Costa Rica’s 7 Natural Wonders Part One of a Series of…..Well, Seven

Costa Rica’s Natural Wonder Arenal Volcano

Costa Rica is full of Natural Wonders. This is part one of a series of 7 articles highlighting each of Costa Rica’s distinctly unique Natural Wonders.

Arenal Volcano (Volcán Arenal en Español) ranks #2 on Costa Rica’s list of 7 Natural Wonders. Readers beware: the Arenal Volcano will steal your heart! Yes, there is something about Arenal… it is positively captivating… I can confirm firsthand. I fall a little more in love with this volcano every time I see it.

Don’t just take our word for it. Arenal Volcano National Park was just rated number 6 in the WORLD for the best National Parks according to Trip Advisers latest Traveler’s Choice Awards. In the world!! That is humbling for a country the size of Costa Rica. However, with nearly 25% of our country designated as protected National Park land, I guess we were bound to end up on that list somewhere.

What Makes the Arenal Volcano So Unique?

Arenal Volcano is a perfectly symmetrical cone, characteristic of andesitic stratovolcanoes. Oh yeah, and also a photographer’s dream. Still considered active, and standing at over 5400 feet tall, Arenal Volcano is an imposing figure looming on the horizon to be sure. Basically, if you’re anywhere near it, it is extremely difficult to miss. And there are so many great activities to take part in that you definitely will want to get near it! And you definitely will not want to miss out on hiking around Arenal National Park either!

Estimated at around 7500 years of age, Volcan Arenal is relatively young geologically speaking. It was in 1968 that the volcano awoke from its dormancy and erupted suddenly, killing several people and destroying the small town of Tabacon to the west. The town to the east of Arenal, El Burio, was completely untouched by the eruption, and was subsequently dubbed with a new moniker: La Fortuna (“The Fortunate”). For good reason.

It appears that for now the volcano Arenal is asleep, as no reportable seismic activity has taken place since late 2012. But from that fateful explosion of 1968 forward until then, it was almost constantly spewing plumes of smoke, producing rivers of molten lava, and sending huge boulders flying and tumbling down its side.

Arenal Volcano: A Truly Unforgettable Experience in Costa Rica

One of my favorite life experiences so far is the month I spent in a small cabin at the base of Arenal in early 2003. I spent many dark, star-filled nights sitting in my porch rocking chair. I would watch in awe as the hundreds of red-hot rivers flowed like veins down the mountainside. It never got old. And the explosions! Like cannons, so loud! And in the dark so much scarier. The explosions were somewhat constant, happening day and night, and if you looked closely during the day you could usually spot a boulder tumbling down the mountainside shortly after your heart skipped a beat and you jumped out of your seat. It was absolutely fascinating and humbling living next to that mountain.

The Arenal Volcano No Longer Flows with Lava, So What is the Attraction Still?

Flash forward ten years later, and I sat on the very same rocking chair on the very same porch on a sunny afternoon. This time with the company of my dog. We both just kind of stared in awe. I was again taken by the beauty of the volcano. However, this time what caught my eye, was the verdant green that seemed to reclaim the mountain. And ever since that, that vantage point has been my go-to for photos…. you may have noticed.

I guess from a tourist standpoint, it is a shame the Arenal Volcano is not regularly active like it was on my first visit in 2003. However, the fact that it is not constantly rumbling is probably more of a blessing for the locals. I highly recommend a visit to the Volcan Arenal for your bucket list! We don’t even need to imagine… we have known its potential… and to be in its midst is to experience great energy. Despite the lack of lava flow, we can guarantee, for its imposing and formidable stature, for its history and lore and for its future potential; the Arenal Volcano will impress even the most seasoned travelers.

La Fortuna: It’s Not ALL About The Arenal Volcano National Park

Visiting Arenal and La Fortuna is not all about staring at the volcano and be humbled by it. There are a ton of things to do in Arenal! La Fortuna happens to be a natural adventure hub in Costa Rica. The Arenal Volcano is located at convergence of many routes. It is actually within just a few hours of nearly all of the most popular destinations in Costa Rica.

As a result, you can experience a lot of things in La Fortuna that you might have on your life’s bucket list. Super fun things to do in La Fortuna like canopy tours, river rafting, and waterfall rappelling. Or maybe instead you’d rather fill your days with relatively chill activities like a sunset cruise (in paradise), or fishing (in paradise) or soaking in natural hot springs (in paradise). Whatever sounds good to you! La Fortuna is one destination in Costa Rica that is guaranteed to blow you away, it’s amazing actually.

If you’re looking for a really incredible life experience, one that must have that “rarefied” edge, something that speaks to the adventurer, nature lover, danger craver and expert relaxer in you; consider Arenal Volcano. Whatever you’re looking for, I’m confident you’ll find it here at the intersection of Carpe Diem and Pura Vida.