La Fortuna in the northern mountains
The friendly place “La Fortuna de San Carlos”.
This is the starting point for exploring the enchanting Arenal Volcano.
La Fortuna is located in the province of Alajuela and is a connecting point between the northern lowlands and the high cloud forests around Monteverde and Santa Elena. La Fortuna is easy to reach and offers spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano, known as the most active volcano in Central America, just 10 km away.
The Arenal Volcano
The Arenal is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America and is the youngest in Costa Rica. However, lava no longer flows, you can always see it smoking and sometimes spitting out a few pieces of rock.
The Arenal is a so-called stratovolcano and the youngest volcano in Costa Rica. Its perfect cone is usually surrounded by light clouds of smoke and can be seen from afar in good weather. The oldest lava rocks associated with the Arenal are 7,000 years old. However, volcanism in this region is significantly older. The neighboring volcano Chato is estimated to be almost 40,000 years old. It is believed that a large eruption of Chatos initiated the eruptive activity of the Arenal. The Chato volcano last erupted 3,500 years ago.
The Arenal volcano, which was only 1,670 meters high, had its last major eruption in July 1968. This eruption cost 78 people their lives. Three new craters were formed at an altitude of 1100 m. Strong explosions produced tephra and large blocks of lava. In doing so, he destroyed the towns of Pueblo Nuevo and Tabacon, the remains of which can still be visited today. The whole spectacle lasted 3 days. The volcano had previously shown no activity for around 400 years, but now the volcano is growing by a few meters every year as the lava collects around the crater.
Since then, the Arenal has been considered relatively active. Most of the time, viscous lava flows a few hundred meters long can be observed in the upper third of the volcano, which provoke rockfalls that can be observed. More severe outbreaks occur every few years. They often occur without prior notice. It is therefore forbidden to climb the Arenal.
The waterfall of la Fortuna
Just a few kilometers from the town of la Fortuna there is a great waterfall in the middle of green nature. The waterfall falls 65 meters down from the jungle - you can follow the waterfall down steps carved into the stone. Below you can enjoy a refreshing swim in a small lake - you can also have a wonderful swim in the flowing river. The waterfall can be easily reached on foot, by taxi, on horseback or with a tour.
To get to the waterfall you have to pay an entrance fee. 100% of this money will benefit the foundation for the promotion of nature conservation and tourism in the “ la Fortuna de San Carlos ” zone and will be used sensibly. Nature is protected, jobs are created and maintained and education is promoted.
New Arenal
This very nice place “ Nuevo Arenal ” is located directly on the Arenal reservoir. The place is a successful mix of holiday homes, small accommodations and restaurants, as well as an authentic settlement in which a sizeable number of Indians from the Malekus tribe live.
The German bakery run by Ellen Buron and Thomas Perner, who has lived in Costa Rica for 11 years, is particularly well known in Nuevo Arenal. Here you can get bread and cake specialties (but also wheat beer), you can exchange ideas in German, but you have two real local experts in front of you. The two support the schooling of the local Indians and are very helpful when it comes to finding accommodation in the area.
Ellen runs a small souvenir shop next to the bakery, with many real Indian jewelry. Not "made in China" as you often find elsewhere in the world.
Go Heroes
A bizarre and very interesting place can be found on the north bank of “lago arenal”, Lake Arenal. The hotel “Los Heroes” is located there, where a bizarre dream became reality.
The Swiss owners founded their little Switzerland in 1989. With the construction of a Swiss cowshed, the idea of transforming this area, comparable to the foothills of the Alps, into a little Switzerland began.
Today there is a hotel with a restaurant, a cheese dairy, a chapel and a train station. A cable car starts from this station and takes you to a revolving restaurant, from which you can enjoy a fantastic view over the lake and up to the Arenal volcano.
The railway line leads 3.5 km, slowly up the mountain, crosses 2 tunnels and a beautiful high bridge. Actually a must if you are in the area. The train runs 3 times a day, advance reservation is advisable. We would be happy to help you with this.
