Arenal Volcano: Facts, Activity & History
Arenal Volcano is a 5,437-foot (1,657-meter) stratovolcano above La Fortuna, Costa Rica. It's currently in a resting phase: after decades of near-daily eruptions, its seismicity, explosions and lava flows have decreased sharply since 2010, and visitors can no longer see flowing lava or ash from the town or the national park.
Is Arenal Volcano active now?
Arenal is dormant, not extinct. The volcano's most recent eruptive period ran from 1968 to 2010, with eruptions on an almost daily basis for much of that time. Since 2010, its seismicity, explosions and lava flows have decreased significantly — scientists describe it as still alive, just sleeping. Visitors today won't see lava flowing down its sides or ash rising from its top, but there's still plenty to see and do around its base.
Where is it, and how do you get there?
Arenal Volcano rises above the town of La Fortuna, inside Arenal Volcano National Park in northern Costa Rica. It's about 75 miles (120 km) from San José, a drive of roughly 2.5 to 3 hours. Most visitors base themselves in La Fortuna and reach the park and surrounding trails, hot springs and tours from there.
What type of volcano is it?
Arenal is a stratovolcano — a tall, symmetrical volcano built up from successive layers of hardened rock, ash and lava. It formed roughly 7,000 years ago from the adjacent (and now extinct) Chato Volcano. Magma rises into Arenal's volcanic chamber where the oceanic and continental tectonic plates converge, and can erupt from its summit — the process behind every volcano in Costa Rica.
Eruption timeline: 1968, 2000, 2010
1968: Arenal's modern eruptive history began with a violent explosion that buried three small villages and killed 87 people — its first eruption in centuries. 2000: On August 23, 2000, Arenal produced its most dramatic eruption since 1968, sending ash and gas over a kilometer into the sky and triggering roughly twenty pyroclastic flows in a single day. 2010: Activity dropped off sharply from mid-2010 onward, and the volcano has been in a resting phase since, with no visible lava flows or ash emissions.
How to see it today
- Hike the trails and lava fields of Arenal Volcano National Park
- Explore La Fortuna's scenery, hotels and dining at the volcano's base
- Soak in hot springs heated by the volcano
- Hike to the La Fortuna Waterfall nearby
- Visit Lake Arenal, Costa Rica's largest lake, at the volcano's base
- Take a guided volcano hike for the best viewpoints
- Go whitewater rafting or horseback riding nearby
- See all Arenal things to do
Video: Arenal Volcano
Frequently asked questions
Where is Arenal Volcano?
Arenal Volcano sits inside Arenal Volcano National Park in northern Costa Rica, right above the town of La Fortuna. It's about 75 miles (120 km) — roughly a 2.5- to 3-hour drive — from San José.
Is Arenal Volcano still active?
Yes, but it's resting. Arenal is dormant, not extinct: scientists still monitor it, but since 2010 its seismicity, explosions and lava flows have dropped off sharply. You won't see flowing lava or ash plumes on a visit today.
What type of volcano is Arenal?
Arenal is a stratovolcano — a tall, symmetrical, cone-shaped volcano built up from layers of hardened lava, ash and rock, formed where oceanic and continental tectonic plates converge.
What is there to do at Arenal Volcano?
Hike the national park's trails and lava fields, soak in the volcano's geothermally heated hot springs, go whitewater rafting or horseback riding nearby, and explore the town of La Fortuna at its base.
When did Arenal Volcano last erupt?
Its most recent sustained eruptive period ran from 1968 to 2010. The last major explosive event was on August 23, 2000. Since 2010 the volcano has been in a resting phase, with no visible lava or ash.
How far is Arenal Volcano from San José?
About 75 miles (120 km), which is typically a 2.5- to 3-hour drive.
Can you hike Arenal Volcano on your own?
Marked trails inside Arenal Volcano National Park are open to self-guided hiking during park hours, though hiking beyond the posted warning signs isn't permitted. A guided naturalist hike adds context on the volcano's history and helps spot wildlife along the way.
How tall is Arenal Volcano?
5,437 feet (1,657 meters).