The Courtyard is a mid-range Marriott property designed as a convenient modern stopover, with free airport shuttles and a decent line up of features. It's a solid overnight option for airport and business travelers seeking a smooth and easy stay pre- and post-flight, or while conducting business. Shuttles and breakfasts starting super early are a major plus for early morning departures and arrivals. Features include a fitness center, a nice pool and sun terrace, good business facilities, free Wi-Fi, and Centro restaurant and bar serving all meals. Rooms are basic but comfortable, and feature coffeemakers, mini-fridges, iPod docks, and Paul Mitchell toiletries. A major highlight is the great little strip of international eateries over the road, along with a Walgreens. Travelers seeking a little more quirk factor and a bigger pool could try the Adventure Inn.
The Courtyard is a mid-range Marriott property designed as a convenient modern stopover, with free airport shuttles and a decent line up of features. It's a solid overnight option for airport and business travelers seeking a smooth and easy stay pre- and post-flight, or while conducting business. Shuttles and breakfasts starting super early are a major plus for early morning departures and arrivals. Features include a fitness center, a nice pool and sun terrace, good business facilities, free Wi-Fi, and Centro restaurant and bar serving all meals. Rooms are basic but comfortable, and feature coffeemakers, mini-fridges, iPod docks, and Paul Mitchell toiletries. A major highlight is the great little strip of international eateries over the road, along with a Walgreens. Travelers seeking a little more quirk factor and a bigger pool could try the Adventure Inn.
A six-room motel on the sparsely populated road on the way to La Fortuna waterfall, Cerro Azul Arenal is a 10-minute drive south of La Fortuna and has commanding views of the rainforest in back and the volcano in front. Wooden-shack-style rooms are clean and have porches overlooking the rainforest, as well as AC and cable TV, but the fact that the front doors look right onto the parking lot makes it impossible to escape the feeling of a roadside motel. Still, there's plenty of rustic charm and it's hard to do much better for the price, but if a pool is a priority consider Hotel Vista del Cerro. Hotel Kokoro Arenal is sometimes only slightly pricier and has on-site hot springs.
A six-room motel on the sparsely populated road on the way to La Fortuna waterfall, Cerro Azul Arenal is a 10-minute drive south of La Fortuna and has commanding views of the rainforest in back and the volcano in front. Wooden-shack-style rooms are clean and have porches overlooking the rainforest, as well as AC and cable TV, but the fact that the front doors look right onto the parking lot makes it impossible to escape the feeling of a roadside motel. Still, there's plenty of rustic charm and it's hard to do much better for the price, but if a pool is a priority consider Hotel Vista del Cerro. Hotel Kokoro Arenal is sometimes only slightly pricier and has on-site hot springs.
This 42-room, upper-middle-range spa resort on the west side of the Arenal dam is a bit farther out from La Fortuna than most area hotels (about a 45-minute drive) but offers a stunning Bali-inspired spa building and large, well-appointed rooms overlooking the rainforest. The property also offers private trails in the rainforest as well as a pool and a big hot tub with swim-up bar -- but no hot springs (for those, consider the similarly priced Arenal Kioro Suites and Spa or the slightly pricier Tabacon).
This 42-room, upper-middle-range spa resort on the west side of the Arenal dam is a bit farther out from La Fortuna than most area hotels (about a 45-minute drive) but offers a stunning Bali-inspired spa building and large, well-appointed rooms overlooking the rainforest. The property also offers private trails in the rainforest as well as a pool and a big hot tub with swim-up bar -- but no hot springs (for those, consider the similarly priced Arenal Kioro Suites and Spa or the slightly pricier Tabacon).
Tabacon is the original and best-known resort in the Arenal Volcano area, and is deservedly famous for its 18 natural hot springs at the Tabacon spa property up the street, which are the most extensive in the region. This 102-room, eco-friendly spa resort and local institution is a sensuous Eden in a relatively remote area on the west side of the volcano, about a 20-minute drive from La Fortuna and other sights. Rooms are large, modern, and sophisticated, with beautiful rainforest (and sometimes volcano) views. There's not much local character here, though, and the springs are often crowded with day-trippers; those looking for more seclusion and luxury should consider Nayara Hotel, Spa, & Gardens or Nayara Springs, which have comparable rates to Tabacon's higher-end suites.
Tabacon is the original and best-known resort in the Arenal Volcano area, and is deservedly famous for its 18 natural hot springs at the Tabacon spa property up the street, which are the most extensive in the region. This 102-room, eco-friendly spa resort and local institution is a sensuous Eden in a relatively remote area on the west side of the volcano, about a 20-minute drive from La Fortuna and other sights. Rooms are large, modern, and sophisticated, with beautiful rainforest (and sometimes volcano) views. There's not much local character here, though, and the springs are often crowded with day-trippers; those looking for more seclusion and luxury should consider Nayara Hotel, Spa, & Gardens or Nayara Springs, which have comparable rates to Tabacon's higher-end suites.
This 10-room roadside motel is a decent place to stay for a night or two for budget travelers who don't need frills but still want to be close to La Fortuna. Its spare but clean rooms have views of the volcano (though they are partially covered by the neighboring souvenir shop) and frequently experience noise from passing traffic -- but all at a price that can't be beat. Hotel Cerro Azul has similar prices and rooms with a bit more rustic charm, but no pool. Partygoers may prefer weekend nights at Magic Mountain nearby, while those who want the hot springs, spas, and bungalow-style lodgings can try the string of hotels to the north on Route 142 -- though they start at two to three times the price.
