One of the best hikes in La Fortuna is a secret.

Which is what we want, of course. Away with all those loser tourists.

The hike consists of a climb up and into the Chato Volcano. Or Cerro Chato, as it’s known here.

Yes, up and into. Don’t worry, it only erupts in the morning so go in the afternoon and you should be fine, for the most part.

Excuse my playful joke. No need to worry, the Chato Volcano hasn’t erupted in 3500 years.

The last time it erupted, it left a massive crater in its center which has since been gradually filled with rainwater. Resulting in a truly unique geological feature.

It’s amazing how this hike has remained such an under-the-radar activity in La Fortuna. If you were to fly a drone over the area, aside from the massive Arenal Volcano nothing would stick out as much as Cerro Chato and it’s mesmerizing, unique crater lake.

And it’s not that tourists choose not to do the hike. For the most part, they’ve never even heard about it.

I heard about it from a guy at a hostel in Manuel Antonio and tried it out, and ever since I’ve been recommending it to people. And so far only one person I’ve told was even aware that Cerro Chato existed.

So what makes Cerro Chato one of the best hikes in La Fortuna? Let’s get into it.

Why Cerro Chato is one of the best hikes in La Fortuna

For me, the Cerro Chato hike has a combination of all the things that make a hike great.

First off, the scenery is incredible. The first portion of the hike is a steep walk up to the crest of the volcano. Here, you weave your way up and through the dense jungle and feel completely enveloped by it.

Once you reach the top, you’re rewarded with incredible views of the Arenal Volcano poking up in the background (if it’s a clear day, at least) and the shimmering green lagoon at the center.

When you finally descend down to the lagoon, you can jump in and refresh yourself after a long, humid hike. Swimming in the middle of that lagoon with the jungle rising up around you on all sides is truly an experience.

Don’t worry, most of the crocodiles were removed so you should probably be fine.

Then there’s the physically challenging aspect of Cerro Chato that plays a role in it being one of the best hikes in La Fortuna. The hike is no average walk up a trail. It is quite difficult- I’ll get into more of that in the next section, but suffice to say that it’s not for the faint of heart. For me, that’s exciting to hear. Hopefully that’s the case for you as well!

Another great aspect of the hike is that it is relatively cheap to do compared with all the expensive activities La Fortuna has to offer. It costs $15 to enter, which is still ridiculous for a hike if you ask me. But it’s still far less than what a trip to Arenal would cost.

Hike length and difficulty

The hike can be divided into two sections- the hike to the crest of the volcano, and the hike down to the lagoon.

The hike up takes much longer- I’d estimate around two hours at a moderate pace. And as I alluded to earlier, it’s quite difficult. You’ll be using your hands early and often, as there are many sections that are very steep where you need to pull yourself up from rocks, tree branches, or whatever else you can get a hold of.

The hike down to the lagoon is a whole different animal. If you thought the first part was steep, this next section makes that look like child’s play.

First of all, you’re now walking down which is far more dangerous. Then there’s the added steepness itself, to the point where there are ropes that you’ll have to hold on to while descending (and ascending on the way back) the steepest parts.

However, this section is quite short. It shouldn’t take you more than fifteen minutes, but be prepared to arrive at the bottom covered in mud. But that’s ok- you can wash off in the lagoon!

If this isn’t getting you excited, you may have come to the wrong page. This is called the Bold Passport, after all.

But even if you’re nervous, just go for it. Trust me, if you’re in decent physical shape and have a good head on your shoulders, you’ll be perfectly fine. I have faith in you.

Yes, the girl I was hiking with may have taken a fall and ended up a few inches away from falling to certain death or at least grievous injury. But that’s just all part of the experience, guys. There’s no reward without a bit of risk.

While I’m enjoying this joking around, the one major safety hazard I recommend you take is to not go alone. Same goes for most hikes, but few people do this hike so if something happens you want to make sure you have someone to help.

In total, the hike should take around five hours to complete. Plan for a little extra time if you want to relax by and swim in the lagoon.

How to get to Cerro Chato

Cerro Chato is very easy to access. The entrance is pretty much right next to the La Fortuna Waterfall, about a ten minute drive from the center of town.

There’s no public bus, so unless you have a car you’ll have to take a taxi. Plug in the “Arenal Waterfall Lodge” as your destination. An Uber shouldn’t cost more than $6 or so.

Since they’re so close, I’d recommend you do the waterfall after you finish the hike and kill two birds with one stone. The waterfall entry cost is steep at $20 and I was hesitant at first but it really is incredible and absolutely worth it.

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