If you’re wondering how to get to Arenal Volcano, you’re in for an unforgettable journey. This guide will explore the best routes and tips for reaching this stunning natural wonder in Costa Rica.
The Arenal area is a must-see destination for any traveler seeking an authentic taste of Costa Rican culture and natural beauty. As it crowns a great region, it has several ways to reach it, from wherever you are coming.
Located in the northern region of Costa Rica lies the majestic Arenal Volcano, a towering natural wonder that has captivated visitors for decades. With its verdant forests, cascading waterfalls, and bubbling hot springs, the Arenal area is a must-see destination for any traveler seeking an authentic taste of Costa Rican culture and natural beauty. And as it crowns a great region, it has several ways to reach it, from wherever you are coming.
But with so many different routes to get to the volcano, it can be challenging to know where to start. In this article, we’ll explore the various ways to reach the Arenal Volcano, highlighting the unique features and benefits of each option.
The best choice is to ask locals which is the best route to take in the time you are traveling around Costa Rica.
How to Get to Arenal Volcano from Either of the International Airports?
Guanacaste International Airport (LIR)
The Arenal Volcano Region is 2 hours and 43 minutes from the Guanacaste International Airport.
142.9 Km | 88.7 miles
Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO)
The Arenal Volcano is 2 hours and 29 minutes from Juan Santamaría International Airport.
114.3 Km | 70 Miles
The map with the routes to get to Arenal Volcano:
The Routes to Get to Arenal Volcano
There are five distinct routes that both tourists and locals use every day in the Arenal Volcano Region:
- Coming from San José and the Central Pacific.
- Coming from Monteverde or the Nicoya Peninsula and Guanacaste.
- Coming from the Northern Area: Bijagua, Guatuso, Boca Tapada, and Caño Negro.
- Coming from the Caribbean, Sarapiquí, or Turrialba.
Which are the routes to get to the Arenal Volcano?
Depending on where you are coming from, there are different routes to follow to get to the volcano; you should take the most picturesque, fast, and in good conditions as you can.
To get to Arenal Volcano through San Ramon:
Panamerican Highway, Route 1:
If you are driving, set your Google Maps or Waze in San Ramon.
You will pass through the town of San Ramón and ascend to the Los Ángeles cloud forests; then you will notice that the route starts descending.
Then you will reach La Tigra, and a little further, and right before the Peñas Blancas River, the road divides.
The most picturesque and convenient is the one taking the Peñas Blancas River Bridge.
The alternate route will take you past Tanque town and on to La Fortuna; it is less winding, but it will take a bit longer.
You can also get to Arenal Volcano by the route of the Poás Volcano and the La Paz Waterfall Gardens:
To get to Arenal Volcano through the Vara Blanca route.
Through this route, you can go to the Poás Volcano, the popular Waterfalls Garden, and go across the magnificent San Carlos Plains, as luscious as they are progressive.
And our recommendation is to start early so you can visit everything and enjoy this rainforest-filled route.
This road will take you into San Miguel and Rio Cuarto. And to the road of Tanque town.
By El Tanque, you will already be seeing the mighty volcano if the day is clear.
Zarcero Used to Be the Old Route to Get to Arenal Volcano:
The route through Zarcero and Ciudad Quesada goes through some beautiful landscapes and magnificent cloud forests.
Zarcero has a beautiful and original park in its central square. Dozens of topiary figures have been trimmed and looked after for many years.
When you take this route, it is vital to go early in the day as it gets very foggy at times. There are some delicious typical food restaurants. For me the best is called “El Rincon de Ceci” or something like that; it’s about a kilometer out of the town of Zarcero on the road to get to the Arenal Volcano.
It is a beautiful way to get to Arenal Volcano, and you should stop to try the food and delicatessen offered by the side of the road.
To get to Arenal Volcano through Sarchi Town
You can go through the towns of Grecia and Sarchí and its fantastic painted ox carts. From there, you would have to take the route that goes to the town of Bajos del Toro.
The route is very winding, and it has some steep cliffs on the side, going through the rainforest.
The town of Bajos del Toro is a real Costa Rican town, and you may find some excellent typical restaurants offering fish trout. It also has one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Costa Rica: La Catarata de Bajos del Toro!
To Get to Arenal Volcano Coming From the Caribbean Coast:
Tortuguero, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Pacuare, Turrialba, or Bajos del Toro in Panamá.
When you are coming from anywhere in the Caribbean, you can get to Arenal Volcano by the Sarapiqui River region. This route is very picturesque and an easy drive, as it doesn’t have as many curves or cliffs as other routes.
The route is through the area of the Sarapiquí River. A relatively flat region with hundreds of acres dedicated to farming and livestock.
To Get to the Arenal Volcano If You’re Coming From the Pacific Coast, Monteverde, Tenorio, or Liberia (LIR) Airport:
To go from anywhere in the North Pacific or Monteverde, you have to get to the town of Tilaran and then drive around on the picturesque route of the lake.
This is the most scenic road to get to Arenal Volcano
From Monteverde, you can also go across the Arenal Lake if you are not driving but using private transfers.
You will take the route of Tilarán and drive around the lake until you arrive in La Fortuna.
There is no way to get lost.
To Wrap It Up:
Costa Rica is a small country, but it’s so diverse that choices to get to the Arenal Volcano are many, and it’s better to explore the options available to plan your trip!
If you have any doubts or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me to point you in the right direction.
