Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Arenal was made a national park in 1995, and it is part of the Area de Conservación
Arenal, which protects most of the Cordillera de Tilarán. This area is rugged and varied,
and the biodiversity is high; roughly half the species of land-dwelling vertebrates (birds,
mammals, reptiles and amphibians) known in Costa Rica can be found here. Commonly
seen mammals include howler monkeys, white-faced capuchins and even anteaters (north-
ern tamandua). Coatis are surprisingly tame: don't feed them. With more than 400 species,
birdlife is rich in the park and includes such species as trogons, rufous motmots, fruitcrows
and lancebills.
Activities
From the ranger station (which has trail maps available) you can hike the Sendero Los
Heliconias, a 1km circular track that passes by the site of the 1968 lava flow. A 1.5km-
long path branches off this trail and leads to an overlook. The Sendero Las Coladas also
branches off the Heliconias trail and wraps around the volcano for 2km past the 1993 lava
flow before connecting with the Sendero Los Tucanes , which extends for another 3km
through the tropical rainforest at the base of the volcano. To return to the car-parking area,
you will have to turn back. You'll get good views of the summit on the way to the parking
lot.
From the park headquarters (not the ranger station) is the 1.3km Sendero Los
Miradores , which leads down to the shores of the volcanic lake and provides a good angle
for volcano viewing. Also from park headquarters, the Old Lava Flow Trail is an interest-
ing and strenuous lower elevation trail following the flow of the massive 1992 eruption.
The 4km round trip takes two hours to complete. If you want to keep hiking, combine it
with the El Ceibo trail , a scenic 1.8km trail through secondary forest.
There are additional trails departing from Arenal Observatory Lodge and on a nearby
private reserve.
Waterfall Trail HIKING
( MAP GOOGLE MAP ; www.arenalobservatorylodge.com ; Arenal Observatory Lodge; day pass per
person US$6)
This scenic hike, which departs from the Arenal Observatory Lodge, is an easy, 2km
round-trip hike that takes about an hour to complete. The terrain starts out flat then des-
Search WWH ::




Custom Search