Arenal Volcano National Park and Hot Springs
3 days / 2 nights
This trip takes you to an active volcano where you can witness amazing eruptions, hike through a rainforest to a spectacular waterfall, go horseback riding, and soak in soothing hot springs.
Costa Rica’s most active volcano, Arenal sporadically spews smoke, ash and lava, sometimes in thunderous eruptions that send incandescent boulders rolling down its upper slopes. On a clear night, the show is riveting, but that mammoth volcano is an impressive sight at any hour, and the surrounding countryside holds lush rainforest, a spectacular waterfall and lovely hot springs.
Day 01: Drive to La Fortuna de Arenal. Horseback tour to waterfall
This tour starts in the morning with a scenic three-and-a-half-hour drive past rolling coffee fields and exuberant rainforests. After you settle into your cozy lodge near cone-shaped Arenal Volcano and enjoy a hearty lunch, we’ll drive you to a stable where a guide and horses await you for a ride to La Fortuna Waterfall. You’ll enjoy a leisurely horseback ride past forest patches, pastureland and panoramic views of Arenal Volcano’s lush eastern slope and the northern plains. After a 1-hour ride, you’ll get your first look at 230-foot La Fortuna Waterfall. You’ll then hike down a steep stairway with handrails into a lush valley, at the end of which the spectacular waterfall plummets into an emerald pool. Wear your bathing suite and take a towel so you can swim in the pool, or simply admire the cascade from a boulder along the riverbank. The surrounding forest provides a breathtaking setting and is a good place to look for birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Overnight at Arenal Springs Hotel or similar.
Day 02: Morning tour of Arenal Hanging Bridges, Afternoon at Arenal Volcano and Hot Springs
On the second day, after a Costa Rican style breakfast, you’ll head to the Arenal Hanging Bridges, a fascinating rainforest circuit of interpretive trails and suspended bridges. The bridges will bring you close to birds, orchids and other plants in the elevated garden of the rainforest canopy. After lunch and a break in your hotel, we’ll pick you up at 3 pm to visit the west side of Arenal Volcano. From an observation point near the base of Arenal, you’ll listen for the sounds of eruptions as your guide explains the history of this magnificent volcano. If the cloud cover is high enough, you may see a dazzling display of natural fireworks as molten stone and ash is ejected from the volcano’s crater. We’ll then head to the Ecotermales del Bosque Hot Springs, a system of streams and thermal pools nestled amidt lush tropical vegetation The hot spring’s soothing waters cascade over rock formations into pools where you can soak away all your stress. You’ll be back at your hotel around 8:00 pm. Overnight at Arenal Springs Hotel or similar.
Day 03: Choose from two exciting, optional half-day tours: Mountain Bike Tour or Canyon Rappelling Tour
After a delicious breakfast you can take one of the following tours:
Mountain bike tour
This tour is a guided, leisurely bike ride along an unpaved road that snakes its way past forests, pastures and views of Arenal Volcano. You may see toucans, parrots and other wildlife on the ride. It’s a fun trip for beginners and experienced bikers alike.
Canyon rappelling tour
Your trip begins with a 30-minute drive to a tropical rainforest reserve, where we trek through the forest to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica. Along the way we may see monkeys, sloths and other wildlife. Once at the waterfall, we put on our gear and rappel into a lush, pristine canyon below. We then hike through the canyon and rappel down to more waterfalls and a series of tranquil pools, where we can do some bird watching, or simply relax in paradise.
In the afternoon, we’ll drive you back in San Jose, where you arrive in the late evening.
The itinerary includes: Round-trip land transportation, two nights lodging at the Arenal Springs Hotel, or similar, horseback riding tour, hanging bridges entrance, use of mountain bikes or the canyon tour, entrance fees to Arenal Volcano National Park and Ecotermales del Bosque Hot Springs, 2 breakfasts, 2 snacks, 1 lunch and bilingual guide.
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