A Guide to Arenal Volcano National Park

Number of annual visitors	100,000
Size	121 sq. km.
Entrance fee	USD 15 per person entrance into the park for adults and USD 5 for children.
Permits	No overnight camping permitted in the park
Common animal sightings	Monkeys, sloths, raccoons, deer, tapir, coatis, ocelots, jaguar, snakes, iguanas, snakes, dart frogs, and birds such as toucans, hummingbirds, and aracaris.
Best season to visit	February to April (dry season) as the heavy downpours during other months can leave the terrain saturated, muddy, and difficult to walk.

 Highlights

• Trek over old lava fields at the base of an active volcano.
• Take an epic photo standing against El Ceibo, the massive 400-year-old Ceiba tree.
• Soothe your muscles after long days of hiking trips by soaking in one of the many nearby hot springs.
• Spot any of the 850 species of bird that call the Arenal Volcano National Park home, along with other wildlife such as white-faced monkeys, jaguars, deer, and snakes. 

Lowlights

• Arenal Volcano is often obscured by clouds. Early morning is your best opportunity for viewing.
• The park is home to some of Costa Rica’s most poisonous snakes. Take caution walking on the trails and consider hiking with an experienced guide.

1. Hiking near Arenal Volcano

The most popular activity in the park is to tour Arenal Volcano by hiking the lower lava fields at its base. While it is not possible to hike up this volcano due to ongoing gas emissions, the scene from the lava fields is extraordinary. The hike from the main park entrance is 2 km and easy to navigate. Including the path along the lava fields, a total of 4.8 km of hiking trails are available. Head back from the fields via El Ceibo Trail for that humbling encounter with the massive historical trees. Arenal Volcano tours provide guided hikes detailing the enriching history and ecological features of the park.

More challenging is the hike to Cerro Chato’s crater lake, requiring 4–6 hours of walking (round trip) through strenuous and likely muddy terrain. The high point is the spectacular emerald lagoon formed by water collecting in the extinct crater.

Just outside the park, a short, but intense hike to La Fortuna Falls is another popular day trip. The hike requires climbing several sets of stairs, but a 60-meter high waterfall cascading into a delicious turquoise natural pool awaits.

2. Swimming at La Fortuna Waterfall 

The aforementioned La Fortuna Falls has plenty of things to do and is a unique oasis for swimming in the tropical rainforest and is accessible to most visitors.

Cerro Chato’s crater lake is also known by thrill-seekers as a secret gem for swimming. And thankfully so, since the long strenuous hike is sure to leave any visitor dreaming of a refreshing dip. No doubt about it, this swim is not for the faint of heart. Swimming in the crater of a volcano requires a certain amount of grit.

3. Visit Hot Springs in La Fortuna

A dip in a cool pool may feel exceptionally nice after a long hike in Arenal National Park. But an even better way to refresh and nourish your body is to visit any of the numerous hot springs just outside of the park. Fed by natural springs, many of the hot spring resorts offer a collection of pools with varying temperatures. Baldi Hot Springs and Tabacon are the most popular and offer resort-style amenities in the lush rainforest landscape. Paradise doesn’t get much better than this.

4. Boating & Fishing at Lake Arenal

Lake Arenal lies conveniently at the base of Arenal Volcano and is a popular way for many travelers to pass onward to other destinations like Monteverde. It also serves as an incredible destination for boating and kayaking, offering opportunities to kayak or take a sunset birding cruise. Fly fishing enthusiasts around the world visit this gorgeous lake in search of plentiful game fish.

5. Canopy Adventures in the Rainforest

Outside the park, there are many enjoyable ways to explore the rainforest canopy. Walk across expansive systems of hanging bridges, ride the sky tram, soar via zip-lines, or dare to bungee jump with the incredible scene of Volcano Arenal in front of you. While these activities can be enjoyed as a part of any itinerary, get the most bang for your buck by booking them as part of an Arenal Volcano National Park tour.

• La Fortuna is a popular option for nearby overnight lodging with a variety of hotels, hostels, B&Bs, and eco-lodges. Though camping is not permitted in the national park, La Fortuna hosts some options for camping and glamping experiences. 
• Arenal Volcano was once Costa Rica’s most active volcano. From 1968 onward, it has had regular eruptions from its three craters but has been relatively quiet since 2010. On the other hand, Cerro Chato has been inactive for about 3,500 years.
• Nearby Lake Arenal was enlarged to take advantage of the volcanic activity and winds to provide nearly 12% of Costa Rica’s electric energy supply.

While Costa Rica is a haven for endless outdoor adventuring, a trip to Arenal Volcano National Park will be one of the most unforgettable ventures of your life. It’s not every day that you can wander the paths of such captivating volcanoes surrounded by some of the lushest rainforests in the world. You don’t want to miss this remarkable destination on your Costa Rica journey.

If you are looking for general information to plan your trip to Costa Rica, feel free to take a peek at our travel guides which will give you some in-depth information on how many days to spend, the best time to visit, the best places to visit, and things to do in the country Also, get in touch with our local travel experts who will help you plan your next customized trip to Costa Rica that includes all the must-see destinations including Arenal Volcano National Park.