The Peninsula, Arenal Volcano National Park

The Peninsula is a quiet, lesser-known corner of Arenal Volcano National Park where forest trails wind along the edge of Lake Arenal. Offering sweeping views of Arenal Volcano, it’s a peaceful spot to encounter wildlife like monkeys and coatis while taking in the dramatic meeting of jungle, water, and volcanic landscape. The Los Miradores Trail is a paved path that runs about 1.2km to the lake shore. It is flat and easy, so you can focus on shooting instead of watching your step. About halfway along the trail there is a viewing tower that gives you a beautiful view over the lake with Arenal Volcano in the background and small islands dotting the water. That viewpoint alone makes the visit worthwhile. The trail ends right at the water's edge where the forest opens up and you get clear, unobstructed views across the lake toward the volcano. El Tororoi Trail branches off and takes you deeper into the rainforest canopy if you want something moodier and more intimate. Monkeys are common along both trails, so keep a longer lens ready. This section of the national park has far fewer visitors than the main volcano trails, which means you often have the viewpoints all to yourself, especially in the morning. Clouds roll in fast here and can completely hide the volcano, so early visits give you the best chance of a clear shot. Since this area is part of a national park, there is an admission fee to access these trails and lookouts. The park is open 8 AM to 5 PM and entrance covers both sections, so you can combine this with the lava fields on the same ticket. (La Fortuna, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica)