June mornings in La Fortuna arrive quietly, with mist rising from the pastures, toucans and oropendolas calling from roadside trees, and the cone of Arenal Volcano occasionally appearing for an hour before the clouds move in. By afternoon the rain drums on tin roofs, and the town smells of wet earth and fresh coffee. This is the green season in the northern lowlands, a month for hot springs, waterfalls and rainforest walks at a slower pace.
What is the weather like in La Fortuna in June?
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 82.0 | 70.8 | 20.1 |
| June | 80.5 | 70.8 | 25.9 |
| July | 79.4 | 70.2 | 25.2 |
June in La Fortuna is warm, green and wet, with rain on most days of the month. Because the town sits on the Caribbean-influenced northern lowlands, it does not follow the tidy dry-and-wet rhythm of the Pacific coast. Rain can come in the morning, at midday or overnight, and it often arrives as a steady shower rather than a single sharp storm.
Mornings are usually your best window, and the general pattern of the green season is clear early hours with showers building later. Plan the waterfall stairs, the hanging bridges and any wildlife walk for the first part of the day, when the air is cooler and the birds are most active. Do not count on a dry stretch or on a clear view of the volcano summit, since clouds often wrap the top.
Evenings are mild enough to eat outside under a roof or awning, and the nights stay warm. Bring a light rain jacket you can stuff in a daypack, and shoes that can handle mud. Daylight lasts nearly thirteen hours, so there is time to fit a full outing in before dark, even when you wait out a shower over lunch.
What to do in La Fortuna in June
June in La Fortuna is about nature and about the pleasure of warm water while it rains. The rainforest is most lush, the rivers run full, and the waterfalls carry plenty of water. Open-air restaurants, soda counters dishing up casados (rice, beans, salad and a main on one plate) and cafés pouring cups of coffee from the region all help the town hold on to its laid-back feel.
Everything here is built around the volcano. La Fortuna serves as the primary hub for the region’s hot springs, the waterfall, the hanging bridges and the lake, and every one of them has its own way of handling rainy conditions. Hot springs feel better in a drizzle, and the forest walks stay shaded and cool even when the sky is gray.
La Fortuna Waterfall
A long staircase descends through the forest to the La Fortuna Waterfall, which plunges into a green basin just beyond town. In June the fall is full and loud, and mist hangs over the pool at the bottom. Swimming in the pool at the bottom is a popular stop.
Go early, when the light filters through the canopy and the stairs are quieter. The climb back up is the hard part, with steps that are slick when wet, so wear shoes with grip and take your time. Plan on a morning for the whole visit, and pair it with a late lunch in town afterward.
Bring a dry bag or a plastic sleeve for your phone, since spray and rain both reach the viewing platforms.
Hot springs and rainy afternoons
The hot springs around the volcano are the classic answer to a wet afternoon. Rivers of naturally heated water are channeled into terraced pools set among tropical gardens, and soaking while rain falls on the leaves overhead is one of the best things about the green season. Some places are big resorts with swim-up bars and many pools, others are quieter and more spread out among trees.
Late afternoon into evening is a lovely time to go, when the pools are warm against the cooler air and the garden lights come on. Choose a larger resort if you want dinner and a bar on site, and a smaller one if you want to hear the frogs and the rain. Bring a towel and sandals, and keep valuables secure, since petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica.
It also works as a fallback when a morning plan gets rained out.
Hanging bridges, lake and the volcano
Hanging bridges carry you through the forest canopy on trails of suspension walkways and steady paths. Mornings are best for birds, and guided walks are the way most visitors spot sloths, monkeys or toucans, which are chances rather than promises. In June the forest drips and glows green, and the sound of water is everywhere.
Lake Arenal sits beyond the volcano and gives a broader view when clouds allow, with water-sport outings and quiet shoreline stops. The volcano itself is a backdrop more than a destination on many days, and its summit may or may not show. Before you plan a hike, visit the park’s official page, since access and trail rules can shift.
Together, bridges and lake make a good half day for travelers who like to be outdoors but do not want to hike for hours. Pack a rain jacket even if the morning starts clear.
For food, look for local sodas serving gallo pinto (rice and beans) at breakfast, and fresh fruit juices and tropical fruit in season. Evenings call for something warm, like a hearty soup or a casado, followed by coffee.
A two-day itinerary for La Fortuna in June
Day 1 starts early at the La Fortuna Waterfall, when the forest is quiet. Take the staircase down while the air is cool, spend time at the pool and the viewing spots, then climb back up before the heat and the crowds build. Breakfast beforehand at a soda in town gives you gallo pinto and coffee to fuel the stairs.
