Follow the signs to the town of Nuevo Arenal and Tilarán. It takes about an hour and thirty minutes.
You will have the lake on your left hand side. It is not very far but some parts of the road are in very bad shape.
You will pass by Tabacon Hot Springs, then cross the dam. A stretch of jungle
follows. In some parts, if you stop, coatimundis will come out of the jungle.
Sometimes a group will be as large as 25 specimens. The groups are comprised of
females and young. The males are solitary. Coatimundis are related to raccoons.
They also like to eat our food. Eventually you will pass by Nuevo Arenal. There
is a gas station and there are stores. Follow the main road around the lake
counterclockwise. You will pass Caballo Negro and the Lucky Bug Gallery. Then
Ecolodge. Eventually you pass through the village of Aguacate. Right after going
through the village there will be a long steep uphill. Following will be a short
downhill. At the bottom is the right turn into the dirt road that leads to the
retreat. Keep following that road or stay to the right.