Arenal Volcano Holidays

Although the perfectly conical Arenal Volcano is spectacular to admire from afar, it's best to get a bit closer to the action with a visit to the Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal. You can't climb the volcano, but there are some excellent trails across lava fields and through the area of forest that was flattened when the volcano erupted in 1968. As is so often the case in Central America, there is always the chance that the volcano will be obscured by cloud. But there are plenty of other things to do and see in and around Arenal Volcano National Park, which is covered in primary cloud forest and rainforest and teeming with wildlife. If you aren't interested in taking to one of the trails, you can admire the forest from up high as you swoop through the canopy on a series of zip-wires. Night zip-wiring tours can also be arranged, during which you can see the glowing red lava erupting from the nearby volcano. Thanks to the region’s volcanic activity, there are also a number of bubbling hot springs here, which provide the ideal antidote to aching muscles after a day spent exploring the area.