In a country that is liberally dotted with volcanoes, Costa Rica’s Arenal Volcano is one of the most impressive. Arenal is a stratovolcano, meaning that it adheres to the typical symmetrical cone shape that one associates with a volcano, and at 5,437 feet it towers very impressively over the surrounding landscape.
After a long dormant period, Arenal erupted violently in 1968, covering a vast area of over 15km in lava, rocks, and ash.
For several years after this dramatic eruption, Arenal regularly lit up the sky with smaller eruptions and has become a popular tourist attraction.
The impressive volcano is surrounded by Arenal Volcano National Park, where you can go hiking in the rainforest, enjoy canopy tours and repelling adventures, or relax in a natural geothermal hot spring.
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Step 1: Visit the website and book directly and/or call ahead to confirm their hours.
Step 2: If you are spending the night, search for Hotel Deals nearby. Read the reviews, then call the hotel directly to book and ask for a romantic, kid-friendly or pet-friendly amenity if you need it.
Step 3: If you are flying, compare Flights. Book directly with the airline, add your frequent flier number and reserve your seat.
Step 4: Estimate your driving time using Google Maps (click the blue 'Directions' arrow in the search box).
Need some more help?
Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.