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Arenal Volcano at sunset with a warm-lit cloud rising above its summit
Volcano at sunset

01 / 04 · Volcano at sunset

Walk where the lava cooled

Arenal Volcano Ecological Park

La Fortuna, Costa Rica

The only Arenal volcano hike across three lava flows: 1535, 1968 and 2010. A private park with trails for every level, a volcanic lagoon, guided tree climbing and a campsite, 15 minutes from La Fortuna.

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BEFORE YOU GO

Plan your visit

Person in a cap and light jacket looking up on a forest path among bamboo and leaves
Aerial view of Arenal Volcano above dense forest at sunset, with a small lagoon and green pasture below
Person in an orange cap sitting on a leaning tree trunk above a green lagoon, with a volcano behind

INSIDE THE PARK

Arenal Volcano TrailsWhat the day looks like.

  • The only park with all three of Arenal's lava flows: 1535, 1968 and 2010, in one visit
  • Self-guided or with a naturalist guide: color-coded trails from family-friendly to hard.
  • Add the volcanic lagoon with kayak, stand-up paddle and water zipline on the Day Pass.
  • Certified Hugging Trees and a Nature Amplifier: stops to listen to the forest, not only walk it.
  • One of the few pet-friendly parks in La Fortuna: dogs on a leash and your own picnic welcome.
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CHOOSE HOW YOU VISIT

Park tickets
and Tours

All tours include:

  • Private parking
  • Restrooms and showers
  • Park entrance
  • Lagoon-view decks
  • Certified Hugging Trees
  • Pet-friendly access
Arenal Volcano with a cloud over its summit, lit by warm evening light above green forest

SELF-PACED

Park entrance

Self-guided. Three trails across the 1535, 1968 and 2010 lava flows, lookouts at 2,000 ft.

DURATION
1.5 to 2 h
RATE
Foreigners $18Residents $13
  • Walk across three different lava flows
  • Two volcano lookouts along the hiking trails
  • No time limit, digital map and color-coded signs
  • Access to all three trails, from family to hard
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Adult pointing up into the forest canopy while another adult carrying a baby and a child look on

WITH A GUIDE

Nature Guided Tours

Explore the park with a bilingual naturalist who adds context to the trails, wildlife and volcanic landscape.

DURATION
2 hr
RATE FROM
$65 per person
  • Arenal Volcano Guided Hike
  • Arenal Night Walk
  • Arenal Birdwatching Tour
  • Bilingual naturalist and hotel pickup from Zone 1 on every tour
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Person standing on a paddleboard on a green lagoon below Arenal Volcano and forested hills

TRAIL + WATER

Day pass

The trails plus the park's volcanic lagoon: kayak, water zipline and stand-up paddle.

DURATION
4 to 5 hr
RATE
Foreigners $40Residents $27
  • Lagoon activities: kayak, water zipline, stand-up paddle
  • Add a guided tree climb and fishing
  • Hike the park’s three lava-flow trails
  • Or go fully guided with the Guided Day Pass
Choose your Day Pass
Red dome tent and a table in the forest at dusk, with Arenal Volcano in the distance

OVERNIGHT

Camping

Stay one night inside Arenal Volcano Ecological Park, with your Arenal Volcano Day Pass included.

DURATION
1 night
RATE
$50 per night
  • Covered area with equipped, pre-pitched tent
  • Grill, charcoal and cooking kit
  • Park access until 5 p.m. on departure day
  • Day Pass included
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WHY THIS PARK

What sets this park apartFour differences you can walk, climb and swim

Adult and child walking up a dirt trail through dense forest and ferns

Three lava flows, no paved trails

DETAILS

Three lava flows, no paved trails

The only park where Arenal volcano hiking crosses the 1535, 1968 and 2010 lava flows: 475 years of volcanic activity on unpaved ground.

Red dome tent and a table in the forest, with Arenal Volcano rising in the evening light

Water activities on a volcanic lagoon

DETAILS

Water activities on a volcanic lagoon

After the trails, the Day Pass adds the park’s volcanic lagoon: kayak, stand-up paddle and water zipline, all in the same visit.

Climber high on a tall tree trunk seen from below against a blue sky and green canopy

Tree climbing with a guide

DETAILS

Tree climbing with a guide

Add a guided tree climb to the Day Pass: a guide leads the way up, and the rainforest looks different from above.

Kayaker paddling across a green lagoon toward forested hills and Arenal Volcano

Camping inside the park

DETAILS

Camping inside the park

Stay one night inside the park, 6 miles from La Fortuna: a covered area with an equipped, pre-pitched tent, plus grill and cooking kit.

HOW TO GET TO ARENAL VOLCANO ECOLOGICAL PARK

The route begins
before the trail.

The park is 6 miles from downtown La Fortuna, about 15 minutes by car on the road to the lake.

The Arenal Volcano National Park entrance (SINAC) is a separate access, not the park's gate. Parking is included with every ticket; guided tours include pickup from your hotel in Zone 1.

How to get hereOpen the park map

GETTING HERE

PEVA location

10.4926793, −84.7171642

Source: park orientation map published by PEVA; labels remain as shown in the source.

PEVA park map

Illustrated map of the park showing the three trails, the lagoon and the entrance
Source: park orientation map published by PEVA; labels remain as shown in the source.

Download the map

Otter resting on a log in still waterOtter in shallow water holding food in its paws, half hidden behind branches
Three-toed sloth holding a branch among green leavesSloth hanging from a branch at night, its face turned toward the camera
Two red-eyed tree frogs close together on a leaf at nightRed-eyed tree frog with blue flanks resting on a dark leaf at night

RESEARCH AND CONSERVATION

Your ticket
walks further
than you do.

The park borders the Arenal Conservation Area and works alongside SINAC and MINAE. It opens its trails to university research, took part in Costa Rica's national reptile and amphibian count with one of the highest tallies in the country, and hosts school groups and student interns year-round.

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Free-living wildlife · sighting not guaranteed

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Frequently
asked questions

Read all FAQ
Is this the Arenal Volcano National Park?

No. Arenal Volcano Ecological Park is a private park next to the National Park, with its own entrance, its own trails on the 1535, 1968 and 2010 lava flows and its own tickets. The National Park (SINAC) is a separate access.

Can you hike to the top of Arenal Volcano?

No. The summit is closed to the public; no park in the area takes visitors to the crater. The trails here cross the lava flows at its base and climb to lookouts at about 2,000 ft with the cone straight ahead.

Do I need a guide?

No. The Park Entrance is self-guided, with a digital map and a briefing at reception. Book a Nature Guided Tour if you want a bilingual naturalist, hotel pickup from Zone 1, or the birds at dawn and the forest at night.

How hard are the trails?

Three trails, three levels: Sendero Perezoso for families, Sendero Saíno intermediate to hard, Lava 1535 hard, with a sign where the steep section starts. Closed shoes on all three; roots and steps are part of the ground.