Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

3.0 star property
Family-friendly lodge with spa, near Arenal Volcano National Park

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your current months are January, 2025 and February, 2025.
January 2025
February 2025

Photo gallery for Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room
Poolside bar
White Hawk Villa
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine
Outdoor pool, open 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM, pool loungers

Reviews

9.6 out of 10

Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Airport transfer
  • Bar
  • Spa
  • Pool
  • Free breakfast
  • Non-smoking
Main amenities
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Restaurants and bar/lounge
  • Full-service spa
  • Outdoor pool
  • Children's pool
  • Hot tub
  • 2 meeting rooms
  • Airport shuttle
  • Area shuttle
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Arcade/games room
Feel at home
  • Children stay free
  • Children's pool
  • Playground on-site
  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Daily housekeeping
The price is €155
includes taxes & fees
6 Jan - 7 January 2025

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 5 of 5 rooms

House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room

Highlights

Garden
Balcony or patio
Ceiling fan
5 bedrooms
Eco-friendly toiletries
Coffee/tea maker
Living room
Laptop-compatible safe
  • Lake view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 4 Queen Beds

Superior Room, Mountain View

Highlights

Garden
Balcony or patio
Free cots/infant beds
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Eco-friendly toiletries
Coffee/tea maker
Daily housekeeping
  • 20 sq m
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

White Hawk Villa

Highlights

Garden
Balcony or patio
Free cots/infant beds
2 bedrooms
Ceiling fan
Eco-friendly toiletries
Coffee/tea maker
Living room
  • 20 sq m
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 8
  • 2 King Beds, 2 Single Beds and 2 Single Trundle Beds

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Highlights

Garden
Balcony or patio
Free cots/infant beds
Ceiling fan
Private bathroom
Eco-friendly toiletries
Coffee/tea maker
Daily housekeeping
  • 25 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Phil's Villa

Highlights

Garden
Balcony or patio
Ceiling fan
3 bedrooms
Eco-friendly toiletries
3 bathrooms
Private bathroom
Coffee/tea maker
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 10
  • 3 Queen Beds

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About the area

Map
22 km Oeste de la Fortuna de San Carlos, 1.7 km del Volcán Arenal, La Fortuna, Alajuela, 21007

What's nearby

  • Costa Rica Sky Adventures - 13 min drive - 5.5 km
  • Arenal Volcano National Park - 17 min drive - 10.2 km
  • Arenal Volcano - 17 min drive - 8.0 km
  • Ecotermales Fortuna - 29 min drive - 18.5 km
  • La Fortuna Waterfall - 38 min drive - 24.5 km

Getting around

  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 50 min drive
  • San José (SJO-Juan Santamaría Intl.) - 45.7 miles/73.5 km
  • Airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)

Restaurants

  • ‪Virgita Ristorante - ‬28 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Río Lounge - ‬39 min drive
  • ‪Agua Ardiente Pool Bar - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Red Frog Coffee Roaster - ‬31 min drive
  • ‪North Fields Café - ‬32 min drive

About this property

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails is a great choice for a stay in La Fortuna. Guests can visit the spa to indulge in deep-tissue massages, aromatherapy or reflexology, and international cuisine is served at El Jilguero, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. An outdoor pool, a bar/lounge and a hot tub are other highlights at this Colonial lodge. The helpful staff and overall property condition get great marks from fellow travellers.

Languages

English, Spanish

At a glance

DONE

Hotel size

    • 48 rooms
DONE

Arriving/Leaving

    • Check-in start time: 3 PM; check-in end time: 10 PM
    • Minimum check-in age – 18
    • Check-out time is noon
DONE

Special check-in instructions

    • The front desk is open daily from 7 AM - 10 PM
    • Front desk staffed during limited hours
DONE

Required at check-in

    • Credit card, debit card or cash deposit required for incidental charges
    • Government-issued photo ID may be required
    • Minimum check-in age is 18
DONE

