TRAVELING FROM THE SAN JOSÉ AIRPORT:
Take the Inter-American Highway (Route 1) west about 2 ½ hours to CAÑAS. Turn right where the large signs at intersection indicate the road to TILARÁN and LAGO ARENAL. In Cañas, cross the River Cañas over a small bridge. After approximately 200 meters you will pass a gas station on each side. About 300 meters farther, you will see a red circular bullring. Take a right at the bullring and proceed about 8 blocks to a fork in the road, where you will bear left and ascend the mountains toward Tilarán.
At the outskirts of Tilarán, along a very curvy hill, you will see a sign for Lake Arenal. Take a very sharp left here (almost a U-turn) and proceed around the western end of Lake Arenal to the town of Nuevo Arenal (about a one-hour drive from Cañas).
Approaching Nuevo Arenal at the top of a hill continue straight, past the gas station on the right, and down the hill to the bottom. Among the signs at the foot of the hill will be a large blue sign with many establishments listed. At the top of that sign is an arrow indicating VILLA DECARY is to your left 2 kms. This is the main lake road. Drive 2 kilometers farther to the Villa Decary located on the left side of the road.
The drive is approximately 3 ½ hours from the San Jose Airport entirely on well-paved roads.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: There are different ways to drive to Lake Arenal and Villa Decary. We recommend not turning off at San Ramon and stopping at Fortuna and Volcano Arenal for sightseeing as some car rental, hotel and tourists offices may suggest. As Fortuna and the Volcano Arenal attract tourists there are incidents of car robberies. We recommend returning to Volcano Arenal, after you have checked in and dropped off your luggage so you can enjoy the area at a leisurely pace.
TRAVELING FROM THE LIBERIA AIRPORT:
Take the Liberia Airport drive 10 minutes to the main intersection (the only overhead traffic signal light "semaforo") which is the Inter-American Highway (Route 1) and turn right onto Route 1. Drive for about 45 minutes to the red two-story bullring at CAÑAS and turn left. Follow the signs for TILARÁN.
At the outskirts of Tilarán, along a very curvy hill, you will see a sign for Lake Arenal. Take a very sharp left here (almost a U-turn) and proceed around the western end of Lake Arenal to the town of Neuvo Arenal (about a one hour drive from Cañas).
Approaching Nuevo Arenal at the top of a hill, continue through the small town and gas station on the right, down the hill. You will see a VILLA DECARY sign. Turn left at the sign. This is the main lake road. Drive 2 kilometers further to the Villa Decary located on the left side of the road.
The drive is approximately 2 hours from the Liberia Airport entirely on paved roads.
TRAVELING FROM LA FORTUNA:
Hotel Villa Decary is 44 km from La Fortuna. From La Fortuna, travel west in the direction of Tabacon, Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán. When you first see the lake, the road continues across the dam and becomes the main lake road. Villa Decary is about a 30 minute drive from the dam on the main lake road. We are around the bend from a small shopping and restaurant plaza called The Falls with signs for Tycoon Art Gallery, UPS and Century 21. Though you can't see the hotel from the road, look for the Villa Decary sign on your right and turn into our driveway up the hill to the hotel.
