The 29,692-acre Arenal Volcano National Park is located within Arenal Conservation Area in Costa Rica. This area contains a great wealth of geologic and biological complexity, as evidenced by the active and incredible Arenal Volcano. This national park has two volcanoes, Arenal Volcano and Chato Volcano. The latter has been inactive for nearly 3,500 years and has a collapsed crater that contains a picture-perfect lagoon.
In contrast, Arenal is Costa Rica’s most active volcano, and since July 29, 1968, its lava flows have been consistent. During the days, you can see smoke and cinder blocks billowing from Arenal’s top, while at night you can watch the fiery-red lava pour down its steep sides.
Within the national park, short trails pass through both secondary forest and lava fields from previous eruptions. The park rangers keep a close eye on the volcanic activity, and will not hesitate to close trails or portions of the park if they feel that it is unsafe.
Address: Calle Real el Castillo, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica
Coordinates: 10.4612° N, 84.7281° W
