Ecotermales Hot Springs, La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Lush rainforest pools, buffet dining, and a chill soak—read my firsthand review of Ecotermales, Costa Rica’s popular evening thermal springs experience (spoiler: not a hotel resort).
TLDR – Ecotermales Hot Springs Review
Looking for a rainforest hot spring experience with dinner in La Fortuna? Ecotermales offers beautiful pools, a well-kept jungle setting, and a buffet meal, but don’t expect blazing hot water or five-star resort luxury. If you’re not staying at a hotel with its own thermal pools, it’s a good way to soak, relax, and enjoy the rainforest for a few hours—just know it’s not exactly a bargain.
General Info
- Date attended: July 14
- Type of visit: Paid evening session for thermal pools + buffet dinner
- Cost: $81 USD per person (evening session, 5:00–9:00 pm; dinner 6:00–8:00 pm)
- Ecotermales is not a resort hotel—just hot springs and restaurant
- Lush rainforest grounds, well-landscaped and maintained
- Driving in: long, scenic private road through the forest
- Accessibility: Flat, well-lit walking paths; many stairs to pools (not fully accessible)
- Changing rooms are private, with showers and seating; lockers and towels included
- Lockers are outside changing rooms
- Water shoes or flip-flops strongly recommended
- Drybag suggested for carrying wet clothes after swimming
- Restaurant: Buffet style, clean, includes coffee/juice; other drinks extra
- Dry, street-appropriate clothing required for restaurant entry
- Bar available; drinks charged to wristband and paid at checkout
- Free tap water; bottled water and alcohol are extra
- Transportation available for a fee (approx. $10 for local van ride)
Ecotermales, Costa Rica: Honest Review
I went to Ecotermales on July 14, drawn in by its online reputation as a must-visit hot springs experience in La Fortuna. I’d heard it was the area’s premier spot for relaxing in nature, and since I was already staying at Arenal Manoa (a hotel with its own thermal pools), I figured I’d compare the two.
First, let’s get the expectations straight: Ecotermales isn’t a hotel resort. There are no rooms to book; it’s just hot springs and a restaurant. The place is surrounded by gorgeous rainforest, and driving in is its own little adventure down a long, smooth, tree-lined road.
Check-in was fast since I’d prepaid. I got a wristband for access and was asked to pick a dinner slot in advance—a detail they seemed to take pretty seriously. If you show up to dinner early, you might end up waiting (I got in early as a solo traveler, but bigger groups had to wait for their reserved time, even if the restaurant was mostly empty). It’s a buffet, but there are still waiters, so they clearly want to avoid chaos at meal times.
Plan ahead: you need to change into dry, street-appropriate clothes before dinner. The walk from the pools to the restaurant is short, and the paths are well-lit, but you’ll want a drybag for your wet stuff. Lockers (with towels) are included, but they’re outside the changing rooms.
The hot springs themselves are a series of terraced pools. Water enters at the top via a manmade waterfall, then flows into lower pools that cool down as you go. Honestly, the hottest pool wasn’t all that hot—think “nice hotel pool” rather than “steaming spa.” It had rained all day, which diluted the heat, but I still found the temperature a bit underwhelming (maybe mid-80s F, or about 29–30°C).
That said, the setting is stunning: lush, dense jungle everywhere you look. The pools are pretty, the paths are smooth and mostly flat, and the atmosphere is peaceful. But to get to the pools, you have to descend multiple sets of stairs, even for the upper pools. There are handrails, but if mobility is an issue, this could be a challenge.
Dinner was buffet style: a solid spread with beef, pork, plenty of veggies and fruit, and a dessert bar. Coffee and hot chocolate are included; alcohol, sodas, and bottled water cost extra (billed to your wristband, pay at exit). The staff was friendly and professional, and everything was spotless.
Here’s the bottom line: If you’re already staying at a good hotel with hot springs (like Arenal Manoa), you don’t need Ecotermales. The pools and food at my hotel were better, and I could enjoy them without paying extra. But if you’re not staying at a resort, Ecotermales is a beautiful, well-run way to enjoy hot springs and dinner for a night. At $81 per person, it’s not cheap, but you’re paying for the ambiance and setting.
If you go, bring water shoes, a drybag, and some patience for the dinner check-in. Don’t expect piping hot water—but do expect a very Costa Rican, very lush evening.
