Overall Ratings & Reviews Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

We really enjoyed out time here. It was quiet and felt secluded, yet we could walk to town.

This hotel is beautiful and the location makes you feel like you are living in a rainforest. The free breakfast was a nice touch each morning. The dining room was large and the dining staff was very friendly. We booked a room with a balcony and that was so relaxing!!! The rooms were very nice and the bathrooms were very clean. The only drawback was the back roads getting to this hotel. The potholes were a nightmare!!!

General experience

The Arenal Lodge is a great stay and a great way to see the area. Thoroughly recommend.

This place was amazing! The rum was clean but average. No air conditioning but with the window open, fan, and dehumidifier it was very tolerable. The amazing part. .the staff and wildlife! Everyone was very friendly and went above and beyond to assist. Every morning and afternoon the spider monkeys came by the patio. So many birds and other wildlife to see just walking the grounds. If you love seeing wildlife then this is the place for you!

Loved the Arenal Volcano Lodge! Feels similar to staying in the National Park lodges in Yellowstone or Glacier. Although it is a bit of a drive, it is much less touristy than La Fortuna hotels. Extensive grounds with lots of wildlife and birds, observation tower, nature walks with knowledgeable guide etc. Rooms were very nice with balcony. Dining was quite good which was important give the distance to other restaurants. Staff was very professional and friendly. Highly recommend!

Everything was good. The dinner menu could use a few more choices. Sandwiches for those not so hungry or not in the mood for the fancier dishes.

Absolutely beautiful property with tons to do within the property. Well maintained trails perfect for beginners. The staff was very professional and pleasant. Free activities in the lodge were great, especially the guided hike with their very knowledgeable guide. Beautiful surrounding towns. The free breakfast at the restaurant on site was very good. Lunch and dinner on site were expensive so we drove about 10-15 minutes off property and there were tons of options. We booked an economy room in the casona with a shared restroom and it was lovely. Will definitely return.

Absolutely beautiful property. We stood in the Smithsonian room. Absolutely gorgeous view of the volcano. Room as described. Our only regret was not reserving a room with mini fridge. No AC as described but it was not needed. Everyone was absolutely attentive and always ready to answer questions. We ate most of our meals in the restaurant preferring to stay nearby to relax. Yes the road is rough for the first mile entering the property but well worth the ride! We didn’t want to leave! We hope to return to spend more than the 3 nights we booked.

Magical! The hiking trails, wildlife, breakfasts, and staff made this lodge extraordinary. Waking up to volcano views and amazing birds was so special. While it is a little off the beaten path, it is well worth the extra few minutes.

Awesome views, friendly staff and excellent breakfast

Great location with amazing views of the arenal volcano. We spotted some unique birds. The breakfast included was great and service was very good. Only complaint is they did not include water bottles in the room and would charge for that.

We enjoyed the scenery, breakfast, free guided tour, and the trails around the property. The setting was very beautiful. We had a great time there, and will highly recommend it for visiting Arenal Volcano area.

Beautiful property with great hiking/walking paths and lovely restaurant on site. Shared accommodations totally met our needs and was very comfortable. Very friendly, helpful staff.

Beautiful scenery. Comfortable room with a view to observe wildlife! Food at restaurant was ok not that great seeing that it’s the only place to eat . Ground were beautiful and staff very friendly and informative . Guided nature hikes were great!

I stayed at this facility primarily for access to birding opportunities. The trails are in excellent condition and easy to walk if you’re in decent shape. I did get some of my target birds, and did not run into many people at all on the trails. There is lots of good birding opportunities within a few short drives of this location too. Food was excellent and room very comfortable

Wonderful room, great property for viewing wildlife

Very good.

Absolutely wonderful place to stay in the Arenal Volcano area. We were there for five nights and enjoyed seeing many species of birds both from their large observation deck and on the birding walk with Nestor and the Nature walks with Christian. The view of the volcano and lovely Arenal Lake is magnificent! Also saw several cute and friendly coatis and a spider monkey mama cuddling her baby up in the trees. The staff, though, is the BEST part of staying here! They are all friendly, attentive and accommodating to your wishes or needs. Can't say enough good things about this aspect of the hotel! Muchas gracias por la Pura Vida!!!

The property has an excellent location. The restaurant is also really good. Our first room a short drive away had a very nice balcony. We upgraded to the volcano view room on the 2nd night but the room we were given was different from the photos, very small and not large enough for 3 people. The front desk agreed to move us and after some discussion it was resolved.