The Arenal Volcano is an active volcano in north-western Costa Rica, around 90km north-west of San José. It is the youngest and most active of all the mountains in Costa Rica. Frequent but moderate eruptions mean it can be viewed without danger as long as the viewers are behind the safety perimeter. This constant activity and minimal endangerment makes Arenal a popular tourist destination, especially at night because the lava and incandescent rocks make a spectacular sight. The last major eruption of Arenal occurred on August 23, 2000. Most of the time, the volcano is surrounded by clouds near the tip, and it is touted as good luck to see the whole volcano without clouds. The volcano heats several hot springs nearby, which can make the sometimes cold hike less miserable.

Sightseeing
Arenal Volcano tours usually start out in the early afternoon and include walking for about an hour through lava rocks before reaching El Mirador, the best place to view the eruption from. At the observation point you hopefully will see eruptions and lava flow that can be quite spectacular set against the black night sky, but often it will be so cloudy that you won't see a thing. Tabacon hot spa includes modern changing rooms with locks, towels and a multi-level hot spring with a slide, artificial waterfalls, a view of the volcano, and a bar for drinks without leaving the water.

Getting there
Most tours will include transportation. For other purposes you can use a taxi.