Arenal

Located four hours from San Jose , the perfect cone-shaped Arenal Volcano is one of the most visited spots in Costa Rica. Noted as one of the four most active volcanoes in the world, the mighty Arenal regularly sets off a spectacular show, spitting fiery red lava as it rumbles like a mighty god. Thanks to the volcanic soil, the surrounding area is incredibly green and lush, with waterfalls, canyons, rivers and natural hot springs. The nearby Lake Arenal is a must for windsurfers.

• Where to Stay
• What to Do
• How to Get There

Tabacon Resort - Near the base of the active Arenal Volcano the world-renowned Tabacon Resort offers a relaxing and unparalleled experience with its natural hot springs and thermo mineral water pools and its tropical and exuberant surroundings.

Arenal Kioro - Located in front of the majestic Arenal Volcano, Kioro offers luxurious suites with panoramic views, private thermal springs and nature trails covering 11 hectares.

Arenal Paraiso - Beautifully detailed rooms and suites with volcano views, exuberant gardens, pools and hot mineral springs.

Montaña de Fuego - Spacious and comfortable rooms, with magnificent views of the volcano surrounded by natural beauty, vegetation and fauna of the area.

Volcano Lodge - Comfortable rooms that all feature a private terrace with unhindered view of the Arenal Volcano.

Arenal Volcano Inn - Small new hotel with elegant and comfortable rooms and bungalows that all feature an excellent view of the volcano.

Arenal Vista Lodge - Comfortable rooms nestled in the tropical rainforest located between Monteverde Reserve and Arenal National Park , with views of Arenal Lake and volcano.

Arenal Observatory Lodge Sits in a private nature reserve whose rich volcanic soil supports primary and secondary rainforest and offers fully-equipped rooms.

Lost Iguana Resort - A premiere, upscale retreat nestled gently in the jungle, the Lost Iguana Resort only offers rooms with large private balconies overlooking the Arenal Volcano and Arenal River Gorge.

La Mansion Arenal - This exclusive and luxurious Inn is located amidst overwhelming nature and tropical gardens on the scenic lake road around the lake.

Canopy Tour (4 1/2 hours) - $50 per person
Nature below your feet! Experience the thrill of your life on horseback riding, hiking through the rainforest and gliding through the canopy as you sail through the treetops from tree to tree and platform to platform using pulleys and harnesses on horizontal traverse cables while admiring nature. The canopy features 7 platforms connected with 5 traverse cables of varying lengths and a rappel ending at the edge of a picturesque river bend. All platforms have been designed for the observation of life on the treetops and from here you will enjoy spectacular views of the forest and the interaction of plants, birds and insects. Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide and equipment.

Kayak on Lake Arenal (4 hours) - $47 per person
Bring your camera because this 2 hour paddle on Central America’s second-largest lake gives you the best views of the behemoth Arenal Volcano and Costa Rican wildlife! Enjoy a pleasant time kayaking on Lake Arenal with breath-taking view of the Arenal Volcano and during your trip, you may observe different species of birds like the “Flycatcher”, “Kingfisher”, “Great Blue Heron” and “Anhinga” and may also possibly hear and see Howler monkeys! The view is spectacular with the lake on one side of you, and the erupting volcano on the other.  Includes: Transportation, kayak, life vest, paddles, tropical fruit snack, beverages, and bilingual naturalist guide.

Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge (7 hours) - $55 per person
Visit one of best places for wildlife in Costa Rica. This area is known as a biological corridor between Costa Rica and Nicaragua. You will have the opportunity to observe many species of birds, 3 types of monkeys, caiman, iguanas, sloths, and much more. The tour begins with a 2 hour drive to the town of Caño Negro. Along the way your guides will explain many interesting things about the region. The drive will take you past many crops including papayas, yucca, sugar cane, and oranges. Before boarding the kayaks you will stop for breakfast at a typical restaurant, and enjoy some delicious Costa Rican coffee. Then it s time to begin your exciting journey through the Caño Negro Refuge. You will explore areas that cannot be reached by motorboats allowing you to get closer to the wildlife! Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, equipment, breakfast, lunch and sodas.

