La Fortuna · Sports & events

Half-day class II–III trips on the Río Balsa run year-round from town and take children from about eight; the Sarapiquí and Toro are harder.

The nearest top-flight football is Alajuelense at the Estadio Morera Soto, two hours east. Costa Rica's season splits Apertura August–December and Clausura January–May.

Trail races and adventure events cluster around the volcano and lake in the drier months, roughly February to April, when the tracks are firm.

Costa Rican bull events kill nothing — a ring full of volunteers dodging a bull. They run with the town fiestas around December and January.