Arenal Observatory Lodge

Our stay has been incredible. Our room is clean and has a fantastic view of the Arenal volcano. We visited in November when the rain is on and off and the volcano comes out for little bits of time but we’ve been able to see the full thing at times. Our kids are having an amazing time with the pool and seeing all of the animals. The restaurant is great and the servers are all so friendly and great with kids. It is a little more expensive than I expected but I’m glad breakfast is included. It includes continental and a full dish. Great time for the famiky

Highlights: dining was much better than expected on site and staff in the restaurant was very kind! Decent hiking options on the property. The room was fine. The view of the volcano was perfect - we were worried August being rainy we'd have issues but no! We had a weird situation where our Do Not Disturb sign was ignored and staff came into our room to swap art? Front desk staff did not care that it felt like an invasion. The grounds were well maintained, but sadly the pool wasn't working during our stay. Side note: several local tour companies said the location of the hotel was going to cost extra for pickups and drop offs, so we were charged more in some situations by those companies

A truly beautiful location (seems easy to do around here!) in a very special rainforest. The service was incredible from every employee, particularly in the restaurant where we interacted with staff the most. The trails around the hotel are a delight and must-see, but you will see so many birds and monkeys just from the restaurant and observation deck! We were lucky our first day to see Arenal clear up and get some sunshine; the rest of the 3 night stay was very rainy but worth it 100%. It is a rainforest so expect some rain and wear clothes that are quick-drying! You may need layers of it gets slightly cooler. But the rooms are very comfortable and the staff are all incredibly accommodating! Thank you all for making the visit so special, it is a rare thing to get to go to places like this but it will stay with me forever. ¡pura vida! 💚

Great location! I spent a night here but I think at least 2 nights would have been better. You have an amazing view of Arsenal Volcano (when the clouds clear) from the main lodge area with a viewing deck. While the room was spacious, it did get warm in the evening and the vocal wildlife took some getting used to (keep that in mind if you're a light sleeper). There was no AC but after opening a netted window slightly, the room cooled down. The staff was very welcoming and friendly - right from reception to the dining room. Dinner was satisfying with some well cooked dishes. Breakfast was okay - I felt the sections were limited. My two highlights were The Nest and The Spa. If you're okay with heights, you must climb the nest to get a legit 360 panoramic view of your surroundings (including Arenal). The platform shakes slightly with movement and wind but it's totally secure. From there, I saw a clear view of Arenal, the lake, and many monkeys on the trees around. The wildlife is rich with many species of unique birds wondering around the area. The Spa was an absolute delight. I enjoyed the "tired legs" massage so much that I booked another relaxation massage the same day. The setting is very, very inviting - a cozy room away from the lodge that opens up to the forests, the sounds of nature, and rain falling around you. The masseuse, Carolina was excellent! You can walk up to the spa or drive your car around to its dedicated parking. If I had another day at the lodge, I would have taken some of the nature trails, explored the adjacent national park, and just explored/relaxed at the property. WiFi was strong. When do you get clear views of the volcano? Mornings tend to have a better chance. It was visible the previous day at sunset as well.

Over-priced and over-hyped. We walked all of the trails - they were very dull compared to others in the area as they are mostly farm tracks and we saw very little wildlife. We had lunch at the restaurant with friends who were staying at the hotel (they were unimpressed by the lack of AC and the tired room) and the food was ok but the service was poor given the high price. The observation deck was cool but there are lots of other places that have an equally good view of the Arenal volcano and much better wildlife. I’m genuinely bemused by some of the gushing 5 star reviews - perhaps folks who haven’t travelled much outside the US or seen what else is available in the area ….🤷‍♂️

Great spot in middle of park! Views of arenal were incredible. The entire staff was super friendly - Genesis, Grace, Howard, Daniel, Junior, Maria and everyone else. The restaurant serves reliable food (with breakfast included) though a little pricey but leaving the premises with this view is hard to do. In the morning you can see all types of birds including toucans! You can set up tours through the hotel too. There are several trails across the property with a few waterfalls. Highly recommend Observatory Lodge.

I’m a wedding photographer in Costa Rica, and Arenal Observatory Lodge is truly one of my favorite places for engagement sessions, family photos, elopements, and intimate weddings. What makes this lodge so special is that every trail offers a breathtaking view. The property is filled with incredible scenery: direct views of the Arenal Volcano, lush forest, a small pond perfect for reflections, mountains, charming hanging bridges, beautiful gardens, and even a waterfall. Every corner feels unique. It’s good to keep in mind that, depending on the area, some paths require only a short walk while others involve more hiking, but every step is absolutely worth it. And if the volcano happens to be covered in clouds, don’t worry — there’s always so much more to see and enjoy. If you’re dreaming of a photo session surrounded by nature and stunning landscapes, this lodge should be at the top of your list. Pura vida, Joice Dahianna

We had a wonderful 3-night stay at Arenal Observatory Lodge. The grounds are beautiful, with many trails, one of them leading to a beautiful waterfall. |I had received an email the morning before our arrival, letting me know that there would be a $100 deposit per night, however, when we arrived, I was asked for $200/night. I showed the girl the message i had gotten a few hours before, and she said "it has now changed". Though frustrating, we knew the deposit would be released at the end of our stay, so it was no big deal.|We spent time on the deck outside the restaurant, watching the monkeys jump from tree to tree, watching toucans on the branches, and watching hummingbirds and other birds feeding on the bird feeder. We also waited for the clouds to clear for a good view of the volcano but we didn't get to see it. It was partially covered in clouds most of the time, and one day you couldn't even see it due to the torrential nonstop rain. We loved the partial view that we got on the day we arrived, and the afternoon of our last day there.|The room was spacious and comfortable, with a balcony with views of the volcano. There was a lot of room around the sink for toiletries. The staff paid attention to details. |Our stay included a complimentary morning nature walk. It was cloudy and it rained during our walk, but we did get to see a toucan, and a viper. The guide gave us information on some of the plants on the grounds and some of the history.|We also paid for a night tour. It was $45/person. Thankfully it did not rain during that walk, and we got to see a few creatures, a couple of snakes, some birds, but the highlight was the frogs. There's also a complimentary tractor ride, but we didn't take advantage of that during our stay.|The breakfast was excellent. Fresh pineapple and papaya, toast, banana bread, and you can order french toast, pancakes, omelettes, and more.|We had dinner at the on-site restaurant all nights. We enjoyed most of the dishes.|We used the jacuzzi one night; there are changing rooms adjacent to it. We got the towels from the reception.|There's a very small museum on-site, just a room really, but good info on the history of the area.|We drove to La Fortuna for the Fortuna Waterfall, a coffee & chocolate tour, a sloth tour and some souvenir shopping. We also drove to Arenal Volcano National Park, which is only 15-20 minutes away, and hiked a few trails there.|Would I stay here again? Depends on whether i find a good deal!