Costa Rica Volcano Hot Springs – 15 Best Natural Hot Springs In Costa Rica

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Where there are volcanoes and geothermal activity, there are hot springs. And there are a lot of hot springs in Costa Rica! In fact, Costa Rica is known for its many volcanoes and renowned around the globe to have some of the best natural hot springs in the world!

Taking a relaxing soak in one of the various natural thermal pools is among the top activities to do in Costa Rica and shouldn’t be missing from your bucket list.

All of the Costa Rica hot springs listed in this post are natural geothermal springs. They are, however, all very different and unique in their own way.

For instance, the area of Arenal is well-known for the best hot springs resorts in Costa Rica and even worldwide. You may have also seen them on TV already.

Rincon de la Vieja National Park with its same-named volcano is an area with popular hot springs in Guanacaste. In this province you will find some of the more natural hot springs of Costa Rica.

And there are many more amazing geothermal springs in Costa Rica spread out through the country which you will find in this post.

Therefore, let’s take it away with our Costa Rica Hot Springs Guide of the best volcanic hot springs in Costa Rica.

The Best Natural Hot Springs In Costa Rica

Costa Rica Volcanic Hot Springs

There are no natural hot springs without geothermal activity which comes from either the tectonic faults of the volcanoes in Costa Rica!

Since the Central American country is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, there are many volcanoes in Costa Rica. That’s why you will find a lot of natural thermal springs in Costa Rica which are actually some of the best hot springs in the world.

Where To Find Natural Hot Springs In Costa Rica?

The most amazing volcanic hot springs of Costa Rica are located around the following volcanoes:

Volcano Hot Springs In Costa Rica

In the following, we will list the Costa Rica hot springs by their location in regards to the volcano from which their thermal water has its source.

Costa Rica Hot Springs Map

Rincon de La Vieja Volcano Hot Springs

1 | Rio Negro Hot Springs & Mud Baths

Nestled in the tropical forest of Costa Rica’s Rincon de la Vieja National Park, Rio Negro Hot Springs offer various pools along the river run. In addition to the hot springs at Rio Negro, you can enjoy a little spa time with self-made mud masks sourced right on location.

The hot springs are free for guests of the nearby hotel Hacienda Guachipelin that is also located in Rincon de la Vieja National Park.

Visiting Rio Negro Hot Springs On Your Own

If you just come for the day, you can buy a hot springs day pass at a reasonable price. There are changing and bathrooms on-site and you will get a towel for the duration of your stay.

Rio Negro is quite a popular destination, so you gotta have a little luck to not have many people there or come really early in the morning.

Rio Negro Hot Springs In Rincon de la Vieja Nationalpark

Tours To Rio Negro Hot Springs

There are several combo tours exploring the Rincon de la Vieja National Park and ending the day with a relaxing soak in the natural thermal pools at Rio Negro.

On the full-day Guachipelin Adventure tour, you will do zip lining, horseback riding, and river tubing and end the day full of activities at the Rio Negro hot springs.

If you are more into hiking there is a Rincon de la Vieja Volcano Hike & Waterfall tour which ends the day at the thermal baths.

Find Rio Negro hot springs tours here!

2 | Borinquen Mountain Resort Hot Springs

Located in the North Pacific Region of Costa Rica Borinquen Mountain Resort & Spa is among the top Guanacaste hot springs, next to the Rio Negro thermal pools.

Surrounded by the Rincon de la Vieja countryside and situated on the foothill of the mountain this Costa Rica thermal resort has great mountain views and breathtaking sunsets to offer that cannot be missed.

At the Borinquen hot springs, you will find thermal pools, volcanic mud baths, and a natural steam room.

Borinquen Hot Springs Tour

If you don’t plan on staying in the area, there are day tours from Tamarindo and tours from Playa Flamingo that bring you to the Borinquen resort. The tours include other activities like zip-lining, ATV, horseback riding, and visiting a waterfall.

More Rincon de la Vieja Hot Springs In Guanacaste

The following geothermal springs are located around Rincon de la Vieja National Park. With exception of the Blue River Resort North of the volcano in the Alajuela Province, all hot springs are located in Guanacaste.

The closest major towns to the Rincon de la Vieja hot springs are Liberia and the pacific coastal towns from Playa Hermosa to Tamarindo.

