Arenal National Park (Boat Ride + 2 different Trails)

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

4 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Arenal Volcano is one of Costa Rica's biggest attractions. The unavoidable presence of the perfectly symmetrical colossus towers above the countryside.

People who climbed Arenal’ s summit before 1968, told that inside the crater there were big trees and they slept in places where there was some heat due to small steam outlets.

Explore the history and dramatic landscapes shaped by this iconic landmark on this picturesque and comprehensive tour that combines the enjoyment of a boat ride with a walk through the National Park's rainforest at the Peninsula Trail and the most impressive views of the colossus from every angle at the Coladas Trail.

Entering the foothills of Arenal is to immerse yourself in a universe of flora and fauna of incomparable richness. Winding paths lead through an emerald, green tapestry, where the singing of birds and the rustling of trees create a unique ambient melody just waiting for you to come!

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Hiking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, and a camera are recommended

Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities

Operates in most weather conditions, please dress appropriately

If canceled due to poor weather, you will be given the option of an alternative date or full refund

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off

National Park fees

Fruit snack

Transport by air-conditioned minivan

Guide

Lunch

Bottled water

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Arenal Volcano

This tour will simply amaze you; it starts with a short boat ride from the Arenal Lake Dam to the entrance of “La Península”, this path will take us through the forest in the most recent national park trails area, we will hike with amazing views of the Arenal Lake and enjoy fantastic lookouts, this trail is special for birdwatching and nature photography. Then we’ll go to areas that were once destroyed by volcanic activity and are now in the process of regeneration, a hike through the “Coladas Trail” will take us all the way to experience what not long ago were lava flows. Nature, geology, and volcano history all in the hands of our professional guides.

4 hours • Admission Included

Lake Arenal

Embark on a relaxing journey and discover the beauty of Arena Lake with our scenic boat tour. Glide across the crystal-clear waters, surrounded by breathtaking scenery that will leave you feeling rejuvenated. As you cruise the lake, witness stunning mountain ranges reflected on the water's surface. Lush greenery and vibrant wildflowers paint the shoreline, creating a picture-perfect postcard scene.

Admission Not Applicable

Options

Arenal National Park (Boat Ride + 2 different Trails)

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

5 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Arenal park hike
debbiepD1644PW,
Jun 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fabulous trip with our brilliant guide Natalia Robleto who guided us with her expertise and knowledge every step of the way. We spent time exploring the Arenal park trails with Natalia who took time to point out many different types of wildlife and give us in depth information explaining in detail about the forest and also the story of the volcano. We were taken care of expertly and Natalia is an excellent guide with an abundance of knowledge.
Exceeded expectations
Gonzalotorresoceja,
Dec 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Although the day was not accompanied by rain, Natalia and driver Germsn’s great professionalism made for an unforgettable day. Showed to be a great naturalist and fully adapted to the needs of the group
Professionals out of 10
Curious01200327249,
Dec 3, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
One day with a lot of rain we could not see the.volcano but still our guide Natalia and the driver Germán made our experience unforgettable a 10 to both Thanks
Wonderful hike with spectacular views and wildlife
NalaiNalai,
Dec 24, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Our guide Daniel from Aventuras Arenal picked us up on time and drove us to the boat landing on the far side of the dam. From there we took a short boat ride on the lake past the dam to the peninsula of Arenal Volcano Park. We got off there and hiked up a well paved path to the visitor center. From the landing, you get some great panoramas of the lake and the mountain range to the south where MonteVerde is. The wildlife we saw on this part of the tour was arguably better than what we saw at many dedicated nature reserves or at the Hanging Bridges. Daniel spotted a 3-toed sloth and several different types of birds along the way (vultures, turkeys, toucans, wrens, and hummingbirds). We were able to see them up close with his spotting scope, and we got great shots with our cameras. We heard howler monkeys, but they declined to show themselves. From there, it was a short drive to the main Arenal Volcano Park, where we got off again and hiked to the 1992 lava flow. You're able to get up on the flow and see the natural landscape reclaim the lava flow, but you need to stay on the marked trails and aren't allowed to go very far onto the lava flow. While it would technically be possible to hire a taxi and do the main parts of this tour yourself, having a guide is well worth the price. He spotted so many different animals that we would have been completely oblivious to, had we just walked it ourselves. We did this tour in late December, which is technically the start of the dry season, but we had scattered rainstorms throughout. The rain let up right at the beggining of the hike, which meant that we probably saw more birds than normal, since they were emerging from shelter and drying themselves off in the sun.
Amazing variety of birds
jraddick,
May 31, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Billy was our guide. He brought a spotting scope and took photos with our smartphones looking through the eyepiece. We saw an amazing variety of birds, and our first coati. Billy was very knowledgeable about everything we saw.