Hiking in Arenal Volcano National Park
Climb through primary forest to reach the lake at the summit of Cerro Chato volcano before heading down to the waterfall of La Fortuna.
The landscape surrounding Arenal Volcano bears the marks of past eruptions, most notably the dramatic 1968 eruption, with old lava flows, secondary forest, and volcanic rock shaping much of the national park and surrounding foothills. A network of trails explores these landscapes, offering regular views of the volcano’s distinctive cone and Lake Arenal beyond.
Alongside Arenal Volcano National Park itself, reserves such as El Silencio protect extensive areas of forest and former lava fields. Well-maintained trails lead to viewpoints overlooking the volcano, while passing through habitats that support toucans, motmots, coatis, and a variety of other wildlife.
Explore our Costa Rica holidays to see how a visit to Arenal Volcano can be included in your holiday.
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We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Rosie embarked on a year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. She is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others.
Finn discovered his passion for travel on an extensive 18-month trip to Latin America, experiencing the vibrant Carnaval in Rio, the end-of-the-world city of Ushuaia, trekking the Andes and volunteering on the Galápagos Islands.
Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.
Gary discovered what he had been missing with his first foray into the wilds of Latin America. In his role as Product Manager, he combines this personal obsession with years of industry experience to help ensure that travellers will fall for the region every bit as much as he has.
