Stand-Up Paddle Boarding on Lake Arenal, Arenal/La Fortuna
Embark on a paddleboarding trip around Lake Arenal, Costa Rica's largest landlocked body of water
Amazing experience! Federico was the best guide! Very relaxed and knowledgeable.
Our guide was friendly and took a lot of great pictures. The setting is pretty spectacular.
Marcos was our favorite tour guide on our trip. His knowledge of the area was amazing and his passion for birds fun to hear about. I... Read more
Overview
After a boat takes you to the center of Lake Arenal, you'll enjoy a 2.5-hour SUP session, complete with stunning views of Arenal Volcano, mountain vistas, and an island teeming with waterbirds.
Highlights
- Paddle to a certain point in the middle of the lake for close-up views of Arenal Volcano
- SUP around one of Lake Arenal's islands and observe the waterbirds, including herons and anhingas
- Enjoy the serene, calm waters of Lake Arenal
Know before you go
5.5 hours
8 years old & up
Small group
A tropical snack is included
What you'll do
After receiving a thorough safety briefing from your guide, it's time to start paddling! You'll have at least 2.5 hours of SUP time, during which you can fully appreciate the stunning scenery around you. The calm waters of Lake Arenal make it easy for both beginners and experienced boarders to enjoy the experience. As you paddle around, you'll see different shades of green on the surrounding mountains, which add to the stunning scenery.
One of the highlights of this experience is getting up close and personal with Arenal Volcano. Paddle to a certain point in the middle of the lake, and the volcano will come into full view. You'll be able to see the detailed textures of the volcano's rock formations, and it's an incredible feeling to be so close to such a powerful natural wonder.
As you continue your paddleboarding adventure, you'll get to explore one of Lake Arenal's islands. Here, you'll be surrounded by waterbirds, including herons and anhingas. Keep your eyes peeled for other wildlife as well, as this area is home to a variety of species.
Throughout your experience, your guide will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and to ensure your safety. This is a fantastic opportunity to explore one of Costa Rica's most beautiful bodies of water, while also getting up close to a majestic volcano.
Start times
-
Daily8:00 am, 1:30 pm
What's included
- Transportation
- Snack
- Paddleboard equipment
- Bilingual guide
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Get startedSee alternatives
Sky Adventures Tram & The Hand of Arenal
Arenal Volcano Horseback Adventure
Explore the landscapes around the Arenal volcano on horseback with this scenic, three-hour excursion. Once you're paired with the perfect mount, you'll journey through diverse landscapes of farmland and forests as your seasoned guide points out local flora and fauna. Pause at a lagoon for photos, then ascend a high viewpoint for panoramic volcano views. Ideal for nature and animal lovers, this excursion offers a captivating glimpse into the region's natural beauty.
Sky Adventures Zip Lines
Get your thrills at Sky Trek, a zip line circuit and aerial amusement park. You'll start in an open-air gondola, rising up over the rainforest and enjoying sweeping views across the mountains. Arriving at the end of the line, the exhilarating adventure of whizzing down the mountain begins. Connect to a zip line cable stretching over rainforest treetops and clifftops. After traversing seven cables and reaching heights of 660 feet (201 meters), you'll arrive back at the starting point of the adrenaline-pumping adventure.
Sky Tram, Ziplines & Sky Walk Adventure
Perfect for thrill-seekers and nature lovers, this Arenal Volcano National Park adventure lets you experience Costa Rica's cloud forests from above and below. Step aboard an open-air gondola to reach the Mano del Arenal lookout, then descend along a series of seven thrilling zipline cables, soaring above the treetops as you spot flora and fauna and take in views of the eponymous volcano and neighboring lake. Conclude with a leisurely hike along nature trails, waterfalls, and hanging bridges as your guide shares insights into the park's biodiversity and points out its rare and resplendent wildlife.
Sky Adventures Hanging Bridges
Explore the forest from an elevated perspective on this excursion to Sky Walk, one of the first hanging bridges in Costa Rica. Follow a naturalist guide along a series of nature trails and five suspension bridges (some as high as 230 feet or 70 meters), stopping to appreciate various flora and fauna along the way. You'll see monkeys and snakes if you're lucky! During the 2-mile (3-km) hike, you'll enjoy views over the forest canopy and spot colorful birds, butterflies, and insects.
Arenal Volcano & 1968 Reserve Guided Hike
Embark on a guided adventure through Arenal Volcano 1968 Park, where you'll find the Arenal Volcano. As you navigate the path around the volcano's base, your expert guide will point out exotic birds, monkeys, and other creatures. You'll continue your hike through segments of the park that the lava flow affected during the volcanic eruption in 1968 that left the landscape devoid of vegetation. This unique terrain offers beautiful vistas of the crystal-clear Lake Arenal and the dormant Cerro Chato Volcano.
Arenal Hanging Bridges Guided Walk
Explore the thrilling Arenal Hanging Bridges on this popular excursion. The trail system, located inside a rainforest reserve, features suspension bridges that take you high above the treetops before treating you to a once-in-a-lifetime view of Arenal Volcano. Venturing along these spectacular elevated walkways, up to 180 feet (55 meters) above the rainforest floor, you'll have a chance to appreciate this area's incredible biodiversity, including some of the 350 avian species that live here.
Backroad Mountain Biking Around Lake Arenal
Río Balsa Whitewater Rafting Adventure
Embark on an adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting adventure down the Río Balsa. You'll transfer from La Fortuna to the put-in spot on the river, where your guide will give you safety instructions and outfit you with a helmet and life vest. Then, push off into the current and start paddling through rolling Class II and III rapids with names like Morning Coffee and Rock around the Croc. Enjoy wildlife spotting along the way—you'll even have a chance to swim while passing through calmer stretches of the river.
Guided Nature Walk at Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus
A bilingual guide will lead you on a nature walk through the Ecological Park & Butterfly Garden Danaus on this half-day tour. You'll have the chance to spot tree frogs, caimans, monkeys, sloths, and a wide variety of birds as you follow your guide on a nature trail. Stop at botanical gardens, a butterfly garden, and a wetlands area that serves as a bird nesting site. Finish the tour with a visit to a Maleku cultural center to learn about Indigenous traditions and environmental practices.
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