How to Visit the Pescaderito in Curiti (Near San Gil)
April 19, 2024
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Arenal is the region around the impressive Arenal volcano. With its 1633 meters (5357 feet), it’s a massive beautifully shaped cone, that was still active until 2010. While it doesn’t release any smoke or lava today, the volcano is still alive, but in a dormant state. It can become active again at any given moment. Next to the Arenal volcano, you can find the Chato volcano. The Chato volcano went extinct 3500 years ago and now you can find a beautiful emerald blue lake in its crater. The two volcanos are surrounded by lush jungle and you can find two cute towns in the region, La Fortuna and El Castillo, which serve as the main gateways to visit the area. Arenal is considered one of the best adventure destinations in Central America and there is a lot to see and do! That is why I compiled a list of my favorite 8 things to do in Arenal Costa Rica.
Arenal Eco Lodge is situated between the Arenal Volcano and Arenal Lake. It’s where many tourists stay, but the area around the lodge holds many beautiful things and should be on you’re to-do-list when visiting the area. From the sun deck, you have a magnificent view of the Arenal Volcano.
There’s a network of trails through the gardens and the forest of the lodge. You can hike to a waterfall, there’s a river trail and in the evening you can sit by the pond to witness some colorful croaking frogs. Another beautiful sight to see around the lodge are the rainbow eucalyptus trees with their striking display of bright colors.
You should be able to do all this in one day so it’s not necessary to stay more than one or two nights if this is a bit out of your budget.
Cerro Chato is Arenal’s little dormant sister. It went extinct 3500 years ago and its crater now is a beautiful lake called Mount Chato Lagoon. To reach the lagoon you need to take a pretty long and strenuous hike up to the Volcano. The hike is quite challenging, the path is steep and small and from time to time you will have to hold onto tree roots in order to move upwards. Nonetheless, this was the highlight of our trip around the Arenal area!
We did it in the pouring rain and it was clouded at the rim of the volcano when we reach the top so we didn’t even see the lake but it was so worth it. It took us four hours to get up to the volcano and back without spending some time on the top.
The trail is very muddy, even when it’s not raining, so good hiking boots are a necessity. We accessed the volcano through the Arenal Observatory Lodge but it seems like this trail is closed to the public now. Another trail should still be accessible through Arenal Waterfall Lodge.
La Fortuna is the gateway for tourists to explore the Arenal arena. We were a little hesitant about staying in this town because it is advertised as heavily touristed but we were pleasantly surprised!
The city center is indeed filled with restaurants, hotels, and tour operators but, aside from this, the town has maintained a certain charm. It’s also a good place to stock up on things if you are backpacking. Wherever you are in this cute town you will see the Arenal Volcano looming in the background. It’s also nice to take a walk in the countryside around the town to observe the local authentic Tico life.
A good budget option to stay is Gringo Pete’s. This hostel is dirt cheap but has clean rooms and a nice communal kitchen. You can combine a cheap stay like this with a few nights at Arenal observatory lodge to balance your accommodation costs.
Good places to eat for vegans and vegetarians are The Flying Tomato, Organico Fortuna and Chante Verde. If you want to book a tour we advise you to book a private tour with Tours by Locals. We booked a tour with a tour operator in town and it was not a relaxed experience.
Arenal is famous for its hot springs and the area has multiple locations where you can soak in the geothermal hot water. If wellness really is your thing and you are willing to spend some money, there are some great spas you can go to, to enjoy the healing powers of the hot springs.
Places like Baldi Hot Springs, Tabacon Hot Springs and Eco Thermales offer day passes and aren’t cheap. Prices range between $ 45 and $ 100 dollars (lunch or dinner included). You can also spend the night at Baldi Resort and Tabacon Resort if you really want to have a top-notch experience but again, prices are pretty high.
However, if you’re backpacking or just doesn’t want to spend that kind of money, there’s also a free hot spring in La Fortuna. It’s one of the most fun things to do in Arenal Costa Rica. It’s also where the locals go, so this experience is more authentic.
Across from Tabacon Thermal Resort and Spa, you can access the Tabacon River which is also heated by the magma from underneath the earth. It is pretty rocky to move around the river so it’s a good idea to wear water sandals. When you go during the evening, be aware that there are no lights around the river so you should definitely bring a headlight. Hike more upstream to find a peaceful spot! Here are the directions.
