The name of this small and compact sabanero town in the heartlands of northern Costa Rica says it all: La Fortuna, “The Fortunate One”, dubbed so for its having dodged the destruction that erupted from the overflowing calderas of the mighty Arenal Volcano just to the west. Other settlements weren’t so lucky, and as many as three villages were completely consumed by the encroaching lava as it spewed from the mountain in sporadic bursts between 1968 and 2010. Today, that luck has transformed the settlement into one of Costa Rica’s most visited spots, a reality that started with a few curious magma seekers and carried on when travellers discovered the wealth of bubbling hot springs and dramatic waterfalls that lurk in the woods and jungles of the surrounding area. Adventure sports also come part and parcel, with La Fortuna tour guides offering everything from white water rafting to zip lining in the canopies that connect the Caño Negro and Arenal reserves; just don’t be surprised if you encounter a three-toed sloth or cheeky spider monkey along the way!