Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Arenal volcano is part of the Pacific 'Ring of Fire'. It constantly spews steaming boulders instead of lava. As the magma chamber is 110km below the crater, the lava has cooled before it reaches the surface.

As it's dangerously active, it can only be viewed from a distance. At night, tours take visitors to a viewing point where glowing red rocks can be seen tumbling down the side of the volcano. It's another magical evening, like the one on the Orinoco - the dark shadow of the volcano tinged with red, framed by the silhouetted trees. Only the stars and fireflies add additional light.