travel town la

Travel Town

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Travel Town - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park Los Angeles

Travel Town Museum is a historic railroad museum in Griffith Park that was created in the 1950s and which preserves the history of California and its connection to the trains and railroads that helped build it. The museum features a big park, dozens of train cars, interior exhibits, and a train you can actually ride. It is fantastic for families or anyone who enjoys trains, and here is all the information if you want to check it out.  

• Free to enter
• $3.50 for a train ride
• Closed on Wednesdays and periodically for events. Check their site before going
• 10 AM – 5 PM on the days it is open
• Location: 5200 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Getting There

From the 5 Freeway North, you will get off on the Forest Lawn Drive exit and turn left to go under the freeway. You will then turn left again on Zoo Drive and see the parking lot entrance in front of you. The parking lot here is pretty big, but it can fill up on the weekends.

Here is a video I made from my recent visit.

Travel Town Museum

After parking, you can head into the museum and railyard to start exploring.

The first few trains you will see are the ones that you can actually rent out for birthday parties. I have to imagine this would be a ton of fun if your child were into trains.

You can also climb up into a few of them as well.

You will notice that there is a track that surrounds the whole area. This track is for the train that you can pay to ride if you would like.  

If you want to ride it, I would recommend going over there first and getting a ticket so you will know when you can go on it. When we went, we got the last ticket before the conductors were breaking for lunch.

The train is a lot of fun as it goes slowly around the park twice, and you can see all of the trains on display in a fun way.

After taking the train, you should explore the interior section, which has exhibits on trains and the history of the railroad in California.  

There are many train cars in there, and it is worth walking through.

After exploring the indoor area, head over to the large hanger; it shades the most extensive collection of train cars and engines.  

This area is pretty cool as it has a lot of trains in excellent condition, and you can walk up into a few of the engines. There is also a store if you want to buy any train-related merchandise and a large grass area to have a picnic on.

My family loved exploring the Travel Town Museum, and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a fun spot to explore in Los Angeles. Let me know what you think in the comments.

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Guide To Travel Town Museum

By: Author Wendy Kennar

Posted on Last updated: April 17, 2024

MomsLA is your source for Things to do in Los Angeles with Kids

Families visiting Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park will find so much to do and explore including a collection of locomotives and passenger cars dating back to the 1800s. Our Guide to Travel Town has all the information you need to have a fun visit.

Travel Town Museum 5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Saturday and Sunday     10:00 am to 5:00 pm Travel Town is open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas Day)

Description:

Travel Town Museum is “an outdoor museum which preserves and celebrates the railroad heritage of the western United States — its history and its artifacts.” Travel Town is the place to visit if you have train-lovers in your family. Travel Town was developed in the 1950s and features an impressive collection of locomotives, freight cars, cabooses, and passenger cars. On the 2nd Saturday of each month from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm,, docent-guided tours are offered as well. Visitors have the chance to see inside the sleeping car, lounge car, and dining car to get an up-close look at what rail travel was like in the 1940s.

Related: Explore SoCal with Metrolink

Special Activities:

While admission to Travel Town is free, for a nominal fee ($2.75 each) families can take a ride on a miniature train. The ride travels around the museum twice. Be sure to also   visit during the holiday season to take advantage of the Holiday Light Festival Train Ride , when the Museum is festively decorated and tens of thousands of lights transform the area into a magical wonderland.

Related: The Best Museums for Kids in Los Angeles

While you’re at Travel Town, be sure to take advantage of the “loaner” wooden engines that children can play with — for free. There are special play areas in the gift shop as well as hands-on play areas in other areas of the museum.

You can also plan a family and/or group picnic at Travel Town by reserving a picnic area complete with 3 tables and 6 benches which can seat up to 30 people.

Travel Town also serves as a unique, only-in-L.A. birthday party venue . Your train-loving kids can have a fantastic birthday party onboard a real train! Check the website for details.

There is no admission fee, though donations are gratefully accepted.

However, there are still opportunities for families to become members of the Travel Town Museum. Membership comes with special benefits including a discount in the Travel Town Gift Shop, subscription to the Museum’s newsletter, invitations to special members-only events, and more. They even offer a Junior Enginee r Membership level — a perfect gift for the train-loving child in your life.

