Situated just off La Fortuna's main strip, the two-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Las Colinas is ideally located to explore the area around the famous Arenal Volcano. One of the taller buildings in downtown, it's a cheerful place that includes nice perks like a free hot breakfast. The open-air terrace with lovely views of Arenal Volcano is a highlight, and spa treatments are -- surprisingly - available. Each of the 19 rooms is basic, but clean and bright, with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and a small flat-screen TV. Upgraded rooms have mini-fridges and small, private balconies. Those seeking something even more budget friendly should check out the nearby Arenal Hostel Resort, a two-pearl alternative with many of the same amenities.
Situated just off La Fortuna's main strip, the two-and-a-half-pearl Hotel Las Colinas is ideally located to explore the area around the famous Arenal Volcano. One of the taller buildings in downtown, it's a cheerful place that includes nice perks like a free hot breakfast. The open-air terrace with lovely views of Arenal Volcano is a highlight, and spa treatments are -- surprisingly - available. Each of the 19 rooms is basic, but clean and bright, with free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, and a small flat-screen TV. Upgraded rooms have mini-fridges and small, private balconies. Those seeking something even more budget friendly should check out the nearby Arenal Hostel Resort, a two-pearl alternative with many of the same amenities.
The beautiful Arenal Nayara's 44 individual bungalows, restaurant, wine bar, and spa are all tucked into incredibly lush grounds. Some of the amenities are small (pool, spa, fitness center), but guests come here for the private bungalows with special touches like an outdoor garden shower and a deck with a hot tub and hammock. It's more luxurious than nearby Arenal Kioro, but Kioro's rooms have better volcano views. Couples may also want to consider the adult-only sister property next door, Nayara Springs.
The beautiful Arenal Nayara's 44 individual bungalows, restaurant, wine bar, and spa are all tucked into incredibly lush grounds. Some of the amenities are small (pool, spa, fitness center), but guests come here for the private bungalows with special touches like an outdoor garden shower and a deck with a hot tub and hammock. It's more luxurious than nearby Arenal Kioro, but Kioro's rooms have better volcano views. Couples may also want to consider the adult-only sister property next door, Nayara Springs.
The 98-room, upper-middle-range Los Lagos is the Disneyland of Arenal, with a water park, small zoo, and hotel all rolled up into a 1,050-acre property. It appeals to families with young children, but may turn off international travelers looking for that “authentic” Costa Rican experience. Rooms are functional but rather bland and cramped -- you can tell that they're mainly meant as recharging stations for families who want to spend most of their time in the pools, zip-lines, or trying to make the alligator blink. The hotel is a 10-minute ride from La Fortuna, but couples with bigger budgets wanting a fancier water-based experience may want to venture a little farther out to the posher, less frenetic Nayara Hotel or Tabacon Hot Springs.
The 98-room, upper-middle-range Los Lagos is the Disneyland of Arenal, with a water park, small zoo, and hotel all rolled up into a 1,050-acre property. It appeals to families with young children, but may turn off international travelers looking for that “authentic” Costa Rican experience. Rooms are functional but rather bland and cramped -- you can tell that they're mainly meant as recharging stations for families who want to spend most of their time in the pools, zip-lines, or trying to make the alligator blink. The hotel is a 10-minute ride from La Fortuna, but couples with bigger budgets wanting a fancier water-based experience may want to venture a little farther out to the posher, less frenetic Nayara Hotel or Tabacon Hot Springs.
This 36-room gated property on a side road a 10-minute drive south of La Fortuna is an adequate mid-range option featuring a swimming pool with a swim-up bar and its own private rainforest trail. Clean, adobe-style rooms have air-conditioning and TVs (not a given for the area) in two-story buildings that are screened off from everything else by towering vegetation (and for the first floor, that includes views of the volcano; only second-floor rooms have guaranteed volcano views). There are few options immediately nearby, and hotel neighbors (like Hotel Rancho Cerro Azul) tend to be more modest. Activities on the property are a bit limited and many guests feel the restaurant is overpriced; those who want more features might consider the similarly priced Hotel El Silencio del Campo, which has on-site hot springs and a working farm.
