Arenal is a Costa Rica National Park, the extension of it is about 33000 acres. The perfect cone of Arenal Volcano raises up to 5500 f.a.s.l., and is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, showing constant emanation of gas, steam and, once in a while, small amounts of viscous lavas ( Andesit basalts)
This mountain woke up violently the morning of July 29th in 1968, destroying 2 villages on the way of the pyroclastic flows (glowing clouds made from ash, incandescent rocks, steam and toxic gases, with temperatures as high as 3000 degrees Farenheit)
Unfortunately, 97 people were killed right away, having no time to scape…
Nowadays, this is one of the most visited National Parks in Costa Rica, not only because the volcano itself, but for the beauty of the rain forest, the waterfalls and the different circuits of Hot Springs.
Two seasons occur in the area: The dry season, starting by January and ending by April, and the rainy or green season, from May to December. The rainfall average is about 175 inches a year, turning this one of the richest biodiverse areas in the world.
Monkeys, sloths, several hundreds of species of birds, amphibians and reptiles are commonly seen here.
