Great news! You don’t need to break the bank to enjoy your stay in Nuevo Arenal. Our little town and its surroundings is full of natural beauty, so you don’t need to spend much to have a fantastic time. Here are some of the best ways to experience the area on a low budget. Please do note that having a vehicle is recommended, although not completely necessary, for most of these activities.
1. Visit “El Bañadero”
Your first stop in Nuevo Arenal should be the lake, for obvious reasons.
The park, (el Bañadero) is just a short walk from town, and is free for all to enjoy. Amazing if you’re traveling on a low budget. This is the perfect place to escape for a few hours, walk your dogs, go for a swim, practice yoga, build a bonfire or grill something delicious. If you get up early enough, you’ll likely be able to see some wildlife, as animals are most active during and right after sunrise. Birdwatching here is great, and there are often also howler monkeys in the trees.
It’s a fantastic spot to camp, too, and every year, hundreds of people traveling the world and living the van life, stop by for a few days. It’s hugely popular with families from all around the country during the weekend. When the weather is nice, sunset is a particularly magical time at the lake!
How to to get there:
From Tilarán:
Click here to get Waze directions from Tilarán. This will get you directly to the park at the lake. Google maps doesn’t include the actual street to get to it!
From Fortuna:
Click here to get Waze directions from La Fortuna.
2. Free Hot Springs at Río Tabacón, or “Chollín”
You’ll need a car for this one! However, this is a must-see if you want to experience the area’s legendary hot springs, but can’t (or don’t want to) pay a $40-$90 USD entrance fee to the most popular spots.
The “Chollín” is right before the Tabacon Thermal Resort if you are coming from Nuevo Arenal. Just look for the people coming out half-naked to get changed in their cars, and you’ll know you’ve arrived. Follow the path down, and you’ll find a gorgeous hot springs river flowing through the jungle! You should walk around and explore a bit before finding a spot. There are plenty of natural pools and cascades around, just waiting to melt all your worries away.
Of course, as all of this is free, there is no security. Please be mindful of your belongings at all times, and don’t leave anything unattended. It can also get pretty packed during the weekends and holidays, so it’s nice to keep that in mind, depending on the kind of experience you’re looking for.
We also highly recommend wearing water shoes during your visit to the Chollín. Trust us, your feet will thank you!
How to to get there:
From Nuevo Arenal:
From Fortuna:
3. Hike to (or just visit) Lago Cote The “UFO” Zone
That’s right, Lake Arenal is not the only lake you can easily enjoy from Nuevo Arenal. If you’re in the area, you also have to check out Cote (also known as Coter) Lake. It’s the law. Luckily, it’s also a fantastic low budget option!
Lago Cote is an extremely special and mysterious place. It’s not as well-known as other spots in the area, so it’s great to get even further away from people and enjoy just being surrounded by nature. The heart-shaped lake is in the crater of an extinct volcano, and was a sacred site for the Maleku indigenous people. It’s also said that Jacques Cousteau explored it and was unable to find the bottom of it.
With that said, Cote Lake is even more famous for being a “UFO zone”. In 1971, a picture was taken of what appears to be a flying saucer, right above the lake.
To add to the mystical vibe of this place, you’ll also find the remnants of Eco Lodge, a hotel that is now abandoned and being reclaimed by Mother Earth. The views here are absolutely spectacular, and if you’re lucky, you may be able to see Lake Coter, Lake Arenal and the Arenal Volcano all together (and maybe a rainbow, too).
There are several ways you can get there, and all of them can be done on a low budget. If you a good hike, you can do so from town! It will take a while (I’m going to say about 4 hours round trip), and you need to be in relatively good shape, but it’s worth it.
You can also drive there, heading in the direction of Tilarán, and stopping just after “Las Flores” residential area. You’ll see a road going up to your right, and the signs will confirm that you’re going the correct way. It’s unpaved, so an SUV is recommended, but not 100% necessary.
4. Discover La Ceiba (aka the Avatar Tree)
A stop at La Ceiba tree is a must if you are visiting the Nuevo Arenal area on a low budget. It’s located less than a 10-minute drive from town, going towards La Fortuna. The entry is not guarded, you can just go in. However, there is an entrance fee of only ₡2,000 colones (a bit more than $3 USD) in order to help contribute to the maintenance of the property, which you will need to leave in a box.
You can park your car when you arrive, and then start hiking up the hill. It’s short, but pretty steep and can be slippery if it’s been raining. The gardens on the property are gorgeous, full of all sorts of plants, flowers and birds. Then, right at the top, stands the majestic, 500-year-old Ceiba tree. Words and pictures can’t really capture how impressive this tree is, you have to go see it in person. It gives an amazing amount of animal, and other plant life a home, and legend says that this was the tree that inspired the tree of life from the movie Avatar!
All in all, this is a fantastic stop on the way to La Fortuna, or just a great option if you have a couple of hours to kill during your stay in Arenal.
5. Try a Coffee and an Empanada at Soda La Parada
No list would ever be complete without involving food in some way. If you’re looking for a true local experience, you need to stop at La Parada (which actually means “the stop”), the soda located at the bus terminal in town.
Obviously, you know that Costa Rica is incredibly famous for its coffee, and you should have some during your visit here. Unless that’s not your thing, of course! However, your cup will feel very lonely without its loving life partner: the empanada. And when it comes to empanadas in Nuevo Arenal, there’s no better place than La Parada. This is something that almost everyone here can agree on.
They will usually have them filled with chicken or beef, but you can always ask them to make a different flavor for you if you wish. The ladies there are fabulous (please tell them we say hi), and throw some cheese into the masa, which makes the empanada absolutely magical when deep fried. Add some of their homemade chilera if you like to add some heat to your food, and you’ll soon be in a wonderfully crispy and greasy paradise.
All their food is great, honestly, but if you have low budget for this trip, you need to at least try the empanadas. Trust us. They’re only ₡1000, and a coffee will be a little less than that – best snack in the world.
That’s it for our top 5 things to do in Nuevo Arenal on a low budget! Did we miss anything? Please leave a comment to let us know!
