Arenal Volcano Photo Gallery
Simply put, Arenal is striking. A picture-perfect volcano dominates the horizon, while rivers and waterfalls tumble through the rainforest that spreads across its base. To the south, the massive Lake Arenal stands sentry to the Tilarán Mountain Range, whose jagged green spine extends along Costa Rica’s central highlands.
Yes, it’s hard to take a bad picture here. You can point your camera in nearly any direction and it’s bound to capture something good.
The photo galleries below explore various aspects of Arenal – its towns, natural landmarks, and spectacular moments. Click on any category to find more pictures and information on the given topic.
La Fortuna Village
La Fortuna is a small and leisurely town tucked into the base of the Arenal Volcano. It has quaint shops, a colorful central park, and a backdrop that’s organized around this picture-perfect volcano.
La Fortuna Waterfall
Set just outside the town of La Fortuna, this 200-ft waterfall is a great place to picnic, swim or take photographs. The falls emerge from a thick jungle before plummeting into an emerald green pool below.
Arenal Volcano National Park
This 29,692-acre (12,016-ha) national park protects both the Chato and Arenal volcanoes. Visitors will enjoy exploring the park’s hiking trails and searching for wildlife in the shadow of the monumental Arenal Volcano.
Lake Arenal
With a surface that covers nearly 33 square miles (85 sq km), Lake Arenal is the country’s largest body of landlocked water. The scenery around the lake is impressive – forested hillsides back up to the Arenal Volcano – and there are wonderful activities that can be enjoyed upon its waters, including windsurfing, fishing, kayaking and boating.
Arenal Volcano Eruptions
For the last fifty years, Arenal was Costa Rica’s most active volcano—nearly every day saw eruptions of smoke, gas and lava. In 2010, however, Arenal entered a resting phase and has ceased to erupt since. The following photographs reveal what Arenal looked like in the past and how it again may appear in the future.
Getting to Arenal
In some ways, the drive to Arenal is just as impressive as the place itself. You’ll pass forested hillsides, coffee plantations, tumbling rivers and more.