How long does this tour last?

It lasts 2.5–3 hours. Start times: 7:00am and 1:30pm.

Is transport or pickup included?

Transport is never included in the tour price. We quote it separately by hotel and zone so you only pay for the route you actually need.

How hard is the hike?

Moderate: uneven lava trail with gentle climbs, about 3 km at a relaxed pace with stops. Closed shoes are essential.

Will we see the volcano?

The trail has the best viewpoints of the 1968 lava flow and Lake Arenal. Cloud cover changes by the hour, so mornings usually offer the clearest views.

What happens if it rains?

Rain is part of the rainforest and the tour normally runs; we bring rain gear. If conditions become unsafe, we reschedule or refund according to our policy.

Arenal Volcano 1968 Trail: Guided Hike

Verified reviews

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★★★★★ 5.0 · 2 reviews

Relax06993626429· February 2026 · TripAdvisor

Amazing experience from beginning to end. I contacted Elias before our first trip to Costa Rica to book nature tours for La Fortuna. He took our whole wish list — 2 night walks (Ecocentro Danaus and Papa's Place), canyoning, white water rafting with Arenal Rafting, sloth walk at Bogarin, chocolate and coffee tour at North Fields, zip lining at Sky Adventures and the 1968 trail to Arenal volcano. Luis was our nature guide (Gabriel for the sloth walk), both brilliant. Elias went over and above by messaging us each night with reminders and asking how our day had been. Would recommend wholeheartedly.

Julie Tearle· February 2026 · Google

We had such an amazing experience with Elias Nature Tours from beginning to end. Elias took our whole wish list and booked everything: 2 night walks (Ecocentro Danaus and Papa's place), canyoning, white water rafting with Arenal Rafting, a sloth walk at Bogarin, chocolate and coffee tour at North Fields, zip lining at Sky Adventures and the 1968 trail to Arenal Volcano. He sent a full itinerary with codes and details. We saw a sloth mum and baby come down to ground at Bogarin — awesome! Luis was our guide for all nature tours and Gabriel for the sloth walk. Both were brilliant and so knowledgeable. Elias went over and above, messaging each night with reminders. Would recommend wholeheartedly.

Request Availability

Partner-operated activity · arranged by VIVO

This activity is run by a local operator we work with. You book it through us as a complement to your day: we confirm availability with the operator, coordinate transport from your hotel and send you one payment link for everything.

Reference: from $137 USD — indicative per-person price. The final total is confirmed in your quote.

Request this add-on

Combine it with a VIVO tour

Our own guided experiences: VIVO guide, small groups and instant booking.

VIVO guided

Safari Float – Peñas Blancas River

2–2.5 hours

VIVO guided

La Fortuna Waterfall Visit — Self-Guided

2–3 hours

VIVO guided

Ecocentro Danaus – Day Guided Rainforest Tour

2 hours

What to know

Hiking shoes
Water
Rain protection
Camera

How it works

1
Choose your date
Date, modality and travellers at checkout.
2
You send your request
No payment taken. We check real availability with the operator.
3
We confirm in writing
Email and WhatsApp with time, meeting point and assigned guide.
4
Your private portal
You receive your portal with itinerary, calendar invite and support.

You can also add this experience to your itinerary and book several together. View my itinerary

Where exactly it is

Arenal 1968 Trails · 12 km from La Fortuna (≈20 min drive)

Open directions

Tour Location· Arenal 1968 Volcano Trails

4.4(1,594)Mon-Sun 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

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Compare with other options in this zone

Real alternatives in the same destination, so you can decide without opening five tabs.

Experience comparison table
Detail	You are viewingArenal 1968 Volcano Walk	Mistico Hanging Bridges – Wildlife Walk	Rainforest Macro Night Photography Experience	Sky Adventures Zipline – Arenal
Duration	2.5–3 hours	2.5–3 hours	2.5–3 hours	2.5–3 hours
Price	From $137	From $135	From $144	From $106
Difficulty	—	—	Easy	—
Transport	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Modality	Private	Private	Private	Private
Booking	By request	By request	Instant date hold	By request
Includes	2 items	1 items	6 items	5 items

Verified reviews

What travellers said about this experience

5.0 · 2 verified reviews shownRead all verified reviews

Relax06993626429

🌎 International · February 2026 · TripAdvisor

View original review

Julie Tearle

February 2026 · Google

View original review

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Ecocentro Danaus – Day Guided Rainforest Tour

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Two iconic Arenal experiences in one day: Mistico Hanging Bridges canopy walk and the Arenal 1968 Lava Trails with epic volcano views

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Duration: 2.5–3 hours
Start time: 7:00am / 1:30pmSubject to availability
Group style: Private departure
Pickup: Pickup can be coordinated
Languages: EN / ES

