Hola JBC, great choice! Sorry I didn't reply any sooner but I couldn't access WW for the last 10 weeks or so. I live in Nuevo Arenal, at about 45 minutes from La Fortuna, on the north side of the lake. I have my wakeboardschool on the lake (check
www.flyzone-cr.com/lessons), in Puerto San Luis, close to TIlaran (about 1h 20m from La Fortuna). Yes for sure do Tabacon, I recommend going in the evening. You (or at least I) don't need to soak in bloody hot pools when the sun is out, it's hot outside and you could also be wakeboarding! And the buffet at Tabacon is fab-u-tas-tic so you won't want to miss out on that. If you need any other info about the area, about what (not) to do and where (not) to go let me know!