This 36-room gated property on a side road a 10-minute drive south of La Fortuna is an adequate mid-range option featuring a swimming pool with a swim-up bar and its own private rainforest trail. Clean, adobe-style rooms have air-conditioning and TVs (not a given for the area) in two-story buildings that are screened off from everything else by towering vegetation (and for the first floor, that includes views of the volcano; only second-floor rooms have guaranteed volcano views). There are few options immediately nearby, and hotel neighbors (like Hotel Rancho Cerro Azul) tend to be more modest. Activities on the property are a bit limited and many guests feel the restaurant is overpriced; those who want more features might consider the similarly priced Hotel El Silencio del Campo, which has on-site hot springs and a working farm.
The upper-middle-range Asclepios bills itself as a wellness center rather than a hotel, though it successfully incorporates elements of both. Located in the hills near the Central Valley town of Alajuela, it’s conveniently close to the airport but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of downtown San Jose. A full spa, fitness center, outdoor pool, and organic restaurant all lie on spacious grounds amidst a lush landscape. Every one of its 12 comfortable and stylish rooms has a different theme, and all overlook hillsides planted with coffee and sugarcane. Guests looking for a spa retreat on comfortable grounds will find it here -- but there's not much else around the property.
The upper-middle-range Asclepios bills itself as a wellness center rather than a hotel, though it successfully incorporates elements of both. Located in the hills near the Central Valley town of Alajuela, it’s conveniently close to the airport but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of downtown San Jose. A full spa, fitness center, outdoor pool, and organic restaurant all lie on spacious grounds amidst a lush landscape. Every one of its 12 comfortable and stylish rooms has a different theme, and all overlook hillsides planted with coffee and sugarcane. Guests looking for a spa retreat on comfortable grounds will find it here -- but there's not much else around the property.
Arenal Paraiso Hotel Resort is situated on a large, lush expanse of greenery a 10- to 15-minute drive from La Fortuna and the famous Arenal Volcano. This three-and-a-half-pearl property offers an extensive list of resort-like amenities including a modern full-service spa, a steakhouse, and a large pool complex with more than a dozen hot spring pools. The 118 rooms offer a blend of traditional and modern with free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and volcano-view patios -- some also have whirlpool hot tubs. Still, the sprawling layout can be difficult to navigate, some of the rooms are austere, and complaints range from inadequate air-conditioning to mediocre food. The nearby Los Lagos Hotel Spa & Resort provides similarly priced accommodations with adventure-centric amenities like ziplining, a wildlife trail, and horse rentals.
Arenal Paraiso Hotel Resort is situated on a large, lush expanse of greenery a 10- to 15-minute drive from La Fortuna and the famous Arenal Volcano. This three-and-a-half-pearl property offers an extensive list of resort-like amenities including a modern full-service spa, a steakhouse, and a large pool complex with more than a dozen hot spring pools. The 118 rooms offer a blend of traditional and modern with free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, and volcano-view patios -- some also have whirlpool hot tubs. Still, the sprawling layout can be difficult to navigate, some of the rooms are austere, and complaints range from inadequate air-conditioning to mediocre food. The nearby Los Lagos Hotel Spa & Resort provides similarly priced accommodations with adventure-centric amenities like ziplining, a wildlife trail, and horse rentals.
The three-and-a-half-pearl Xandari Resort & Spa is a solid choice in the countryside, a 10-minute drive from Alajuela and 20 minutes from Juan Santamaria Airport. The decor is colorful and bold, with lots of typical tropical and hand-crafted details throughout. With its hilltop location, the resort offers great views of the surrounding mountains and volcanos from almost every room and common area. The terrace restaurant is a highlight, and there's also an open-air spa with hot tubs in every treatment room, and three outdoor pools including a hillside infinity pool. The 24 spacious rooms are bright, with local accents, and have minibars, free Wi-Fi, and furnished balconies. Check rates at Pura Vida Spa & Yoga Retreat for a similarly priced, three-and-a-half-pearl alternative with additional spa- and yoga-centric amenities.
