Nuevo Arenal Town & Central Park

Tip

Plan the stop for coffee and a snack: the road around the lake is slow, and this is the biggest village between La Fortuna and Tilaran.

Be careful

Keep an eye on your belongings, as in any public park, and visit in daylight.

Places nearby

• Los Platillos VoladoresFood & CoffeeAlien-themed Italian restaurant next to the Banco Nacional in Nuevo Arenal, with friendly owners, fresh pizza and pasta made with local ingredients; a little pricey but a crowd favorite.
• Soda La Parada (Nuevo Arenal)Sodas & Local FoodFamily soda at the Nuevo Arenal bus stop that surprises travelers with hearty casados, arroz con pollo and soups at very fair prices, open from 5 am on weekdays.
• Café Con AmorFood & CoffeeGourmet coffee shop and restaurant 200 m south of the gas station with Lake Arenal views from the patio, big sandwiches, Geisha coffee and local-liquor cocktails.
• 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.
• 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.