How to get to Lake Arenal:
There are basically two different routes you can take to Lake Arenal depending on which end of the lake you are most interested.

Via La Fortuna - the more scenic route is via San Ramon, for which there is a clearly marked exit sign off the auto pista (Interamerica Highway); which departs west of San Jose, past the airport and continues northwest past the coastal port of Puntarenas. The exit for San Ramon is approximately 31.5 miles or 50.5 kms from San Jose.

Via Tilaran - For those whose prefer the route via the west end of the lake, you can take the Panamerican Highway towards Liberia, getting off at Cañas. Take the road from Cañas until Tilaran. You enter Tiliran at a fork, turn left at the fork and continue on straight towards the vulcano Arenal.