Sitting just north of the Tilarán Mountains, Arenal
is a spectacularly beautiful, cone-shaped volcano rising out
of the flat San Carlos Plains. It is the most active volcano
in the country producing frequent, loud booms that can be
heard as far away as Monteverde. In the daytime, it is a
very special experience to see clouds of ash and smoke
billowing into the sky from Arenal's crater. On clear
nights, spectators are occasionally treated to a natural
fireworks display, when an eruption of lava and burning
rocks explodes into the air and showers down the cinder
cone. Even when it's overcast, the rumblings, ventings and
molten lava glowing eerily through the clouds, make for
stirring spectacle. Arenal, and the bustling town of La
Fortuna nearby, are some of Costa Rica's most popular
destinations, and thousands of people flock there every year
to see the colossus. On Aug. 23, 2000, Arenal erupted
unexpectedly, killing a tourist and a naturalist guide, so
much care must be taken when visiting the area.
