Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal — Attraction in La Fortuna

We are nature lovers and big hikers so read if youre like us. Such pretty trails! We did them all. My favorite trails that I believe have the best views and scenery are #4-#5 and Def don't miss 1&2! We went around 9am on Friday and hardly anyone was there. Super quiet. When we were leaving the main area (not the 1 and 2 trails) it was filling up. But if you go on the 4 trail with the 5 there's a staircase going up and wow! What a view and the old lava is so cool! (Idk why people giving it 1 star were so unimpressed by old lava. But, there really is a LOT of tourists in la fortuna who I don't think appreciate nature or understand geology well. Idk. Lol.) U can walk or drive all the way to the end for the arenal view if you're elderly or have a hard time walking and see the volcano and read about it. U do see the volcano thru oit the town but I really did enjoy these trails. For that particular site though id definitleg drive up not hike because the view there is not as good as what you see on the trails! But still a great option for handicapped or elderly! And a must drive up anyways just to read about it. Def do the trails though. So pretty. You can see lake arenal too! After the main park entrance you leave and exit left....there is a second section to the right on a gravel road. Don't be discouraged and don't give up! Hahaha the two trails are so worth it and very remote bc of the gravel road up to it. The trails there are actually paved (the main one, not the side one) so if you're elderly or handicapped a great one to see the volcano and lake arenal. Just keep driving up that road! Very nice bathrooms and water fountains too. We saw tons more wildlife on these trails- capacino monkeys, howler monkeys, lizards and snakes. Just because there's way less tourists here, u see way more wildlife on these two trails. It's amazing. Very...

I went to the main entrance (Main Sector), not the peninsula sector, on my own, no tour group. Entrance fee is per person, not per car. Only map available is on a sign at the start of where the hiking trails are, so you take a picture of it on your phone. Hiking trails are all relatively short and marked--I think the longest trail round trip was 2-3 miles? I think I did the longer route, took under 2 hours. I'm a pretty slow walker. Most of the terrain is flat, up until some stairs to get to the view point where you can see the volcano on your left, and the lake on the right. Walk slowly over the lava rocks in this area. I think the Ceibo tree was cooler to look at than the volcano tbh, because the views of the volcano were cooler looking to me when you look at from farther away, like from a lookout point (eg, Mistico Hanging Bridges Park). I think if, for whatever reason, you truly despise hiking, you might be better off seeing the volcano from Mistico Hanging Bridges Park? I think the Peninsula sector entrance leads to a lookout point, but didn't have a chance to go. I personally enjoyed the hike--felt nice to walk through a forest and stare up at the gigantic Ceibo tree, walk on...

We visited the National Park , taking the half hour or so, absolutely stunning, scenic drive to the park from La Fortuna. It was really easy to get to, even if you're not great with directions or driving in foreign countries. FYI, their roads are pretty good there, for the most part, and they drive on the right side of the road. We had a Hyundai SUV, and it was fine with everything that we did.

We drove down to the very last parking lot in the park, and looked at the maps. We decided to do #4 and #5, the Ceiba Tree path, and another one. The Ceiba Tree path was an offshoot of the lass challenging path. It was a bit harder than the main one. If you're really out of shape, have hip or knee problems, I would be hesitant to do it. There were a lot of roots and loose rocks on the path. There's a volcano lookout, as well.

Along the route driving up and back from La Fortuna, that's where you will find all of the hot springs spas. Tabacon, Baldi, probably 6+. Those are definitely worth checking out! There are fabulous hotels at the hotel springs, as well, or you can buy day passes.

Do not...