La Fortuna Central Park
Downtown La Fortuna
The heart of town, with benches and gardens. On clear days Arenal Volcano rises behind the church, and that photo costs nothing.
Parks and public spaces
Plazas and public-use spaces where you can spend time without paying or buying anything. In La Fortuna the central park is where town life gathers; interestingly, according to the San Carlos Municipal Council, its land belongs to the local development association, which keeps it open for public use.
We have not yet found other parks in the area with enough reliable information to recommend them. If you know one, suggest it.
Places in this category
San Rafael de Guatuso
Guatuso · 46.5 km · 38 min
Guatuso's main town, on the banks of the Frío River, with its central park and parish church. It is the base for trips to Caño Negro, Maleku territory or Río Celeste.
Ciudad Quesada Central Park
Ciudad Quesada and around · 46.7 km · 45 min
The main square of San Carlos' head town, with a 1953 bandstand, play areas and, from time to time, fairs and free shows. The cathedral stands opposite.
Zarcero Park and its cypress topiaries
Zarcero · 74 km · 79 min
Hand-clipped cypress arches and figures in front of the church of Zarcero, a mountain town on Route 141. A good stop if you travel between La Fortuna and San José.
Tilarán central park and cathedral
Tilarán · 74.5 km · 94 min
Tilarán's central park, built from 1966, opposite the cathedral of San Antonio de Padua. It is the starting point for the walk up to the Parque del Viento lookout.
Parque del Viento lookout (Tilarán)
Tilarán · 75.5 km · 97 min
A 360-degree lookout on Cerro Tovar, above Tilarán. From there you can see volcanoes, hills and the blades of several wind farms.
Under review in this category
Tronadora Park
Tronadora and Viejo Arenal ·
A recent community park looked after by residents, where tourists stop for photos. Location and access still need confirming.
Why it's under review: Only the Tilarán Municipality mentions it, in a single line, without an exact location or explicit confirmation that access is free.