Visiting Arenal Volcano
The Arenal Volcano is one of our top recommended destinations and one of the most visited places in Costa Rica.Your Costa Rica vacation should include a trip to the Arenal Volcano. The iconic Arenal Volcano is located in the northwestern part of Costa Rica, towering beautifully over the town La Fortuna. The most well-known active volcano in Costa Rica is surrounded by the Arenal Volcano National Park and Lake Arenal.
The Arenal Volcano is still considered active, but there hasn’t been an eruption since 2010. If you’re lucky, you might still get to see smoke spewing out of the top! People come from all over the world to admire and study the volcano, hike on lava from previous eruptions, and maybe glimpse some volcanic activity. Only 3 hours from the capital city, San Jose, the Arenal Volcano is easily accessible and offers a variety of fun, adventure-packed activities for everyone. If you are vacationing in Guanacaste, it is possible to take a day trip to Arenal and explore the forest on one of the many trails. Don’t miss out on some great Arenal volcano tours while you’re there!
Arenal Volcano National Park
The Arenal Volcano National Park spans across almost 30,000 acres of rainforest and is a great place to see the volcano up close from various trails. Choose from several hiking trails that leave from the entrance of the park, some only taking 30 minutes, some taking a couple of hours. Solo hikes on the trails are permitted but you can also easily arrange guided hikes in La Fortuna.
Hot Springs
The best way end your day of adventuring in the Arenal Volcano National Park is to relax in the geothermally heated Arenal hot springs, located in various spots in the area. The natural hot springs of La Fortuna offer 16 different hot pools. You can also visit the Tabacon Hot Springs and experience cascading thermal waterfalls. The restorative minerals and bicarbonates in the water are great for your health. You’re guaranteed to leave feeling refreshed!