Arenal Volcano Hike (3 hours) - $39 per person
Before the active period of 1968, a lavish canopy of vegetation covered the Arenal Volcano. People that climbed Arenal’ s summit related that inside the crater there were big trees and at night, they slept in places where there was some heat due to small steam outlets. Right now the green area is located at the east side of the Mountain, and other little green parts can be seen on the north and the south of the volcano.  The Hike begins on the active side of the volcano that takes you through the forest over recent lava flows and to the destroyed area now in the process of regeneration. Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fees and snack.

Mountain Biking (4 hours) - $59 per person
This is one of the tours we offer for those who want to go on a bike trip to the area where the forest, the Arenal Volcano and the Lake meet and leads trough a beautiful trail. The tour starts from the Arenal Lake Dam, where we take an old trail into the forest. At the end of the trail we will arrive at the entrance of the Arenal Volcano National Park and then move on to the Observatory and back to the main road. Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, equipment and snack.

Venado Caves (4 hours) - $48 per person
This tour leaves from La Fortuna at 8: 00 a.m. for one-hour transfer to the Venado Village. The caves were formed during the Miocene period, 15 or 20 million years ago. For many years they were under sea level and due to tectonic movements they surfaced. The Guatuzos aborigines discovered the caves. Limestone rocks, stalactites, stalagmites and corals, form most of the caves. The whimsical stone formations are formed by the underground river.  Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, equipment and snack.

Maleku Indigenous Reserve (5 hours) - $83 per person
Centuries ago, The Maleku Tribe – a branch of the Chibchas - was divided in 23 different groups.  However, over the past hundred years, their population has decreased substantially.  Today we can find only three groups - Palenque El Sol, Margarita and the largest one, Tonjibe.  All these reserves are located in Los Guatuzos lowlands.  The malekus at Palenque Tonjibe have opened their community to all visitors, sharing with us a little of their culture, language and traditions.  Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fees and snack.

Canyoneering (Waterfall Rappel) Tour (4 hours) - $85 per person
The ultimate waterfall adventure... Upon arriving at the base camp you will be served a delicious breakfast in view of the Arenal Volcano. You trip begins with a 30 minutes 4x4 drive into a tropical Rainforest outside the town of La Fortuna , in the Arenal Volcano.You will then trek through the forest on magical trails that lead to some of the most spectacular waterfalls in Costa Rica, a place very few people get to experience. Along the way you will have the chance to see monkeys, toucans; sloth's, parrots and discover the secrets that lie hidden deep in the canyon. When you arrive at the waterfalls you will rappel from the top down into the beautiful pristine canyon below. After more trekking through the canyon you will rappel down some more waterfalls that will take you to tranquil pools where you will enjoy some fresh tropical fruits and snacks, do some bird watching, or just relax in this unspoiled paradise. Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, equipment, lunch and snacks.

Hanging Bridges (4 hours) - $48 per person
This amazing project is located in a wonderful rain forest preserve with 250 hectares protected land. You can go into the natural paradise along walking trail of three kilometers passing 15 bridges, six of them are hanging bridges with an spectacular design as a secure enjoyable adventure to see the forest from the ground (like a Jaguar) from the middle (like as Monkey) and from the treetops (like an Eagle). Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, equipment and snacks.

Arenal Volcano & Baldi Hot Springs (4 hours) - $69 per person
The Arenal Volcano is active since 1968, it constantly ejects gases, water, fumaroles and explosions with pyroclastic material emissions, and sometimes the eruptions are accompanied with powerful thunders. At the hot springs our customers can enjoy a healthy and relaxing soak; it is also possible to see the Arenal Volcano erupting from a comfortable spa. Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fees and dinner.

Horseback Riding to La Fortuna Waterfall (5 hours) - $48 per person
Get spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano and the green countryside as you travel by horseback to the 140-foot Río Fortuna waterfall. Then take a 20-minute hike to the river to cool off in the rushing waters beneath the waterfall. Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, entrance fee, horses and equipment.

