Arenal Volcano Hike & Tabacon Hot Springs & Meal, Arenal/La Fortuna

The excursion starts with a transfer from your accommodations to the entrance of the 1968 Trail. With your guide, you'll begin walking on the well-maintained trails that skirt the base of the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. The 1.5-hour route offers some wildlife viewing opportunities, your naturalist guide will keep a well-trained eye out for exotic birds, monkeys, and other animals along the forested path, but travelers shouldn't expect to see a ton of animals on this hike. The standard excursion follows a 1.9-mile (3 km) trail, though another option for travelers with reduced mobility is 1.1 miles (1.8 km) long.

You'll also pass through sections of the park devastated by the lava flow of 1968, resulting in little to no vegetation. Your guide will explain the area's history (pre- and post-1968 eruption) and highlight unique flora and fauna. The trail offers magnificent views of the Arenal Volcano (be sure to stop for photo ops!), the pristine Lake Arenal, and the extinct volcano Cerro Chato. One segment of the trail is steep and rocky, which can be challenging for children and travelers who don't hike frequently. 

After hiking the trails, you'll head to Tabacon Hot Springs to soothe your muscles with a dip in mineral-rich waters warmed by the volcano and used as therapeutic baths for centuries. You'll have about four hours to spend here.

The complex includes a large main pool with a swim-up bar, a cold pool, and 20 smaller "in-river" pools. Gravity powers the hot springs — no mechanical systems move or heat the water — and the pools flow from one to the next like a river. It's best to wear shoes, as the natural rocks lining the pools can get slippery. The pools' temperatures range from 72ºF-105ºF (22ºC-41ºC). 

Finish the experience with a la carte dinner or lunch at the onsite restaurant, serving Costa Rican dishes and international fare. You'll be picked up and transported back to your accommodations at the end of the day.