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This is a picture of the Arenal, one of the active volcanoes in Costa Rica. It is one of the only volcanoes in the country showing and actual conical form (so as we instictively picture a volcano). Despite the lack of visual interest (dull colors - the sky was very pale), I included it, because it is not so easy to get to see the volcano without any clouds covering it. What can be seen on the picture is actually a fumarole showing its activity. Here, you can see the black-gey side of the volcano created by the ashes. If you see it from the other side, it looks green because of the vegetation on the mountain. The Arenal is situated in the picturesque town of La Fortuna.

We also got to see the Arenal at night and watched the red lava flowing down the hill; it was, however, difficult to get a picture. And in the afternoon, we were fortunate to take a bath in the hot springs of Tabacon, which are heated by the volcano. Definitively, a visit I recomend.

You can do this visit from San Jose and return on the same day (I planned the tour with a travel agency close to the Instituto Costaricense de Turismo - Costa Rican Institute for Turism - which is situated at the Plaza de la Cultura in the downtown of San José). Most of the people however, recommend you to stay one night so you can hear the noises of the volcano in the middle of the night. It is also said to be more interesting to see in the early hours of the morning.