Afternoon Arenal Volcano Hike and the El Choyín Hot Springs River

An afternoon departure, which puts the walking after the middle of the day and the hot springs at the end of it. The hike goes around the base of Arenal on the west side of the volcano, where the nature trails run. The guide covers the history of the mountain, what it did and when, and points out what is moving in the trees along the way: tropical birds, monkeys, and whatever else is out that afternoon. The hot springs here are a river rather than a pool. The water comes off the volcano warm and carries the minerals with it, and the forest closes over the banks. You sit in it, which is the reason for doing the walking first.