Last Updated: July 7, 2025
If you’re visiting La Fortuna/Arenal, you can’t miss soaking in the area’s famous natural hot springs. Arenal has several different hot spring resorts to choose from. In this post, we’ll focus on Baldi Hot Springs, one of the biggest. We’ll cover everything you need to know about visiting on a day pass, including what to expect for amenities, food, and the popular kids’ play area/water park.
Location
Baldi Hot Springs is located just outside downtown La Fortuna, right on the main road, Route 142. You can’t miss it. It has a huge sign and some statues, and is lit up with lots of colorful lights at night.
Baldi is a popular 3-star hotel. It’s not one of our top picks for hotels in La Fortuna/Arenal, but people enjoy its resort-like amenities and that you can use the hot springs for free.
Even if you aren’t a guest, though, you can still visit on a day pass like we have done.
The Day Pass Experience at Baldi Hot Springs
Reception
When you enter Baldi, you’ll get a wristband at the hotel lobby desk.
If you want to use the lockers to store things while you’re at the hot springs (recommended), you also can get a key. It’s $6 per locker. Keep in mind that the lockers are small so you will probably need more than one (they fit about a small backpack and purse).
Lockers, Bathrooms, Showers, and Changing Room
A short walk from the reception area are the bathrooms and lockers. This area is fairly small, considering the number of people that visit Baldi.
Towels are available at the desk. You pay a deposit of $10 per towel (cash only), refundable when you return them.
The bathroom/changing room is quite basic but has what you need. The women’s room has a large open changing area and four showers. On our last visit in peak season (Easter Week), we didn’t have to wait to shower. But when my young son and I got out (this was later in the afternoon when it was starting to get busy), there was a line. We can imagine that the bathrooms get crowded during busy times of year since they aren’t very big.
Hot Spring Pools Overview
Onto the fun – the hot spring pools!
Baldi has 25 hot spring pools. These are heated naturally by the powerful thermal energy of Arenal Volcano, which you can see throughout the property.
The pools range from a pleasant 93 °F all the way to a steamy 152 °F (34-67 °C). Most people find the cooler pools to be most comfortable for lounging, but it’s fun to dip in the hotter ones too. The hot water is said to soothe aching muscles, so perfect if you have been doing a lot of adventures!
The entire property at Baldi is nicely landscaped, with gorgeous tropical plants and flowers. It feels very lush and green.
Property Layout & Walking
Something important to note is that the property is large and spread out. You will be doing a good amount of walking to get to the different pools and the restaurant.
The Pools
The “coolest” pools are closest to the reception. These are usually the busiest. The pools get hotter the farther up the property you go.
One of the middle pools was our favorite. It was huge and lagoon-like so you could swim. It was next to a pool with a really nice swim-up bar with some TVs. Here, you can order drinks like cocktails, beer, soda, and fruit smoothies.
Another popular pool is the one with the giant rock fountain. The waterfall feature really adds to the fun.
Just behind this pool is a cave-like structure that you can walk in. Inside, trickles of warm water spill from the ceiling onto you. At the end is a big sauna.
Next are a couple of very hot pools that usually don’t have too many people. These are private and nice to check out for a few minutes.
A little hidden at the far end of the property, past the waterslides, is one of the nicest areas. This area has some water features, loungers, and a swim up bar. It feels more upscale compared to the rest of the facility.
Kids are allowed everywhere at Baldi, though, and we felt fine with our five year old and eight year old.
Note: Baldi is one of the most popular hot springs resorts among locals so you will most likely see some Costa Ricans enjoying them too.
Baldi Kids
Baldi Kids is what gets a lot of families to go. Baldi is one of the only hot spring resorts in La Fortuna/Arenal with a dedicated kids’ play area.
Our kids love it! The main structure is set in shallow water that’s fun to splash around in. It has a few small slides coming off it and a big barrel of water at the top that constantly fills and drops water down.
On our last visit, our five year old loved sliding down and running back up the structure over and over again. There is also a small frog-shaped slide for babies and younger kids. Our older son (age 8 at the time) found a friend and loved playing in this area too.
Traveling with kids? Be sure to check out our Costa Rica with Kids hub where we give insider tips and recommendations for the best places to stay and things to do.
Waterslides
For older kids and adults, there are four large waterslides. These aren’t your typical water-park slides. They are super fast and can really jolt you.
Matt tried the one in the kids’ area. It shoots you down quickly, then you go into a bowl-shaped slide that spirals you around several times before abruptly dumping you into the pool below. Matt said it was fast and intense, but he did enjoy it.
There are three even faster slides just past Baldi Kids. We spoke to someone who tried those, and he said they were a little crazy and that he may have strained some neck muscles. Yikes!
Many people have reported minor injuries from the slides so do use caution.
Food
We have been to Baldi a couple of times and have had both the lunch and dinner buffet.
The buffet changes but there is always traditional Costa Rican food (rice and beans, fried rice, etc). We’ve also seen chicken, beef, spaghetti, roasted potatoes, and sauteed vegetables. There’s a big salad bar, bread, two kinds of soup, and fresh fruit. A non-alcoholic drink, coffee/tea, and dessert are included.
Our experience has been that the food is okay, but not outstanding. It is very convenient to eat right there, though, especially if you have kids.
Planning a Visit to Baldi Hot Springs
When to Go
Daytime is best if you’re traveling with kids so that they can enjoy the kids’ area. The play area is in full sun so be sure to put them in a water shirt. The rest of the pools on the property do have some nice shady areas with trees and plants.
Nighttime is a great time to visit because it’s a little cooler, making the warm water a nice contrast. It’s a romantic time for couples too.
At night, Baldi is really lit up with colored lights. Some people find this to be a bit cheesy, but it all depends on what you’re looking for.
Peak Season
If you’re visiting during a busy time of year, know that Baldi is very popular (with even buses of people). It can get crowded, especially around Christmas/New Years. If you prefer a more peaceful setting, opt for a hot spring resort that limits the number of visitors, like Ecotermales.
Schedule
Day passes are for the whole day; Baldi doesn’t have time slots.
Baldi is open from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Cost of Day Pass (2025) – Discounted Rate
Entrance only: $36 per person adults; $25 per person children ages 6-10; kids under 5 are free. Rates plus 13% tax.
Entrance with lunch or dinner buffet: $56 per person adults; $39 per person children ages 6-10; kids under 5 are free.
Reserving Your Visit
You can book day passes through our website using the links below. You won’t pay until the reservation is confirmed, and we’ll email you as part of the process. Booking through us get you a discounted rate and helps support our website!
Conclusion
Baldi is one of the biggest hot spring resorts in La Fortuna/Arenal. The elaborate pools, swim up bars, sauna, lounge areas, and kids’ area make it a good choice for lots of different people. It’s definitely one of the best hot springs if you’re traveling with kids. I’m sure we’ll be back soon with ours.
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Have a question about Baldi Hot Springs? Ask us below.
Looking for more ideas for your visit to La Fortuna/Arenal? Check out these posts:
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Mirador El Silencio: If you want to get a closer look at Arenal Volcano, this hike is a great option.
La Fortuna Waterfall: You can’t miss a visit to this gorgeous waterfall set in the lush jungle on your visit.
Sloth and Bird Tour: Want to see a sloth? This tour is a great option. You’re not only very likely to see a sloth and other animals, but it’s also an ethical tour.
Mistico Hanging Bridges: Mistico has the best hanging bridges experience in the Arenal area. Learn what to expect and your options for visiting.
Things to Do: Learn about other fun things to do all around Costa Rica. Our Things to Do articles give 150+ options.