What is Not in the Arenal Volcano Region

It’s helpful when planning to know what doesn’t work well from the Arenal region and what you won’t find there that you might elsewhere.

Lately the thing that’s been most conspicuously absent from Arenal are the views of lava and red hot boulders streaming down the sides of the perfect cone at night.  Scenes like the one below have not been seen recently.  The volcano is in a quiet phase and although the National Institute of vulcanology assures us that it’s still very much alive and active it’s mostly just been puffing a little smoke occasionally.

 

The volcano has always gone through cycles of intense and quieter activity with major changes occurring a few months to a few years apart so know one know exactly when the big shows will be back, but eventually they will.

Trekking & Long Hikes

There are a few short hiking trails near La Fortuna and in Arenal national park and several small reserves with walking trails, but camping is not allowed in the park so there’s no trekking and nothing in the way of longer all day hikes.

Monteverde Cloudforest & Beaches

We’re often asked if it’s possible to take a day trip to the beach or Monteverde cloud forest from Arenal volcano. While technically the answer is yes, you can get there and back in a day, it’s strongly discouraged.

It takes between three and a half and four hours to get from La Fortuna to the nearest beach and a similar travel time to Monteverde.  By the time you’ve gotten there and back you’re only left with a couple of hours of daylight and it’s just not worth the travel time.  Spend at least one night or skip it.