Arenal Volcano National Park

Background

Before 1968, this volcano was considered to be just a mountain. It was known as Arenal Mountain.
Crater A, at 1,000 meters provoked a pyroclastic flow (glowing cloud), which destroyed the villages of Pueblo Nuevo and Tabacon, devasted a 12 square kilometers area, and killed approximately 87 persons.

In September 1968 it erupted and lava flowed towards Crater A that remained active until 1.73. Crater C (at 1,450 m) started right there, and it is still active, permanently throwing lava, with a balsatic andesite composition, emmission of pyroclastic material and a constant gas flow.


Location

The Arenal Volcano National Park is on the northwestern region of Costa Rica, between the Tilaran Mountain Range and the San Carlos Planes.
It is part of the Arenal Conservation Area (ACA) called ‘the Energetic Heart of Costa Rica’.
ACA is one of the eleven conservation areas of the National Conservation Area System (SINAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE).
Flora and fauna
The Arenal Volcano National Park is a living laboratory because of its geologic and geomorphologic richness and its complex biological processes development, that forms from folk vegetation up to primary forest.
It holds a variety of flora and fauna in its four life zones:
Very Humid Tropical Forest (transition)
Low Mountain Rain Forest (transition)
Very Humid Pre-mountain Forest (transition)

* Main Flora: The most conspicuous species are: Bullywood, Cebo, Silk cotton tree, Cirri, Onion Cordia, Strangle figs, Bully tree, Cecropia.
* Conquer species
* Observatory at the volcano slope
* Arenal impounding
* Chato Hill
* Natural Trails: Heliconias, Las Coladas, El Pilón, Los Tucanes, La Península.
* Visitors Center: auditorium, souvenir store, display rooms, La Península observatory.

Interest

Annual average temperature: between 21º C and 27.5º C.
Annual average rainfall: between 3.500 mm to 5.000 mm.
Rainy period: May thru January
Dry period: February thru April

Regulations

* Keep your ticket.
* The areas surrounding the trails are on a recovery period, specially the lava trails. Please, remain on the trail and cooperate with the recovery processes.
* Respect the prohibitions of going into the dangerous areas for your own safety.
* No pets allowed.
* No fires allowed for your own safe.
* No stereos, radios, etc. allowed for the constant emissions and resonance of the volcano.
* In case of an emergency, consult the park rangers, they will be willing to help you.

 

The Costa Rica National Park System protects more than 25 % of Costa Rica