Arenal Volcano National Park

Arenal Volcano National Park protects the landscape around an active volcano in Costa Rica, encompassing multiple types of forests and habitats at different elevations. The terrain transitions from dense rainforests to higher mountain forests that encircle the volcanic cone.

The volcano lay dormant for roughly 4 centuries before erupting in 1968 in one of Costa Rica's most powerful explosions. This event reshaped the landscape and led to the park's creation to protect the region and its recovering ecosystems.

The volcano and its surroundings have shaped how local communities view nature and their place in the landscape. People here live with an awareness of the land's power, using the hot springs and fertile soil that the volcano creates.

The park is best explored through a network of hiking trails starting from different points nearby, offering various difficulty levels and lengths. Arriving early in the day improves your chances of clear views of the volcano, particularly during the dry season.

Within the park sits a second volcano called Chato, which is dormant and has a crater lake inside it. This quiet crater creates a striking contrast to the active volcano, showing two different chapters of volcanic life in one place.