Children

    • Up to 2 children (aged 8 years old and younger) stay free per registered adult when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding
    • No cots (infant beds)
DONE

Pets

    • No pets or service animals allowed
WIFI

Internet

    • Free WiFi in public areas
LOCAL_PARKING

Parking

    • Free on-site self-parking
    • Wheelchair-accessible parking on site
DONE

Transfers

    • Airport shuttle on request (available 24 hours a day)*
DONE

Off-site

    • Area shuttle*
DONE

Other information

    • Smoke-free property

Property amenities

Food and drink

  • Free cooked-to-order breakfast each morning 6:30 AM–8:30 AM
  • Restaurant
  • Bar/lounge

Travelling with children

  • Children stay for free (see details)
  • Children's pool
  • Playground
  • Pool gate

What to do

  • Ecotours
  • Hiking/biking trails
  • Horse riding/hire
  • Table football
  • Ping pong
  • Bike rentals nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horse riding nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Zip-lining nearby
  • Hot springs nearby
  • Fishing nearby

Working away

  • 2 meeting rooms

Services

  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Tour/ticket assistance
  • Laundry facilities
  • Luggage storage
  • Pool loungers

Facilities

  • Built in 1992
  • Safe-deposit box at front desk
  • Garden
  • Terrace
  • Library
  • Fireplace in reception
  • Television in common areas
  • An outdoor pool
  • Arcade/games room
  • Full-service spa
  • Hot tub
  • Massage/treatment rooms
  • Colonial architecture

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible pool
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Accessible airport shuttle
  • No lift (single-level property)
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Pool access ramp on site

Room amenities

Home comfort

  • Ceiling fan
  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Window screens

Sleep well

  • Bed sheets provided

What to enjoy

  • Balcony or patio
  • Garden

Freshen up

  • Shower only
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Towels
  • Toilet paper

More

  • Daily housekeeping
  • In-room safe (laptop compatible)
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • LED light bulbs

Special features

Spa

Guests can pamper themselves with a trip to the on-site spa, which has 1 treatment room. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Swedish massages and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and reflexology. The spa is open daily.

Dining

El Jilguero – This family restaurant specialises in international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Fees & policies

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle service is offered for an extra charge of USD 225 per vehicle (one-way. Maximum occupancy 7)
  • Local area shuttle service is offered for an extra charge

Pool, spa, & gym (if applicable)

  • Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Policies

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
This property does not have lifts.
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products.
Guests can rest easy knowing that there's a fire extinguisher on-site.
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
This property accepts credit cards and cash.

Also known as

Arenal Observatory Lodge La Fortuna
Arenal Observatory Lodge
Arenal Observatory La Fortuna
Arenal Observatory
Arenal Observatory Hotel La Fortuna De San Carlos
Arenal Observatory & Trails
Arenal Observatory Lodge Spa
Arenal Observatory Lodge Trails
Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails Lodge
Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails La Fortuna
Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails Lodge La Fortuna

Frequently asked questions

Does Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in, depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure that you check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Is there a pool at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Yes, there's an outdoor pool and a children's pool. Guests have pool access from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Are pets allowed at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Sorry, neither pets nor service animals are allowed.
Is parking offered on site at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Yes, there's free self parking.
Is an airport shuttle service offered by Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Yes, an airport shuttle is available. The charge is USD 225 per vehicle one-way.
What are the check-in and check-out times at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Check-in start time: 3 PM; check-in end time: 10 PM. Check-out time is noon.
What is there to do at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails and nearby?
Have fun with on-site activities such as horse riding and hiking. Additional recreation on-site includes ecotours. Indulge in a treatment at the spa and soothe your senses in the hot tub. Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails also has an outdoor pool and an arcade, as well as a garden.
Are there restaurants at or near Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Yes, El Jilguero offers international cuisine.
Does Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails have any outdoor private spaces?
Yes, every room features a balcony or patio and a garden.