Parking is free.

While there is no on-site restaurant, you will find picnic tables and grassy areas perfect for a family picnic. You can truly make a visit to Travel Town budget friendly (free admission, free parking) by bringing a lunch from home to enjoy.

Nearby Attractions:

Because Travel Town is located within Griffith Park , you won’t run out of things to do nearby. If your kids like horses, you might want to take a short drive over to the Griffith Park Pony Rides . Kids can ride a slow, medium, or fast pony; or go for a wagon ride. Families can also go for a spin on the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round , a Griffith Park family favorite since 1937. And a short drive away from Travel Town, you’ll find both the Autry Museum and the Los Angeles Zoo .

MOMSLA IS YOUR SOURCE FOR THINGS TO DO IN LOS ANGELES WITH KIDS.

Disclaimer:  MomsLA has made every effort to confirm the information in this article; however, things can often change. Therefore, MomsLA makes no representations or warranties about the accuracy of the information published here. MomsLA strongly urges you to confirm any event details, like date, time, location, and admission, with the third party hosting the event. You assume the sole risk of relying on any of the information in our list. MomsLA is in no way responsible for any injuries or damages you sustain while attending any third-party event posted on our website. Please read our Terms of Use which you have agreed to based on your continued use of this website. Some events have paid to be listed on MomsLA.

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Travel Town Museum

Review Highlights

“ It took about a hour to take pictures on all of trains, to ride the mini train , and to visit the gift shop. ” in 31 reviews

“ Right now, the buildings except the gift shop are closed and there is a cap on # of people in the shop. ” in 65 reviews

“ We went for a birthday party today, but will certainly return just to hang out on the grass and have a picnic . ” in 39 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

5200 Zoo Dr

Los Angeles, CA 90027

Griffith Park

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Amenities and More

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Does it have an exhibit of things like old train schedules and ticket books?

What are the current prices on the picnic area rentals? Not cable cars.

Recommended Reviews

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Overall rating

412 reviews

What a lovely place to visit. Even if you don't love trains it's still worth checking out. My son isn't that big of a train fan but when we went here he had a blast. First things first is that the place is free to visit (donations are accepted). That's a rarity in LA!! Also free parking!! Another plus. Best of all it's just nice to walk around with my wife and take in the environment while my son tries to explore everything. There's also a nice train ride that goes around the park. $4 for adults and $3 for kids under 11. I say that's a pretty good deal. And it's a nice long ride as it goes around the track twice. My favorite was watching the traffic on 'the 134' haha. If you have never been here, I would highly recommend it. Just sit back and take in the scenery. Choo choo!

This is a great place to visit with young kids. It is small and contained for the most part. I love the free parking and free entry. It was not crowded and felt very peaceful even with tons of children. The place was well kept and clean. There are eating tables and a small indoor discovery area for kids to play. The train ride is a must do. It goes around twice, lasting about 10 minutes! The booth is closed for lunch, so I had to wait about 45 minutes to purchase a ticket.

See all photos from Helen H. for Travel Town Museum

Like a scene right out of a movie, I've been frequenting this place since 1967 with my grandparents, Ortensia and Papa. It's like the perfect storm as we keep bringing my grandkids, now Noah, Aiden, Kaytie, and the other kids. It's just awesome at the moment. You don't have to plan in advance - just come on down anytime with your whole family. It's a beautiful experience. Thank you, Jesus.

Travel Town is an amazing family experience. Get first hand knowledge about transportation from the olden days. Great for education for kid. It's free and allows dogs on the grass (just not in the gift shop). Right off the freeway and a great stop to get away from things and learn about history. Fun for everyone but if you are a train lover, this place is for you!

Amazing time! Great for a few hours with kids. They even give you a little map of grounds Free to enter. They had a few birthday parties going on as well. I came here with my cousins ages 7 and 10. They have lot of walking areas. Massive trains you can walk up to and some you can even walk inside. They have a small train ride which is great for younger kids. A small snack concession stand and a gift shop with more snacks and great little souvenirs. I'm looking forward to coming back. Next time I'm going to bring some sandwiches and a picnic blanket because they have lots of grass area that you can sit on in and many trees for shade.

