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Arenal Volcano with a cloud over its summit, framed by rainforest.

Costa Rica · La Fortuna & Arenal

Closed, prohibited or restricted

Places that still appear in old guides or on social media but cannot be visited today, or only under conditions; each one says what to do instead.

5 places4 closed or restricted, flagged

  1. 1

    AdventureClosed or prohibited

    Climbing Arenal’s cone

    Arenal Volcano summit, about 1,670 m6.7 km from the centre

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    Arenal has been dormant since 2010 but is not extinct; the summit area is under absolute protection and is not safe for visitors.

    Prohibited. SINAC bans climbing the cone and its immediate surroundings, and MINAE restated it in July 2025 after finding illegal tours sold on social media; checkpoints stopped more than 340 people. Instead, walk Las Coladas, Arenal 1968 or El Silencio.

    Source: SINAC – Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal (horario, tarifas, senderos) · 2026 · +1

    Cannot be saved: it is closed or prohibited.

    Practical details and sources

    Nearby: Night lava-viewing tours (0 km) · Las Coladas Trail and volcano viewpoint (2.7 km) · Cerro Chato and its crater lake (2.7 km)

    Sources: SINAC – Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal (horario, tarifas, senderos) · MINAE alerta sobre tours ilegales al volcán Arenal y cerro Chato (15 jul 2025)

  2. 2

    NatureClosed or prohibited

    Cerro Chato and its crater lake

    Southeast of Arenal, above the La Fortuna waterfall5.7 km from the centre

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    An extinct volcano next to Arenal with a green lake in its crater; for years it was a popular, steep hike, now not authorised.

    Prohibited. MINAE (July 2025) listed Cerro Chato along with Arenal’s cone as areas with no authorised access, subject to legal sanctions; one illegal operator charged ₡30,000 per person. Many old guides and maps still show ‘entrances’. Alternative: the El Silencio viewpoint, which looks onto the peak.

    Source: MINAE alerta sobre tours ilegales al volcán Arenal y cerro Chato (15 jul 2025) · 2025 · +1

    Cannot be saved: it is closed or prohibited.

    Practical details and sources

    Nearby: La Fortuna Waterfall (2.1 km) · Arenal Observatory Lodge trails (2.5 km) · Climbing Arenal’s cone (2.7 km)

    Sources: MINAE alerta sobre tours ilegales al volcán Arenal y cerro Chato (15 jul 2025) · SINAC – Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal (normas)

  3. 3

    NatureClosed or prohibited

    Night lava-viewing tours

    Arenal Volcano6.7 km from the centre

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    For 42 years Arenal was famous for glowing lava flows visible at night; that show ended with its dormant period.

    They no longer exist: Arenal’s continuous activity, which began in 1968, ended in December 2010 and since then there has been no lava or glow. If an old guide or a seller offers it, the information is outdated. For a night outing, do a wildlife night walk.

    Source: Wikipedia – Arenal Volcano · 2026 · +1

    Cannot be saved: it is closed or prohibited.

    Practical details and sources

    Nearby: Climbing Arenal’s cone (0 km) · Las Coladas Trail and volcano viewpoint (2.7 km) · Cerro Chato and its crater lake (2.7 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Arenal Volcano · Wikipedia – Arenal Volcano National Park

  4. 4

    WellnessRestricted access

    Volcano Lodge hot springs (guests only)

    Route 142, about 6 km west of town5.9 km from the centre

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    A hotel with two adult thermal pools, two kids’ pools and two jacuzzis facing the volcano; it appears in hot-spring lists but does not admit day visitors.

    According to a September 2026 guide, its thermal pools are for hotel guests only and no day pass is sold. For something nearby and open to the public, try Los Lagos, Baldi or Paradise.

    Source: Costa Rica Vibes – Arenal hot springs and day pass prices (act. 30 sep 2026) · 2026

    Practical details and sources

    Nearby: Natura Eco Park (formerly Arenal Natura) (0.2 km) · Los Lagos hot springs (0.7 km) · Los Laureles hot springs (1.5 km)

    Sources: Costa Rica Vibes – Arenal hot springs and day pass prices (act. 30 sep 2026)

  5. 5

    WaterSeasonal

    Windsurfing and kitesurfing on Lake Arenal

    Western end of the lake; Tilarán is about 74 km from La Fortuna, by road30.9 km from the centre

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    The lake’s western end, near Tronadora and Tilarán, gets steady winds that make it one of the world’s best-known windsurf and kitesurf spots.

    Wind-dependent: the strong season runs November to April at the lake’s western end. Outside those months, switch to kayak or SUP.

    Source: Wikipedia – Lake Arenal · 2026

    Practical details and sources

    Nearby: Lake Arenal (5.6 km)

    Sources: Wikipedia – Lake Arenal

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