Arenal & Around
Interior designer, massage therapist, yogi and free spirit: Johanna Harmala has combined these traits to create this inviting, inspiring retreat on the…
Must-see hotels in Arenal & Around
Arenal & Around
Part resort lodge, part organic farm, Rancho Margot is 61 hectares of cinematic loveliness, set along the rushing Río Caño Negro and surrounded by…
Arenal & Around
About 22km west of the dam, this lovely, laid-back lodge overlooks a magnificent 58m ceiba tree. Seven spacious Spanish-tile rooms are hung with original…
La Fortuna
What makes this gem of a guesthouse so special? It’s the paradisiacal setting, 2km from town. The luscious tiled pool and Jacuzzi are surrounded with…
La Fortuna
Bordering the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños, this special place started as a spice farm then blossomed into an ecolodge. It’s a pretty impressive amalgam of…
Arenal & Around
About 15.5km east of Nuevo Arenal, the cottages, pool and restaurant at La Mansion enjoy amazing lake views. The large split-level rooms feature king-size…
Arenal & Around
This country inn 2km east of Nuevo Arenal is an all-round winner, offering epic views and unparalleled hospitality. Rooms feature bright serape bedspreads…
Arenal & Around
Perched on a 22-hectare hilltop with incredible volcano and lake views, this boutique hostel is the best cheap sleep in the region. Bed down in a basic…
Arenal & Around
Set on a rainforest lagoon 3km west of Nuevo Arenal, the five blissfully isolated bungalows at the Lucky Bug feature works and decorative details by local…
La Fortuna
On a private reserve that abuts the Bosque Eterno de Los Niños, this place includes an organic farm and fishing ponds (catch and cook!). Explore on hiking…
Arenal & Around
Here’s an invitation to relax and reconnect – with nature, your body and your breath. Comfortable, colorful rooms have Spanish-tile floors, woven…
La Fortuna
Nine cute, shingled cabins face the parking lot but back up to the forest, with private porches overlooking the trees. A 200m trail leads to the rushing…
La Fortuna
This intimate and indulgent hotel, 6km west of town, has amassed a slew of awards for its Asian-inspired architecture, minimalist decor and richly…
La Fortuna
Located just 3.5km from the center of La Fortuna but surrounded by vegetation and wildlife, this place is truly an oasis. The accommodations are in dark…
La Fortuna
Here’s a chance to luxuriate in some high-end amenities (Apple TV and Netflix, for example) at budget prices. We’re talking high-thread-count sheets and…
Arenal & Around
This stylish and splashy resort, just 1.5km from the dam, is set among lush rainforest and rushing streams with glorious views at every turn. Luxurious…
La Fortuna
A smart, modern property on the edge of the Río Burio. This location combines the convenience of town with the rusticity of the forest – meaning lovely…
Arenal & Around
The sound of the rushing river will lull you to sleep at this intimate B&B on the banks of the Río Cote. This gorgeous property is designed for total…
La Fortuna
This lovely lodge about 5km west of town has 23 stand-alone cabins that are luxurious without being showy. The property’s pièce de résistance, though, is…
Parque Nacional Volcán Arenal
High on the Arenal slopes, this sprawling lodge is the only accommodation in the national park. Rooms range from La Casona’s rustic doubles without…
La Fortuna
The rooms at this rather grown up hostel are done in whites and beiges, and the courtyard is lush, lovely and strung with hammocks. Guests are invited to…
La Fortuna
The snazziest joint on the rustic road toward La Fortuna waterfall, this walled complex initially seems like a gated community. Once inside, you’ll see…
Arenal & Around
South of El Castillo, the highlight here is the spectacular, spring-fed infinity pool overlooking Laguna de Arenal. Lodge-like cabins are simple – tiled…
La Fortuna
Named for the nearby mountain formation (indio dormido), this delightful 2nd-storey guesthouse's five sweet fan-cooled rooms have lofty ceilings, tile…
La Fortuna
Perched high above the Catarata Río Fortuna, this ‘wellbeing resort’ is great for birders and frog-lovers – especially with a naturalist on hand to point…
La Fortuna
'Quiet, clean and cheap,' said one guest, and the prices are indeed pretty sweet. Books, a chess set and groovy red couches populate the common area; the…
Arenal & Around
This eight-room lodge overlooks Laguna de Arenal, and has a stone swimming pool, and Jacuzzi. It must be rented out entirely – no individual rooms…
La Fortuna
The original hostel-resort in La Fortuna, this self-proclaimed ‘five-star hostel’ with volcano views is pretty cushy. Sleep on orthopedic mattresses and…
Arenal & Around
You’d never know it from the street, but these rooms are rather sweet, spotless and spacious wood-cabin-like constructions with lovely lake views and…
Arenal & Around
Set amid a blooming, bird-filled garden in Tronadora, here you’ll find a handful of comfy cabinas, each with high ceilings, polished concrete floors,…
La Fortuna
With all the budget ‘resorts’ in town, it’s refreshing to find a charming, old-fashioned, family-run inn, where facilities are basic but staff are always…
La Fortuna
The old Bromelia Hotel, right off the main square, features two dozen smart rooms, most with terraces overlooking the pool. You might not want a room…
La Fortuna
The big-gun Central American hostel chain's locale in La Fortuna offers the 'bubble option' some seek: with everything at hand, you never have to leave…
Arenal & Around
Situated 500m before town, when coming from Nuevo Arenal, this hillside property has 12 rooms with tiled floors, whitewashed walls and new bathrooms…
La Fortuna
A darling family-owned property, 9km west of town. Canary-yellow wooden bungalows have vaulted beamed ceilings, two queen beds, lovely drapes and…
La Fortuna
Resembling a gated suburban community, this lodging has sidewalks winding through perfectly manicured lawns, connecting the red-tile-roof bungalows and…
La Fortuna
You can admire Arenal from every single colorful cabina at this riverside property 11km from La Fortuna: take it in from a seat on your private patio, or…
Arenal & Around
Here you’ll find huge, bright, spotless and spacious rooms, with plain decor but fabulous vistas from the picture windows. The top-floor rooms catch a…
La Fortuna
Set at the base of Cerro Chato and surrounded by forest, this place is ideal if you want to get away from it all (but not too far away; you’re still just…
La Fortuna
Set up around a pebbled pool area and shady palm garden, rooms are spacious with high slanted ceilings and crisp white paint. Located on a quiet side…
