Arenal Volcano

The Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica is not just the country's most active volcano. It is also a treasure trove of fun activities. It's a great place to get some adventure – the sight of the volcano in action is a great place to start. Here, you can get a load of molten lava and hot rocks being spewed out of its mouth. The best time to see it is at night when the lava and rocks glow in the darkness.

Arenal was first mistaken for a mountain. This may be because it had been dormant for 400 years. However, when it erupted in 1968, it covered close to 6 square miles with ash, hot lava and rock. It has remained active since then, glowing mystically in the night.

The combination of red hot lava, glowing rocks, and blue skies is an awesome sight, with some five explosions occurring every day. Deep rumblings caused by the explosions further accompany this. These explosions, classified as strombolian in type, are moderate and frequent and are relatively safe for viewers as long as they don't wander into the restricted areas. The relative safety it affords allows you an up-close and personal look into an active volcano.

The volcano, along with the breathtakingly beautiful tropical forest, waterfalls, and hot springs, provides you with an unforgettable experience of the beauty of Costa Rica. .There is no other place like this on earth.

The volcano boasts of a perfect cone soaring at the height of 1,633 meters, providing you with a postcard-perfect sight. You can get as close to the volcano's crater using any of the hiking trails prescribed in the national park. The Las Coladas trail passes a look-out point and goes on to reach the lava flows. You can also pass through the Las Heliconias trail and the Los Tucanes trail. There are other interesting trails you can use to reach the different parts of the volcano. Some of them lead to the Arenal Observatory Lodge, where you can view the smoldering lava from a safe distance. If walking is not your thing, you can try going for a horseback ride. Some tour companies offer these.

You can also take a refreshing dip at the pool below the Cataratas Rio Fortuna, which is simply beautiful. There are also hot springs between the road from Lake Arenal to La Fortuna de San Carlos. At these hot springs, you can take a long and relaxing swim even as you view the volcano. These dips are great during the evenings when the air is cool, and the volcano is glowing eerily from a distance. What's more, you can also pamper yourself with a mud pack and massage.

Arenal Volcano is part of the Arenal Volcano National Park, which is also home to Lake Arenal and Cerro Chato (an extinct volcano with a collapsed crater). The national park is among Costa Rica's largest and most popular. Other adventures you can indulge in near the volcano include white water rafting, fishing and canyoning.