Lake Arenal
Located in the north of the country, at the foot of the Arenal volcano, around three hours’ drive from the capital San José.
The reservoir is 85 square kilometers in size and has a length of approx. 30 km. The depth varies between 30 and 60 meters. It is the largest lake in the country and an important source of energy.
The region has been attracting eco-conscious travelers and more and more emigrants from many countries for decades.
The Arenal National Park covers almost 30,000 hectares and has an incredible geological and biological wealth.
As well as hiking through the national park, you can also go on an adventure tour! Horse riding, rafting on the nearby rivers, mountain biking, bird watching, a quad bike tour.
The Arenal volcano with the lush green hills in the background, together with the bright blue waters of the lake, make this region a unique area for water and adventure activities.
Thanks to the strong, constant winds that blow at Tilaran between November and April, you will find a large number of windsurfers and kitesurfers here.
The surrounding small towns, hotels and spas surrounded by lush nature make the region interesting for tourists and expats alike.
Nature: Flora and fauna are abundant here. There is a variety of animals, such as monkeys, coatis, butterflies, amphibians, tucana, water birds and 21 different species of hummingbirds are native to the area.
The climate: Although there are hot days in the Arenal area, the weather in the region can be described as “spring-like” all year round. Warm daytime temperatures, cooling at night. Neither heating nor air conditioning is required. The good weather means that people spend a lot of time outdoors, in tropical gardens, on terraces and balconies.
While in the northern regions of the Pacific coast everything is brown in the dry season, the area around Lake Arenal is bright green all year round.
La Fortuna , on the east side, is the tourist center and is located 10 km from the base of the volcano. The volcano is a spectacular sight, a cone that rises 1670 m above the forest and meadows. A side effect of the volcanic activity is that there are numerous thermal springs in the area that are naturally heated by the volcanic activity.
The village of “Nuevo Arenal”, 620 m above sea level, is popular with tourists and especially with expatriates. It was built in 1973 when the “old” Arenal was flooded at the same time as the dam. The village is located on the northern shore, roughly in the middle of the lake. There are cafés, restaurants, banks, stores, a German bakery and a lively nightlife. There is a botanical garden nearby with over 1200 tropical plants from Costa Rica.
The village of “Tronadora” is located on the opposite side of the lake. Here, too, numerous emigrants have settled in the surrounding hills, in sheltered locations with wonderful views, as well as directly on the lakeshore.
You could also find your new home here.
