Hot Springs La Fortuna Costa RicaParadise Hot Springs Tickets: The Full Day Pass Explained
Paradise hot springs tickets start at $47 per person for a full day pass to Paradise Hot Springs Resort near La Fortuna, Costa Rica. The pass covers the thermal pools and jacuzzis from 11am to 9pm, and the resort caps visitor numbers to keep the pools quiet. Water runs between 95°F and 104°F, with focused hydromassage stations for the back, legs and feet. Food is not included in the base ticket, so you add a meal option at booking or pay separately on site. This page breaks down what the price covers, what it leaves out, and how the pass compares with other hot springs in La Fortuna before you commit, and it sits alongside hot springs in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.
About This Tour
This is a day pass, not a guided tour. You buy entry to Paradise Hot Springs Resort, meet at the Day Pass Front Desk, and use the thermal pools and jacuzzis until the 9pm close. The listing's duration window runs 1 to 5 hours, but the water access itself covers the whole 11am to 9pm opening.
Paradise is a constructed-pool resort, not a natural river. The geothermal water is heated by the Arenal volcano system and pumped into pools of different temperatures, with reclinable loungers, sun umbrellas, soothing music, an on-site spa, a restaurant and a swim-up bar. Capacity is capped to keep the atmosphere peaceful, which is the main reason people pick it over bigger resort properties.
$47 per person for the base day pass. A version with lunch or dinner is offered as a booking option, and the meal-included ticket costs more than the base rate.
Pools and jacuzzis are open 11am to 9pm daily. The listing's own duration window runs 1 to 5 hours.
Constructed thermal pools and jacuzzis from 95°F to 104°F (35°C to 41°C), with focused hydromassage for back, legs and feet. No river, no waterslides.
Pool and jacuzzi access, changing rooms and showers, and local taxes. Lunch or dinner only if you select that option. Transport is not included.
As long as you like between 11am and 9pm. Most visits fall inside the 1 to 5 hour window the listing states.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund. The booking is also refunded if weather forces a cancellation.
Check Dates and Availability
The resort is open daily from 11am to 9pm and closes during electrical storms. Check live dates and prices for the pass below.
You'll confirm the exact date and time on the secure booking page.
Quick answer Paradise day pass at a glance
Paradise hot springs tickets cost $47 per person for the base full day pass, with pools and jacuzzis open 11am to 9pm daily.
Key takeaways
- The base ticket covers pool access, changing rooms, showers and taxes, but no food and no transport. See what the price covers.
- Towels and lockers work on deposits: $10 per towel and $5 per locker, refunded when you return them.
- Want a livelier resort with waterslides? Compare the Baldi Hot Springs day pass.
- Browse every hot springs in La Fortuna, Costa Rica pass on one page before you decide.
What the Price Actually Covers
The $47 base ticket is entry only. Here is line by line what sits inside the price and what you pay on top, taken from the listing and the resort's own published rules.
Included in the Base Ticket
The ticket covers access to the naturally heated pools and jacuzzis from 11am to 9pm, use of the changing rooms and showers, and local taxes. If you book the meal option instead of the base pass, lunch or dinner joins the list. That is the full scope of the base price.
| Line | In the price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pool and jacuzzi access | Yes | 11am to 9pm daily, temperatures from 95°F to 104°F |
| Hydromassage stations | Yes | Focused jets for back, legs and feet |
| Changing rooms and showers | Yes | Included with the pass |
| Local taxes | Yes | Stated in the listing inclusions |
| Lunch or dinner | Only with the meal option | Base pass excludes all food and drink |
| Towel | No | $10 deposit per towel, refunded on return |
| Locker | No | $5 deposit per locker, refunded on return |
| Alcoholic drinks | No | Available to purchase at the swim-up bar |
| Transport | No | No hotel pick-up, no drop-off, own way to the resort |
Where the Extra Money Goes
Two small deposits come out of your pocket at the desk even with a paid ticket: $10 per towel and $5 per locker. Both are deposits rather than fees, so you get them back when you return the kit. Bring cash or a card you can leave against.
Beyond that, drinks at the swim-up bar and any spa treatments are separate purchases, and a massage booked with the Day Pass, Meal & Massage option must be scheduled at least 12 hours before arrival. If you want the full picture of the venue before paying, the Paradise hot springs guide covers the pools, the adults-only Cedro zone and the pass tiers on the resort's own price list.
