Back

Hike up to Arenal crater lake

cos01-hike-up-to-a-crater-lake-free-rafe-crop

Climb through primary forest to reach the lake at the summit of Cerro Chato volcano before heading down to the waterfall of La Fortuna.

Bursting out from the slope of Arenal, Cerro Chato is a volcanic cone lushly cloaked in dense vegetation and guarding a mesmerising lagoon within its long-extinct crater.

The steep hike up and leisurely walk down present you with a compendium of Costa Rica's natural beauty – ferns and vines drape across mossy branches that provide a home for monkeys and tropical birds, and the gushing flume of La Fortuna waterfall pours into a jungle-enveloped amphitheatre. On the descent, you'll have time for a dip in its refreshing plunge pool as a 70m stream of water crashes down metres away from you.

Activity Rating: easy

Costa Rica
Arenal and the north

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

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

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

  • 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.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

0 1 2 3 4 5