HotelArenal Vista Lodge

welcome to Arenal Vista Lodge

Hotel Type: Lodge

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How to get to Arenal Vista Lodge?

Route One: the most spectacular route is easily the one through Bajo Del Toro (4WD may be necessary, inquire in Sarchi, and reroute through Naranjo and Zarcero Route Three, if you don't think you'll make it to Bajo Del Toro). Turn left (West) at the airport exit onto the Pan American Highway towards Sarchi (and San Ramon, but you aren't going all the way there), after 23 km turn right (North) towards Sarchi and Sarchi Norte (don't miss the woodworkers and oxcarts). Here you may have to ask for the road to Bajo Del Toro, it looks like any other residential street as it passes out of town to the North. After 6 or 8 km of climbing switchbacks and spectacular views you plummet another 10 km through beautiful forests to Bajo del Toro and the winding road (mostly paved and much better than the cart path it is shown as on most maps) through rolling pastures into Rio Cuarto where you turn left (West) towards Venecia, Aguas Zarcas* and Quesada (known as San Carlos to all but map makers) to Florencia where you turn right (North) on 35 for 10 km, to 4 West for 17 km, to the left turn (South) onto 142 into La Fortuna (10 km).Total driving time approx. 4 hours. *Alternately you can turn North on 140 at Aguas Zarcas to catch 4 which continues west to 142 into Fortuna.

Route Two: Across the Pan American Highway from the airport Highway 126 (aka 9) north from Alajuela passes first through farms growing coffee, fruit, and flowers for export to North American markets, then at Barablanca the scenery turns to the high altitude pastures that have earned Costa Rica the nickname "The Switzerland of Central America". After 38 km, turn left (West) at San Miguel onto 140 for 41 km passing through Venecia, Aguas Zarcas* and Quesada (known as San Carlos to all but map makers) to Florencia where you turn right (North) on 35 for 10 km, to 4 West for 17 km, to the left turn (South) onto 142 into La Fortuna (10 km).Total driving time approx. 3 1/2 hours.
*Alternately you can turn North on 140 at Aguas Zarcas to catch 4 which continues west to 142 into Fortuna. Total driving time approx. 3 1/2 hours.
The fastest most reliable routes are not without their attractions.
Sarchi (mentioned above) is only a few minutes off the Pan American Highway, and could be visited as a side trip on either of these routes. Zarcero is about 14 miles (22 km) from the highway and on route three, but could easily be visited as a side trip on route four.

Route Three: Turn left (West) at the airport exit onto the Pan American Highway towards Naranjo (and San Ramon, but you aren't going all the way there), after 32 km turn right (North) on 141 to Naranjo. The 22 km climb to Zarcero pays off when you get out and stretch your legs in the amazing topiary garden surrounding the whitewashed church (on your right in the center of town, you can't miss it). Continue on 141 another 20 km to Quesada (known as San Carlos to all but map makers), then 8 km to Florencia where you turn right (North) on 35 for 10 km, to 4 West for 17 km, to the left turn (South) onto 142 into La Fortuna (10 km). Total driving time approx. 3 hours.

Route Four: Another direct and painless route (sometimes faster than route three) is to turn left (West) at the airport exit onto the Pan American Highway towards Naranjo continue 40 km to the right turn on 142 to San Ramon. 142 pass through Angeles Sur, Tigra, and Bosque on its way to La Fortuna. You can take a left about 2 km before La Fortuna to visit Fortuna falls (short, but steep hike on a relatively good trail).

At La Fortuna continue towards after Tabacon Springs, 3km after, turn left (same entrance to the National Park), continue 11km, boarding the lake, until you reach your destination Arenal Vista Lodge.