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Introduction to Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna

If you've never experienced them firsthand, the sights and sounds of an active volcano erupting are awesome. Arenal is one of the world's most regularly active volcanoes. In July 1968, the volcano, which had lain dormant for hundreds of years, surprised everybody by erupting with sudden violence. The nearby village of Tabacón was destroyed, and nearly 80 of its inhabitants were killed. Since that eruption, 1,607m (5,271-ft.) Arenal has been Costa Rica's most active volcano. Frequent powerful explosions send cascades of red-hot lava rocks tumbling down the western slope, and during the day, the lava flows steam and rumble. However, at night the volcano puts on its most mesmerizing show. If you are lucky enough to be here on a clear and active night, you'll see the night sky turned red by lava spewing from Arenal's crater. In the past few years, the forests to the south of the volcano have been declared Arenal National Park. Eventually, this park should stretch all the way to Monteverde Biological Cloud Forest Reserve.