Arenal Volcano National Park creates the stunning backdrop of La Fortuna, Costa Rica. Arenal is an active volcano whose last eruption started in 1968 and ended in 2010. This eruption varied in severity through the years, but it had notable moments throughout and was officially considered over in 2010. In 1991 Arenal Volcano National Park was created to protect not only its namesake, but almost 50 square miles around it, including another, long dormant, volcano: Chato Volcano.
HISTORY OF ARENAL VOLCANO
Arenal Volcano had its violent eruption in 1968. The town of Tabacon was completely destroyed during this initial eruption. We were told by a local guide, that the locals living near Arenal didn’t actually know that it was a volcano. They thought an airplane had crashed into the side of Arenal. This eruption was so extreme that it lasted for decades. Activity shifted from crater to newly formed crater a few times, but the lava flow that could be seen, especially at night, for many years finally ended in 2010. During the timespan of the eruption, Arenal Volcano National Park was formed. Established in 1991, this park has been protecting the forest around the volcano, the animals who live there and the people for almost 30 years.
QUICK TIPS BEFORE VISITING ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
CONSIDER TRAVEL INSURANCE: I never travel internationally without travel insurance, and even domestically I get it for any trip I’m going to fly or be active. I love World Nomads.
WEAR SUPPORTIVE SHOES: Although I almost always wear my tevas hiking, I actually wore closed-toe shoes on our guided hike here. Just because there are so many creepy crawlies that I didn’t want to have bite me.
BRING A WATER BOTTLE: Because the tap water is totally safe to drink we brought reusable water bottles to refill. Good for the environment and good for the budget!
WEAR YOUR RAIN JACKET: I learned quickly that rainy season means it can be bright and sunny, and it can change in a heartbeat. You want to be prepared with a good rain jacket.
ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK HIKES
We entered in the Arenal 1968 section of the National Park, which really only has two trails. However, there are trails around other sections. Most of the trails are two miles or less. One thing that’s interesting about Arenal National Park is it’s not setup quite like national parks in the US. There wasn’t really clearcut information for all the hikes in the area and there are so many other ecological parks and preserves setup around it that it seems like you’re paying money over and over to see things within a few miles of each other. However, here are the ones that I’ve found the appropriate information for:
LOS HELICONIAS (1 km): This is one of the easiest and shortest trails to get around. It shows off the newest vegetation to grow in the Natioanl Park.
LOS MIRADORES (1.2 km): Offering viewpoints of both the volcano and lake ecosystems, this is an easy, pretty trail.
EL CEIBO (1.8 km): This trail is named for a 400-year-old ceibo tree you can see along the trail. This is on my list for the next Costa Rica adventure.
COLADOS 1968 (2.5 km): This is the trail that cuts through the forest and onto the lava flow from the eruption of Arenal Volcano of 1968. It offers stunning views of both Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.
LOS TUCANES (3 km): This is one of the longer trails and includes a section over some lava fields.
CHERRO CHATO (3.2 km): Warning, this trail may not actually be accessible. Ask locals while visiting. This trail takes you to the top of Chato Volcano. This is a dormant volcano that has a crater lake in the top of the volcano. This trail is supposed to be much more overgrown than the others, and I’ve read other places that it may be closed because people were using it as a back route to summit Arenal Volcano, which you can’t do (see more info on that below).
BOSQUE 1968 (4.5 km): This hike includes the majority of the Colados 1968 trail, but is longer and takes you through even more of the forest, which is cool because you’re quite likely to see some wildlife!
An additional 11km of hiking trails can be found inside the Arenal Observatory Lodge – a lodge that sits within the National Park boundaries. You can get a day pass to this area for $15. Also, you can sleep here!
Additionally, La Fortuna Waterfall sits up against the National Park boundary, just below the base of Chato Volcano. You can hike to this stunning waterfall for $18.
CAN YOU HIKE TO THE SUMMIT OF ARENAL VOLCANO?
Unfortunately, no. It is unsafe for people to summit the volcano. Because the volcano is still classified as active, it could theoretically erupt at anytime. They say that ash and rocks are still expelled from the crater from time-to-time. Plus, there are unsafe fumes coming from the crater. Not only it is unsafe, it is actually illegal. Our guide said that there are people who will take you on a guided hike here for enough money, but the fine would be hefty if you get caught.
