Arenal Volcano Expedition
4.5
Arenal Volcano Expedition
By Ecoterra Costa Rica
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About
We begin the tour by heading to the El Silencio Private Reserve, to get as close to the base of the volcano as possible by vehicle. Next, we will walk approximately 1 kilometer along a volcanic stone path with a moderate degree of difficulty, until we reach the viewpoint, the closest point to volcano permitted to access. At the viewpoint, our guide will provide relevant information on the formation of the Arenal Volcano, its periods of activity, as well as unpublished details of its first eruption in 1968. You can also enjoy the excellent views of the Green Lagoon and Lake Arenal. On the guide’s indication, we will begin our descent along the same trail.
With a little luck, this 1.5 km (1 mi) trail will provide us with the opportunity to see a wide variety of plants and animals that inhabit the rainforest, like toucans, turkeys, orioles, peccaries, snakes, and monkeys.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 7-68, max of 30 per group
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English, Spanish
More
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- Entry/Admission - Arenal Volcano
What's not included- Use of bicycle
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- Waiting time after the indicated time is 5 minutes
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.Airport pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included airports.- Juan Santamaria Intl Airport, San Jose Costa Rica
- Liberia Airport, Liberia Costa Rica
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 7453P22- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 7453P22
From
$50.00
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 1With a little luck, this 1.5 km (1 mi) trail will provide us with the opportunity to see a wide variety of plants and animals that inhabit the rainforest, like toucans, turkeys, orioles, peccaries, snakes, and monkeys.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- cirrus_pascal0 contributionsSuperbeWonderful experience with the Eco Terra organization, We visited the Tenorio Volcano National Park and the Rio Celeste in Costa Rica Discovery of an authentic nature We were accompanied by our guide Kattys, very friendly, attentive and considerate. Very beautiful memory of this walk discovered a vegetation and a river of an incomparable blueWritten September 11, 2024
- Da_Mout0 contributions¡ Muchas gracias, Elena !Elena was my guide for an afternoon hike to the Fortuna waterfall. I was impressed with, and grateful for, her professionalism and dedication. I was really keen to see a sloth, and although that was not part of my planned visit with Elena, she asked our driver to stop at a location so that we could see sloths (two!) on our way to the waterfall. Once at the waterfall, Elena took her time to share her knowledge with me, and showed me the orchid trail on the way back up. She also took photos throughout our tour, and sent them to me afterwards, as the camera on my mobile phone was broken. It was a pleasure to visit the waterfall with Elena, and I cannot recommend her tour guide services enough.Written September 3, 2024
- TanyaP810 contributionsDelicious food, beautiful wildlife.This tour was booked by our travel agent and I went with my two teenage sons. We all really enjoyed this. We had a gentle and knowledgeable guide who showed us lots of beautiful frogs, toads and lizards and let us taste peppercorns from the bushes. The highlight was the delicious food cooked by two women who were great fun, all of us laughing trying to communicate with our varied understanding of each other’s languages. Dinner was served on the balcony with the town lights in the distance. Would highly recommend this experience.Written August 2, 2024
- 498amv0 contributionsLoads of frogs and toadsReally loved the tour, with guide Diego and driver Mario. Not only we got to see many species of frogs and toads, we also saw wolspider, bulletants, sleeping birds, grashoppers etc. Diego is a very skilled and friendly guide, willing to help you get the best out of the night. Besides that he has a grwat sense of humour! Botanical gardens &ecodlodge isn’t actually on tripadvisor, but the vision and good works comes with great hospitality. So i higly recommend this tour!Written July 26, 2024
- Tiff-ah-knee0 contributionswonderful adventure dayHad a great tour 7/18(completely forgot our tour guides names we had 2), started off with the volcano hike; about 90mins-2 hours, had some pineapple, watermelon, and cookies waiting for us when we got back. Hike was pretty easy with steps on the way down, had plenty of time to take photos and learn about the area. Next, we went to the waterfall and had about an hour there after getting changed and walking down the 500+ steps. Towels and tons of water was supplied as well by the tour. After another 500+ step up it was time for lunch at casa moon which was included with the tour, we got to choose an appetizer (the ceviche was delicious) and an entree. After lunch we went to the hanging bridges where we saw monkeys, a snake, spiders, armadillos and coatimundis just to name a few. They dropped us off and picked us up at our hotel(montana de fuego) which was perfect. Thank you and pura vida!Written July 24, 2024