The three-and-a-half-pearl Xandari Resort & Spa is a solid choice in the countryside, a 10-minute drive from Alajuela and 20 minutes from Juan Santamaria Airport. The decor is colorful and bold, with lots of typical tropical and hand-crafted details throughout. With its hilltop location, the resort offers great views of the surrounding mountains and volcanos from almost every room and common area. The terrace restaurant is a highlight, and there's also an open-air spa with hot tubs in every treatment room, and three outdoor pools including a hillside infinity pool. The 24 spacious rooms are bright, with local accents, and have minibars, free Wi-Fi, and furnished balconies. Check rates at Pura Vida Spa & Yoga Retreat for a similarly priced, three-and-a-half-pearl alternative with additional spa- and yoga-centric amenities.
Near the summit of Poas Volcano, the-mid range Altura Hotel provides bed-and-breakfast style lodging amid a lush rural setting. All seven rooms feature an eclectic modern-meets-rustic decor, along with free Wi-Fi, wet bars, mini-fridges, and huge windows with picturesque views of the surrounding farmland. A free hot breakfast and parking make up the short list of common amenities. However, most guests seem content to just relax around the fire pit in the outdoor garden amid the rolling landscape just minutes from Costa Rica's most popular national park. The nearby Poas Lodge and Restaurant provides similar rooms and amenities for less money.
Near the summit of Poas Volcano, the-mid range Altura Hotel provides bed-and-breakfast style lodging amid a lush rural setting. All seven rooms feature an eclectic modern-meets-rustic decor, along with free Wi-Fi, wet bars, mini-fridges, and huge windows with picturesque views of the surrounding farmland. A free hot breakfast and parking make up the short list of common amenities. However, most guests seem content to just relax around the fire pit in the outdoor garden amid the rolling landscape just minutes from Costa Rica's most popular national park. The nearby Poas Lodge and Restaurant provides similar rooms and amenities for less money.
This 11-acre, 68-room resort appeals to families with kids, couples, and travelers who prize privacy, and is centrally located 10 minutes north of town on the way to the Arenal National Park entrance. Rooms are perfectly adequate for a mid-range property, and feature wood ceilings and photographs of old La Fortuna; all have outdoor space and most have a private hot springs pool and volcano views. A public freshwater pool with swim-up bar and a hot-spring pool are also available. It may also be worth considering Arenal Kioro, where all rooms have indoor hot tubs and even better volcano views.
This 11-acre, 68-room resort appeals to families with kids, couples, and travelers who prize privacy, and is centrally located 10 minutes north of town on the way to the Arenal National Park entrance. Rooms are perfectly adequate for a mid-range property, and feature wood ceilings and photographs of old La Fortuna; all have outdoor space and most have a private hot springs pool and volcano views. A public freshwater pool with swim-up bar and a hot-spring pool are also available. It may also be worth considering Arenal Kioro, where all rooms have indoor hot tubs and even better volcano views.
The 50-room Arenal Lodge is like a summer camp in the rainforest. It offers a good likelihood of up-close-and-personal encounters with the local fauna, thanks to the daily guided tour through the hundreds of acres of trails; guests may also be greeted by friendly, hungry coatis at the front gate. Also like summer camp, however, the facilities and rooms are worn and show their age and the ravages of the elements, and the hotel is located just far enough away from the local population centers to make it inconvenient for quick pops into town. Hotel Kokoro also offers a rustic rainforest stay but with on-site hot springs and a location much closer to the town of La Fortuna -- however, its views aren't as impressive.
The 50-room Arenal Lodge is like a summer camp in the rainforest. It offers a good likelihood of up-close-and-personal encounters with the local fauna, thanks to the daily guided tour through the hundreds of acres of trails; guests may also be greeted by friendly, hungry coatis at the front gate. Also like summer camp, however, the facilities and rooms are worn and show their age and the ravages of the elements, and the hotel is located just far enough away from the local population centers to make it inconvenient for quick pops into town. Hotel Kokoro also offers a rustic rainforest stay but with on-site hot springs and a location much closer to the town of La Fortuna -- however, its views aren't as impressive.