Tabacón is the hot springs resort built around a river warmed by the volcano, with thermal pools spread through its gardens. It is the most expensive day pass in Arenal and, for most couples and families with older kids, the one worth paying for.
A day pass runs from 10 am to 10 pm, so you can arrive after a morning hike or come for the evening, when the steam rises off the water in the dark. The meal version adds lunch or dinner at the resort's Ave Restaurant; the entrance-only pass includes no food.
We book it, give you the rules below in plain language, and set up the driver. Tell us your date, how many adults, and each child's age, and we come back with the confirmation and the payment steps.
What to bring. Swimsuit, water shoes (strongly recommended on the river stones), and a passport, ID, or residency card for every guest: it is checked at the door.
Before you book, one honest note. These prices are each operator's own published rates, which we last checked in October 2026, and they move with the season. We book this with a local operator we trust, and their confirmation is the final word on price, timing, pickup, and what you get. If a detail matters to your trip, whether that is a dietary need, a mobility question, a birthday, or a tight flight, ask us before you book and we will confirm it with them directly rather than guess.
Photos show the Arenal area, not a specific operator.
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