Pueblo Los Héroes (Swiss-style village on Lake Arenal)
Landmark · Arenal & La Fortuna
A Swiss-style village on the north shore of Lake Arenal that grew out of an old cow stable: chalets, a little chapel and a mini train that climbs the hill to Rondorama, a revolving restaurant with 360° views of the lake and volcano.
The Rondorama restaurant and the little train are listed as temporarily closed (2026); the Los Héroes hotel has reopened (2025).
- Cost
- Free
- Time there
- 30 min
- Best time
- afternoon
- Kids
- 8 / 10
- View
- 7 / 10
- Crowds
- 2 / 10
- Swimming
- 0 / 10
- Effort
- 1 / 10
- Location
- 10.47592, -84.8306 — Google Maps
- Ratings
- 4.7 on Google (137) · 3.9 on Tripadvisor (90)
Tip
Rondorama and the train were listed as temporarily closed in 2026—check before planning a meal up top; the chalets and chapel still make a fun photo stop.
Be careful
Park off the road; the lake road is narrow and curvy along this stretch.
Getting there
Route 142 on the north shore near La Unión (Río Chiquito district), 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.
- Sky Adventures ArenalTours & Adventure · from $46Family-run park at El Castillo on Lake Arenal with ziplines, hanging bridges and an aerial tram overlooking the volcano.
- Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges ParkParks & Wildlife · from $1Mistico is a family-owned private reserve of mature rainforest on the Lake Arenal road, 25–30 minutes west of La Fortuna, and the busiest hanging-bridges park around Arenal.
- 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.
Sources: OpenStreetMap node/365528262 · https://www.entercostarica.com/attractions/hidden-treasures/los-heroes · https://www.twoweeksincostarica.com/nuevo-arenal/ · https://wanderlog.com/place/details/2604226 · https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/365528262