Arenal Volcano Pictures, Costa Rica

 This is a gallery devoted to Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, which is currently one of the most active volcanoes of the world (indeed since 1968), delivering spectacular views of volcanic eruptions and nocturnal red-hot lava emanations.

Despite the very frequent cloudy conditions, because of its behaviour of having a volcanic eruption several times on a daily basis, this allows the photographic record of one of the natural wonders of our planet.

The pictures are chronologically sorted (the older is the last), are mostly the most recent of 2010, but also there are some extraordinarily beauty shots from previous years.
Besides you can see recent pictures of year 2011, indeed in realtime, thanks to the OVSICORI webcam (in the link below). In this case the image is subject to the sunlight, and obviously, to the local weather conditions (see the photograph tips).

Photos and Pictures of Arenal Volcano with Information

Arenal Volcano online (OVSICORI webcam is out of service) Arenal Volcano before midday, as viewed from its southern flank. (08/04/2011 11:35:50 am, OVSICORI-UNA Webcam). Arenal Volcano before sunset, as viewed from El Castillo. W flank. (06/24/2010 05:02:07 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Detail of crater from the previous picture. A lava flow with smoking rocks are running down through the SW flank of volcano. (06/24/2010 05:02:07 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Arenal Volcano before sunset. W flank of volcano, from El Castillo. (06/24/2010 05:01:35 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Detail of crater from the previous picture. W flank of volcano. Hot rocks roll down towards SW. (06/24/2010 05:01:35 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). The first sunlight beams appear between Arenal Volcano and "Cerro Chato". W flank of volcano, from El Castillo. (06/23/2010 05:37:56 am, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Arenal Volcano at dawn. W flank of volcano, from El Castillo. (06/23/2010 05:18:09 am, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Zoom on a small but showy vulcanian eruption of Arenal Volcano, an ash and gas column rises. E flank, from La Fortuna. (06/22/2010 06:14:00 pm, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos). Small vulcanian eruption of Arenal Volcano. An ash and gas column rises with sunset as colorful background. E flank, from La Fortuna. (06/22/2010 06:13:56 pm, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos). Arenal Volcano at sunset; the light hues are the reflection of the sunlight, since the camera looks to the E. (05/30/2010 05:48:34 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Small vulcanian eruption of Arenal Volcano, an ash and gas column rises. N flank. (05/30/2010 05:41:53 pm, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos). A more nearest view of the small vulcanian eruption. N flank. (05/30/2010 05:41:50 pm, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos). Detail of the crater from previous picture; rising of an ash and gas column. N flank. (05/30/2010 05:41:50 pm, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos). Small vulcanian eruption, an ash and gas column rises. W flank of volcano. (05/30/2010 05:33:51 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). White gas column of Arenal Volcano dragged by the wind. At left is Lake Arenal. W flank. (05/30/2010 04:45:45 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Panoramic view of Arenal Volcano from El Castillo, W flank. At left is Lake Arenal. (05/30/2010 04:43:52 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Arenal Volcano from W flank, emitting a gas column which is dragged by the wind. (05/30/2010 04:43:40 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). Arenal Volcano gorgeous view enlightened by the sunset at the W flank. (05/29/2010 05:37:26 pm, Víctor Hugo Quesada, Arenal Eco Zoo, El Castillo, San Carlos). A column of steam and gas emanates from the active crater of Arenal Volcano, as viewed from north-western fields. (07/19/2008 08:34:30 am, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos). Zoom on the Arenal active crater showing a red-hot lava glow at the base of the gas column. NW Flank. (07/19/2008 08:30:34 am, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos). Arenal cone at its NW flank, some red-hot lava glow is visible into the steam and gas column. (07/19/2008 08:30:31 am, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos). All the majestic of Arenal Volcano in a crisp clear morning, and its north-western landscape. (07/19/2008 08:23:26 am, Olger Aragón, Foto Koky, La Fortuna de San Carlos).

Most Recent 2012 Eruptions & Activity Report!
Online data: Arenal Volcano online (OVSICORI webcam is out of service)
Arenal Volcano History
Arenal Volcano Tour
Location:10°27'48"N, 84°42'12"W. La Fortuna, San Carlos. Costa Rica (around 90 km north-west of San José)
Current Activity Period: 42 years of continuous eruption activity from 1968 to 2010.
Volcanic Activity: Vulcanian and strombolian eruptions with tephra emission and ejection, lava flows, pyroclastic flows, ash and gases. There is acidic rain near the crater under gas column, noticeable towards NE.
Height: 1,720 m ASL (5,643 feet) approx.
Age: More than 7,000 years (according to the most up-to-date earliest volcanic eruption evidence)
Volcano Type: Conic shaped stratovolcano
*Arenal Volcano eruption activity appreciation is possible with properly safety guidelines applied by tour operator guides and Arenal Volcano National Park authorities, so follow it carefully.

Tips for taking Arenal Volcano Photographs

Lens: Zoom capable or telescopic. As minimal recommendation 70-210 mm.
Tripod: For the pictures using zoom lenses and nocturnal time expositions.
Quality: Be sure to configure the camera for take the images with the best resolution and quality possible (ISO 100 o less), as well as to have the required capacity storage.

For taking pictures of lava at night: It must be made by means of a time exposure (keeping the shutter opened during several seconds, even minutes) and maximizing the quantity of light received, which is impossible without a tripod. Besides is highly recommended to use a special device to trigger the shutter without touching the camera body directly, as a wired control, or even more, wireless.

How to see Arenal Volcano clear: Due to its environment of Tropical Rain Forest, Arenal Volcano is found many times partially or fully cloud covered. However, beside the good weather days that follows very rainy periods that can occur along the year, there are days and epochs in which is more likely that the volcano be clear (as an example, September), or at the year beginning. But to be more ensured just weak up early, because at dawn Arenal Volcano is frequently clear, even more it is highlighted by the first beams of the sun.