The route through Cañas is very easy if you take the road just north of the bull ring. Whether you're coming south on the Interamerican Highway from Liberia or north from San Jose, watch for the bull ring - it's right beside the highway - and turn to the east on the street next to the bull ring on the north. Take that street right through Cañas until you reach a slightly slanted "T" with the road to Tilaran and Lake Arenal. It's only 8 or 10 or maybe 12 blocks until you're past the whole town. From Cañas, it's about 13 miles to Tilaran.

If you decide to sight-see in Cañas, perhaps to look at the vast mosaic work on the cathedral, be aware that many of the streets are one-way, and until you've spent some time there it's quite difficult to decide which way is the right way because there generally are no one-way signs. Also, since you can park on either side of the street no matter which way you're going, you can choose the wrong way if you're deciding your direction based on the parked cars. However, be assured that the street just north of the bull ring is a two-way street.