No matter which of the different routes you choose, the landscape will surely become an unforgettable memory. You can select the road to take depending on how soon you want to get there, because there are many options to get to Arenal.
If you have a car and you want to reach the Windsurfing spots as soon as possible, you can take the road to Cañas and be there in about three hours. This trip takes you from the City of Alajuela to San Ramón, passing close to Puntarenas and then following the Inter American Highway towards Cañas where you must turn right (north) and go to Tilarán. The distance is approximately 102 kilometers and the roads are in good condition; the road signs are clear so it would be difficult to get lost. Once in Tilarán you must drive about 10 minutes through the road that surrounds the lake and the first windsurfing spot you will find is the Marina of the Tilawa Hotel. At about 4 kilometers from there you will find Tico Winds, another place that offers windsurfing equipment.
The roads in this area are quite curvy so if you are not used to these driving conditions we recommend you go slowly. Also for some of the roads and hotels you might need a 4x4 vehicle to assure your safety, that is in the summer (December through April) as well as in the rainy season.
If you do not have a car, there is a bus stop in San José (in Barrio México) that will provide you service every 40 minutes from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m. This service will take you to Tilarán in about 4 hours, and the price is of about US $3.50. Once in Tilarán you may take a cab that for about US $10.00 will take you to the action, or if you prefer the rural experience, you may take the bus for US $0.50. The bus service is not constant in this area but it makes two trips in the morning, two in the afternoon and a final one at 7 p.m.
If you choose the Cañas route, you will see the typical Guanacaste landscape, flatlands and pastures shaded by Guanacaste trees, a luxuriant species with a thick trunk which is the National Tree of Costa Rica. You will also see during your trip some flora and fauna species that are characteristic from the tropical dry forest.
There are two other possible routes, both starting out in San Ramón. One of them goes from there to a small town called La Tigra and then to Chachagua. The next town is La Fortuna. The other route is through Naranjo, continuing towards Zarcero and then to Ciudad Quesada, this city connects to La Fortuna in about 62 kilometers. From there you will already be seeing the Arenal Volcano. By these roads you will see a radical change in vegetation since it is more dense and lush, presenting the characteristics of the tropical rain forest, like in the Atlantic Zone of the country.
The landscape surrounding both routes is composed of many rivers and streams that intertwine with the road in many ways. There are places where it is a most to stop and take some pictures of the magnificent works of nature. There are also areas where you can park your car to stretch your legs and rest your eyes while looking at the beautiful landscape. And if you are lucky enough you might see wild animals such as skunks, monkeys, lizards and large numbers of birds. Once at the town of La Fortuna you will find stores to satisfy almost any need. There are supermarkets, drugstores, banks and churches.
One of the main problems you will face when taking any of these two routes is the lack of road signs, so it is difficult to know where you are or how far from one of the towns, but you can ask any of the locals who are usually happy to help. Once you get on the road from La Fortuna to Arenal, you must drive carefully, since it is almost impossible to keep your eyes on the road and away from the impressive view. Also if you would like to drive around the lake, be prepared to find sections of the road which are not in very good condition (about 15 kms.). In the summer this should not represent much of a problem but in the winter, the rain could block your view and the potholes might become invisible traps for your tires.
Anyhow, we would say that a drive around the lake from Tilarán to La Fortuna or vice versa is a must for any tourist. The scenic view in this region is difficult to match, since the perfect cone of the volcano and the blue lake are unique natural beauties. We suggest you to go ahead and make a two way trip, since both directions will provide you with very different landscapes, one showing the lake and the other the impressive massif that is constantly demonstrating its power with rumbles and fumaroles. Also on that road you will find many hotels and motels that will offer you an excellent view of the volcano and the lake for very reasonable rates. In this area there are also several steak houses that for a reasonable price will provide you with a very good meal.
Around the lake you will drive by many small towns such as Nuevo Arenal which is 43 kilometers away from La Fortuna, and there you can find all basic services such as telephone, electricity, drinking water, restaurants, small hotels and motels and even some tour operators. Río Piedras is another small town that you may visit on your way to the adventure. It is located about 6 kilometers away from the Marina Tilawa. These little towns can show you much of the Costa Rican folklore, customs and people.
Geographical Division 
