Arenal Volcano National Park

Arenal is one of the most famous national parks of Costa Rica, featuring the active cone-shaped Arenal Volcano as the main attraction. The Arenal, with an altitude of 1´633m above sea level, was very active in the period from 1968 to 2010 and was considered one of the 10 most active volcanoes on Earth for a long time. At the moment, it shows rather little activity.

Lake Arenal, located beside the volcano, offers great scenic beauty and generates about 70% of the electricity used in Costa Rica from its hydroelectric dam. The Arenal Volcano National Park is a great place to see wildlife, including more than 500 bird species -- about 53% of all the birds of Costa Rica -- making it an exciting destination for bird-watchers. Hot springs and numerous adventure activities designate the area a top travel destination in Costa Rica.