After slumbering for an estimated 400 to 700 years the Arenal Volcano exploded into action on the morning of July 29, 1968. Initially the explosions were of hot gases and pyroclastic flows that devestated a wide area around the volcano and killed 95 people during the first two days. Active lava flow began on September 19, 1968, and has continued ever since. Explosions happen frequently and pyroclastic flows still occur occasionally. As recently as August 23, 2000, two people who were on the side of the volcano were killed by one of these pyroclastic flows. This continual level of activity makes the Arenal Volcano one of the most active volcanos in the western hemisphere. It also makes it a major tourist attraction. Because of the risk tourists, at least on the tour we were on, are not allowed on the volcano itself. However, we were able to hear many small explosions, see smoke and see bolders rolling down the sides of the volcanic cone. The tour we went on was not part of the wedding side trips Nick and Jessie had planned for their guests. Rather we learned about it from the website of the Tamarindo Diria Hotel. Before we left the US we had the tour desk of the hotel book it for us. The tour took almost 16 hours, many of which were in a small bus getting from Tamarindo to Arenal and back. Included in the tour were a number of stops and two meals. Among the stops two were especially interesting, a hike in an area of Costa Rican rain forest and several hours spent at a hot springs spa resort. 
Lake Arenal is an artificial lake near the base of the volcano, created by a massive earthen dam. We had to drive around the lake on the way to the volcano. 
One of many wind powered electric generators we saw The area around Arenal generates much of the electricity for Costa Rica using wind power, hydroelectric power from Lake Arenal and geothermal generation from the volcano itself |