Miravalles Volcano Hot Springs

Another volcano located in Guanacaste is Miravalles Volcano. The Miravalles hot springs are lesser known by foreign tourists and therefore a good choice if you are looking for a more quiet and simple thermal experience. However, there are two hot springs gems in that area that stand out.

Miravalles Guanacaste Hot Springs Gems

The best Guanacaste hot springs around the Miravalles Volcano are the exclusive Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal Spa and Las Hornillas Hot Springs.

3 | Rio Perdido Costa Rica Thermal River

Rio Perdido Hotel & Thermal River is located in the Guanacaste province and is just an hour’s drive from Liberia. The hotel is an upscale oasis in the Costa Rican jungle.

You will find completely natural hot springs, along one mile of the thermal river. There are also canyoning adventures, white water tubing, yoga, mountain biking, and trail running options nearby.

4 | Miravalles Las Hornillas Hot Springs

Las Hornillas is a geological site where you will be able to soak in hot springs, take a mud bath, and see bubbling water and mud pools that are about 100 C hot. There are also steam vents, called fumaroles. From Las Hornillas you can observe an active crater from close up. There is also a waterfall to visit and hanging bridges to cross.

Miravalles Volcano Hot Springs Tour

There are full-day tours to Miravalles Volcano and Las Hornillas, with pick-up and drop-off at your hotel around the beach towns of Tamarindo, Playa Hermosa, Playa Flamingo, Playa Coco, etc.

You will get to enjoy a mud bath, soak in hot springs, cross suspension bridges and also visit an incredible waterfall called Llanos de Cortes on these Miravalles tours.

Find Miravalles hot springs tours here!

More Costa Rica Thermal Springs At Miravalles Volcano

The following Costa Rica thermal springs are all located around Volcano Miravalles Jorge Manuel Dengo National Park.

The closest major towns to the Miravalles hot springs are Liberia and the pacific coastal towns from Playa Hermosa to Tamarindo.

Find the thermal springs near Miravalles Volcano, Guanacaste below:

Arenal Volcano Hot Springs

5 | The Springs Resort & Spa Thermal Pools

Located on top of the mountain next to Costa Rica’s popular adventure and hot springs town La Fortuna, The Springs Resort & Spa offers incredible views of El Arenal volcano.

In addition to the main thermal pool with this iconic volcano view, there are many more geothermal pools hidden around the resort grounds. Some hot springs are secluded in the forest and others are overlooking river Rio Arenal that runs through the resort.

It takes an entire day to explore the resort grounds and its incredible hot springs pools. To us, The Springs Resort is the absolute best hot springs resort in Costa Rica. Hands down!

Since the hot springs belong to the resort, you can either stay at the hotel or buy a hot spring day pass. You can find passes and more information at The Springs Resort & Spa’s website.

Pro Tip: Wait for the sun to go down to see the most picturesque sunset of El Arenal volcano in La Fortuna.

➾ Read more about our hot spring experience in our post The Springs Resort & Spa Review.

Chasing Waterfalls In Costa Rica

6 | Tabacon Hot Springs Thermal Resort & Spa

Tabacon Hot Springs Thermal Resort & Spa is another top hot spring resort in La Fortuna. Probably the most known hot spring resort in Costa Rica.

With its tropical vibes and waterfall cascades, Tabacon Resort is very different from the Springs Resort but equally as beautiful and amazing. If we had to choose between the two, we wouldn’t be able to! Each hot springs resort is incredible and unique in its own way.

Tabacon Costa Rica Hot Springs Resort

The lush green gardens and the thermal river running through the resort make you feel like you are in a tropical paradise. Which you are! There are many natural hot spring pools along the Tabacón River to explore.

It’s worth staying until it gets dark. In the evening, the hot springs and gardens light up and create a very romantic atmosphere.

Tabacon Hot Springs Day Pass

Tabacon hot springs belong to the Tabacon resort, so you can either stay at the hotel and use the thermal pools for free or, if availability allows, you can buy day passes via Tabacon’s website.

Visiting Tabacon Hot Springs From San Jose

If you are staying around San Jose and want to visit the Tabacon hot springs without staying in La Fortuna you can take this full-day hot spring tour.