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.4/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Exceptional

Sagar, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Beautiful Gardens and trails
EDWARD, 2-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Beautiful property! They need to advertise more as we would have stayed an additional night. We weren't aware of free guided hikes, spa (with great prices!), etc. Views are amazing!
Sidney, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Pankaj M, 3-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

The place is magical. No A/C but it wasn’t too hot. The restaurant is decent and the views of the volcano are to die for. It’s a bud watcher’s paradise and the trails are beautiful. I would stay at this resort again.
Samuel, 4-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Fabulous!
Exceptional service and comfort. Amazing birding throught the property.
Gary, 3-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

8/10 Very good

Neil, 6-night trip
Verified Travelocity guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Amazing view to Arenal Volcano, literally you have the volcano in front of you. Perfect choice to go relax maybe on a weekend and forget about stress and just connect with nature
Carlos, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

The property has an excellent location surrounded by trails and and trails at the base of the volcano. The free guided hike was informative and a good way to learn to spot wildlife if not doing guide tours elsewhere (although be aware that advance reservations are recommended). The only downside of the location is that you are limited to onsite dining even if self-driving, and the food options are not great value for the price.
Subhodeep, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Tremendous vistas, birding, nature trails fantastic staff and a very cool welcome.
Theresa, 2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

gary, 1-night trip with friends
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Our stay was very pleasant, the hotel is on beautiful grounds, we arrived late at night , a portion the road leading to the hotel is not paved, breakfast was superb, you can have both the open buffet and a choice to order from their menu. We ended up having dinner 2 nights at the hotel and those were excellent as well. Very helpful staff that go above and beyond, Sergio was very helpful with his recommendations and directions. Lots of hummingbirds and wildlife that you can experience from your room. No AC but the ceiling fan was sufficient to keep up feeling comfortable. Would love to go again.
Marghrit, 3-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

6/10 Good

Nice Experience of Nature and Birds
Great experience but room key constantly gave me problem. Room key has to be replaced 4 times. Restaurant food and drinks are great!
Husong, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Wildlife galore
Amazing location inside the NP. Road most unpaved getting there. Great balcony where you can see the birds and monkey. Very chilled out vibe with plenty of easy trials around. Shame that the pool wasn’t open and we were not notified, the kids were very disappointed. Also we left very early on the last day and missed out on breakfast as they didn’t tell us we could have a takeaway breakfast box. Overall a stunning place, beaming with wildlife.
Alexander, 3-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

6/10 Good

Great experience but room key constantly gave me problem. Key has to be replaced 4 times Restaurant food and drink are great!
Husong, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

My 7 yr old complained about no AC in the room but I am completely fine with it. It is high up in the mountain so felt a little cool even in the summer. View is beautiful because it is super close to the volcano. The lodge staff is very welcome and kind. Of course you’d be expecting bugs and flies in the washroom next day in the morning. But I call this nature, we would also be seeing monkeys within the hotel range. Driving up to the hotel is also fun as some roads are un-paved. My husband joked as we got a free ATV experience.
Liang, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Ivona, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

One of my favorite places in the world. We have been here three times in the last 14 years. Love the lodge, its proximity to raw nature, the thoughtful and kind people that work here, and the views. I would highly recommend staying here.
Katarzyna, 2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Luis, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Mandy, 2-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Great eco friendly hotel
Wonderful hotel with great views of the volcano. Could use some upgrades for the bed. Great service from the staff
Gary, 3-night family trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review

10/10 Exceptional

You can not beat the location and beauty of this property. The staff went above and beyond. The restaurant was great. Wildlife all around. Loved this stay.
Jennifer, 2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Suhanya, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

Fantastic lodge and trails. Amazing staff. Great views of the Arenal Volcano. Peaceful. We saw snakes, frogs, toucans, hummingbirds and tropical birds. Food is good and fairly priced - considering the nearest outside restaurant is > 30 mins away.
Suhanya, 2-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review

10/10 Exceptional

This was an amazing property. Trails were beautiful. Waterfall was amazing. Breakfast buffet has everything you would want on your plate and dinner was very tasty
Casey, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review