How the Price Sits Against Other Passes
At $47, Paradise lands in the middle of the La Fortuna day-pass market. Cheaper options exist, and so do much pricier ones. The table below compares the ticket prices of the other bookable passes and tours on this site, so you can judge the whole day rather than the headline figure.
| Pass or tour | Price | What the ticket buys |
|---|---|---|
| Paradise full day pass (this page) | $47 | Pools and jacuzzis 11am to 9pm, no meal in base price |
| Hot Springs Pura Vida river and pool access | $29 | Natural thermal river and main pool for 1 day |
| Baldi day pass with optional meals | $60 | 25 thermal pools, jacuzzi and waterslides until 10pm |
| Los Lagos admission ticket | $65 | Resort hot springs access, 2-4 hour window |
| EcoTermales rainforest day pass | $81 | 10am to 4pm access to a capped, quieter property |
| Tabacón day pass | $180 | Spring-fed river and pools in a rainforest reserve, 3-7 hours |
Sources: Tabacón hot springs, Baldi Hot Springs day pass and Arenal Volcano on Wikipedia.
What the Day Is Really Like
There is no fixed itinerary or guide on this product. The day is yours to shape inside the resort's opening hours, and the listing gives the frame rather than a schedule.
Arriving at the Resort
You make your own way to Paradise Hot Springs Resort, about 8 minutes' drive from La Fortuna town on the reported figure, and check in at the Day Pass Front Desk. There is a parking area inside the property if you have a car. There is no hotel pick-up in the base ticket and no shuttle is mentioned in the listing, so if you have no car, plan a taxi or ask your accommodation about transport before the day.
The Pools Themselves
Once inside, you move between naturally heated pools and jacuzzis of different temperatures, from 95°F up to 104°F. The hydromassage stations target the back, legs and feet, which is where most people end up first. The pool areas are built for lingering rather than playing: reclinable beds, sun umbrellas, soothing music, no slides and no wave machines. The resort caps its maximum visitor capacity, so the atmosphere stays calm even on busy days.
Food, Bar and Spa
The restaurant and swim-up bar are on site, but nothing edible is included in the $47 base ticket. Either add the Full Day Pass + meal option at booking, or budget separately on the day and tell the desk about any dietary requirements. Vegetarian options exist if you flag them when booking.
Spa treatments are separate, and the massage option on this listing must be booked at least 12 hours before you arrive.
Closing Time
The resort closes at 9pm. In practice an evening visit has a different feel from a daytime one, since the pools are lit and the air cools. One thing to plan around: the resort closes during electrical storms, so a stormy afternoon can cut a day pass short.
The booking is refunded if weather forces a cancellation, which softens that risk.
Paradise Day Pass on Video
A visit to Paradise Hot Springs on a day ticket. Third-party video by Discovering Pura Vida. We did not shoot it and have no relationship with the creator.
Who This Tour Rules Out
The listing states several exclusions and health warnings. Read them before booking, because this quiet-pool format genuinely does not fit every traveller.
Health Warnings from the Listing
The listing is explicit that this is not recommended for pregnant travelers or for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Soaking in water up to 104°F is the reason. It is otherwise suitable for all physical fitness levels, and the resort is wheelchair accessible, with service animals allowed.
Children must be accompanied by an adult, and infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller.
Travellers Who Should Pick a Different Spring
If you want slides, spray and kids' energy, Paradise is the wrong ticket. It is the calmer choice here, and the capped capacity exists precisely to avoid the water-park feel. The Baldi Hot Springs day pass brings 25 pools, a giant jacuzzi and extreme waterslides for $60.
If you want a wilder, natural experience instead of a built resort, the Hot Springs Pura Vida river pass covers a real thermal river for $29, though its rocky bed suits confident walkers. And if transport matters because you have no car, the Arenal volcano hike with hot springs river includes round-trip pickup from the La Fortuna zone for $54.
The Alcohol and Food Exclusions
Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase but not included, and the same goes for all food on the base pass. Travellers who expect an all-inclusive day should either select the meal option at checkout or budget for the swim-up bar separately. Nothing in the listing states a minimum age, and the age bands run from infant 0-2 through child 3-11 to adult 12-99.
Arenal Volcano seen from Kioro. Photo: Manuel Velazquez, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What to Settle Before You Book
A day pass is simple, but four things catch people out: the cancellation clock, the deposits, the missing transport and the meal question.
Cancellation Terms
Cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund. Inside that window you get nothing back. The pass is also refundable if weather forces a cancellation, which matters because the resort shuts during electrical storms.
If your plans could wobble, book a slot you can still cancel, or consider a pass with the same 24-hour policy rather than the no-refund Tabacón ticket.
What to Confirm in Writing
If you select a meal, note any dietary requirements in the Special Requirements field at checkout, including vegetarian. The listing asks for this at the time of booking. If you book the massage option, schedule the appointment at least 12 hours before arrival and get the confirmation.
And ask the seller to confirm the exact hours of your ticket, since the listing's duration window is 1 to 5 hours while the pools themselves run 11am to 9pm.