Lake Arenal is an 85 square kilometers (33 square miles) lake that sits at the base of the Arenal volcano. There are a few hotels around the lake but it is most easily reached if you base yourself in the small town of El Castillo.
Many activities can be enjoyed on the lake like stand-up paddle boarding, windsurfing, kayaking and boat tours. The lake is not only a beautiful sight to see but also has a dam and supplies 12% of the country’s hydroelectric energy. For the best views of the lake hike up the slopes of the town of El Castillo.
El Castillo is a cute small town located south of Lake Arenal. It’s a good base to visit the Arenal area if you think La Fortuna is too busy or touristy for you.
The best thing to do here is hiking, whether it’s up the slopes into the jungle or around the lake. There’s also a butterfly conservatory which makes a great activity for a lazy afternoon. For lunch or dinner, definitely head to La Ventanita. This small and cozy little restaurant offers the best burritos I have tasted in my entire life. They also serve vegan and vegetarian chifrijo at $5/plate.
The best place to stay in El Castillo is Essence Arenal Spa and Organic Farm.
One of our most memorable stays in Costa Rica was at Essence Arenal Spa and Organic Farm. Why is this place so great? Well, for a variety of reasons.
First of all, the location is sublime. It is tucked away on a road up a hill in El Castillo with views over Lake Arenal.
Secondly, the food they serve at their restaurant is absolutely delicious and they are one of the best resorts for vegans in Costa Rica. On their 22 hectares of land, they have an organic permaculture farm where they grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs. They use their own produce to make the most delicious vegetarian dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner in their open space kitchen.
Furthermore, the amenities on the property are great. You can stay in a bamboo terrace tent overlooking Lake Arenal, join a yoga class, get a treatment at the jungle massage, enjoy the swimming pool or have a nice cup of tea in the jacuzzi overlooking Lake Arenal.
Does this sound like heaven on earth to you? Well, it is! And last but not least, the best thing about Essence Arenal is the vibe around the property. Guests and staff get along like one big family which resulted in real community life on the site. It’s one of the best places to spoil yourself with a wellness or yoga retreat in Costa Rica. I strongly recommend packing up your bags and going to this magical place!
Also a big fan of waterfalls? I got you. The most famous waterfall in the Arenal area is La Fortuna Waterfall. This waterfall is 70 meters high and has a big swimming hole at the bottom surrounded by a pristine jungle. Don’t forget your swimsuit and some cash because the entrance fee is $ 18. It is easily reachable from La Fortuna on a 1,5-hour walk which makes it a great half-day activity.
Another waterfall you can discover is inside the jungle on the property of Arenal Observatory Lodge. It is called the Danta Waterfall and is not really on the tourist trail. To access the waterfall you will have to stay as a guest at the Arenal Observatory Lodge or buy a day pass ($ 10).
Another waterfall that is within easy reach from La Fortuna is the Rio Celeste waterfall. This waterfall is located a 1h15 ride from La Fortuna. It is best to rent a car or book a shuttle to get there since there’s no public transportation. You can find the Rio Celeste Waterfall inside the Tenorio Volcano National Park and the entrance is $ 12.
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide with the best 8 things to do around the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica. Whether you are staying in Costa Rica for 7 days or a whole month, be sure to add this to your itinerary!
A lovely next stop on your itinerary can be the Cloud Forest of Monteverde or if you plan to hit to visit Manuel Antonio next, here are 10 attractions between Arenal and Manuel Antonio for your drive.
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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Alex
What a beautiful scenic place to visit! I’m in love!
annelies_degelas
<3
Jen
I’ve been dying to go to Costa Rica for a while now, and Arenal looks beautiful. I would love to hike Cerro Chato as well…how cool is that. Looks like it is totally worth the climb! 🙂
annelies_degelas
It is! It’s one of my best travel experiences! 🙂
Kez
Looks like a beautiful place with a lot of things to do. Although I’m surprised that you have to pay to see all the waterfalls.
annelies_degelas
Yep, you have to pay and it’s not cheap. Even for national parks you have to pay a high fee in Costa Rica to be able to enter. But that’s also the reason why the preservation is top-notch and there is so much wildlife to see!
Gloria
I have never been to Costa Rica this really makes me want to go
Laura
Costa Rica is a dream of mine! I hope I can visit one day!