Visit Central America

Get up close and personal with a volcano. Arenal, of course, is a Central American must-see, and you can hike around it. And you'll get more than just a pot of hot lava: The area around the volcano also includes a 2,900-hectare national park, an enormous reservoir, and a botanical garden.

Arenal Volcano

Cloud and tropical forest encircle the base of the volcano, which is six kilometers from the town of Fortuna. Arenal itself is some 1,633 meters high and has been continuously active since July, 1968. Every night lava pours down the side of the volcano and huge boulders shoot into the air. Nearby Lake Arenal is used for windsurfing, waterskiing, sailing, and fishing.

Trip Facts
Difficulty rating: Moderate to difficult
When to go: Year-round

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Mainstream Hike Pico Bonito Park Birding at Copan Ruins Dive Bay Islands Explore Monteverde Turtle-Watch at Tortuguero Walk Corcovado Hike Arenal Volcano Swim with the Sharks Experience Belize's Caves Canoe Community Baboon Sanctuary

Off the Beaten Path Birding at Crooked Tree Track Jaguars at Cockscomb Trek the Mosquito Coast Climb in Celaque Park Search for Honduran Wildlife Trek Honduran Forests Hike Costa Rica's Tallest Peak Explore Costa Rica's Volcanic Craters Dive Lighthouse Reef Step Into Belize's Past

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Costa Rica Adventures Luxuriant forests, fascinating wildlife and volcanoes galore — yours to discover in Costa Rica. Top Activity Destinations Canoe Costa Rica Hiking Chirripo Birding: Quetzal Quest Rain Forest Advneture more Central America. . .