Fortuna Town

  
Fortuna Town Hidtory

La Fortuna was created on 5 February 1952 by Decreto Ejecutivo 15.

Originally called "El Burío", La Fortuna was founded in the mid 1930s by settlers that
came from Ciudad Quesada, Grecia (canton), Alajuela and other parts of the region.
In 1968, the Arenal Volcano erupted to the west, causing extensive damage and casualties,
including 82 deaths. The eruption did not reach the village of La Fortuna. This catastrophe,
nonetheless, changed the geography of the whole region, making it one of the most visited
tourist destinations of Costa Rica.

The town and surrounding province was founded by a small group of people, namely Elias Kooper,
Alberto Quesada, Jose Garro, Rufino and Isolina Quesada, Juana Vargas Ricardo Quiros,
Juan Ledesma, Red Porfirio, and Julio Murillo. This group and a few others were
dedicated to the cultivating of the land and are largely responsible for its development.