Side by Side Tour (Arenal Volcano) 2 – 5 people

The best part of this Arenal Volcano UTV tour is the access. You leave the paved roads behind and pass through private farmland, rough tracks, rivers, and muddy patches that show you a more ordinary side of Costa Rica. The volcano is a scenic backdrop, not the whole show.

I like the mix of driving and local stops, especially the chance to pause at Rio Arenal and, on some outings, visit a family farm. I also like the family-friendly setup, with safety practice, helmets, goggles, and even a car seat or booster seat reported as available for young children. The main drawback is pace: this is a guided group ride, not a high-speed off-road challenge.

Key points to know before you book

• Expect mud and water: Rain can turn the trails into the most entertaining part of the ride, so wear clothes and shoes you can get dirty.
• Arenal views come from a viewpoint: You get time for photos near the volcano, but the vehicles do not drive right up to Arenal.
• The Rio Arenal stop can be a highlight: Swimming may be possible, but bring suitable clothing if you want to get in.
• The ride suits beginners and families: Guides use a practice area and keep the group at a safe, shared pace.
• Experienced drivers may want a private outing: Group tours can feel slow when several drivers are learning.
• Budget around two hours: Some outings run closer to two and a half hours, depending on conditions and stops.

Leaving La Fortuna for mud, rivers, and farmland

La Fortuna is famous for hot springs, hanging bridges, and views of Arenal Volcano. This ride gives you a different way to see the area. Instead of sitting in a vehicle and looking through a window, you steer a side-by-side UTV over dirt tracks and uneven ground, with the weather right in front of you.

The route can include open pasture, jungle edges, neighborhood roads, private farmland, hills, and river crossings. The scenery changes quickly. One moment you are practicing on a rough course, and the next you are moving through a rural area where you can see how people live beyond the main hotel strip.

The side-by-side format works well for couples, families, and groups who want to share a vehicle rather than ride separate ATVs. The provided information describes the activity as serving two to five people, while the listed price is $310 per group of up to two. If your party includes three to five people, confirm the final price and vehicle arrangement before paying.

Pickup is offered, and the meeting point is at F8CJ+8JP in La Fortuna. The activity finishes at that same meeting point. Since the operation is near public transportation, you have more than one way to reach the start if hotel pickup is not part of your booking.

The safety briefing and practice area matter

Before heading out, you receive a safety briefing and equipment. Helmets and goggles are provided. A practice section gives each driver a chance to become comfortable with the controls and lets the guide judge how the group should be organized.

This is an important point for setting expectations. The tour operator does not present this as a racing session or an extreme driving course. The guide has to keep ATV and UTV drivers together, and the group moves at a pace that works for the least experienced participants.

I see that as a plus if you are new to off-road vehicles or bringing children. Families with children as young as one, two, six, eight, ten, and sixteen are represented in the supplied experiences, and car seats or booster seats have been available for small children. Still, you should confirm the current child-seat arrangement when booking, since the details can depend on the vehicle and group.

For an experienced ATV driver, the practice section may feel too long. A few outings have reportedly spent considerable time getting ready or waiting behind slower drivers. That is the trade-off for a shared guided excursion. If your main goal is speed, ask about a private option instead.

What the first 15 to 20 minutes feel like

The opening section can use an off-road course with holes, water, mud, and uneven ground. It gives you a quick lesson in how the UTV handles before you travel farther from the base.

In dry weather, this part may feel more like practice than adventure. After heavy rain, it can become much more entertaining. Mud collects in the low areas, tires lose traction, and the guide may need to help a vehicle through a soft patch. One outing even involved helping pull another side-by-side out of the mud.

This is also where the tour divides opinion. Beginners often appreciate the chance to get comfortable without facing a difficult trail right away. Experienced riders may find the early course tame, especially if the group includes several first-time drivers.

You should plan for splashes. The advice is simple: wear clothing you do not mind staining, bring a change of clothes, and avoid carrying anything that cannot handle water or mud. The supplied experiences repeatedly mention wet conditions, including one ride during torrential rain. That weather may sound unpleasant, but on this kind of outing, rain can turn an ordinary track into the most memorable section.

Rural roads and the Costa Rican countryside

After the practice area, the route can move onto local roads and back roads before returning to rougher tracks. This transition is valuable because it connects the recreational ride with everyday rural life.

You may pass pastureland, farms, and homes rather than uninterrupted jungle. That is worth understanding before booking. This is not a nonstop rainforest trail. Some sections can feel open and simple, with much of the route crossing fields or mid-field areas.

I like that less polished setting. You get a closer look at the area around La Fortuna instead of seeing only the famous volcano and resort properties. Guides can also point out animals and plants along the way. Sloths, iguanas, and howler monkeys have been spotted during outings, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

The route is guided, so you do not need to navigate. That lets you concentrate on driving, scenery, and the changing surface under the tires. The guide may also stop to take photos, which is useful because your hands will be busy during the ride.

Rio Arenal: the best reason to bring swimwear

A stop at Rio Arenal often gives the tour its strongest change of pace. After the noise and jolts of the UTV, you can pause beside the river, drink water, and take photos. Depending on river conditions, you may be able to swim.

The break has lasted about 20 minutes on some outings, while other experiences describe it as a shorter swim. Water levels and current strength matter. One group found the river too strong for swimming, while others enjoyed a quick dip. Do not assume the water will be calm or that swimming will always be allowed.

If you want to get in, wear a swimsuit under your riding clothes or bring something suitable to change into. A towel and dry clothes are sensible additions. If you arrive unprepared, you can still enjoy the riverbank, but you may regret leaving your swimwear behind on a hot day.