- Dietary requirements at checkout, if a meal option is selected
- Massage appointment 12 hours ahead, if booked
- Any child ages in your party, since no child price is stated in the listing
What to Bring
Bring a swimsuit, and a towel if you would rather not leave the $10 per towel deposit. Bring sandals or flip flops for the pool deck. Bring cash or a card for the towel and locker deposits, which run $10 and $5 respectively, plus whatever you plan to spend at the swim-up bar or restaurant.
A dry change of clothes for after the showers rounds it out.
Getting There Without a Car
The listing includes no transport at all: no hotel pick-up and no drop-off, and the meeting point is the Day Pass Front Desk at the resort itself. The reported drive from La Fortuna town is about 8 minutes, so a taxi is a cheap fix if you are staying in town. If you drive, there is a parking area within the property, and the record lists no parking fee.
Cyclists and walkers should confirm the route with their accommodation, since the record gives no walking time or distance.
Your Day, Step by Step
The listing sets no fixed schedule, so these steps follow a typical visit within the stated hours.
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Make your way to the resort
No transport is included, so arrange a taxi or drive yourself. The reported drive from La Fortuna town is about 8 minutes and there is parking on the property.
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Check in at the Day Pass Front Desk
Show your ticket, pay the $10 towel deposit and $5 locker deposit if you want them, and get changed in the included changing rooms and showers.
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First soak in the thermal pools
Ease into the pools between 95°F and 104°F and try the focused hydromassage stations for back, legs and feet.
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Lunch at the restaurant
Only if you selected the meal option or choose to pay on the day. Vegetarian options exist if flagged at booking.
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Loungers, spa and swim-up bar
Retire to a reclinable bed under a sun umbrella, book a spa treatment if you arranged one 12 hours ahead, or order a drink at the swim-up bar for extra.
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Evening soak before the 9pm close
The pools stay open until 9pm daily. Leave time to shower and change before the gates close.
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Return deposits and head back
Hand back the towel and locker key to reclaim your $10 and $5 deposits, then make your own way back to town.
Pros and Cons
An honest read of this pass against the rest of the La Fortuna market.
What we genuinely like
- Capped visitor capacity keeps the pools genuinely quiet compared with the water-park resorts
- Wide water range from 95°F to 104°F with dedicated hydromassage stations
- Full 11am to 9pm access window, generous next to the 6-hour EcoTermales daytime pass
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead, and refundable if weather cancels the day
- Wheelchair accessible, service animals allowed, and a reported 8-minute drive from La Fortuna town
The honest downsides
- No transport of any kind is included, so a carless traveller must arrange a taxi to the front desk
- Food is excluded from the base $47 ticket, and drinks at the swim-up bar cost extra
- Towel and locker deposits of $10 and $5 tie up cash at check-in
- Electrical storms close the resort, which can shorten a day visit
- No minimum age is stated in the listing, so there is no guaranteed adults-only zone on this pass, unlike the resort's own higher-tier adults-only passes
Who it's NOT for: Not for travellers who want waterslides, a natural river setting, or door-to-door transport bundled into the price.
Paradise Day Pass Questions
How much do Paradise hot springs tickets cost?
The base full day pass sold here costs $47 per person and covers pool and jacuzzi access from 11am to 9pm plus taxes. Meal options cost more. Compare it with the other hot springs in La Fortuna, Costa Rica before booking.
Is food included in the Paradise Hot Springs day pass?
No. The base ticket excludes all food and drink, with lunch or dinner available only as a paid booking option. Alcoholic drinks at the swim-up bar are always extra. If a bundled meal matters to you, look at the Baldi day pass with its optional meal tiers, though reviewers there rate the buffet unevenly.
How do I get to Paradise Hot Springs without a car?
The listing includes no transport, so you need your own arrangement. The reported drive from La Fortuna town is about 8 minutes, making a taxi the practical fix. For a product that does include pickup, the volcano hike and hot springs river tour runs round-trip transport from the La Fortuna zone.
What are the towels and lockers at Paradise Hot Springs?
Both work on refundable deposits: $10 per towel and $5 per locker, returned when you hand the items back. Bring cash or a card for the desk. The included changing rooms and showers are part of the ticket itself.
What happens if it storms while I have the day pass?
The resort closes during electrical storms. If weather forces a cancellation of your booking, you are refunded, and you can otherwise cancel free up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. Storm risk is highest in the rainy season from May to November, when the heaviest rain falls between June and October.
Is Paradise Hot Springs good for kids?
Children are welcome and must be accompanied by an adult, with age bands running from infant 0-2 to adult 12-99, but there are no slides or play structures on this quiet-pool property. Families wanting a water-park day should read the Baldi hot springs day pass instead, which adds extreme waterslides for $60.
Can pregnant travelers use this day pass?
No. The listing states the pass is not recommended for pregnant travelers or for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, because the water reaches 104°F. Anyone with those concerns should check with a doctor first, and the Paradise hot springs venue guide explains the pass tiers in detail.
Prices, availability and terms are set by the operator and confirmed at checkout.
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