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As you can see from the Arenal map, if you are driving to Arenal you can choose from several routes to the Arenal Observatory Lodge.
From San José:
There are three different routes each of which takes roughly 3 hours by car.
The most popular route heads out of San José along the Inter-American Highway to the town of San Ramón, where you turn off into the hills, passing through La Tigra on the way to La Fortuna. Even without a map, La Fortuna is easy to find.
An alternative route turns off the Interamerican Highway at Naranjo and passes through Zarcero and Ciudad Quesada (San Carlos) before reaching La Fortuna. (No road map is needed; just follow the signs for San Carlos.) If you take this route, be sure to stop and walk around the Zarcero plaza with its sculpted trees.
You can drive north through Alajuela or Heredia, skirting the Poás Volcano en route to Varablanca and Aguas Zarcas. Beyond Aguas Zarcas, you will come to Ciudad Quesada and continue onwards to La Fortuna. If you have the time, you could plan a visit to the Poás Volcano, as well as a stop to admire the impressive La Paz waterfall. Though not essential, a detailed map will help you take advantage of this route.
Once you reach La Fortuna, continue through town towards Tabacón and the Arenal National Park. No La Fortuna roadmap is needed for finding the Observatory Lodge from here. Just before reaching Lake Arenal you will come to a marked turn-off on the left for the National Park entrance. From the turn-off it is 9 kilometers along a somewhat rough dirt road. Continue on past the park entrance following signs for the Arenal Observatory Lodge. A four-wheel drive vehicle is recommended in the rainy season, and high clearance is always useful.
From Guanacaste:
Turn off the Interamerican Highway at Cañas, on to Tilarán and around Arenal Lake until you find a gravel road on the right that will take you up to the Observatory Lodge. Follow the signs for about 9 km.
Due to extreme weather and heavy rains, road conditions can change rapidly in Costa Rica. It is always best to call the lodge to find out current conditions and what route is best for you.
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