The tour includes the transfer between San Jose and Tabacon and back. After you make a stop to see the Arenal Volcano you will arrive at Tabacon to soak in the incredible hot springs. The tour provides lunch. In the evening an amazing dinner buffet from the 5-star Tabacon Resort is included. The food is so so good, you will be blown away.

Find more information on the Tabacon hot springs tour here!

Review: Tabacon Hot Springs In La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Free Hot Springs

If the costs for the luxurious thermal resorts in Costa Rica are too high for you, there are some free hot springs in La Fortuna called El Chollin. These rural and absolutely natural hot springs are located in the Chollin river (Río Chollin) next to Tabacon Resort. Some also call the thermal river Río Tabacon.

7 | Rio Chollin Free Hot Springs In La Fortuna

The El Chollin free hot springs near Tabacon Thermal Resort and are as natural as it gets. These hot springs are not maintained and to state it upfront, they are not for everyone.

You will have to cross some slippery rocks to get to the natural pools. There are no facilities like bathrooms or changing rooms around. It’s in the forest and completely natural. Water shoes and a dry bag are recommended if you decide to go.

Getting To El Chollin Hot Springs

The Chollin free hot springs in La Fortuna are located just outside Tabacon’s hot springs and belong to the same thermal river. There is parking along the street after you pass the resort. From there, a little natural path will lead you to the hot river.

Find the directions to the natural hot springs here.

Don’t leave anything in the car. There might be a local parking attendant that will watch your car for a little fee. Therefore, have some Colones with you.

More Hot Springs In Arenal, Costa Rica

Hot Springs Near San Jose, Costa Rica

One of the best hot springs near San Jose in Costa Rica are located at the Hacienda Orosi in Cartago.

8 | Hacienda Orosi Hot Springs

The Orosi Hot Springs are located a little over an hour’s drive Southeast of San Jose in the Orosi Valley in Cartago.

The Hacienda Orosi Hotel is nestled on a hillside overlooking the Orosi Valley, Cerro Barba de Viejo, and the Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes.

In contrast to the other volcanic hot springs of Costa Rica, the thermal water of the Orosi Termales originates from a fracture in the tectonic plate in the area. It is still rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, aluminum, sulfate, and zinc, etc. However, the hot spring water doesn’t have a high concentration of sulfur as the other volcano hot springs have.

Orosi Hot Springs Tours

If you are staying in San Jose you can easily visit the Orosi hot springs via a day tour along with visiting Volcano Irazu.

Hot Spring Tours In Costa Rica

If you don’t want to rent a car or are not planning to visit the hot springs on your own, there are plenty of great tours on which you get to enjoy the best hot springs in Costa Rica – hassle-free!

Summary:
Best Hot Springs Resorts In Costa Rica

Here’s a summary of the best hot springs resorts in Costa Rica. These resorts are top-notch luxury hotels that have incredible thermal spas in addition to their high-end accommodations.

Summary:
Best Mud Baths In Costa Rica

Not many thermal springs in Costa Rica offer real mud baths. Usually, only the more natural hot springs of Costa Rica have actual bubbling mud pots as opposed to the developed hotel and resort hot springs.

At the resorts, you will find mud massage treatments and the like but you won’t be able to get the healing mud right from the source.

Here’s a summary of the best mud baths in Costa Rica.

Rio Negro Hot Springs & Best Mud Bath In Costa Rica

Summary:
Hot Springs Near Liberia

The closest natural hot springs near Liberia are located around Volcan Rincon de la Vieja National Park and Miravalles National Park.

Find hot spring tours from Liberia here!

Summary:
Hot Springs Near Tamarindo

If you are looking to visit hot springs from the Pacific Coast, the closest hot springs near Tamarindo and the nearby beach towns of Playas Coco, Playa Hermosa, and Playa Flamingo are at the Volcan Rincon de la Vieja National Park and Miravalles National Park.

Find hot spring tours from Tamarindo here!

Summary:
Hot Springs Near Jacó

The closest hot springs near Jaco are the Orosi Hot Springs and Eco Termales Quepos.

Costa Rica Hot Springs Guide

Travel Insurance For Costa Rica

The Best Hot Springs Of Costa Rica

We hope you got inspired by our overview of the best hot springs in Costa Rica and will be able to visit one of these incredible thermal spas during your Costa Rica vacation.

Pura Vida!

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Julia & Felipe

Follow our adventures on Instagram! @piscoandbier

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