Lake Arenal is the largest lake in Costa Rica and one of the most visually striking landscapes in the entire country. Stretching roughly 85 square kilometres across the Tilarán mountain range, it sits in a broad valley with Arenal Volcano rising dramatically to the east and green rolling hills sweeping down to the western shores.
The lake was created artificially in 1979 when the Arenal dam was completed, flooding the original town of Arenal in the process. Today it supplies a significant portion of Costa Rica's hydroelectric power and provides irrigation water to the drier Guanacaste region further west.
For visitors, the lake is a hub for outdoor activity. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are world-class here, particularly between November and April when strong trade winds funnel down the valley. Fishing for rainbow bass and guapote is popular year-round, and kayaking the quieter bays offers a peaceful way to take in the scenery.
The road that circles the lake's northern shore connects La Fortuna to Tilarán and passes through some genuinely beautiful countryside.
