Arenal Volcano National Park

A close eye is now nevertheless kept on the Arenal Volcano by the forest rangers, who, would shut down trails or portions of the Arenal Volcano National Park if they found it unsafe anytime. Showcasing several species of palms and bromeliads including orchids and ferns; wildlife most likely to be spotted within this park are white-faced monkeys, howler monkeys, deer, tapir, snakes and a variety of birds. Spread over 2,040 square kilometers, this park also encloses Lake Arenal, which is the source of the largest Costa Rican hydroelectricity generation plant.

Located within the central regions of Costa Rica, the Arenal Volcano National Park is basically home to two volcanoes; the larger Arenal Volcano and the shorter Chato Volcano. The Chato however has been inactive for the last 3,500 years and features a collapsed crater now containing a picturesque lagoon. Arenal on the other hand is the most consistently active Costa Rican volcano since 1968 and has eventually devastated towns like Pueblo Nuevo and Tabacon.