Lake Arenal
Lake Arenal
Lake Arenal

Lake Arenal Tours and Tickets

854 reviews

A shimmering expanse of blue water stretching west of the active Arenal Volcano, Lake Arenal is Costa Rica’s biggest lake and one of its most picturesque. Beyond its striking beauty, the human-made reservoir serves an important function as a hydroelectric dam, providing sustainable power for Costa Rican residents.

  • Guanacaste, 50306

Tours and Tickets to Experience Lake Arenal

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What are people saying about Lake Arenal

Sudhakar_P, Dec 2024
Beautiful experience...
Beautiful experience crossing lake Arenal. Amazing views. The staff were very organized. Even though the trip involved jeep to boat to jeep transfers, and crossing involved a few muddy tracks, the staff helped us with our bags. Will certainly go with this operator again.
Nambirajan_S, Jan 2025
This was a nice...
This was a nice experience. Initially we were worried about the various transfers during this trip, but the shuttles picked us up on time and dropped off near the boat. There was some downpour, but the shuttle and the boat operators were very professional in making sure all the bags were loaded and everyone was comfortable. The ride to Monteverde on the shuttle is very bumpy, but the shuttle driver drove very cautiously. Overall highly efficient
Cynthia_S, Jan 2025
Know before you go!
The van transfer was great, & once we got on the boat it was a nice smooth ride. But getting out of the van in the mud and hauling our suitcases from the van to the boat was a joke. It seemed disorganized & confusing. Our luggage made it ok, but on the boat before us, the workers dropped someone’s luggage in the water.
Liz_L, Nov 2024
Beautiful ride!
We had the best time! Tougher ride than I expected but it was still wonderful. We really enjoyed our time. We were able to see spider monkeys on the way. I chose to take the van back while my husband continued on.
People Also Ask
Q:Do you need to go on a tour to visit Lake Arenal?
A:
No, you don’t need to go on a tour to visit Lake Arenal and the surrounding national park, the Arenal Volcano National Park. It’s possible to visit independently, and many people do. Guided tours are best for wildlife spotting or visiting places where it would be easy to get lost independently, such as hiking in the national park.
Q:How can you cross Lake Arenal?
A:
Some private boat transfers make crossing Lake Arenal possible rather than going around by road. Taking a combination of shuttle buses and ferries is a popular way of traveling between La Fortuna, on the northern side of the lake, and Monteverde, on the southern side, as it cuts about two hours of road travel off the journey.
Q:Is it safe to swim in Lake Arenal?
A:
No, swimming in Lake Arenal is not advisable. While the water is clear and calm and watersports like kayaking and windsurfing are popular, there are crocodiles in the lake. While crocodiles aren’t known to have attacked anyone in Lake Arenal, humans have been attacked and even killed elsewhere in Costa Rica, so it’s wise to be cautious.
Q:Is Lake Arenal worth visiting?
A:
Yes, Lake Arenal is definitely worth visiting. Costa Rica’s largest lake is surrounded by beautiful forests and mountains. The Arenal Volcano National Park lies to its east, and most tourists to the area focus on activities within the park, but Lake Arenal provides excellent views of its namesake mountain.
Q:How long do you need around Lake Arenal?
A:
The ideal amount of time to spend in the Arenal area is three days. Visitors usually spend time in the Arenal Volcano National Park near Lake Arenal, west of the park. In three days, you can hike on the volcano, visit hot springs and waterfalls, kayak on Lake Arenal, and admire the volcano views from the lake.
Q:Are there crocodiles in Lake Arenal?
A:
Yes, there are crocodiles in Lake Arenal, as there are in many places throughout Costa Rica. Lake Arenal was created in the 1970s as a source of hydroelectricity for Costa Rica, so the crocodiles may have either been accidentally (or even deliberately) released here or arrived through irrigation canals.