OUR GUIDED HIKE OF THE 1968 LAVA FLOW
We chose to do a guided hike in Arenal Volcano National Park to learn more about the park, volcano and wildlife. We did the 1968 Lava Flow Trail (or Colados 1968). This hike was an east 2.5 miles. This trail takes you over the top of hardened lava from the flow of the eruption of, you guessed it, 1968. The beginning of the trail is a sandy path that leads through the forest and fields. Our wonderful guide showed us any flora + fauna that was unique to the area. We ate wild berries, learned about the different species ants and more through this area.
After these areas, we came upon some large, jagged rocks: these were blown out of Arenal Volcano from the eruption. There are a couple of lookouts over the beautiful Lake Arenal. (Fun Costa Rica fact: did you know Lake Arenal is manmade?) The rocks in this area uneven, and if you’re unsteady on your feet or just want some extra help, there are walking sticks by the entrance. We grabbed a walking stick and neither of us really needed it. Eventually, this trail goes up gradually to a large lava field where you would have a stunning unobstructed view – well, except for clouds – of both the volcano and the lake. Then, the path takes you back down through a wooded area and loops back out to our starting point. Near the end of the trail we were able to take in even more views or Arenal Volcano and we saw a few howler monkeys and a half a dozen or so species of birds.
Our guide was absolutely wonderful. She was so passionate and knowledgeable about Costa Rica’s natural world. She knew so much about animals, how + where to spot them, and answered all my stupid, nerdy questions about plants in the area. That said, the path was well marked and would be easy to do without a guide as well, but you might miss out on some really unique knowledge!
GUIDED ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO IN ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
THINGS TO DO AROUND ARENAL VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK
BATHE IN LA FORTUNA WATERFALL: I briefly mentioned this waterfall above, but it is worth a visit. You can get here via car, foot or horseback! Don’t miss it while near Arenal Volcano National Park.
GO ZIP-LINING: Sometimes I forget that I love adventure activities. We did the extreme ropes course at SKY:O<H ? which included zip-lining, waterfall rappelling, a tarzan swing and so much more. This stands out as one of the top experiences for the adrenaline rush and the stunning views of the lake and volcano.
GET OUT ON THE LAKE: Arenal Lake is a destination for a whole slew of outdoor activities from standup paddle boarding to kayaking and more.
GIVE RAFTING A TRY: Looking for a white-water rafting destination? Look no further than this area! This is definitely something I want to try on my next to Costa Rica.
VISIT A NATURAL HOT SPRING: Because of this area’s geothermal activity there is a large supply of hot springs to soak your muscles in after all these adventure activities. We soaked in Tabacon’s hot springs while staying at their gorgeous resort. We also soaked in the hot waters of EcoTermales which is also set in a beautiful location with lush plant life surrounding it.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR HERE
BACKPACKER BUDGET: ARENAL CONTAINER HOSTEL (starting at $10/night for a dorm bunk) – Arenal Container Hostel comes highly rated at a 9.2 on Booking.com. The materesses look significantly thicker than most hostel bunks. It’s located in Fortuna. This is the perfect shoestring budget home base for Arenal Volcano National Park. BOOK HERE!
ROOM WITH A VIEW: ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE (starting at $147/night) – Like I mentioned above, this Lodge is located within the boundaries of Arenal Volcano National Park. They have a spa on site, offer a morning walk, guided bird watching and, of course, those hiking trails! BOOK HERE!
HEIGHT OF LUXURY: TABACON HOT SPRINGS + RESORT (starting at $310/night) – This is where we stayed during our time near Arenal Volcano National Park. I’ve truly never stayed somewhere so luxurious in my life. There’s nothing about Tabacon that you can’t love. From the hot springs to the natural beauty and the extremely comfortable rooms, you’re sure to never want to leave. BOOK HERE!
Any trip to Costa Rica would benefit from a trip to Arenal Volcano National Park. There is such a variety of nature: waterfalls, rivers, volcanoes and lakes. Also, the variety of flora and fauna are awe-inspiring. I hope that this guide to Arenal Volcano National Park helps you plan your upcoming trip to Costa Rica.
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