Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Hike, Arenal/La Fortuna

4.3 (32 reviews)
Hike a jungle trail skirting Arenal Volcano and see the stark effects of the 1968 eruption on the landscape

Overview

Embark on a guided adventure through Arenal Volcano 1968 Park, where you'll find Arenal Volcano. As you navigate the path around the volcano's base, you may be lucky enough to spot exotic birds, monkeys, and other creatures that your expert guide's keen eyes will try and find. You'll continue your hike through segments of the park that the lava flow affected during the volcanic eruption in 1968, leaving the landscape devoid of vegetation. This unique terrain offers beautiful vistas of the crystal-clear Lake Arenal and the dormant Cerro Chato.

Highlights

  • Hike the 1968 Trail as you learn about the area's history and the infamous 1968 eruption
  • Spot a variety of rare birds and monkeys in the wild, if luck is on your side
  • Take in gorgeous views of Lake Arenal and Cerro Chato
  • Learn about the park's history, forest formation, and volcanology

Know before you go

Duration
3h 30m
Recommended for
5 years old & up
Group
Small group, 12 people or less
Food & Drink
Fruit and water

What you'll do

The day's activities begin with a convenient transfer from your La Fortuna hotel to the northwest area of the volcano at the entrance of the 1968 Trail, where your naturalist guide will meet you. Before setting off, take a moment to explore the visitor center to read up on the area's history and geology, setting the stage for your hike. Over about 1.5 hours, your guide will lead you along paths that meander through sections of regenerating forest and over a vast block of petrified lava—areas that bear the scars of the 1968 eruption that surround Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal.

During the hike, you might be lucky enough to spot a variety of birdlife, playful monkeys, and other native creatures, all the while engaging with your guide as they point out the flora and fauna that thrive in this volcanic region. They'll also share anecdotes about the volcano's history and impact on the ecosystem, lithological (rock) cycle, forest formation processes, and general volcanology.

While the hike is fairly easy, one section of the trail is steep and rocky, challenging for small kids and non-avid hikers. The standard excursion takes you on a 1.9-mile (3 km) trail, but another option for travelers with reduced mobility is 1.1 miles (1.8 km) long. Fantastic photo ops await along the trail, too: get your camera ready for sweeping views of the massive Arenal Volcano, beautiful Lake Arenal, and the extinct volcano Cerro Chato.

Once you've finished the hike, you'll head back to La Fortuna to end the adventure.

Start times

  • Daily
    8:15 am, 3:15 pm

What's included

  • Round-trip transportation from/to hotel
  • Naturalist guide
  • Park admission
  • Fruit
  • Water

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Traveler reviews

32 total ratings, 26 with reviews
4.3
Feature ratings
Quality of Experience
4.4
Guides, Drivers and Staff
4.6
Transport
4.6
M
Mike E.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Feb 23, 2026

Weather was very bad which hampered the experience.

M
Mary K.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Feb 20, 2026
This hike was really just ok. Our guide was AMAZING, and very knowlegeable and he tried to pull out little details we wouldn't have ever seen without him, but there really wasn't much to see (and it was not due to the cloud cover). Read more

This hike was really just ok. Our guide was AMAZING, and very knowlegeable and he tried to pull out little details we wouldn't have ever seen without him, but there really wasn't much to see (and it was not due to the cloud cover).

Tips for future travelers

If you're looking for adventure, great views or a challenging hike, this is not it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great guide--Mariano was amazing and knew so much about the area. Even suggested a great stop for lunch which we wouldn't have ever done. Just awesome!
Transport
So much fun hanging out with Mariano.
Nancy
Nancy E.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2026
Really nice hike and learning about the area. Wish the rain would have given us a break so we could have seen the whole volcano, but still worth doing in the rain. Read more

Really nice hike and learning about the area. Wish the rain would have given us a break so we could have seen the whole volcano, but still worth doing in the rain.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mariono was punctual and a knowledgeable guide.
Transport
L
Linda R.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 01, 2026
Our guide was just putting in the hours. Read more

Our guide was just putting in the hours.

Tips for future travelers

Make sure you know which trail you are taking.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
S
Stephen S.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Jan 30, 2026
Wonderful excursion. Again the guide makes the trip. Andres was extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with. Read more

Wonderful excursion. Again the guide makes the trip. Andres was extremely knowledgeable and a pleasure to spend time with.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Erica
Erica A.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Nov 20, 2025
Mariano was a fantastic guide - knowledgeable and friendly and an excellent ambassador of Costa Rican culture and nature. Read more

Mariano was a fantastic guide - knowledgeable and friendly and an excellent ambassador of Costa Rican culture and nature.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
K
katie u.
Columbus, OH | Reviewed on Jun 01, 2025
Guide was amazing!! Read more

Guide was amazing!!

Tips for future travelers

Take the red path - it’s worth it. And enjoy a drink at the cafe after.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
David
David E.
Winchester, VA | Reviewed on Apr 27, 2025
Mariano (guide) truly educated. Great personality. Read more

Mariano (guide) truly educated. Great personality.

Tips for future travelers

We were expecting a long walk. Would not call it a hike. It’s an easy walk. We were hoping to go higher in the volcano

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
J
john b.
Kansas City, MO | Reviewed on Mar 28, 2025
Hike was nice but a little short. would have liked to hike longer. maybe took an hour or slightly more. Read more

Hike was nice but a little short. would have liked to hike longer. maybe took an hour or slightly more.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ceinwen
Ceinwen P.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Mar 11, 2025
This was a nice walk where we got to see great views of the Volcano and learn a bit about its history inclduing past eruption. Took a lot less time than allotted and appreciated the bit of fresh fruit at the end. Read more

This was a nice walk where we got to see great views of the Volcano and learn a bit about its history inclduing past eruption. Took a lot less time than allotted and appreciated the bit of fresh fruit at the end.

Tips for future travelers

The terrain on the walking path through the volcanic areas was very tricky with loose rocks of varying sizes. The guide gave out walking sticks to some (literally long sticks) but if you have trouble with difficult and unstable terrain you could could consider bringing your own.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guides English could have been better but overall learned the important points.
Transport

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Itineraries with Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Hike