The best thing is that it's free! The train ride costs $3-4 but the entry to all the outdoor and indoor exhibition is totally free. There are spots where you can give donations too. Great place for family hangouts. It's very kid-friendly. Some trains were accessible. It took me around 30mins to walk around and probably 1hr if you wanna look carefully into the exhibition and history. Free parking. Very spacious parking lot. The restroom wasn't that clean. There were some bugs walking around in summer. But cleanliness in other part of the museum was good.

Good place to see how they manufacture or build their transportation carts and trains

I took my kids to this museum when they had a day off from school. It is located in the Griffin Park area. It is a great place that is free to take your kids especially if they enjoy trains. It was filled with old trains that you could explore and some that you could go inside of. They had QR codes that could be scanned to give you information about each train. There is ample parking and tables to seat and have a meal in the nice scenery. They offer a mini train ride around the outside of the museum for a low fare. $4 for adults and $3 for kids to ride which is a nice plus. Overall the place was great I gave it four stars because it is something that you can't spend all day doing it's a quick experience and kids eventually become done and bored.

See all photos from Jessica M. for Travel Town Museum

A great place to have a party in one of the train cars. It's spacious, fairly clean and air conditioned. It's quite a distance to carry your party stuff from your car to the train car so bring a cart. Everything was great until something came up and soured my experience. It was ants. There were ants in the train cars. Ants got in my pizza boxes and RUINED the food in my party. I complained to the worker and asked if I can be given a discount since they control the environment. The guy said no since it's a park and it's considered and understood as "nature". My family and friends being there made the event a lot of fun and enjoyable so it wasn't a total disaster. My tip to anyone going there and bringing food, put the food on the tables in the center of the room where it'll be harder for ants to get to. Have someone look at your food every 5-10 minutes. If you see ants, move your food. Never leave your food against a wall. I wouldn't suggest bug spray since it's an enclosed location. If your food isn't ruined it'll be a perfect experience.

A fun exploration of transportation history. I wouldn't recommend to an out of town tourist unless you have a child who wants to ride the train, but I would recommend for locals just looking for a quick outing in Griffith park. You can take a few cute photos and learn a little bit. There's not a ton to see or do, but it's cute and I support it

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Travel Town/Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum

• Griffith Park
• price 1 of 4

Time Out says

The northwest corner of Griffith Park is the destination for train enthusiasts and curious kids. Travel Town, open all week, is a "railroad petting zoo" full of historic rail stock like an 1880 Southern Pacific locomotive and an 1881 Union Pacific caboose that also does a good job explaining how the railroads helped build Southern California.

Lovers of things that go choo-choo should be sure to visit the park on a Sunday, when the neighboring Los Angeles Live Steamers section is open for railheads. Kids clamor to come here again and again to ride a miniature train around more than a mile of track. The whimsy extends to the museum’s “buildings,” which are actually restored full-size train cars like the bright red 1929 Santa Fe Steel Caboose (which houses the caretaker’s residence) and the 1956 Union Pacific Sleeper Car (where official meetings are held). On the third Sunday of every month the museum puts its Stationary Steam Plant into operation for a live demo of turn of early 20th century steam technology.

LALS train rides are from 10:45am-3pm every Sun; closed the Sun before Memorial Day and the 1st Sun of Oct; $3 (suggested donation) for train rides; Travel Town is open from 10am-5pm daily, closed Wed; Travel Town entrance is free, $2.50 ticket for train rides.

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Travel Town Museum

Travel Town Museum is a railroad museum located in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California. It was established in 1952 with the donation of SP 0-6-0 3025 as its first locomotive. It features a collection of historic steam locomotives, diesel locomotives, passenger cars, and freight cars.

Visitors to Travel Town can explore the museum's collection of trains and related exhibits, take a ride on a miniature train that circles the museum grounds, and learn about the history of railroading in California and the United States. The museum also offers educational programs and special events throughout the year, such as guided tours, holiday train rides, and steam locomotive demonstrations.

Travel Town is open to the public free of charge, although donations are accepted to support the museum's ongoing preservation and educational efforts. The museum is a popular destination for families with young children, train enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the history of transportation in the United States.

For more information, please visit the official Travel Town Museum web site .

