Explore Arenal & Northern Plains

Arenal & Northern Plains takes its name from the most recognizable volcano in Costa Rica: Arenal, which rises to 1,670 metres above La Fortuna and the lake system at its base. From 1968 to 2010, Arenal was Central America's most consistently active volcano. It is dormant by recent comparison — activity is now primarily fumarolic — but remains the visual and conceptual anchor of a region that stretches north through the agricultural lowlands of Alajuela province toward the Nicaraguan border.

La Fortuna is the main access town, positioned directly below the volcano's eastern slope and surrounded by hot springs, hanging bridge reserves, and river-rafting put-ins on the Balsa. Lake Arenal begins just west, stretching roughly 85 kilometres toward Tilarán — a reservoir created in 1979 that now supports lakeside stays, kayaking, and a consistent wind corridor known for kitesurfing. To the northwest, Tenorio Volcano National Park shelters Río Celeste: a turquoise river whose colour comes from a chemical reaction where two volcanic-mineral tributaries converge near the town of Bijagua. From there the terrain drops into the northern lowlands — flat cattle and pineapple country around Ciudad Quesada, Upala, and Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, a significant freshwater wetland known for migratory birds and caiman.

For Off Grid Destinations, the Arenal & Northern Plains hub covers a range of stay and property contexts: eco lodges with volcano views near La Fortuna, properties in the lower-elevation transition zone between the volcanic highlands and the agricultural plains, and rural holdings in the north where land is less expensive and the pace is quieter than the main tourism corridors. This is a region defined by contrast — dramatic volcanic infrastructure in the south, working agricultural lowland in the north, and a range of ecosystems and climate zones in between.

Arenal & Northern Plains is best for those seeking volcano-country access, off-grid property in a transition zone, or a foothold in the quieter, less-visited north. The region rewards those who move past the established adventure circuit around La Fortuna into the country that lies beyond it.