Lake Arenal
Lake Arenal is a reservoir in the Tilarán Canton and is a Ramsar site. It is one of the 10 most looked-up sights in Costa Rica and ranks 8th among the country's sights on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The driest months are January through March, with about 5 to 6 rainy days per month and rainfall between 90 mm and 204 mm. From May to October, the area is much wetter, with monthly rainfall exceeding 290 mm and as many as 26 rainy days in months like September and October. Daily highs range from 24 °C to 28 °C.
La Fortuna Arenal Airport is 39 km away, and Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport is 67 km from the site. The lake is 115 km from San José. Travelers can combine a visit with Tenorio Volcano National Park, Arenal Volcano, or Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve.
Weather by month
The warmest month is April, with an average high of 28 °C. The wettest is October, with about 456 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Average low, °C | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
| Rainfall, mm | 204 | 126 | 90 | 84 | 294 | 407 | 408 | 432 | 436 | 456 | 301 | 280 |
| Rainy days | 6 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 23 | 26 | 21 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 20 | 10 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
