A must-drive from La Fortuna. The lake is beautiful. The drive equally so. Take your camera for sure and be on the lookout for places to stop. Plenty windy at certain places.

We crossed the lake when being transfered to Monteverde from our Hotel in Arenal. Expect amazing breathtaking views of the volcano, the blue water, tropical rainforests and surrounding mountains. I wish I could spend time just by the lake one day.

Lake Arenal is one of my favorite places in Costa Rica. The weather is cooler, and there are many more hotels and general luxuries in the surrounding area, than you will find in the rest of Costa Rica. Arenal is a must see on any Costa Rica vacation.

I saw Lake Arenal, a lake made to help with electricity needs, from an observatory deck and when crossing it going to Santa Elena (the jeep, boat, jeep trip). It is a nice big lake. It is usually seen when combined with a hike in Arenal Park or in transit to the Monteverde region.

I did a 2-hour kayak trip around the lake with Desafio. Beautiful views and yummy pineapple shared on a little island with fellow travelers and guide.

Lake Arenal is reminiscent of European mountain country - and there are lots of European ex-pats living there, too. I've been up the area several times, but the first time I drove up from the coast and spotted the lake was breathtaking. Then to come upon Arenal Volcano is amazing. It's exactly like a child's drawing of a volcano would... More

You should really take the boat tour, it's like 1h and half tour. They will show the different islands and even let you have a little walk in one.

Lake Arenal is a very beautiful lake which can provide some amazing views of the volcano from across the lake. The jungle around it has birds everywhere and there were constantly fish jumping in the lake. We only spent a couple hours around the lake, but just the drive itself was beautiful. The road is very twisty, but has newer,... More

The lake used to be a valley before the 1960's eruption of Arenal. It is now part of a power development that feeds electricity to most of Central America.