La Fortuna Central Park
Downtown La Fortuna
The heart of town, with benches and gardens. On clear days Arenal Volcano rises behind the church, and that photo costs nothing.
Volcano and lake views
Almost every named viewpoint in the area is private and charges admission. The free views we could back up are in public spaces: downtown La Fortuna, the road across the dam and the lakeside towns.
The volcano is often covered by clouds; no view is guaranteed. If you stop along a road, do so only where it is legal and safe.
Places in this category
Arenal Dam (Sangregado Dam)
Dam and eastern lakeshore · 17.3 km · 21 min
The road to Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán runs over the dam that created today's Lake Arenal. From there you can see the reservoir and, on a clear day, the volcano behind it.
El Castillo
El Castillo · 23 km · 34 min
A small village on the lake's southern shore, on the far side of the volcano. Climbing its sloping streets rewards you with views of the lake and, on clear days, of Arenal.
Nuevo Arenal
Nuevo Arenal · 45.6 km · 58 min
The town built for the families of old Arenal when the reservoir covered their original village. It sits on the lake's northern shore, roughly an hour's drive from La Fortuna.
San Vicente above Ciudad Quesada and its volcano views
Ciudad Quesada and around · 55.7 km · 62 min
A mountain village 12 km from Ciudad Quesada. On clear days, its streets look out over the Arenal, Rincón de la Vieja, Miravalles and Tenorio volcanoes.
The road to Tierras Morenas and the painted rocks of Río Piedras
Tilarán · 57.4 km · 72 min
A drive with views of Lake Arenal and the Tenorio and Miravalles volcanoes, past wind farms, to Río Piedras, where residents painted murals on the roadside rocks.
5 Esquinas lookout (Route 142)
Tilarán · 69.5 km · 87 min
A roadside lookout 5 km from Tilarán, with a view over part of Lake Arenal and, on clear days, the volcano. There is room to park.
Parque del Viento lookout (Tilarán)
Tilarán · 75.5 km · 97 min
A 360-degree lookout on Cerro Tovar, above Tilarán. From there you can see volcanoes, hills and the blades of several wind farms.