The friendly town of Tilaran in Costa Rica’s Province of Guanacaste is the main entrance to the Arenal region coming from the east. Located an approximately three hour long drive from San Jose in the Central Valley. Coming from the International Airport of Liberia is just a short drive down the Interamericana Highway until you reach the town of Canas where you take the last 20 kilometres on Route 142 to Tilaran. East of Tilaran the Arenal Lake is close by and you can take either a right or left turn to drive around the lake. Both ways you will end up in the neighbouring Province of Alajuela in the town of La Fortuna with the impressive Arenal Volcano dominating the horizon. Tilaran has a very nice location, since it’s close to the Monteverde Reservation and the National Park of the Arenal Volcano towards the east and Palo Verde National Park westwards. Therefore Tilaran is a good base camp offers an abundance of activities to choose from. The area around Tilaran is mainly a farming area. Higher up the hills are coffee plantations, there are vast pastures with beef and the famous Monteverde dairy cattle and the area is well known for the cultivation of peanuts and macadamia nuts. Tilaran has altitude of 500 metres above sea level, which results in a very comfortable temperature. Six months of the year are windier than the others. From mid-October till the beginning of May the winds can be strong enough to be able to wind and kite surf on the artificial Lake Arenal, Costa Rica’s only and biggest lake. These same winds contribute to Costa Rica’s energy production, because in the Arenal highlands a windmill park is constructed. The town of Tilaran itself is one of the cleanest of Costa Rica and because most of the restaurants with excellent food, bars and hotels are in the town centre the atmosphere is very friendly. There are accommodations in every budget class and especially for families. Close to Tilaran is the Corobici River which runs through a dry tropical forest area where over three hundred species of birds can be spotted. The Corobici is an excellent river to try white water rafting for the first time. The river with rapids only up to class three, make it one of the calmest and safest rafting rivers in Costa Rica. Unlike the Pacuare River for example this one is safe enough to raft with children and no problem if you are of age. There are several great mountain bike tours, nature walks and sport fishing opportunities in rivers and of course on Lake Arenal.