Hot Springs Tour

Costa Rica, with its lush tropical rainforests and stunning mountain vistas, has long been a popular tourist destination. An additional attraction is the area around the Arenal Volcano, near the town of La Fortuna. It is here that one can luxuriate in the natural hot springs while taking advantage of the various resorts that have built up around them.

The hot springs of Arenal, Costa Rica are formed by natural spring water heated by close contact with nearby Arenal Volcano. These two natural wonders go hand in hand; the springs provide a place for relaxation and rejuvenation, and the volcano, regularly active, provides a dramatic visual spectacle for sightseers, particularly at night. These twin attractions have fueled the local tourism industry, providing the basis for spas and area tours. While an active volcano is an obvious draw, one might well ask what exactly is so special about a Jacuzzi or clay mask treatment fed by the waters of a hot spring.

Several things make hot springs like those in Arenal of therapeutic interest. Because these springs are heated by molten rock, or magma, they have a very high mineral content. The springs around the Arenal Volcano are bicarbonate, as well as being high in sulfates, calcium, and sodium. Mankind has used mineral-rich springs such as these for centuries for the perceived health benefits. These benefits are many and varied, and will depend largely on the mineral content of the hot spring involved as well as the temperature. This should be kept in mind during the following considerations.

Two of the main benefits to be derived from hot spring bathing are circulatory and digestive. The heat of the water itself increases metabolism and blood circulation. This helps stimulate the digestive system and the other waste elimination systems of the body, improving the body's ability to detoxify itself. The various minerals in these waters each have a salutary or healing effect, being used to assist in the treatment of arthritis, inflammation, respiratory problems, and a host of other ailments. Of course, one should consult a physician before embarking upon any kind of treatment, but in general, if you are in reasonably good health but feeling a bit out of sorts, relaxing in the mineral rich springs of Arenal may be just what the doctor ordered.

To serve those who would find the springs of interest, three hot springs resorts have sprung up around Arenal. They are Tabacon Hot Springs, Baldi Hot Springs, and Eco Termales. In addition to the springs themselves, each resort contains all the amenities one would expect. Though the services offered vary from one to the next, one can find all the food, drink, tours, hotels, and world class service one could want. In short, a day at the hot springs of Arenal, Costa Rica will whet the traveler's appetite for the sensual feast that is Costa Rica.