Steam Locomotives on Display

AT&SF 2-8-0 #664

AT&SF 2-8-0 #664 was a steam locomotive operated by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (AT&SF) in the United States. Originally numbered 891, this was part of the 664 class of steam locomotives, which were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the early 1898.

The 2-8-0 wheel arrangement, also known as a Consolidation type, was a common freight locomotive design in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The "2-8-0" designation refers to the arrangement of the locomotive's wheels, with two leading wheels, eight driving wheels, and no trailing wheels.

AT&SF 2-8-0 #664 served the AT&SF for over five decades on Santa Fe's Northern, Southern, Panhandle, Plains, and Gulf Divisions. The engine's appearance changed very little during its 55-year career, and the locomotive was in active service when the Santa Fe Railroad donated it to Travel Town.

Conrock 0-6-0ST #1

#1 was built in 1925 by Alco (Cooke Works) for Reliance Rock in Azusa, CA. Consolidated Rock Products (Conrock) acquired the locomotive in January, 1929. #1 was a tank-type locomotive and weighed 65 tons. Specifically, it was a saddle-tank locomotive where the water tank, in the shape of a saddle, was draped over the boiler of the locomotive. With fuel carried in a bunker behind the cab, there was no need for a tender, making this type of locomotive very suitable for yard switching duties.

Conrock #1 was donated to the museum in 1958 by Consolidated Rock Products.

Camino-Placerville & Lake Tahoe 3-Truck Shay #2

This 3-Truck Shay was built in 1922 by Lima Locomotive Works for the Little River Redwood Company in Crannell, CA as their #4. Little River Redwood merged into Hammond & Little River Redwood in 1931. In 1935 the engine was sold to the Camino, Placerville & Lake Tahoe as their #2. In 1936 it was sold to Michigan-California Lumber Company. It was donated to the museum in 1955 by Michigan-California.

Los Angeles Harbor Department 0-4-0ST #31

#31 was built in 1921 by the Davenport Locomotive Works. 31 was used to haul rock in the Catalina Island quarry. The rock was used in the construction of the Los Angeles Harbor and breakwater.

Destined to be scrapped, 31 was rescued from a scrapyard and donated to the museum in 1952 by the City of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Harbor Department 0-4-0ST #32

#32 was built in 1914 by Alco (Rogers Works). 32 was used to haul rock in the Catalina Island quarry. The rock was used in the construction of the Los Angeles Harbor and breakwater.

Destined to be scrapped, 32 was rescued from a scrapyard and donated to the museum in 1952 by the City of Los Angeles.

Pickering Lumber 3-Truck Heisler #2

#2 was built by Heisler in 1918 for the Hetch Hetchy Railroad. It was used during the construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam which was to provide a water source for San Francisco and surrounding areas. After the completion of the dam, it was sold in 1923 to the Standard Lumber Company (Pickering Lumber). It was donated to the museum in 1957 by the Pickering Lumber Corporation.

Sharp & Fellows 2-6-2 #7

#7 was built as a 2-6-0 in 1902 by Alco (Dickson Works) for the Minnesota Land and Construction Company. It was sold to the Dulutn, Virginia & Rainy Lake Railway in 1903. In 1909 it was sold to C. H. Sharp Construction Company who added a two-wheel trailing truck. It was then used in the construction of the Santa Fe Railway system from Kansas to California. During WWI, #7 served at Camp Kearney, San Diego. It was donated to the museum in 1955 by the Sharp & Fellows Contracting Company.

Santa Maria Valley 2-8-2 #1000

This 2-8-2 was built in 1920 by Alco (Schenectady Works) for the Hetch Hetchy Railroad as their #4. It was used during the construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam which was to provide a water source for San Francisco and surrounding areas. After the completion of the dam, it was sold to the Newaukum Valley Railroad in Washington and renumbered 1000. In 1944 it was sold to the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. It was donated to the museum in 1953 by the Santa Maria Valley Railroad.

Southern Pacific 0-6-0 #1273

SP 1273 was built in 1921 by the Southern Pacific (Sacramento Shops). It was donated to the museum in 1957 by the Southern Pacific.