- E4772KVsaraht0 contributionsA great way to experience a wonderful location!This tour was incredible!! I had never been in a cave, and this was a wonderful first experience. Our guide, Gonzalo (apologies if I spelled wrong!), and our driver were incredibly helpful and considerate from start to finish, making us feel safe and comfortable, even when some of our group had moments of claustrophobia (but don't worry - the narrowest parts of the cavern are optional!). Our guide picked us up from our hotel for the drive from La Fortuna, which was super helpful given the 40 min distance and how windy the roads were (we had someone prone to motion sickness in our group and our guide and driver were super helpful and let us pull over for a break midway, which helped a lot). Gonzalo was super clear in describing what we could expect from the tour and when we would have options to do or skip narrower sections. He was very knowledgeable about the wildlife we saw (mainly bats, spiders, a millipede), and also some of the very cool structures within the 30-million year old system, such as the "papaya" and "the alter." Our group split, with 4 out of the 6 of us doing the very narrow "birth canal" and two sitting out, and it was no problem - we were all within safe hearing distance of our guide the whole time. The helmets and headlamps provided worked great, and Gonzalo was great about helping us take photos along the way. The tour is wet and messy, so I strongly recommend wearing clothes you don't care about (the tour will provide rubber boots if you don't have water shoes). Afterwards, showers are available, and they provided us with water, beer, and fresh pineapple and watermelon (best pineapple I've ever had). Gonzalo also made sure we got a before and after photo with the cave entrance to commemorate the trip. A real highlight of our visit to the area, and I strongly recommend if you want to explore and beautiful and unique location with a tour company who has thought of everything you'll need for your comfort and safety!Written July 21, 2024
- kimberlysH9221IS0 contributionsHighlight of our tripJazmin was one of the best tour guides we've ever had. She was very knowledgeable about birds and where to find them we identified 22 confirmed species - including toucans, a rufous-tailed jacamar and a rare Black Phoebe - and spotted many more. We also saw vampire bats, howler monkeys, red poison dart frogs and a coati. Jazmin was also a great photographer, taking photos with our phones through the spotting scope. And at the end, our driver (I think his name was Freddy) had a picnic breakfast set up for us, with sandwiches, fruit, nuts, cookies, juice and coffee. Highly recommended!Written July 13, 2024
- miekenaessens0 contributionsBest way to experience Rio Celeste and surroudingsWonderful tour, excellent guide, very interesting and beautiful. Also shoutout to the driver who gave us towels and helped us after heavy rain. Nice lunch afterwards.Written July 12, 2024
- jordanlZ1813IW0 contributionsA thrilling and educational experience, truly wild yet tame at the same time!My father and I went and had an amazing time, the guide taught us about the millions of years of history all while showing us all of the cool critters & formations. Definitely challenging sometimes but the challenging paths are optional, I highly reccomend coming here for a wild yet fascinating experience.Written June 30, 2024
- KathTraveler50 contributionsWhat a great nature day!Well-organized, super streamlined way to experience four different activities in a single day! Our guide Albert was a highly informed and good-natured naturalist, filling us in on all kinds of fascinating facts about all the characters he helped us spot, photograph and film - frogs, sloths, monkeys, honeybees, ants, snakes, lizards. Learning about the natural processes and interdependencies between the creatures and all the trees, plants, and their functions, histories, and environmental impact made this a richly fulfilling journey through rainforest and volcano. I would have loved a little more time for swimming at the La Fortuna waterfall, but we were fitting a lot into a single day! The van was well air conditioned for a welcome cool-off while in transit between sites. We chose the option to end the day at Baldi Hot Springs with dinner, which I didn't realize would be a buffet, not be in the regular restaurant. The options were plentiful, just a large tour group ambience instead of resort hotel tables with service.Written June 27, 2024
- chakalkar0 contributionsMy experience was a 3 star that could have easily been a 5.Don’t let me dissuade you, it really was as advertised, but I think there’s a few minor tweaks needed for this to be a five for me. They introduced us to the family when we arrived, but they never talked to us and it was awkward. Tell us something about yourself. They seated us separately for dinner so there was no group interaction. I love getting to know the people in the different families. It’s one of the reasons I do this type of tour. More of a restaurant feel than eating in someone’s home. They need one large table for the group and encourage interaction. There is definitely space for it. The dinner was served with no explanation as to exactly what it was or the culture and tradition of the food. Again, I like when the cook explains the food to me as part of the experience. Several of us had to ask the tour operator what it was being served. They sell a lot of handmade jewelry and souvenirs which seems strange for a “house.” The highlight was the young son playing the piano and singing, it’s what my wife and I talked most about afterwards. I would love him to sing some Billy Joel songs. The tour of the grounds was good, but wasn’t any different than any nature tour that I took during my stay and was a bit redundant. My experience.Written June 26, 2024
- Us1830 contributionsGreat experience for a real Costa Rica adventureBooked a day in advanced no problem. Guide messaged for pickup location and we opted to meet at the caves due to it being a shorter drive. We went on a Monday morning and had the cave to ourselves. Joshua, our guide was great, he was friendly and easy to understand, as well as having a great sense of humor and knowledge of the caves. We were encouraged to go through the narrow openings while in the cave which made the experience much more fun. I’m 6’3 180lbs and had no problems. If you enjoy your rice and beans just make sure to stretch beforehand, as you will be low crawling and scooting around through small areas. We were provided with refreshments afterwards as well as towels and a place to shower. Bring a change of clothes. I did not bring my phone but had my go pro on a head mount which worked great. If you bring your phone I suggest getting a waterproof bag for it, as you will be crawling on hands and knees and the water level changes day to day.Written June 17, 2024
