and rented a 4x4 which was useful, but we were moving around more at the time. It really depends on budget because insurance and the add ons are expensive in Costa Rica. If you are going to rent a car I would HIGHLY recommend a 4x4, especially if you're looking to explore.
If you're just wanting to get around La Fortuna, I'd just get taxis. It's really easy and probably cheaper than getting your own car. The only caveat is getting a taxi from Mistico Hanging Bridges.
Hope that helps!
@@WiththeSparrows I will be going to Jaco from La Fortuna, then to Manuel Antonio National Park, and then heading back to San Jose for my flight back. I know bus is much cheaper, but I heard is not convenient. What do you suggest? Should I use bus and taxis or get a rental?
@@Andrameda666 Jaco and Manuel Antonio are relatively close so your only bad journey is from La Fortuna to Jaco. I'd say get a bus or shuttle - it really isn't that bad. I think we used Coco Tours, you may have to book in advance or figure out the larger coaches.
Overall, I'd side with the buses/taxis, especially if you're travelling alone because it will be way cheaper.
I'm sorry, I must be missing something. You titled your video Tabacón vs Free, yet you're pretending to be comparing them without expereincing another other than Tabacón?
@Sena Bergerud - I did visit the free ones at the end of the video?
For me, Baldi is much better :D and more cheaper
@HouseDG we didn't go to Baldi but I've heard good things about it...always interested in cheaper places!!! We were also told that Ecotermales is smaller and less crowded/cheaper as well.
@@WiththeSparrows Baldi id s Huuuge place with several amount of pools, if you still in CR, you can ask for best places, for example, one of the beast beaches in CR is Playa Quesera in Curú National Park.
Check this two channels:
@Araya Blogs & @Que buen lugar
@HouseDG thanks for the tips, I've heard of @Araya blogs. Just spent a few weeks on Nicoya Peninsula (Santa Teresa) and visited the otherside around Montezuma but didn't make it all the way to Playa Quesera. I'm no longer in CR but really want to go back and visit Osa Peninsula! Been told it's 👍
Ugh, I'm coming next month and they charged me for two nights 650 :(
@Heinz H - oh wow! You're committed now though so enjoy! Let me know what you think of it. Are you checking out other places /activities?
@@WiththeSparrows well, my primary reason for going to Costa Rica is for cheap dental work, but I decided to take two weeks vacation and make it a medical/short sabbatical...lol. I'm wondering if tabacon would be willing to lower the price for me, I paid them via travel points I earned on my Amex card. I think the amex travel portal inflates the price to make you burn through points faster..lol. I will definitely let you know about my experience there. I was at the tabacon back in the nineties and it looks like a totally different place now.
I am a resident of Costa Rica. There are so many other options! Avoid the Tourist Traps!
Tabacon is more like $400 a night and not for 3 nights
@Sean Brock - I think it was just a case of being there in Covid - a few people have pointed out that those prices aren't usual nowadays!
There is a better one called baldi with many pools different temperatures and water slides
@rodvarmo we did look at that one and someone else did say it was good - most of the reviews say that it is ore family friendly/lots more kids. Not saying that it is worse....we only visited one! Perhaps others can compare Baldi vs Tabacon!
@@WiththeSparrows there is not so many kids because usually they don't like the hot water and there is specific pools for kids and others for adults the place is huge there are 25 large thermal water pools
@@rodvarmo you're making me regret not checking out Baldi. Although one spa half day was enough for me!
Where is the free hot springs
@Stephanie Breton - at the end of the video? 8:54
Me being facetious aside, if you come out of Tabacon and turn left, the free hot springs are literally 100m down the road. There's a little path down to them on the opposite side to Tabacon.
Fallow the River
word of advice: your face doesn't have to be in every shot
@Mark Jones - yep had that feedback a few times, hopefully the newer videos reflect that!