Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
22 Km Oeste De La Fortuna De San Carlos, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 21007 Costa Rica
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About
#2 of 160 Specialty lodging in La Fortuna de San Carlos
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Travellers' Choice
GreenLeaders Bronze level
Situated only 1.7 Miles from the majestic Arenal Volcano and with a spectacular view of Lake Arenal, the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa (AOL) offers guests the opportunity to DISCOVER, EXPLORE and RELAX. AOL sits on an 870 acres property and offers 48 comfortable rooms surrounded by gardens, the majority with a direct view of the volcano and/or the forest. The 7 miles of well-maintained trails for walking, horseback riding or biking running through the property provide good opportunities to observe a variety of flora and fauna. Approximately 500 species of birds live in the area making AOL a preferred destination for bird watchers. Activities at the hotel include hikes to the waterfall, horseback riding, enjoying a refreshing swim in our pool, or simply relaxing with a massage in our spa. Arenal Observatory Lodge is the perfect place for adventure lovers, families, and honeymooners. With its spectacular location, great service, and friendly personnel you won't be disappointed.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Free breakfast
Game room
Hiking
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids pool
Secured parking
Wifi
Hot bath
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Shallow end in pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Happy hour
Kids' meals
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Horseback riding
Canoeing offsite
Patio
Table tennis
Walking tours
Highchairs available
Shuttle bus service
Spa
Body wrap
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Head massage
Massage
Neck massage
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
First aid kit
Laundry service
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Room features
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Private balcony
Safe
Clothes rack
Laptop safe
Coffee / tea maker
Bath / shower
Tile / marble floor
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Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Lake View
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Hotel links
Location
Contact
22 Km Oeste De La Fortuna De San Carlos, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 21007 Costa Rica
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2737Reviews77Q+A100Room tips
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This hotel was the biggest place we stayed on a two week birding trip in the country and yet it was as beautiful and peaceful as the smaller eco lodges. The gardens are gorgeous, well tended, and full of birds. I took an afternoon off from birding to hike and swim because I wanted to enjoy the place to the full. The trail I took to the waterfall and beyond was well signed and maintained, through thick forest. The pool was a delight and I had it to myself. The restaurant breakfasts and dinners were good, a little less generous in portion size than other places. But I did have one of the best meals of the trip there - a traditional dish of fish cooked in an anise leaf. The room was very comfortable.
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Property's Favourite Review
While the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is not easily accessible and will take you a 30 minutes car ride from the next city, it is well worth the journey. You are far away from mass tourism and situated directly next to Arenal Volcano and surrounded by nature. The property is well kept and you can wander through the lush gardens and adjacent jungle. Trails are in very good condition and you will be able to discover a plethora of plants, flowers, and animals all around you. The hotel rooms are simple, but have everything you need. A small balcony with a great view, strong WIFI signal, showers with excellent water pressure! Keep in mind that the rooms do not have TV nor air-condition. I recommend sleeping with your windows open and get the full wildlife experience. You will be awoken by the birds in the early morning, which is the perfect time to get up and catch a glimpse of the exotic animals. The outdoor pool has a decent size and you will be able to spot monkeys in the nearby trees. The sunset from the restaurant deck is breathtaking. Words cannot describe it which is why I am adding a photo. The restaurant has delicious food and drinks and a well-priced happy hour. Breakfast was also more than solid, so being away from everything else was not an issue. I can highly recommend this property if you enjoy the luxury and tranquility of nature to unwind and relax.…
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Date of stay: September 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
4 Helpful votes
Helpful
+1
We stayed 4 days, 3 nights at Arenal Observatory and were so pleased with our decision to stay here. As other reviews note, it's out of the way from other things, but we loved having that privacy and quiet after a day full of adventure. You are surrounded by nature at the lodge, which is exactly what we wanted. We noticed mostly elderly groups staying at the lodge and maybe only 2-3 families so my friend and I (two 30 year old women) found it pretty quiet and always were able to snag a table (tip: make a reservation at the restaurant for your dinner/lunch/breakfast slot). On our last day, before check-out, we hiked around the property and were the people on the trails the entire time. We didn't rent a car and so arranged for transport from SJO airport to the hotel. We also had the hotel transfer us to another hotel for the next leg of our trip. The van and driver both times were fantastic! Van comes with AC, multiple outlets, and wifi. Driver from SJO to the hotel (Luis) was fabulous. Having been traveling from 4amET and meeting him around 2pm CT, we were staving for lunch and he graciously took us to a restaurant that offered us one of our best meals in Costa Rica! I forget the second driver's name, but he was equally as great. He spotted a three-toed sloth on our way to the other hotel and stopped so we could look at it - it was very close and the first three-toed sloth we'd seen. He also stopped at a local coffee place when we asked as we wanted to buy coffee beans another tour guide had recommended. We really appreciated both drivers! The food was average. Only one vegan option for breakfast and 1-2 choices for lunch/dinner. It was fine, but I can see how it'd get dull if you were staying longer or took all your meals at the lodge.…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
You don't need an SUV in Costa Rica! We coordinated a guided birding tour through them. Our guide was phenomenal - crazy knowledgable, nice, helpful, encouraging. The grounds are splendid and I'd like to stay when we come back to CR.
