We asked Maddie from Concordia College about her weekend excursion to Volcan Arenal in La Fortuna, Costa Rica with friend and fellow ICDS student Sophia from the University of Portland. Maddie and Sophia are current students in ICDS’ Fall semester, Sustainable Development & Social Justice in Latin America.

What made you want to visit Arenal?

Arenal made it on my list of places I wanted to visit in Costa Rica based on recommendations from members of my host family as well as friends who’ve been through the ICDS program in the past. A classmate and I decided we wanted to spend our upcoming free weekend exploring Arenal on Wednesday, and we asked our professors throughout the day what they recommended we try to see. The volcano itself was the biggest attraction, with the hot springs being the second thing we wanted to see.

 

How did you get there?

The bus station information we gained was from various travel blogs. On the Terminal 7-10 website (the bus company that runs buses to La Fortuna, or Arenal), they have many more times for buses than actually exist. They have a 5:00 AM and a 6:15 AM bus online, but they are only running the 8:40 AM bus from San Jose to La Fortuna and only running the 2:45 PM bus from La Fortuna to San Jose. Luckily, these travel blogs warned us of this, and we showed up at around 7:30 AM to buy tickets for the 8:40 bus. The Terminal 7-10 station is the nicest we’ve seen by far, and you purchase the tickets up on the second level to the right, then wait for the bus down on the main level. The ticket price was around ₡3,000.

 

How long was the trip?

The trip was around 4 hours there and about the same back. This bus trip in particular had a stop that was around halfway, so that was nice for using the restrooms or buying snacks. The bathrooms at all 7-10 stations are pricey, 500 colones as opposed to 200 or 300 in some bus stations.

 

Where did you stay?

We stayed at Arenal Backpackers Resort Hostel. There is also a La Fortuna Backpackers Hostel, but we stayed at the one named Arenal. It had a really nice pool, and the best breakfast ever for just $5 in the morning (I’m talking pancakes, ham, eggs, fruit, AND coffee). Sophia and I decided to stay in a tent, one of the offerings for those who want a private room. We thought the tent would be cool to try out, and it was. The hostel was located just a few minutes’ walk from town and the bus station, close to a few different sodas and a minisuper.

 

What did you do while you were there?

We went into the experience not knowing what we were going to do, but knowing that we wanted to get into the National Park to see the volcano to find hot springs (Sophia was really interested in getting to Rio Tabacon). We decided to buy a tour where we could see both in one night, plus they provided transportation. Our tour guide was amazing; we were with a small group of folks from Spain and he brought us to the most amazing vista point. It was a fairly simple hike up to this point where you could see the entire valley, the whole volcano, and the two nearby lagoons. It was around 4 PM then and the sun was beautiful; we sat there taking it all in for a while. Then they provided transportation and entrance into one of the resorts with pools fed by hot springs.

It was there that we learned about where to check out the public natural hot springs options, so next we headed to Rio Tabacon. Some locals we met who also worked for the tour company told us about an opportunity to hike the volcano next to Arenal, Cerro Chato, so that is what we did on our second morning. We started the hike at 9:00 AM and made it back into town in time to grab a casado and make the 2:45 PM bus, so it was a full day of hiking. It was a seriously intense hike, but so well worth it. The forest is called a transition forest, between rainforest and cloud forest, and there were new animals, sounds, and plants surrounding us the whole way. The final destination of the hike was the “green” lagoon at the center of the volcano. Cerro Chato erupted 3,500 years ago and has been gathering rainwater ever since, and it is surrounded by trees so the water looks green. In reality, once you get down to it, it’s clear lake water. Sophia and I, being Minnesota girls at heart, swam around and cooled down for a good 30 minutes. Overall, it was some of the most eventful 24 hours of my life, and I’m so glad we made the decision to go.

 

What did you learn?

Before this, we hadn’t much engaged with tour guides when traveling places. After this, we are thoroughly convinced of the value of a great tour. It takes the stress out of transportation, provides invaluable local knowledge, and overall is a great way to have fun and meet people! In general, this trip was the most spontaneous one I’ve taken here. I learned that if you have similar goals to those you’re traveling with, do a little research before getting to a place, keep an open mind, and trust the people who are kind enough to interact with you along the way, a trip can really fall into place in an almost magical way.

 

What advice would you give to future travelers to Arenal?

I would recommend checking out the public (and free) hot springs. In addition, a tour is an amazing way to learn about the history of the town and the volcano. If you choose to do a hike or something outdoors, pay attention to the details. There is beauty everywhere. Also, always pack more water than you think you’re going to need. Water is life.