Southern Pacific 0-4-0 #20

#20 was built as an 0-4-2T in 1880 by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Market Street, Park & Cliff Railroad in San Francisco. Because it was used on a "Street Railroad", it was constructed with a wooden shell representing a street car. Supposedly, this was to prevent it from frightening horses. Locomotives like this were sometimes called "Steam Motors" or "Steam Dummies". This locomotive changed hands and was renumbered many times. In 1905 it was converted to an 0-4-0T before being used as a shop switcher by the Southern Pacific. It has been on permanent loan since 1954 by the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Southern California Chapter.

Southern Pacific 4-4-2 #3025

3025 was built in 1904 by Alco (Schenectady Works). It was built with very tall drivers (81 inches) for passenger service on the California coast and possibly used on the Daylight, Starlight, and Lark trains. It was donated to the museum in 1952 by the Southern Pacific.

Stockton Terminal & Eastern 4-4-0 #1

This 4-4-0 was built in 1864 by Norris-Lancaster. This was one of 10 locomotives used to construct a railroad line between Sacramento and San Jose. Those 10 locomotives were lettered "A" through "J". This locomotive was letter "G" and named "Mariposa". It was then acquired by the Central Pacific and became their second #31, replacing a previous #31 which has suffered an explosion. It was sold to the Stockton, Terminal and Eastern in 1914. It was donated to the museum in 1953 by the Stockton Terminal & Eastern Railroad.

Union Pacific 0-6-0 #4439

4439 was built by Baldwin in 1918 for the Union Pacific. 4439 was one of many 0-6-0s that worked in switching yards. 4439 worked for many years in Cheyenne, WY and then on the Loas Angeles Harbor Belt line. It was retired in 1957 due to an order by the Air Pollution Control Board. It was donated to the museum in 1957 by the Union Pacific.

Western Pacific 2-8-0 #26

26 was built in 1909 by Alco (Schenectady Words) for the Western Pacific. It spent time working in Utah and Nevada. It was donated to the museum in 1954 by the Western Pacific Railroad.

1st Generation Diesels

(and Electrics)

California Western RS-12 #56

56 was built in 1955 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works as the McCloud River 33. A total of 50 RS-12s were built by Baldwin. This model had 1200 hp with AAR a type B-B wheel arrangement. In 1969 it was sold to the Chrome Crankshaft Company and then in 1970 sold to the California Western Railroad in Fort Bragg. There is was renumbered as their 56.

56 came to Travel Town with the intention of operating on Travel Town's own proposed railroad through Griffith Park to the Los Angeles Zoo.

• Side view (2022 Wes Barris photo)

American Locomotive Crane #1887

This crane was built in 1943 by the American Hoist & Derrick Company. Its lifting capacity is 40 tons (50 tons with outriggers). It was donated to the museum in 1999 by the Boeing Corporation.

Pacific Electric #1544

1544 was built in 1902 by the North Shore Railroad. It is a one-of-a-kind electric locomotive constructed from two steam locomotive slope-back tenders. It reportedly drew such large amounts of current that other electric cars on the line would slow to a crawl, and therefore, was not considered a success. It was purchased in 1917 by Pacific Electric and used on various construction projects in Los Angeles until being retired in 1952. It was donated to the museum in 1953 by the Pacific Electric Company.

Travel Town #52

"Charley Atkins" was built in 1941 by EMD for the US Navy and served at the Torpedo Station on Goat Island, RI. It later served at the Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego. In 1962 it was transferred to the McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft Corporation in Torrance, CA. It was donated to the museum in 1988 by the McDonnell-Douglas Corporation and became the first display locomotive at the museum to move under its own power since 1961.

Travel Town Museum Foundation

• [email protected]
• Open 7 Days a week

"I Spy Easter" Train Ride and Visit with the Easter Bunny!

Family fun since 1948, the griffith park train rides, hours & prices, hours & prices for regular rides here, miniature antiques running on modern fuel, 2024 special events, celebrate with us, party & picnic area reservations, outdoor enclosures in griffith park, keep scrolling for location information, welcome to griffith park, where to find us.

We have proudly called Griffith Park home since 1948. You can find our trains here:

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

4400 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Travel Town 

5200 Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027

image from https://www.tripsavvy.com/griffith-park-los-angeles-4123401

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

The train at Griffith Park & Southern Railroad travels over one mile of track, across a bridge, through a forest and the Old Western Town. You can also try our T-6 simulator ride, a fun adventure for all ages!

