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Arenal area
Surrounded by mountains kept perpetually emerald green by the winds from the Caribbean and dominated by the Arenal Volcano the Lake is properly a reservoir. Volcano Arenal is a picture perfect cone, the most active volcano in Costa Rica and a must see for the visitor. Adored by the local Indians, it became famous again on July 29, 1968 when it awakened from a long sleep with a giant earthquake and massive explosion which wiped out the villages of Tabacon and Pueblo Nuevo, whose entire population perished. Although it has not erupted with any serious force in the past 20 years, its lava flows and eruptions are constant on virtually and on any day you can see smoking cinderblocks tumbling down the slope from the horse-shoe shaped crater, or, at night, watch a fiery cascade of lava spewing from the 140 meter deep crater. It is regarded as one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Between the Arenal lake and the Caribbean area is Caño Negro, a bird-watcher paradise with the largest colony of neotropic cormorants in Costa Rica and the only permanent colony of Nicaraguan grackle and cattle egrets, wood storks, anhingas, roseate spoonbills, etc. The reserve is remarkable as well for its healthy population of endangered mammal species: jaguars, cougars, tapirs, ocelots and tayras. But everything has its price … the mosquitoes are fierce! Attractions/Activities: the Arenal Volcano and Lake, the Cloud Forest, Cano Negro Park. Horseback riding, hiking and fishing, and some white-water rafting.
Tabacon Hot Springs At the base of the volcano, on the NW face, is Tabacon where steaming waters of the Rio Tabacon tumble down from the lava fields. A dip here is supposed to be perfect for treating skin problems, arthritis and muscular pains. A new full facility “spa hotel” has opened and provides great service.
Caño Negro, one of the undiscovered gems of Costa Rica 25 Kms SW of Los Chiles, is a remote tropical everglades teeming with wildlife. The 9,969 hectare preserve protects a lush lowland basin of soft, knee deep watery sloughs and marshes, holillo groves and tan carpets of sturdy sedge. Life here evolves around Lake Caño Negro, a seasonal lake fed by the fresh waters of the Rio FrÃo, which snake down from the flanks of Volcano Tenorio and collect in this basin, where they slow almost to a standstill. In the wet season, when the region is flooded and great pools and lagoons form, vast numbers of migratory waterfowls flock in, turtles and crocodiles can be seen in abundance basking on the banks, and looking down into waters as black as Costa Rican coffee you may see the dim forms of big shook, silver gold tarpon, and garish garfish lurking in the shadows. In February the dry season sets in (generally through April). Caño Negro dries out, and the area is reduced to shrunken lagoons. Caiman gnash and slosh out pools in the muck, and wildlife congregates in great abundance along the watercourses.
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