Midday is for lunch and a break in town, ideally at a casual restaurant with a covered terrace, since showers often start in the afternoon. Spend the afternoon in the hot springs, letting the rain become part of the experience. Remain through the evening, eat dinner either at the springs or again in town, and go to bed early, since daylight lasts almost thirteen hours yet darkness arrives fast.
Day 2 belongs to the canopy. Start with a guided walk on the hanging bridges in the morning, when birds are most active and the light is soft. Afterward, head toward the lake for a lakeside lunch and a look at the water, and keep an eye on the clouds around the volcano.
If the weather turns, shift to indoor stops: a coffee or chocolate stop in town, a long lunch, or a visit to a craft shop on the main street. Check the park’s official page before heading to any volcano trail, since rules and access change. End the day with a relaxed dinner and a stroll under the awnings of the town center.
Is La Fortuna busy in June?
June is a calmer month in La Fortuna than the dry-season winter, since the green season thins out the crowds. Visitors keep coming steadily to La Fortuna, since the hot springs and the waterfall pull travelers in every month, yet waits tend to be shorter and lodging is simpler to secure than during the December through spring holiday weeks.
Restaurant tables are rarely an issue on a weekday, though weekends can be livelier with Costa Rican families coming up from the Central Valley. Rental cars and tours are easier to arrange than in peak season, but it is still wise to book popular outings ahead.
As a habit, book your room and any guided outing early if your dates fall around a holiday weekend, and a bit later if you are traveling midweek in a quieter stretch.
What to pack for La Fortuna in June
Pack for warm, damp days and quick showers, with layers that dry fast and shoes that can handle wet steps.
- A light rain jacket, because showers arrive most days and often without warning.
- Shoes with good grip, for the slick waterfall stairs and muddy trails.
- For the hot springs and the waterfall pool, bring a swimsuit and a quick-dry towel.
- A dry bag or plastic sleeve to keep your phone and camera safe from spray and rain.
- Sunscreen and insect repellent, since the sun comes out between showers and the forest is humid.
- A light sweater for cooler evenings under the awnings.
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Costa Rica Level 2, ‘Exercise increased caution,’ due to crime; it says petty crime is common throughout Costa Rica and that violent crime also affects tourists, including armed robbery, homicide and sexual assault.
June sits in the Atlantic hurricane season, so keep an eye on forecasts as your trip approaches, and expect rain whatever the headlines say. Getting around the area means plenty of time on roads between town, the waterfall, the springs and the lake, and wet weather can slow things down, so leave room in your day. Book the hot springs evening and any guided walk first, then fill in the rest.
La Fortuna in June vs May and July
Moving four weeks earlier, to May, brings slightly warmer days and noticeably fewer rainy days, so the odds of a dry stretch are somewhat better. The green season is just taking hold, the forest is greening up, and the town is a touch quieter as the winter rush has ended. It is a good choice if you want a bit more sun with the same lush scenery.
Moving four weeks later, to July, keeps the same rainy pattern with a touch more coolness, and the waterfalls stay full. Crowds can pick up with school breaks in North America, so rooms and tours may be tighter than in June. The landscape is just as green, and the hot springs feel just as good in the damp.
If you want the best chance of a drier outing, lean toward May. If you want the quietest, greenest version of the area and do not mind rain, June is a comfortable middle, and July suits anyone whose schedule is set by school vacations.
Is June a good time to visit La Fortuna?
Yes, June is a good time for travelers who like lush forest, warm water and a relaxed pace, and who are happy to let the rain shape the afternoon. It suits families, couples and anyone who wants hot springs and waterfalls without the heaviest crowds.
It is less ideal for travelers who need dependable dry days or a clear view of the volcano summit, since clouds and showers are part of the month. If that matters most, another season will serve you better.
On arrival, start with the waterfall in the morning while the sky is still kind, then save the hot springs for the first rainy afternoon. What makes June special here is the sound of it all: water falling in the forest, water steaming in the pools, and the green hush of the lowlands between showers.
Sources
- Open-Meteo / ECMWF ERA5, normals 1991-2020 computed for the grid cell at 10.4679N 84.6427W, checked October 8, 2026
- sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 8, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Costa Rica Travel Advisory, issued April 1, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/costa-rica-travel-advisory.html), read via the State Department open data API on October 8, 2026
To plan your stay
- Things to Do in La Fortuna: Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs, the Waterfall and Day Trips
- Where to Stay in La Fortuna: Town Center, Volcano Road, Hot Springs Strip and Lake Arenal
- La Fortuna vs Monteverde: Hot Springs, Cloud Forest, Weather and Which to Choose
- Day Trips from La Fortuna: Rio Celeste, Arenal Volcano Park, Monteverde and Hot Springs