- Amanda R0 contributionsGreat night tour in a beautiful settingOur guide Kendry was great. Very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. She made sure our group of nine all got a chance to see each animal we came across. We saw so many frogs and toads, a gecko, baby scorpion, giant grasshopper, turtles, and more. At the end of the tour one of the guides found a sloth in a tall tree and set up a telescope so we could see it. The dinner was fantastic - fresh juice, lentil soup, rice and chicken, and a delicious banana pudding for dessert. Fantastic experience in a beautiful setting!Written June 16, 2024
- 344reginef0 contributionsWould recommendThis was a perfect experience! The guide had a lot of knowledge, and the whole day was good planned from beginning to end.Written May 29, 2024
- T8859HYanner0 contributionsSo many beautiful sloths spotted by our guide JazminWe loved this small group tour with Jazmin! She taught us so much about both species of sloth, helped us take great photos and had a cool, calm demeanor even though it was extremely hot weather. I highly recommend this experience if you want to see sloths in their natural environment - and ask for Jazmin. This was our second tour experience with her and we were so excited to see that she was our guide.Written May 27, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
16 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
3
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
gareth90m
Manchester, UK43 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Very very poor. On a 90 minute guided tour, the guide failed to talk about, or point out, a single plant, bush or tree. He (Michael) also only pointed out one single bird. This on a trip described as a flora and fauna guided tour. On complaining to Ecoterra I was told I couldn't have a refund as I had booked through an agency. Very poor experience made worse by the company not actually caring. Use a different company would be my advice.
Written March 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ShopCatt
47 contributions
Aug 2022
So first, to say that we didn't actually see the top of the volcano on the trip as it was very cloudy! That said, we still thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Our guide (Tony) was from a local family and knew so much about the history of the area, from a personal perspective. He was fun and had a lot of passion for his job. We also enjoyed seeing the lava flows and some wildlife.
The pace was relaxed, with a little walking and a little stop to point out a volcanic feature, plant or animal. All in all, a trip to remember with a great guide.
The pace was relaxed, with a little walking and a little stop to point out a volcanic feature, plant or animal. All in all, a trip to remember with a great guide.
Written August 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Am V
12 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Eventhough El Arenal was mysteriously hiding in fogs, we had a great hike with guide Albert. That guy sure knows how to explain nature, eruptions, history and everything else you would like to know.
The flora and faunda has no secrets to him. We’ve learned a lot today! And had a great time as well. Thanks Albert!
The flora and faunda has no secrets to him. We’ve learned a lot today! And had a great time as well. Thanks Albert!
Written July 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katie E
4 contributions
Jun 2024 • Family
We had a great private tour with Jasmine as our guide. She was very knowledgeable about the plants and animals. She was very friendly and made it a point to look for plants and animals to show us through her spotting scope. She had even brought walking sticks just in case, which my husband did need. We had a really enjoyable time with Jasmine and learned a lot about the volcano, plants, and animals.
Written June 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phillip K
London, UK5 contributions
Apr 2024 • Couples
A great visit to view the volcano but also to learn about the history of it as well as the regional flora and fauna.
Our guide Joseth had great enthusiasm and knowledge giving great insights and answering all our questions. The fruit and drinks at the end capped off a great visit!
Our guide Joseth had great enthusiasm and knowledge giving great insights and answering all our questions. The fruit and drinks at the end capped off a great visit!
Written April 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol F
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica2 contributions
Jan 2024 • Friends
Aron was a great tour guide. It was rainy and overcast, so our hike up mountain was cut short, but it wasn't his fault. He knew all about volcano and the flora and fauna of the region. It would have been great exercise and a view if the weather had cooperated.
Written January 31, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fay K
4 contributions
Jul 2024 • Solo
Kattis Was amazing today. Super information about the volcano and we even got to see a sloth - fabulous day and super guide 👍
Written July 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
miekenaessens
Loppem, Belgium5 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Very nice hiking tour with excellent guide: interesting information, very friendly.
Shoutout to the driver who provided fresh fruits and snacks afterwards.
Shoutout to the driver who provided fresh fruits and snacks afterwards.
Written July 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather R
14 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
We booked 2 activities with Ecoterra while we were in La Fortuna - a day trip to the hanging bridges followed by La Fortuna waterfall and then the Volcano hike. Both days were incredible - we had fantastic tour guides in Aaron and Elena, they were friendly and so knowledgeable.
Written June 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alandk
Dorridge, UK11 contributions
Fabulous hike made special by our amazing guide Joseph, he couldn’t do enough for us to make it memorable. If you are choosing between tour companies, look no further
Written March 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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