Arenal Volcano
National Park


General Information
Location: North of the Tilarán Range, between Tilarán, San Carlos and San Ramón Cantons at Arenal Lake, about 130 km. (80 mi.) northwest of San Jose
Area: 2,920 Ha. (7,212 acres)
Average Temperature: 24 C (75 F)
Annual Rainfall: 5,000 mm (195 inches)
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Entrance Fee: $15 at the gate, $7 in advance
Services: Camping nearby
Hiking: On unmarked trails

The Arenal Volcano area is an important watershed for the Arenal Lake Reservoir. Water from here is used for hydroelectric power, irrigation, fish farming and boiling tourists in waters heated by the hot underground earth of the volcano at Tabacon, a spa located in the park.

Geographers describe three distinct habitats in the park: premontane very humid forest, premontane rainy forest and low montane rainy forest. Each of the habitats is stocked with a great and interesting variety of flora and fauna.

Flora: mountain guayabo, freijo, rosewood, chicle tree, balsa trees.

Animals: Baird's tapir, white-nosed coati, three toed sloth, jaguar, deer, parrot snake, fer-de-lance and boa constrictor.

Birds: parrots, parakeets, black vulture, resplendent quetzals

Arenal Lake and near-by Kote and Cerro Chato Lakes are hot spots for windsurfing, waterskiing and fishing.

While you're visiting the Arenal area, you might want to hike over to the Monteverde Cloud Forest. It's a two hour walk along paths cut through wonderful primary forests, jungle-home to a world of fascinating animals.

For a good view of the volcano, hike about 10 km. (6.2 mi.) along the western slope of the mountain. You'll find a vantage point there which gives you a dramatic look at the rivers of molten lava pouring from the belly of the mountain. For even a better show, wait until dark and you'll be awed by the sight of lava bubbling like red and yellow incandescent water down the hot black mountainside, lighting paths of fire through the trees. The sight makes for an unforgettable memory, and makes you grateful you don't have one of these smoking great things in the back yard.

Forest Rangers lead nightly tours to the volcano. The tour leaves from Fortuna every afternoon at six.

The Arenal Volcano Observatory Lodge will give you a good view of the Volcano.

If you'd like to expand your knowledge of volcanoes, visit Volcan Chato, located three km. (1.9 mi.) southeast of Arenal. Here, an experienced guide will explain how a volcano works, and will lead you to places where you can take dramatic photos without toasting your soles in the lava flows.


How to Get to the Volcano?
From Forturna drive to Balneario Tabacon. Go 2 Km. (1.2 mi.) past Balneario Tabacon, turn left at the third road.