This 10-room roadside motel is a decent place to stay for a night or two for budget travelers who don't need frills but still want to be close to La Fortuna. Its spare but clean rooms have views of the volcano (though they are partially covered by the neighboring souvenir shop) and frequently experience noise from passing traffic -- but all at a price that can't be beat. Hotel Cerro Azul has similar prices and rooms with a bit more rustic charm, but no pool. Partygoers may prefer weekend nights at Magic Mountain nearby, while those who want the hot springs, spas, and bungalow-style lodgings can try the string of hotels to the north on Route 142 -- though they start at two to three times the price.
The 24-room, mid-range Hotel Kokoro Arenal is a yoga-friendly, eco-friendly property a 10-minute drive west of La Fortuna. Rooms are dimly lit, rustic bungalows that lack Wi-Fi and might be a tad too open to the elements for the truly squeamish, but they're reasonably clean and comfortable. Those who want a similar budget bungalow-style property a little closer to town may want to look into the El Silencio del Campo or Arenal Volcano Inn, but it will be hard to beat the rates here for this caliber of property.
The 24-room, mid-range Hotel Kokoro Arenal is a yoga-friendly, eco-friendly property a 10-minute drive west of La Fortuna. Rooms are dimly lit, rustic bungalows that lack Wi-Fi and might be a tad too open to the elements for the truly squeamish, but they're reasonably clean and comfortable. Those who want a similar budget bungalow-style property a little closer to town may want to look into the El Silencio del Campo or Arenal Volcano Inn, but it will be hard to beat the rates here for this caliber of property.
This seven-room eco-resort, a scattering of rustic, sky-high treehouse bungalows, allows guests to live our their Lost Boys fantasies, and keep company with howler monkeys and tree branches. The location is securely out of the orbit of the central La Fortuna tourist hub (the town is a 40-minute drive away over bad roads), a pro for those looking for remote environs. Those who would prefer to stay closer to the ground might want to check out Leaves and Lizards on the other side of La Fortuna, for somewhat more per night.
This seven-room eco-resort, a scattering of rustic, sky-high treehouse bungalows, allows guests to live our their Lost Boys fantasies, and keep company with howler monkeys and tree branches. The location is securely out of the orbit of the central La Fortuna tourist hub (the town is a 40-minute drive away over bad roads), a pro for those looking for remote environs. Those who would prefer to stay closer to the ground might want to check out Leaves and Lizards on the other side of La Fortuna, for somewhat more per night.
The Arenal Volcano Inn is a solid mid-range choice located on the road between La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano National Park. The 25 rooms are clean and modern, with subtle touches of local charm, but not all have views of the volcano, and traffic noise is more noticeable the closer you get to the road. Those who prefer a property with hot springs on-site, lusher surrounds, and rooms with a bit more personality should consider nearby El Silencio del Campo. The Arenal Volcano Inn does offer a quality restaurant with wood-oven pizza, attractive pool and hot tub, free Wi-Fi, and a free quality breakfast with hot items. All in all, it's one of the top options for the area in this price range.
The Arenal Volcano Inn is a solid mid-range choice located on the road between La Fortuna and Arenal Volcano National Park. The 25 rooms are clean and modern, with subtle touches of local charm, but not all have views of the volcano, and traffic noise is more noticeable the closer you get to the road. Those who prefer a property with hot springs on-site, lusher surrounds, and rooms with a bit more personality should consider nearby El Silencio del Campo. The Arenal Volcano Inn does offer a quality restaurant with wood-oven pizza, attractive pool and hot tub, free Wi-Fi, and a free quality breakfast with hot items. All in all, it's one of the top options for the area in this price range.
This 66-room, mid-range bungalow resort feels like a replica of a tightly packed suburb -- and also involves jockeying with neighbors for parallel-parking spaces on its narrow lanes. It's popular with Costa Ricans, and is about a 15-minute drive from La Fortuna, but has seen better days. Its musty, worn bungalows have old tube TVs, and the views of the volcano from the grand windows are marred by the swarms of guest cars parked on the lanes outside. Guests looking for a rustic rainforest experience in this price range may prefer Hotel Kokoro Arenal, or the slightly pricier Hotel El Silencio del Campo, which has extra-hot hot springs (some guests feel the ones here aren't warm enough).
This 66-room, mid-range bungalow resort feels like a replica of a tightly packed suburb -- and also involves jockeying with neighbors for parallel-parking spaces on its narrow lanes. It's popular with Costa Ricans, and is about a 15-minute drive from La Fortuna, but has seen better days. Its musty, worn bungalows have old tube TVs, and the views of the volcano from the grand windows are marred by the swarms of guest cars parked on the lanes outside. Guests looking for a rustic rainforest experience in this price range may prefer Hotel Kokoro Arenal, or the slightly pricier Hotel El Silencio del Campo, which has extra-hot hot springs (some guests feel the ones here aren't warm enough).
It's not fancy, but this 42-room, three-floor, mid-range hotel offers clean, reasonably lit rooms, unobstructed views of both Arenal and Cerro Chato volcanoes, and quick and easy access to La Fortuna. Features include an outdoor pool with a sim-up bar and a couple of hot tubs, but those who want a full-on water park resort in the area might prefer Los Lagos. The hotel's most notable draw is the throbbingly packed weekend karaoke-dance nights at the hotel bar.
It's not fancy, but this 42-room, three-floor, mid-range hotel offers clean, reasonably lit rooms, unobstructed views of both Arenal and Cerro Chato volcanoes, and quick and easy access to La Fortuna. Features include an outdoor pool with a sim-up bar and a couple of hot tubs, but those who want a full-on water park resort in the area might prefer Los Lagos. The hotel's most notable draw is the throbbingly packed weekend karaoke-dance nights at the hotel bar.