The experience

Arenal 1968 Volcano Walk

Walk the actual 1968 lava flow of the Arenal Volcano on a private guided trail that combines geology, primary rainforest, and one of Costa Rica's most iconic viewpoints. The Arenal 1968 private reserve borders Arenal Volcano National Park and preserves the exact terrain reshaped by the eruption that gave the volcano its modern conical silhouette. Your naturalist guide leads a 2–3 hour walk (~4 km, easy-to-moderate) across cooled lava fields blanketed in pioneer vegetation, through primary and secondary rainforest, and up to the volcano viewpoint and Lake Arenal lookout. Along the way, expect to spot coati families, howler monkeys, toucans, oropendolas, hummingbirds, and — with luck — sloths in the taller trees. The guide interprets the 1968 eruption story, plate tectonics, and the succession ecology that reclaimed the slope. Photography opportunities are exceptional, with the volcano's cone as a permanent backdrop. Shared groups offer a structured departure and social pace; private tours let you set the timing (dawn birding, golden-hour photography), adjust the pace for families or seniors, and focus on your interests. Included: park entrance and bilingual naturalist guide. Transport is not included — we quote it separately by hotel and zone.

Add-on

How you book this activity

Partner-operated activity · arranged by VIVO

Reference: from $137 USD — indicative per-person price. The final total is confirmed in your quote.

Request this add-on

Combine it with a VIVO tour

Our own guided experiences: VIVO guide, small groups and instant booking.

VIVO guided

Safari Float – Peñas Blancas River

2–2.5 hours

VIVO guided

La Fortuna Waterfall Visit — Self-Guided

2–3 hours

VIVO guided

Ecocentro Danaus – Day Guided Rainforest Tour

2 hours

Compare

Choose with clarity

Duration, price, difficulty, transport and booking type, side by side.

Compare with other options in this zone

Real alternatives in the same destination, so you can decide without opening five tabs.

Experience comparison table
Detail	You are viewingArenal 1968 Volcano Walk	Mistico Hanging Bridges – Wildlife Walk	Rainforest Macro Night Photography Experience	Sky Adventures Zipline – Arenal
Duration	2.5–3 hours	2.5–3 hours	2.5–3 hours	2.5–3 hours
Price	From $137	From $135	From $144	From $106
Difficulty	—	—	Easy	—
Transport	Optional	Optional	Optional	Optional
Modality	Private	Private	Private	Private
Booking	By request	By request	Instant date hold	By request
Includes	2 items	1 items	6 items	5 items

Verified reviews

What travellers said about this experience

5.0 · 2 verified reviews shownRead all verified reviews

Relax06993626429

🌎 International · February 2026 · TripAdvisor

View original review

Julie Tearle

February 2026 · Google

View original review

Continue your journey

Pair this experience in Arenal & La Fortuna

Explore Arenal & La Fortuna

Complete your day in Arenal & La Fortuna

Baldi Hot Springs Resort, La Fortuna

Baldi Hot Springs – Day Pass

Full-day access to 25 thermal pools, water slides, sauna and tropical gardens

9:00 AM – 10:00 PM
From $56

Ecocentro Danaus – La Fortuna

Ecocentro Danaus – Day Guided Rainforest Tour

Walk through regenerating rainforest and wetlands to spot sloths, frogs, caimans, butterflies and diverse tropical wildlife

2 hours
From $129

Ecocentro Danaus – La Fortuna

Ecocentro Danaus – Night Tour

Red-eyed tree frogs, eyelash pit vipers and nocturnal insects — a guided night walk through one of La Fortuna's richest rainforest reserves.

2 hours
From $129

With a similar duration

Mistico Hanging Bridges

Mistico Hanging Bridges – Wildlife Walk

16 hanging bridges through pristine primary rainforest — Arenal Volcano views, toucans overhead and sloths in the canopy.

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From $135

Private Rainforest Reserve – Arenal Area

Rainforest Macro Night Photography Experience

A private photography session paced entirely for your camera — red-eyed frogs, pit vipers and rare nocturnal species in their natural habitat.

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From $144

Sky Adventures Arenal

Sky Adventures Zipline – Arenal

High-adrenaline zipline ride with volcano and lake views, includes scenic tram ascent

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From $106

More experiences in Arenal & La Fortuna

Peñas Blancas River

Safari Float – Peñas Blancas River

A silent river float where sloths, spider monkeys and Agami Herons come to you — no effort, pure wildlife.

2–2.5 hours
From $151

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🌋 La Fortuna – Classic Combo Experience

Most popular spots in one day: Hanging Bridges + Arenal 1968 + La Fortuna Waterfall

Full day (~10 hours)
From $423

Mistico Park + Arenal 1968 Trails, La Fortuna

🌋 Mistico Bridges + Arenal 1968 – Volcano & Rainforest Combo

Two iconic Arenal experiences in one day: Mistico Hanging Bridges canopy walk and the Arenal 1968 Lava Trails with epic volcano views

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From $287

Arenal 1968 Volcano Walk

From $137 per person · taxes included

Request Availability