Arenal Volcano National Park National Park

Address: Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Website: https://www.sinac.go.cr/

Hours: Park hours vary by sector; main visitor areas typically open daily 6:00am-5:00pm

Admission: Park entrance: around CRC 1000-3000 (~$2-6) for foreigners depending on the access area; fees vary by activity (hiking, guided tours).

Arenal Volcano National Park protects Arenal Volcano and adjacent rainforest in northwestern Costa Rica’s Alajuela Province. The park was created to conserve the volcano, its lava flows and the surrounding ecosystems and is a well known destination for hiking and wildlife viewing.

Trails within the park pass older lava fields, secondary forest and lookout points that offer views across the volcano and down to Lake Arenal. Visitors commonly use short marked trails and designated observation points; visitor facilities and guided options are based in nearby La Fortuna.

Arenal produced a major eruption in 1968 after a long period of dormancy and remained one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanoes for decades afterward. Since about 2010 eruptive activity has declined markedly, shifting the focus of visitor activity toward trails, forest biodiversity and geologic features left by past eruptions.

The park lies in the northern highlands of Costa Rica in Alajuela Province, immediately southwest of the town of La Fortuna and bordering the northern shore of Lake Arenal. The landscape combines volcanic cones, lava fields and humid tropical forest.

• Base town: Best viewpoints and visitor services are located near the town of La Fortuna, which lies on the northeastern side of the park and serves as the usual base for visits.
• Eruption history: The volcano produced a major eruption in 1968 and was frequently active with visible lava flows and ash emissions through much of the late 20th and early 21st centuries; intense eruptive activity declined after 2010.

Arenal Volcano National Park is about a 2.5-3 hour drive from San José. The nearest town is La Fortuna; many visitors drive or take shuttle buses from San José or Liberia. Road conditions are generally good; car hire and guided transfers are common.

• Visit La Fortuna or La Fortuna Waterfall as base points - most tour operators there run canopy, hanging bridge and volcano excursions.
• Book guided hikes for experience with trail and volcanic geology rather than attempting off-trail climbs.
• Check the national park status: Arenal remains an active volcanic area and certain zones can be restricted during increased activity.