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Date of stay: March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
I was sad that we could only spend one night here! The property is beautiful with lots of trails where we saw waterfalls, coatimundis, and many, many birds. The rooms are clean, comfortable, and convenient. But we spent most of our time on the trails or watching the birds on the observation deck. We did a morning hike around the property with a guide and saw so many things we would not have seen on our own, such as sleeping tree frogs. The restaurant on the property provided good breakfasts and dinners. The service was friendly and always very helpful.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Book early! This place fills up fast. We only got in due to a last-minute cancellation.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Guest Services Arenal Observatory Lodge, Atención al huésped/Recepción at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
Responded 4 weeks ago
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We are thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your stay with us and that you were able to explore our beautiful property and its surroundings. We are delighted to know that our clean, comfortable and convenient rooms, as well as our friendly service, met your expectations. It's fantastic to hear that you were able to see so much wildlife, including waterfalls, coatimundis, and sleeping tree frogs, during your guided hike. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for a longer stay so that you can enjoy even more of what our property has to offer. Thank you for choosing to stay with us!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
+1
Perfect hotel for a family with teens! Lots of amazing hiking trails to explore. We loved the guided night tour which allows you to see lots of animals you normally wouldn’t: tarantula, owl, frogs, toads, pit vipers, sleeping birds, etc. Everyone is very friendly and the restaurant has lots of variety with really good food. Special thanks to Jorge our waiter who was always smiling and very friendly! Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: March 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
Perfect La Fortuna hotel! You are basically IN the National Park right next to Arenal Volcano, but with all the amenities you need. The birds, animal life, and volcano are AMAZING! There is an included free morning walk of 1 hour with a naturalist that is not to be missed (recommend scheduling/requesting your time BEFORE you arrive to be sure you get a spot as they limit size for best experience). Didier was our guide and he was absolutely wonderful. Rooms are clean, comfortable, and generously sized. The hot tub and pool have great volcano views. The staff is so kind and dedicated to excellent service. The included breakfast is delicious and substantial. We ate all our meals in the restaurant during our 3 night stay and enjoyed them all, as well as the 5-6 pm happy hour on the deck with 1/2 price drinks watching a parade of birds and the clouds dancing around the volcano. There are 7 miles of trails for great (FREE) hiking on the grounds ( highly recommend) and other paid activities you can do like a night walk (with Didier again, also highly recommend!) and you can easily book activities offsite with transportation. This was the highlight of our 2 week trip!!!…
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Book your free/included hike in advance to be sure you get a spot as group size is limited
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Absolutely stunning grounds and a nice hot tub. The pool was too cold for swimming for our family. The restaurant was great with friendly staff and tasty food that was reasonably priced. The road is terrible (rocks, mud and steep) going into the lodge so you will want an SUV or truck and not a car. It was rainy and cloudy when were were there so very limited views of the volcano.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
This was a fantastic experience for beautiful scenery, great wildlife, and an amazing variety of birds. We are not expert birders - but our time there was amazing. Incredible birds, frogs, and anteaters - and remarkable scenery. Just standing on our balcony with a view of Arenal was brilliant. We couldn't recommend the place enough.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: March 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
It is a very comfortable place to be. The weather has always been comfortable, not steamy hot like the coast. The rooms and restaurant is would be very comfortable for people from the USA. Many places in Costa Rica could be a bit too rustic for some travelers. There are also very few bugs here, another reason it is comfortable. I strongly recomment Arenal Observatory loge to my friends who want a great experience, especially for those that like birds and wildlife. I love that it has so many birds, trails, and things to do and see right on the property. The staff are great and birding guides have been very good. I have been here three times and will return again for sure.
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Review collected in partnership with this hotel
Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
PRICE RANGE
US$99 - US$156 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
arenal observatory hotel la fortuna de san carlos
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of AlajuelaArenal Volcano National ParkLa Fortuna de San Carlos
NUMBER OF ROOMS
50
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Claim Your ListingARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & TRAILS - Updated 2023 Prices & Reviews (La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica)
Frequently Asked Questions about Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
Which popular attractions are close to Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Nearby attractions include Bogarin Trail (7.4 km), Arenal Oasis Wildlife Refuge (6.0 km), and Butterfly Conservatory - Arenal (5.5 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Yes, free parking and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Conveniently located restaurants include Tiquicia Restaurant, Chifa La Familia Feliz, and Essence Arenal Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Does Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.
Is Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.