Lake Arenal boat tour and hiking: 360° views

A roughly 2-mile trail with no steps, sighting towers framing the lake and volcano in all directions.

Lake Arenal by boat and peninsula trail is a guided tour combining a scenic boat ride across Costa Rica's largest lake with an easy, wheelchair-accessible hike through Arenal Volcano National Park. The boat passes bays, peninsulas and islands while your guide explains the lake's history and the 1979 expansion that relocated the town; the trail that follows has no steps or steep incline and includes observation towers for 360-degree photographs of the lake and surrounding volcanoes. Live guides speak English or Spanish, pickup is included, and children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat ride and easy hike at Lake Arenal

• Boat trip around Lake Arenal bays
• Enjoy views of mountains and volcanoes
• Listen to guide's information about lake and volcano
• Walk accessible trail in Arenal Volcano National Park
• Observe birds and monkeys along the trail
• Return to hotel by transportation

The Experience

The boat ride takes you across Lake Arenal, which stretches 85 square kilometers in the northern highlands and reaches depths of 30 to 60 meters depending on the season. You'll pass bays, peninsulas and islands ringed by lush vegetation, with blue mountains and volcanoes visible across the water. Your guide shares the history of the lake itself—how the town of Arenal had to relocate to higher ground when the lake expanded in 1979—and points out the landscape and wildlife as you move across the water.

After the boat returns to shore, you walk a roughly 2-mile trail through the national park with no steps and little incline, designed so wheelchairs and people with physical limitations can complete it. Sighting towers along the route let you stop and photograph the lake and volcano from multiple angles. The trail is excellent for bird watching: toucans, motmots, trogons and oropendolas are common, and you may hear or see howler monkeys, spider monkeys or capuchin monkeys moving through the canopy. When the walk ends, your transportation is waiting to return you to your hotel.

The tour runs 2 to 3 hours total and includes snacks and an air-conditioned vehicle for the ride to and from your hotel. You can book as a shared group or private tour; both options come with a live English- or Spanish-speaking guide.

What’s included

• Boat ride across Lake Arenal with guide commentary on the lake's history and landscape.
• guided walk on the accessible Peninsula Trail through Arenal Volcano National Park with sighting towers for photography.
• snacks.
• air-conditioned vehicle for hotel pickup and return.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Jacamar Naturalist Tours

Is this one for you?Book the shared tour if you want to join other travelers; choose private if you need to set your own pace on the boat and trail.

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Top questions

How accessible is the trail for someone in a wheelchair or with mobility challenges?

The Peninsula Trail is roughly 2 miles with no steps and little incline, and it is completely accessible to wheelchairs and people with physical limitations. Sighting towers are positioned along the route so you can stop and rest while taking in the views.

What animals might I see or hear on the hike?

The trail is excellent for bird watching, where toucans, motmots, trogons and oropendolas are commonly spotted. You may also hear or see howler monkeys, spider monkeys or capuchin monkeys in the canopy, along with many other species.

What is Lake Arenal and why was the town relocated?

Lake Arenal is Costa Rica's largest lake at 85 square kilometers, located in the northern highlands. The town of Arenal was relocated to higher ground in 1979 when the lake was expanded; your guide explains this history and the landscape's development during the boat ride.

Is this tour suitable for young children?

Yes, children are welcome from age 4. The boat ride and the flat, accessible trail make it manageable for families with small children, though the tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the tour price?

The tour includes the boat ride, the guided hike, snacks, and an air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and return to your hotel. A live guide in English or Spanish leads both the boat and the trail portions.