This stop also makes the tour easier for families. Younger children can have a break from the vehicle, and adults get time to stretch. The combination of mud, river, and wildlife gives the outing more variety than a simple loop around an off-road field.

The Arenal Volcano viewpoint

The itinerary includes a 10-minute stop at an Arenal Volcano vista point. You can step out, drink water, and take pictures while the vehicles bring you toward the volcano range.

Keep your expectations realistic. The route does not take you close to the volcano itself. You get views of Arenal from a scenic point, with the exact quality depending on clouds, rain, and visibility. La Fortuna’s weather can change quickly, and a perfect cone is never promised.

That short stop still matters. Arenal is the landmark that gives the region its identity, and seeing it from rough rural tracks feels different from viewing it through a hotel window. Use the break for photographs, but protect your phone from mud and rain during the rest of the ride.

The volcano stop is more about the setting than a long interpretive visit. If you want a detailed volcanic experience, you would need a separate park or walking tour. Here, the volcano is one part of a broader driving adventure.

Possible farm visits and a local snack

Some outings include a stop at a family farm. At that point, you may meet animals, pet them, and receive a local snack. This is one of the more personal touches available on the route, since it takes you beyond a prepared driving course.

The farm stop is not described as a fixed part of every itinerary, so treat it as a possibility rather than a guarantee. Group size, timing, and the day’s route can affect what is included.

When it happens, the stop adds a welcome human connection. You are not simply passing through scenery. You may see a working property, interact with farm animals, and taste something prepared locally. For families, this can be as appealing as the off-road driving.

Group size, pace, and the private-tour question

The activity can have up to 30 participants. That is a sizable possible group, although some outings have been much smaller, with only two vehicles moving together. A small group keeps the ride flowing and reduces time spent waiting.

A large group creates a different experience. Guides must organize drivers, check equipment, keep vehicles together, and allow beginners to practice. If you are hoping to race through mud or test your driving limits, you may feel restricted.

The operator’s position is clear: safety comes first, and the tour is not meant for reckless driving. I think that makes sense on mixed-terrain roads with several vehicles and different skill levels. The guide is responsible for children, beginners, and experienced drivers at the same time.

If you prefer a faster pace or more control over the route, ask about a private tour. The supplied information specifically notes private outings for people who do not want to share the experience with a larger group. That option should be considered by confident drivers who dislike stopping or by families who want the guide to set the pace around their children.

Is $310 good value for two people?

The listed price is $310 per group of up to two. That is not a budget activity, so value depends on what you want from the morning or afternoon.

For two people, the price covers roughly two hours of guided driving, equipment, route leadership, and access to terrain you could not reach in a standard rental car. It may also include the volcano viewpoint, river stop, wildlife spotting, and possibly a farm visit. Pickup may be available as well.

I think the price makes more sense if you enjoy active outings and want one experience that combines driving, scenery, mud, and a river break. It is less appealing if you only want a quick view of Arenal, since the volcano stop itself lasts about 10 minutes.

The value also depends heavily on group conditions. A small group can give you more driving time and fewer delays. A full group with several beginners may make the same price feel high. Because the headline says two to five people but the price detail says up to two, confirm the cost for your exact party size.

Who should book this UTV ride?

I would put this near the top of the list for families who want an active Costa Rica outing without committing to a technical hike. The side-by-side vehicle allows people to ride together, and the safety briefing helps first-time drivers get settled.

It also fits couples who enjoy getting dirty and do not need a polished attraction. You will see rural roads, private farmland, pasture, rivers, and jungle edges, not just a staged course. Bring a sense of humor, especially in wet weather.

This is a weaker match for someone seeking serious off-road driving. The route may include mud, hills, holes, and water, but the guide will not encourage racing or reckless maneuvers. Experienced riders can still enjoy the setting, though they may prefer a private outing.

The experience is also weather-sensitive. Rain can make the ride more fun, but very poor weather may lead to cancellation or a new date. If the operator cancels because of weather or because the minimum number of participants is not met, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Book at least a day ahead if plans are firm. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, changes and refunds are not accepted.

Should you book the Arenal Volcano Side by Side Tour?

Book it if you want a muddy, social, family-friendly way to see the countryside around La Fortuna. The strongest parts are the varied route, the Rio Arenal break, the chance to spot wildlife, and the occasional farm visit. The volcano viewpoint adds the famous local landmark without making the whole outing feel like a standard sightseeing stop.

Skip it if your priority is speed, technical driving, or a long volcano visit. A shared group can move slowly, and some stretches may cross open pasture rather than thick jungle. For the right person, though, that is part of the appeal: you get a safe, guided look at everyday Costa Rica, with enough mud and water to keep the ride lively.

FAQ

How long does the Side by Side Tour near Arenal Volcano last?

The advertised duration is about two hours. Some outings have taken closer to two and a half hours, depending on the route, weather, stops, and group pace.

Where does the tour start and finish?

The meeting point is F8CJ+8JP in La Fortuna, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is pickup available?

Pickup is offered. Confirm the pickup details and location when booking, since the listed meeting point is also used for the start and finish.

Are helmets and goggles provided?

Yes. Helmets and goggles are provided as part of the activity.

Can I swim in Rio Arenal?

Swimming may be possible during the river stop, but conditions vary. The current can be too strong at times, so bring suitable clothing if you hope to swim and follow the guide’s instructions.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the activity is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You are also offered a new date, another experience, or a full refund if the minimum number of participants is not met.