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Arenal Volcano National Park |
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Page 2 of 5 Hiking Trails
 Sue and I cooled off in the swimming hole below Catarata La Fortuna after the long dusty ride from Zarcero (she's the tiny figure in the lower right corner). (© 1993 Ray Krueger Koplin) From the ranger station at the park entrance you can choose from two hiking trails that lead east to a mirador, a look-out point, where you can watch flowing lava. Las Heliconias trail passes cooled lava from the 1968 eruption, and the lookout point trail takes a more southern route. The mirador is about 0.8 miles (1.4 km) by either route. Las Coladas trail continues east another 1.7 miles (2.8 km) from the mirador turn off to the southern most lava flows. These smoldering southern flows can also be reached on Los Tucanes trail that begins just after the second ford of the Río Agua Caliente on the road to Arenal Observatory lodge. There is also a short trail 0.7 miles (1.2 km) from near the visitors center west of the entrance. Los Miradores trail leads through forested areas to the shore of lake Arenal. There are trail heads at the Arenal Observatory lodge as well. The lava trail leads first down towards the Los Tucanes trail and then a tough climb back to the lodge (2.4 miles, 4 km). The Laguna Volcán Chato trail leads up to the water filled extinct crater of volcano Chato. An old road/trail leads around the south side of Lake Arenal to Monteverde, and tour companies offer horseback rides (your luggage is transported by car on the main road) along this route.
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