Safari Adventure Float (4 hours) - $45 per person
Relax and enjoy a day of heightened emotions on the quiet waters of the Peñas Blancas. You will be in full contact with nature as you will be able to experience close contact with many species of birds, monkeys, sloth's, iguanas, crocodiles and more. Along the way you will stop to spend time with a typical Costa Rican farmer and his family. They will prepare some wonderful Tico dishes for you as they share their life story. You will also enjoy the rare opportunity to explore, and learn more about the many riches of the virgin tropical rainforest on their farm. Finally, it's back to the river to continue your float to the small town of Boca Arenal. Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, equipment and snacks.

Monteverde One Day Tour (10 hours) - $165 per person
Your excursion will start by picking you up at your hotel and transferred to Lake Arenal. At the dam, you will board a boat to do a 25 minute-boat ride across the lake up to Rio Chiquito where a 4 X 4 car will be waiting for you to drive you up to the Sky Trek station located in the Monteverde Cloud Forest. After lunch, you are invited to walk along the nature trails of La Finca Ecologica de Monteverde where you will be allowed to see a great variety of flora and fauna unique to this environment. Around 3:30pm you will head back to Arenal, traveling the scenic route on your descend to Lake Arenal shores while enjoying a relaxing view of the cloud forest. Includes: round-trip transportation, boat transfer, bilingual guide, equipment, lunch and refreshments.

Whitewater Rafting Rio Sarapiqui II-III (5 hours) - $75
Whitewater action right at the base of the Arenal Volcano - full of birds, rainforest wildlife and views of the Arenal Volcano along the way – the perfect river for first-time rafters with a sense of adventure on beautiful class 2-3 rolling rapids. This is an ideal half-day tour because you don't have to drive very far to find some of the best whitewater in Costa Rica! Although you don't need experience, you should know how to swim.  Includes: tropical fruit, lunch, round-trip transportation and professionally-qualified bilingual guides.

Whitewater Rafting Rio Toro III-IV (7 hours) - $85 per person
Experienced and first-time rafters love the Río Toro for full-day, class 3-4 rafting. The Río Toro offers over 45- continuous rapids along more than 16 kilometers of deep-canyon gorges and waterfalls where we often see sloths, monkeys and tropical birds, such as toucans and the Montezuma Oropendula. Imagine rafting through exciting, action-packed rapids with names like “morning coffee,” "the Danish Taco," “coco loco,” “the eraser,” and the famous “B-F-W!”  Note: Rafters should be ages 12 to 55 and in good physical condition. Although you don't need experience, rafters should know how to swim. Please bring secure shoes and dry clothes to change into.  Includes: tropical fruit, lunch, round-trip transportation and professionally-qualified bilingual guides.

Sportfishing on Lake Arenal - Full day $220 per person/Half day $110 per person
Enjoy catch & release fishing of the Rainbow Bass, the incredible fighter of the Arenal Lake. The lake is a very attractive place, as it is also possible to view the Arenal Volcano with its impressive ash and lava eruptions.  The motorboats are equipped with gyratory boat seats, electric motors, radar, equipment for trolling and casting, expert guides and life jackets.  Includes: all equipment and snacks, bilingual guide and, in the case of a full day, lunch.

ATV Tour (3 hours) - $75 per ATV (1 driver)/$30 second driver
Note: Minimum required age is 16 years old

Savor the powerful presence of Arenal Volcano as you ride through exotic tropical plantations of banana, papaya, yucca, avocado, black pepper and fruit trees –  all under the professional guidance of your experienced bilingual guides.  Travel through the tropical cloud forest of the La Fortuna ecosystem, located between the typical town of La Fortuna and the Arenal Volcano, and delight once again in Costa Rica’s diverse flora and fauna all in its natural habitat. During your adventure, feel free to cool off in a natural, crystal-clear pool with stunning views and a spectacular waterfall any time of year.  Continue your unique journey to an impressive, secluded Butterfly Farm where you can observe a distinct variety of local butterflies and study their complete life cycle – all in their natural environment.  If you are lucky, you can also enjoy the farming exhibit of the exotic animal, the Agouti Pocas or “Tepezcuintes”, which actually helps protect other local endangered species. Includes: round-trip transportation, bilingual guide, equipment and snacks.

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