Laguna de Arenal

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Lonely Planet review

Head west from La Fortuna and you'll arrive at a 750m (0.5mi)-long causeway across the dam that created Laguna de Arenal, an 88-sq-km (55-sq-mi) lake that is the largest in the country. A number of small towns were submerged during the lake's creation but it supplies valuable water to Guanacaste, and produces hydroelectricity for the entire region.

If you have your own car (or bicycle), this is one of the premier roadtrips in Costa Rica. The road is lined with odd and elegant businesses, many run by foreigners who have fallen in love with the place. Scenic views of lakeside forests and Volcán Arenal are about as romantic as they come. Plus, strong winds and high elevations give the lake a temperate feel - you'll be forgiven if you suddenly imagine yourself in the English Lake District or the Swiss countryside.

A real estate boom is rapidly changing the face of the area, and while most of the road is supposedly paved, repairs have been infrequent - don't expect to drive this stretch quickly.