Arenal 1968 vs Arenal Volcano National Park
Visit Arenal 1968 or Arenal Volcano National Park
Both have some trails that take you closer to Arenal Volcanic Mountain and provide good views of the mountain. If you have time and if you are not on a budget, you can visit both. Otherwise, it is enough to visit only one of them. We visited only Arenal 1968 and skipped the other one.
Arenal 1968 has closer view towards Arenal Volcano Mountain. 1968 is the year in which volcanic mountain erupted. They have turned the erupted site into a national memorial called Arenal 1968.
Arenal 1968
- Distance from La Fortuna: ~20 min (depending on where you stay in the town)
- Entrance fee – $25 per person
- Parking – parking available (included with entrance fee)
- Time to spend: 1-4 hrs depending on the trails
- View point – Cima Colada to view Arenal Volcano Mountain
- Distance to view point – ~1.5 km from the trail head in the parking lot.
- Return loop can be completed via a shorter loop (1.8 km) or a longer loop of 3.2 km. The longer loop takes you to Lago Los Patos lake where you can see crocodiles. The trail is 40% shaded and 60% out in the sun.
- Both return loops finish at the Arenal 1968 Café, and have a good lunch. Café also provides a beautiful view of the volcanic mountain. Those who don’t want to do the hike can directly come to the café and enjoy the view.
Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridge
- Distance from Arenal 1968: ~15 min
- Entrance fee: $30 per person
- Parking – parking available (included with entrance fee)
- What to do here?
- Need to reach before 3:30 PM
- Time to spend: 2 – 3 hrs
- 16 hanging bridges of varying lengths and depths (upto 100m).
- Waterfalls
- Nature Walk through the trails and enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna and the bridges.
- Get sight of animals and birds
