What to See at the Foot of Arenal
Can you climb Arenal?
No. The cone and a zone of about 4 km around the crater have been closed to the public since 1998, and only scientists and park staff may go in. Anyone who guides people inside risks criminal charges, with reported penalties of 6 months to 3 years. What visitors can do is walk and look from the base, which is where every legal trail runs.
Is the volcano erupting?
Arenal has been dormant since the end of 2010. It gives off no glow and sends no lava down its sides, so evening tours cannot show any. The dark rock beside the trails is hardened lava from 1968 and later eruptions.
What happened in 1968?
An eruption buried the villages of Pueblo Nuevo and Tabacon, and at least 78 people died. Treat the lava fields with that history in mind, and keep voices and behaviour respectful at the walks that cross them.
Where do you buy a ticket?
National park. Arenal Volcano National Park charges foreign adults about $15 and children about $5. Opening hours run from about 8am, with last entry around 3pm and closing at about 4pm. It has two sectors: Volcan, with the Las Coladas viewpoint trail of about 1.8 km, and Peninsula, with a lake tower. Buying online ahead is wise where offered, and a card should be in your wallet next to the cash.
Arenal 1968. The private reserve next door charges about $25 per adult, with trails of roughly 7 km altogether.
Arenal Observatory Lodge. The entrance fee is about $20 to $22. A day pass with lunch is $40. The grounds include 11 km of trails and a 28 m tower named The Nest that looks over the forest, the cone and the lake.
Mistico Arenal. Its boardwalk and bridges run for 3.2 km, with 16 crossings and six hanging up to 45 m up. Opening hours are 6am to 3:50pm and tickets start at $32 plus tax. Footwear must cover your toes and grip well.
How hard is the waterfall?
La Fortuna Waterfall costs foreign adults about $20. The staircase has about 500 steps, and you climb them again on the way out. The gates open in the morning and shut in mid-afternoon, and the official page has the exact times. Swimming is for the calm pool at the base only.
Quick advice
- Anywhere you park by the roadside, leave nothing inside the car.
- Dollar prices are rounded, so confirm them locally.
Read more: Walking tours in La Fortuna and Bus tours in La Fortuna .
Primary sources: Arenal 1968 and the lodge day passes .
Guided visits: Viator .