Costa Rica’s natural wonders are always attracting the attention of international publications and actively top the list of many rankings in the world of travel and tourism. A recent article by The Huffington Post placed Arenal Volcano National Park in first place, among the 35 most amazing national parks in the world. The Costa Rica attraction ranked #1 above other popular international tourist destinations like Brazil and even Yosemite and the Grand Canyon in the United States.
The article gives a vivid description of the amazing sites at Arenal: “In the middle of the dense Costa Rican rainforest, there’s a rumbling active volcano (yes, you can actually see the lava pouring down the sides), surrounded by hot springs, fauna-filled forests, and plenty of hidden waterfalls. Ask anyone who’s been to Arenal and they’ll tell you: It’s paradise.”
The list of the 35 most amazing parks includes the Iguazú National Park (Argentina-Brazil), Yosemite National Park (USA), Etosha National Park (Namibia, Africa), and Banff National Park (Canada), in the second, third, fourth and fifth places, respectively.
The Huffington Post Names Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica the Best in the World
The Arenal Volcano National Park was created on September 30, 1991 and is located north of Costa Rica in the province of Alajuela. Arenal has an area of 12,080 ha. at the foot of Tilarán Mountain Range and the Plains of San Carlos. Its altitude ranges from 400 to 1,755 m. above sea level and it is characterized by the majestic and highly active Arenal Volcano, whose cone rises just 17 kms northwest of La Fortuna.
The main attraction of the Arenal Volcano National Park is the stunning volcano that actively flows with red-hot lava; however, other attractions also add value to the park, such as the secondary tropical forest, rivers and hot water streams, La Fortuna Waterfall, Cerro Chato and its spectacular lagoon, vast wildlife, and the outstanding scenic beauty of the area are all part of what make Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica, the world’s most amazing national park.