Arenal, Monteverde, and the Northern Lowlands Sights

Shopping Nightlife

1. Arenal Volcano National Park

Although the volcano is in a resting phase, you might see an occasional plume of smoke. It is still worth visiting the network of three easy trails leading to old lava flows, secondary rain forest, and a lookout point. (You are still limited in how close you can get, since no one can predict when Arenal will roar to life again.) The park is home to more than 200 species of birds, as well as monkeys, sloths, coatis, deer, and anteaters. A top trail within the park is Heliconias (0.61 km [0.38 mile]), which has a lookout point and connects to Las Coladas Trail (2 km [1 mile]). You'll see hardened lava streams from 1992 and a 200-year-old ceiba tree on El Ceibo loop (2.3 km [1.43 miles]) toward the edge of the park. Los Miradores Trail (1.29 km [0.8 mile]) takes you on a paved trail to Lake Arenal. Old lava flows are also visible on the popular Los Tucanes Trail that begins near the Arenal Observatory Lodge. Guides are available for hire at the neighboring tour office, Arenal 1968. Bring plenty of water, but remember that single-use plastics are prohibited in all of Costa Rica's national parks (a reusable water bottle will make a nice souvenir). Outside the national park is the noteworthy Cerro Chatto, an inactive volcano which you can hike from a trailhead near La Fortuna Waterfall at the Green Lagoon Lodge.  Expect to pay an entrance fee of up to $10. The challenging, steep, and often muddy Cerro Chatto Trail is for experienced hikers in good physical condition. It takes about three to four hours to reach the stunning, emerald green crater lake.