Are­nal is Cos­ta Rica’s best-known vol­cano. It’s a stra­to­vol­cano – a large, sym­met­ri­cal vol­cano that’s built upon lay­ers of ash, rock and lava – and at 1,657 meters, it stands high above the rest of the coun­try­side. Posi­tioned with­in Cos­ta Rica’s fer­tile north­ern low­lands, the Are­nal Vol­cano is an unavoid­able pres­ence while trav­el­ing with­in this part of the coun­try. It is tall and impos­ing and has a rep­u­ta­tion that pre­cedes itself. Arenal’s per­fect­ly sym­met­ri­cal shape makes it a sightseer’s dream, while its abun­dance of out­door activ­i­ties makes it an easy place to check things off your “must-do in Cos­ta Rica” list. Height: 1657 meters, Type: Stra­to­vol­cano, Sta­tus: His­tor­i­cal