Costa Rica Arenal and the north

  • Arenal
  • Tom Parrott ©
  • Arenal hanging bridges
  • Monkey in the Arenal area, Costa Rica
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The thick forests of this conservation area, overlooked by the conical volcano Arenal, contain half the known species of birds, mammals and reptiles in the country.

Overview

The pleasingly conical volcano Arenal rises from a skirt of thick forest and the waters of Lake Arenal. Once famous for its eruptions of molten lava, it erupts infrequently nowadays (nothing since 2010) The landscape here is ruggedly beautiful and comprises one of Costa Rica’s many conservation areas, protecting a territory of amazing biodiversity which contains half the known species of birds, mammals and reptiles in the country. It is also popular among adventure-activities enthusiasts, and visits are serviced in the formerly dozy town of La Fortuna. Cloud forest, waterfalls, caves and thermal pools – this is a diverse and captivating region.

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Holidays Arenal and the north

Discover our range of holidays taking in the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica. Book now with Journey Latin America.

Water and jungle in Tortuguero National Park

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Costa Rica Wildlife Discovery

13 days from £4,550pp

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Palm trees on a white sand beach

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Explore and Relax in Costa Rica: Volcanoes to the beach

11 days from £3,925pp

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Boys standing on hanging bridges in Costa Rica

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Family Costa Rica: Jungle walks and turtle spotting

14 days from £3,825pp

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Bridge to Pacuare Lodge in deep jungle

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Luxury adventures in Costa Rica

8 days from £4,700pp

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Things to do

Enjoy soaking in hot springs, riding on horseback or following a nature trail at the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica. Book now with Journey Latin America.

Accommodation

Discover our range of accommodation near Costa Rica’s breath-taking Arenal volcano. Book now with Journey Latin America.

Arenal Manoa
Arenal Nayara spa and gardens
Hacienda Guachipelin
Nayara Springs

Where to go when - our guide to Arenal and the north

Arenal

The weather in Arenal and the north is wide and varied

Situated three hours north from the capital is this region of lush cloud forest, sparkling lakes and gushing waterfalls, overlooked by the pleasingly conical volcano Arenal. Although this area sits at 1,000m above sea level, its temperatures remain high all year round, with highs of 32°C.

View our Arenal and the north weather guide

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    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

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    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

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    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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