Lake Arenal Brewing Company | Informal Campsite

April 15th, 2023 by Cloud9ontour

Very nice, incredible views and definitely Big Rig Friendly

February 21st, 2023 by hihosilver.van

We enjoyed our one night stay at the brewery. JP got us squared away on a flat spot on the lower parking lot with access to plug in and easy access to re-fill out water tanks. Food was good and it was nice to have an IPA! $20/night for the van and access to the toilets and wifi. I used the common area adjacent to the restaurant as a work space in the morning. Much cooler here (and a nice breeze) compared to the coast! Beautiful view of the lake from the restaurant

April 20th, 2022 by @alyvanblake

pretty good beer and food for expected prices. I ordered a sushi bowl that was tasty but disappointingly small, the burger and fries were incredible. given the past posts about the price of camping, we didn't even bother asking to stay. much better free spot over in Nuevo Arenal anyways.

July 28th, 2021 by manejandoypedaleando

Stoped here for lunch, pretty expensive and they asked 10usd for camping so we left. Good wifi though , and pet friendly.

May 22nd, 2019 by piperflies

Great burgers and beers were actually the best craft beers we’d had since leaving the States! Sweet bartender and great service. It’s $15USD to camp in a van and our dogs were totally welcome!

July 9th, 2018 by vanablog.com

When we arrived owner was at the bar. We chatted with him and had the taster and then two pints and food. Food is expensive. Owner made sure to tell us that it is $25 a night to camp even if you order food.
If weather is nice, pool is clean and lovely (but cold). There are also tennis courts.
There was a dingy toilet and shower near the pool but pretty gross. No place to wash dishes or get water or plug-in.
We did see howler monkeys.

June 27th, 2018 by frederickdorandesigns

We went in to try the beers, right away the bartender was grouchy, did not know how to pour the beers without half a glass of foam...we can live without customer service, but the beers were of poor quality, so we quickly left

March 31st, 2018 by toralf.folgner

Very nice place to stay, its quiet, for free and you can see apes in the trees. They just want you to eat in the restaurant. You can use the pool with an awesome fiew to lake arenal.

March 4th, 2018 by kellie.balicki

Such a quaint place with great unique food and great service. We had supper and then parked our van in the parking lot and stayed over night. We also had breakfast they were open at 6am which a fabulous when traveling in a camper van. Staff are very friendly and the VIEW is AMAZING. Highly recommend.

August 4th, 2017 by travelingtogether814

You can definitely still camp here. $20, includes all previously mentioned amenities. I asked the owner as soon as we walked in. The impression I got from him was that possibly some overlanders thought it should be free. He did kindly tell me where we could camp for free very close. We did not stay since the beer is $3 500c per beer. We had plenty of day left to put more miles on and can't afford to stay and get drunk and pay $20 to camp. Just wanted you all to know you 100% can still camp.

September 25th, 2016 by Overland The Americas

***UPDATE*** This place is no longer accepting overlanders. We arrived and were told that the new polices do not allow camping in your vehicle. Place looks nice. Dorms and rooms still available.

September 7th, 2016 by travelamateurs.com

Nice brewery hotel with pretty good beer and expensive food. We used wifi, drank beer and played pool for a few hours during a rain storm. We asked about camping and told $15per car. They have a pool and jacuzzi also but they were not swimmable so we chose the free camping across the lake.

June 12th, 2016 by www.wiffelebenstraum.de

A good place, beautiful view to the lake, friendly stuff. But the owner John want now 20 $ for a night.

January 17th, 2015 by Our Golden Getaway

The place is beautiful, as everyone has mentioned, but the owner is a nut bag and blazing alcoholic. He is rude, obnoxious, loud, disrespectful, always around and in everyones face. His laugh will haunt my dreams for weeks to come. My boyfriend was going to the bathroom and in one of the owners drunken rants, ordered him to go pee outside in the garden so as to save water and shouted this across the lobby in front of all the hotel guests. It was shocking! I felt bad for those who were hotel guests and employees and not overlanding as they looked helpless and stuck. He brought the quality way down...

Stay away...

December 28th, 2014 by Nomadizens

Asked for $20 to camp at brewery, but we were allowed to camp at the skatepark (on site but up the hill) for 1000 colones per person. Ask around for Juan Pablo if they don't mention this option. Free camping is down the hill along the lake. There is a blue sign for windsurfing lessons. Good place to camp but was busy due to the holiday. Also very windy.

December 12th, 2014 by sprintervandiaries.com

We stopped by. Ownership changes in August 2014. The new team charged us $20/night so we drove 200m down the road to a free spot they recommended. He wouldn't negotiate at all, even after telling him we had full intentions of having dinner and drinks.they have a pool, sauna, wifi and all the other good stuff others included in their comments.

May 23rd, 2014 by Song of the Road

Electricity, a pool, beer, and an amazing view of the lake. What more could you ask for? It comes at a price. $15 per night for us. Only shower is outdoors and cold water. Free camp spots available down the road.

April 17th, 2014 by Neli's Big Adventure

Craft brewery (!), beautiful views of Lake Arenal, clean bathrooms, electric hookup, fast free wifi, free drinking water, swimming pool and tennis courts - FREE!

March 1st, 2013 by 30forthirty.org

Yes! A microbrewery with good beer and food as well as amazing views of Lake Arenal. It is also a hotel with pool, hot tub, wifi etc. They let us camp for free after we bought a few beers and dinner.