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.

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

What our clients say Contact Us

Holidays Arenal and the north

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

Costa Rican Tourist Board ©

Private Journeys

Costa Rica

Costa Rica Wildlife Discovery

15 days from £5,020pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

iStock ©

Private Journeys

Costa Rica

Explore and Relax in Costa Rica: Volcanoes to the beach

11 days from £6,500pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

COS_Aernal_HangingBridges _TouristBoard

Private Journeys

Costa Rica

Family Costa Rica: Jungle walks and turtle spotting

14 days from £3,610pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Hotel Owned ©

Private Journeys

Costa Rica

Luxury adventures in Costa Rica

8 days from £3,200pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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.

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

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Millie
    Millie Davies - Travel Expert

    Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

0 1 2 3 4 5