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Outdoors Lake Arenal, La Fortuna

Lake Arenal

An outdoor spot in Lake Arenal, La Fortuna, free to visit and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Sunset.

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Lake Arenal in Lake Arenal, La Fortuna
Photo: Kim Schulze · Google

Why go

Large reservoir below the volcano.

It is one of 10 curated places we feature in La Fortuna, alongside 3 activities, 3 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat. The closest of our other picks is Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park, 13 km away as the crow flies.

Type
Outdoors · Nature
Neighborhood
Lake Arenal
Price
Free
Time needed
1 hr
Best time
Sunset

Nearby

Our closest curated picks, including 2 beyond La Fortuna. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.

  1. 1
    Místico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park

    Rainforest trail with suspension bridges at canopy height.

    Activity · 13 km straight-line
  2. 2
    Arenal 1968

    Private reserve with lava-field trails and lake views.

    Outdoors · 15 km straight-line
  3. 3
    Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa

    Volcano-fed hot springs running through landscaped rainforest.

    Activity · 17 km straight-line
  4. 4
    Arenal Volcano National Park

    Trails over 1968 lava flows with views of the volcano's cone.

    Outdoors · 17 km straight-line
  5. 5
    Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve

    Higher, less-crowded cloud forest.

    Outdoors · Monteverde · 20 km straight-line
  6. 6
    Selvatura Park

    Canopy zipline and hanging bridges.

    Activity · Monteverde · 20 km straight-line

On these curated routes

Lake Arenal is a stop on our Costa Rica Pura Vida route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.

More outdoor spots in La Fortuna

Another curated outdoor spot in La Fortuna. See the full La Fortuna guide.

When to go

Average daily highs in La Fortuna run from 27°C in December to 32°C in April; October is usually the wettest month. For Lake Arenal itself, we suggest: Sunset.

Modelled monthly averages for La Fortuna from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full La Fortuna weather by month.

Getting there

Map links open a live search for Lake Arenal, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.

Address
Lake Arenal, Costa Rica
Coordinates
10.50522, -84.87243
Destination
La Fortuna, Costa Rica

Lake Arenal: quick answers

How much time do you need at Lake Arenal?

Plan on about an hour at Lake Arenal. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.

When is the best time to visit Lake Arenal?

Our pick: Sunset.

Is Lake Arenal free?

Yes, we list Lake Arenal as free to visit. Check locally before you go, since special exhibits, parking or tours can carry a fee.

Where is Lake Arenal?

Lake Arenal is at Lake Arenal, Costa Rica. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.

Which TripsCircle routes include Lake Arenal?

Lake Arenal appears on Costa Rica Pura Vida, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.

Add Lake Arenal to your crew's plan

Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to La Fortuna.

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Lists & regions

Also in La Fortuna

Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.