Lake Arenal

Echoing the gurgle of Tabacon’s thermal springs, drowning out the rustle of lush tropical vegetation, somewhere far away thunder rumbles. To those unfamiliar with the area, it may sound like the harbinger of an approaching thunderstorm, but in reality it is the sound of the nearby Arenal volcano erupting in north-central Costa Rica, not far from the hospitable town of La Fortuna.

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General Information

Currently considered the fourth of the world’s active volcanoes, the awe-inspiring Arenal Volcano and the stunningly beautiful setting of the ancient rain forest enchant visitors once and for all. Together with the huge and magnificent artificial lake Arenal is a sight to behold for tourists arriving in Costa Rica.

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Many people come here to windsurf or catch rainbow bass, but even better to admire the eruption of a real volcano, to watch the lava crawl up the walls of the steep crater, to listen to the hissing flames in the vent of the volcano.

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The lovely small town of La Fortuna near Arenal Volcano National Park and the Cano Negro Reserve is the starting point for many trails in the area. The waterfall 3.2 kilometers east of L a Fortuna is one of the most beautiful in Costa Rica, plus it’s walkable and not at all tiring, although the trail goes through forest in deep rocky canyons.

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An hour’s drive from La Fortuna are the Ve-nado Caves, created by the flow of water penetrating the limestone cliffs around them. The caves are over 7 million years old and form a complex labyrinth of deep tunnels.