4400 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles

• 3 locomotives
• 1 mile track
• 164k rides per yr
• 73 years running

Travel Town Railroad

The train at Travel Town Museum travels around the perimeter of the museum two times. 

After riding our miniature train, explore dozens of old-time railroad locomotives and cars.

5200 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles

• 2 locomotives
• 1/2-mile track
• 270k rides per year
• 45 years running

Our history

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Small Town, Big Adventures: Things to Do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

La Fortuna is a popular town in Costa Rica, receiving over a million visitors from around the world each year. Travelers are lured by the hot springs, but it is best known for its jungle adventures and the nearby Arenal Volcano National Park.

If you are an adventurous, thrill-seeking traveler, you can find a variety of unique and fun things to do in La Fortuna. Raft down the white waters of the Balsa River or hike among the volcanic rock of Arenal. You can also find more gentle approaches to submerging yourself into the exotic rainforest of Central America and having encounters with the animals that make it their home.

Here are the ten great things to do in La Fortuna: activities that give an adrenaline rush and calm but exciting outings. Find which one you’d like to add to your next La Fortuna, Costa Rica trip .

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Canyoning in the Jungles of La Fortuna

Perfect for those seeking a unique adventure, canyoning screams “Costa Rica.”  Many canyoning tours will pick you up, drive you to a waterfall, and teach you how to descend the rock amidst the rushing water.

This activity is a straight-up jungle adventure, giving you an experience of a lifetime. You’ll begin on a mini waterfall and work to a larger one, allowing you to feel confident.

Feel the rush of water coming down while you descend into a jungle. This is an incredible Costa Rica experience in La Fortuna.

Rafting on the Balsa River

Another great adventure in La Fortuna is heading to the waters of the Balsa River. Try beginner rapids (classes 2 and 3) or intermediate/advanced rapids (classes 3 and 4) on the Upper Balsa River.  

As a bonus, many tour companies combine rafting with lunch after your adventure. Thrill seekers will love hitting the rapids, relaxing for a swim, and getting a taste of Costa Rica.

Hiking Arenal Volcano National Park

Just a short drive away from the town of La Fortuna is Arenal Volcano National Park. This is one of the main highlights of visiting Costa Rica, and the volcano is featured in many marketing materials for tourists.  So it may look familiar when you get there.

Arenal Volcano is a beautiful site, and sometimes the smoke coming out of the top can be seen. But the volcano hasn’t erupted in more than a decade, and experts think it’ll be a while until it does again.

In the meantime, you can enjoy hiking through this gorgeous, green, dense park to enjoy views of the volcano and lake beyond. Many hikes at Arenal Volcano National Park are around a mile or less. Though short, they take you through the beautiful jungle and lava fields to witness the volcanic marvel. There is a per-person fee to enter the national park, which you can pay at the entrance.

Zip Lining Through the Jungle

When people think about going to Costa Rica, the first thing they often picture is zip-lining through the canopy of the jungle, surrounded by monkeys, sloths, and other rainforest animals.

There are many zip line adventures to choose from in La Fortuna, each allowing you to soar through the trees in the safety of a steel cable and harness. You’ll soar past waterfalls, through jungles, across canyons, and enjoy unique views of Arenal Volcano up high.

Coffee and Chocolate Tour

Costa Rica is well known for its coffee, sugarcane, and cacao production, so most places around the country will present tour options. Taking a coffee and chocolate tour in La Fortuna is a classic activity and perfect for all ages. Learn about these resources' growing process, harvest, and end product.  

Most tours include seeing the plantation, helping create a product, and tasting a bit of sugar, coffee, and chocolate.  

ATV Adventure

Take a wild ride on an ATV through the hills and jungles of La Fortuna. Many tours take you near Arenal Volcano (but not quite inside the park) to give you stunning backdrops to this adrenaline-filled activity.

You’ll have plenty of time to ride and get some thrills, but also time to stop and learn about the area, the history of the Volcano, and the beneficial mud that exists because of it.

