Lake Arenal Panoramic Pull-off (La Unión)
Viewpoint · Arenal & La Fortuna · hidden gem
A wide spot on the north-shore road near La Unión with an open view over Lake Arenal; local fishermen often cast from the shore below.
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 15 min
- Best time
- late afternoon
- Kids
- 6 / 10
- View
- 7 / 10
- Crowds
- 1 / 10
- Swimming
- 3 / 10
- Effort
- 1 / 10
- Location
- 10.4893386, -84.8417884 — Google Maps
Before you go
- Tickets
- Free entry, no ticket
- Checked
- 2026-10
Tip
Make it a break on the winding lake drive and pair it with lunch at one of the lake-view restaurants around La Unión.
Be careful
Park completely off the curvy road and watch for trucks; the bank down to the water is slippery after rain.
Getting there
Route 142 on the north shore near La Unión, between the Arenal Dam and Nuevo Arenal.
Places nearby
- Selva Paraíso Coffee Shop & SouvenirFood & CoffeeRoadside coffee shop and souvenir stop on the lake road near La Unión, with hummingbird feeders.
- 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.
- 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: https://www.costaricavibes.com/lake-arenal/ · https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=19m1bobhTrd8SgTq-T5kqXumWkpLKNFw