Volcán Arenal

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Lonely Planet review

Arenal was just another dormant volcano from about AD 1500 until 29 July 29 1968, when something snapped. Huge explosions triggered lava flows that destroyed three villages, killing about 80 people and 45,000 cattle. Eventually, the lava subsided to a relatively predictable flow and life got back to normal. Sort of.

Although it occasionally quiets down for a few weeks or even months, Arenal has been producing menacing ash columns, massive explosions, and streamers of glowing molten rock almost daily since 1968. Miraculously, the volcano has retained its picture-perfect conical shape despite constant volcanic activity, though its slopes are now ashen instead of green.

The degree of activity varies from year to year and week to week - even day to day. Sometimes it can be a spectacular display of flowing red-hot lava and incandescent rocks flying through the air; at other times the volcano subsides to a gentle glow. During the day, the lava isn't easy to see, but you might still see a great cloud of ash thrown up by a massive explosion.