Location Description:

La Fortuna de San Carlos is a small picturesque town that lies at the foot of the Arenal Volcano at 1150 feet over sea level, thrives on travelers passing through on their way to the volcano or to Lake Arenal. Despite the town’s small size, it offers a wealth of small economical hotels and restaurants.

Nearby natural attractions include the Fortuna Waterfall that is worth the drive and the thirty minute hike. Local tours operators also offers horseback riding on winding paths that will take you through primary rain forest with spectacular views of both the lake and the volcano.

Arenal Volcano

The Arenal Volcano is the most spectacular in Costa Rica . Its height is 5,356 feet at its actual summit formed form the first eruption in 1968, blasting Lava and molten boulders from three separate craters to form a new one, knocking nearly 165 feet (50 meters) off the elevation and destroying the villages of Tabacon and Pueblo Nuevo killing 87 people.
Since then it has had continous activity and large eruptions in 1973, 1975, 1993, 2000, 2003 and 2005.

Hotels in the region tout their views in the lava flows and red hot boulders ejected from the volcano glowing in the darkness. Although eruptions are the main attraction, you should be aware that even in the dry season the clouds sometimes obscure the top of the volcano, and your chances of seeing a pyroclastic display are lessened in the rainy season.
The perfect cone is visible from most anywhere in the area.

Arenal Volcano National Park

The Arenal conservation area covers near 200,000 hectares along the northern area of Costa Rica. The park is open from 8.00 AM to 4.00 PM. The Park Rangers keep a sharp eye on the volcanic activity and they will tell you which trails are open. They will not hesitate to evacuate the park if they feel it is unsafe for visitors.

From the range 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 look out point trail takes a more southern route.
The mirador is about 0.8 miles (1.3 Kms) by either route. Las Coladas trail continues east another 1.7 miles (2.73 Kms) from the mirador turn off to the southern most lava flows.

There is also a short trail 0.7 miles (1.2 Kms) 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 2.4miles (4 Kms) . The Laguna Volcan 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 along this route.

Lake Arenal

Surrounded by a patchwork of farmland and forest this man–made largest lake in Costa Rica has a reputation worldwide for being one of the fastest lakes for windsurfing. Year-round the lake is a mecca of sorts for an international roster of speed junkies. Winds reach 30 to 45 miles per hour and provide prime conditions for those with the “need for speed”.
Birders will enjoy the area. Of the 850 species of forest land has given a much needed refuge to many of the birds that inhabit the country.
The wet season in this area is beautiful, as you walk through hilly paths, the wildlife is spectacular. Not only will you be able to see colorful and exotic birds such as the lineated woodpecker or the tropical swallow-tailed kite but you may catch brief glimpses of Costa Rica colorful frogs.

The Arenal lake has an area of 85.5 square Kms ( 33 sq miles) and supports up a main Hydroelectric Project that now produces 70% of Costa Rica’s electricity.
The lake’s other claim to fame is its rainbow bass sport fishing.

The Arenal lake offers many other activities all year-round such as windsurfing, boat tours, boat shortcut to the Monteverde Cloud Forest, kayaking, horseback riding and mountain biking along the shore.