Giant Ceiba of La Ceiba Tree Lodge
Nature spot · Arenal & La Fortuna · hidden gem
A giant ceiba on the grounds of La Ceiba Tree Lodge above Lake Arenal, mapped at about 58 m tall and said to be over 400 years old. The spot doubles as a lake viewpoint.
- Cost
- about $4
- Time there
- 30 min
- Best time
- morning
- Kids
- 7 / 10
- View
- 7 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 0 / 10
- Effort
- 2 / 10
- Location
- 10.518859, -84.8613962 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Entry
- $4 for visitors · per a 2024 blog, may be outdated
- Tickets
- Pay at the entrance
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Ask at the lodge before walking in; a 2024 blog mentioned a small fee of about $4 per person.
Be careful
Stay on the path around the roots and don't climb the buttresses—they get slick when wet.
Getting there
Off Route 142 between La Unión and Nuevo Arenal, at La Ceiba Tree Lodge (private land).
Places nearby
- Restaurante La Tortuga ArenalFood & CoffeeCosta Rican restaurant with tables on a big front lawn looking out over Lake Arenal, plus a covered area for rain.
- Gingerbread Restaurant & HotelFood & CoffeeLively, quirky restaurant on Route 142 by Nuevo Arenal where chef Eyal often cooks off-menu for each table.
- Enter Costa Rica (Pacific Trade Winds)Trip Planners · from $63Inbound tour operator by Lake Arenal that has been building fully customized Costa Rica trips since 2007.
- Selva Paraíso Coffee Shop & SouvenirFood & CoffeeRoadside coffee shop and souvenir stop on the lake road near La Unión, with hummingbird feeders.
- Tom's Pan German BakeryFood & CoffeeThe classic coffee-and-pastry stop on the lake road in Nuevo Arenal, run by a German family for 25+ years: fresh bread, strudel, cinnamon rolls, bratwurst and schnitzel.
- Casa ItaliaFood & CoffeeA small Italian kitchen just outside the center of Nuevo Arenal run by a Sicilian owner: homemade pasta (carbonara, alla Norma, ragù), pizza and desserts finished in a wood-fired oven.
Sources: OpenStreetMap node/11113314772 · https://www.costaricavibes.com/lake-arenal/ · https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=19m1bobhTrd8SgTq-T5kqXumWkpLKNFw · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/11113314772