PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN to all the advice auto people and hotel people give to you.......
They will tell you to turn off at San Ramon, and then go to Fortuna and then Arenal......this is not good, as you cannot stop on the way, with your suitcases in the car, as it is a high risk "car robbery area" due to all the tourists in Fortuna/Volcano Arenal.......
First come here through Canas..... unpack your suitcases.... and then spend a day at the Arenal Volcano area when you car is empty and take your time...... It is worth a full day seeing both the waterfall and the hot springs.....We have pictures to show you of all these trips to help you decide what to do.....
 

TO MAKE YOUR DRIVE HERE MORE ENJOYABLE - more thorough directions follow:

From the airport, drive on the Inter-American Highway (Route 1), West.  Then North, to the town of Canas, (it's takes about 2 and a half hours).

Upon entering Canas, you will pass over a little concrete bridge, over the River Canas, and 200 meters further you will pass a gas station, on each side.  Then 300 meters more, you will see a red, circular Bullring, take a right here and go about 8 blocks, to a fork in the road.

Here you will make the first of 3 lefts.  Bear left at the green and white sign for Chalet Nicholas, go up the hill to the very top of the continental divide (take 20 minutes).  At the top before entering Tilaran, you will see a sign to Arenal and here take a very sharp left, almost a U-Turn towards Arenal.

Here you will see a triangular, glass-fronted building marked "Autos del Lago".  Go around this to the left and continue for another 10 minutes, past a gas station on the left and another of our signs on the right.

When you get to the fork in the road where Lake Arenal starts you will bear left and be on the upper lake road.  You will continue on this road for about ten minutes when you will see a sign for Mystica Lodge.  Stay to right of this fork along Lake Road. 
Then it will be 15 minutes or less until you see "Chalet Nicholas. Signs and a flower covered archway entrance to Chalet Nicholas on the left.
We are just one mile past the Ecolodge entrance signs on the same road.
We are also 2 km before the little town of Nuevo Arenal, so it is easy to find us.
We have been here over 9 years and everyone knows Chalet Nicholas.
If you have any problems, call us at: 694-4041..... there's always someone here.

We look forward to seeing you and showing you our Tropical Paradise.
It is very beautiful here.... you will "come as a stranger and leave as a friend"....

Catherine and John Nicholas