| Getting
To La Mansion Inn Arenal
If arriving via the Central Valley (San Jose):
There are three possible routes. The nicest is
over the Poas Mountains; the most direct road is via San Ramon.
By night you should take the road over Ciudad Quesada. The average
trajectory is about 3.5 to 4 hrs from the airport.
Please drive carefully, in Costa Rica drivers
tend to be careless. If you get lost, please ask the local people:
they like to help you. We do not recommend you drive at night,
unless impossible otherwise. If possible, it is advisable to
plan your departure to arrive before 5 PM at the Inn. The sunsets
are usually very romantic and you will be able to appreciate
the beauty of our location upon arrival.
A. Via the POAS volcano:
Take the normal road to the volcano, either via
ALAJUELA, either via HEREDIA.
Once up the mountain, you can visit first the
POAS. The best time is about 8-9 in the morning, before the
clouds cover the crater. There is a guard in that parking, but
do never leave valuables in the car.
Once on the mountain, search for a location called
?VARABLANCA?: it is on the road #120 leading from the POAS to
HEREDIA.
There, at the gasoline station, turn to the NORD,
direction SAN MIGUEL.
You will have now a splendid mountain road, with
nearly no holes. But not very large neither. You will see several
splendid waterfalls.
15 min after the gas station is at the left site
the entrance and restaurant of the LA PAZ waterfalls: a must
if it is not raining. There is a Parking guard.
The trip down takes 2-3 hrs.
At the entrance of SAN MIGUEL, turn left for 270?
and take the renewed road to AGUAS ZARCAS.
In the middle of the village, turn to the NORTH
(right), and after some 10km, to the WEST (left) (there is a
volcano sign there), (road #4)
In MUELLE you have to cross the road #35 and continue
to the WEST until the end of the road and turn to the SOUTH
(left) direction EL TANQUE.
After +- 5 km you arrive in the latter village.
Turn to the WEST (right) direction LA FORTUNA.
From LA FORTUNA, continue WEST, direction TABACON,
NUEVO ARENAL, TILARAN.
It takes about 45 min from LA FORTUNA to LA MANSION
INN
If the sky is open, you will see on the left the
VULCANO. Next you pass the TABACON hot springs and a bit later
the DAM of the lake.
From there, a jungle road will bring you to the
INN, +- 9km before NUEVO ARENAL.
Several signs of the INN will guide you too.
B. Direct Road over SAN RAMON
From the airport, head to the WEST, the ?PAN AMERICAN?
road, with a lot of traffic. After 45-60 min, leave the ?highway?
for SAN RAMON. You can cross the town straight on, and at the
end of the main street, turn left, and at the traffic lights
there to the right, heading North. You pass the Hospital of
San Ramon, and from now on you have a quiet mountain road with
nearly no traffic. The road in Oktober 2005 was very good.
It takes about 45 min from San Ramon to BAJO RODRIGUEZ.
At the free toll house, turn to the right, as
the bridge near LA TIGRA is in a dangerous state. After 5 miles
you pass two special bridges, and at the soccer field turn to
the LEFT.
A good road (Oktober 2005) will lead you to LA
FORTUNA. Be aware, there are some dangerous curves of 90?.
C. Tourist road over CIUDAD QUESADA
This road takes more time, but permits to see
some tourist towns.
From the airport, drive to ALAJUELA, and take
there the Western ring (turn left when you arrive in Alajuela).
Just before the cemetery, which is at the left, turn left too:
this road leads you to the scenic town of GRECIA. Please visit
the church.
Next, be a champion, and find the road to SARCHI.
(You better ask the people there) This road has very nice views
on the coffee farms, and you can buy wooden handcraft everywhere.
Continue to NARANJO, and from there to CIUDAD
QUESADA.
Half way is the little town of ZARCERO, known
for its garden in front of the church, which looks as made in
candy.
Arriving in CIUDAD QUESADA, cross the town straight
on, and next it goes over the village of VALENCIA.
When the road there makes a T, take to the left,
direction LA FORTUNA.
If arriving via the Pacific Coast:
There is only one road leading over CANAS, TILARAN,
NUEVO ARENAL
Calculate 1 ? hr from CANAS to the INN.
|
TripAdvisor Popularity
Index: # 2 of 57
hotels in Arenal
Volcano National Park.