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The Arenal volcano is one of the 10 most active in the world with mild eruptions as frequent as every half hour. This is a special place to observe the flow of lava, smoldering boulders and the awesome force that is nature. The volcano is adjacent to the a protected forest that rides on part of the Tilaran Mountain Corridor and creates a protected track between the lower lands of San Carlos and the Cloud Forests of Monteverde.
Arenal volcano has been constantly active since 1968 when, on July 29th, the volcano erupted killing 78 people. The last eruption prior to this is thought to be around 1500 AD. The volcano is some 3000 years old.
The conical Arenal volcano is the youngest volcano in Costa Rica and the most active. It is a stratovolcano (also known as composite volcano) like Mt. Fuji in Japan, Mt. Mayon in the Philippines, and Mt. Agua in Guatemala. The 1657 meters (5,437 Feet, 1 meter = 3.28 feet) high volcano towers above the eastern shores of Lake Arenal, which has been enlarged by a hydroelectric project. Arenal was constructed by successive eruptions to the NW (10.463°N (10°27'48"N), 84.703°W (84°42'12"W)) of the older Chato volcano, which contains a 500 meters wide summit crater. The earliest known eruptions of Arenal took place about 7,000 years ago, and the two volcanoes were active concurrently until the activity of Chato ended about 3,500 years ago.
 Growth of Arenal has been characterized by periodic major explosive eruptions at several-hundred-year intervals and periods of lava effusion that armor the cone. Arenal volcano actual eruptive period began with a major eruption in 1968. Continuous daily explosive eruption activity accompanied by slow lava effusion and the occasional emission of pyroclastic flows (avalanche of hot gases, rocks and ashes that can travel @ 80 km per hour) has occurred since then from vents at the summit and on the upper western flank. Arenal eruptions are of the strombolian type (name after the volcano Stromboli in Italy: A type of volcanic activity which produces frequent, moderate eruptions.
Arenal Hot Springs Benefits 
Hot springs are considered a natural expression of Earth’s inherent energy. Geologically, the hot springs are 97% rain-based and 3% magma-based. Rainwater enters the earth through fissures on the surface and is then heated by magma found in the earth’s core. Once heated, the waters rise to the surface, taking with it minerals found in the earth’s rocky stratus. Thus, the waters are loaded with minerals. Hot springs provide many benefits stemming from various chemical, physical and biological effects.
- The chemical effects are related to the minerals and other substances in the water, which are transferred to the skin and bloodstream through osmosis.
- The physical effects are due in large part to the water temperature, which helps dilate the skin, thus improving oxygen flow in the tissues that are being treated. The heat also encourages the flow of natural sedating substances in the body, encouraging muscle relaxation. Altogether, these effects create of a sense of wellbeing.
- The biological effects are produced by the hydrothermal flora and fauna, integrating micro and macro organisms in a complex union. This effect is called “biogleas” and is composed of thousand of different species which strengthen the skin’s defense systems, helping it to repair itself from external attacks such as aging.
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