Find Sloths on Bogarin Trail

Back in 2000, a woman named Joanne Bogarin decided to try and restore a large amount of farmland in La Fortuna. With the city's continuing development, she wanted to make sure plenty of animals had a home nearby. The barren farmland is now a forest within the city limits of La Fortuna, filled with wildlife that naturally made their way to this new home.

The Bogarin Trail isn’t a hidden gem but a trendy thing to do in La Fortuna. Why do people like the Bogarin Trail? First, it’s accessible, meaning kids, strollers, and wheelchairs will all have an easy time.  The guides are even trained to provide an incredible experience for those who are blind.

Second, this trail provides ample opportunities to see sloths.  While arguably the best place in Costa Rica to see sloths is Manuel Antonio , the Bogarin Trail walks you through a land where you’re almost guaranteed to see one. 

The land has 30 sloths but is also home to dart frogs, coatis, Toucans, and plenty of other exotic birds and wildlife. It’s a great place to experience the unique animals of Costa Rica without having to go far.

You can take a guided or a self-guided hike on the Bogarin Trail, both of which have a fee.  The fee is used to preserve and protect the land for the animals.

As a bonus, you can also head to Bogarin Trail for a night walk. These night walks present a different group of exotic animals that come out once the sun is down and it’s cooler.

Explore Nearby Caves

Many don’t know about the caves within Costa Rica. Some have heard of Barra Honda National Park in the Nicoya Peninsula as the place to see caverns, but you may not be traveling in that direction.

If you are looking for caves near La Fortuna, consider a stop at the Venado Caves. These caves are one of the lesser-known, hidden gems of La Fortuna. The caves were first discovered in 1945 but didn’t really get explored until over 20 years later. Today, you can walk through the ten discovered caverns in these tall, beautiful underground rooms.

The Venado Caves are about 35 kilometers from La Fortuna. What’s cool about them is not just the fact that they are caverns but that you’ll get a lot of the Costa Rica beauty inside. Inside the caves, you’ll admire the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and enjoy waterfalls falling into underground rivers, bats, insects, and fish. The Venado Caves also have an outdoor swimming pool to take a refreshing dip after exploring. 

Kayak the Peñas Blancas

A short drive from La Fortuna provides access to the Peñas Blancas River. This is an ideal way to spot wildlife along the river.  And in this case, you’ll be on the river.

There are different ways of floating down the river. Families may enjoy a river safari on a raft, but other visitors will love sitting atop the water as you leisurely paddle in a kayak.

The kayak adventure down the river will present plenty of wildlife spotting. Enjoy the monkeys that swing on the branches right about you, birds unique to Costa Rica, exotic lizards, and even crocodiles. Having a guide will make finding the best spots for seeing animals in the river's habitat easy.

SUP Lake Arenal

La Fortuna may not present both beach and jungle , but it is home to an incredible lake, giving you some calm water activity options.

Lake Arenal is a beautiful doormat to the popular Arenal Volcano. If you want a relaxing adventure, rent a stand-up paddleboard, or take a tour , and get out on the water for a day.  

The mountains surrounding the lake are covered in rainforests, and you’ll have stunning views of the Arenal Volcano. This will easily become the most beautiful place you’ve ever gone paddle boarding.  

Just because you’re not in the middle of a jungle doesn’t mean you won’t encounter wildlife. Watch for Blue Herons and Toucans above and Machacha and Rainbow Bass below as you enjoy the water.

Winding Down from Your Adventures

After a day of adventures in La Fortuna, get a truly local experience by stopping at one of the sodas in La Fortuna . These restaurants are delicious, affordable, and true local cuisine.

Relax sore muscles, and a tired body at the beautiful Tabacon Hot Springs.  You can stay as a guest or visit on a day pass. The hot springs here are magazine-worthy, designed with beauty and relaxation in mind.

Top Things to Do in La Fortuna, Costa Rica

La Fortuna is a central hub of adventure in Costa Rica. You can stay here for a week and do something new each day. Whether you want some high-adrenaline activities like canyoning down a waterfall or something a little more gentle like strolling down the Bogarin Trail to spot wildlife, you can pack your days with endless, unique opportunities in Costa Rica.  

There are many other things to do in La Fortuna, but these give you a good feel of everything it offers and some unique experiences to make your trip memorable.

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