Arenal Volcano

Arenal is a volcano in northern Costa Rica that rises to 1657 meters above sea level with steep flanks of dark andesite rock. The conical summit stands at the center of a national park covering more than 12,000 hectares of tropical rainforest and secondary forest.

The mountain stayed quiet for over three centuries until 1968 when a major eruption destroyed three villages and buried much of the surrounding area under lava and debris. Smaller eruptions followed until 2010 and reshaped the steep western slope seen today.

The name Arenal comes from sandy deposits near the lake and appears today on signs and place names around the mountain. In La Fortuna street stalls sell fresh fruit and coffee as visitors return from walks and take in the atmosphere of the small town.

Several walking routes lead through the park to viewpoints where you can watch the cone and sometimes rising steam plumes. The surrounding region offers thermal baths fed by the mountain's geothermal system and they provide relief after longer walks.

More than 850 insect species live in the park including glowing butterflies that flutter between the treetops and rest on damp paths. Birds like toucans and hummingbirds share the canopy with sloths and howler monkeys that you can often spot along the edges of walking trails.