Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Set on 80 glorious bird-filled hectares, 20 unique bungalows (including five gobsmacking tree houses) overlook a lagoon and tropical garden; additional…
Must-see hotels in Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Arenal & Around
Interior designer, massage therapist, yogi and free spirit: Johanna Harmala has combined these traits to create this inviting, inspiring retreat on the…
Chilamate Rainforest Eco Retreat
Sarapiquí Valley
Family-run and family-friendly, this inviting and innovative retreat is dedicated to protecting the environment and investing in community. Built on 20…
Sarapiquí Valley
Albergue El Socorro is a small family finca, located 1000m above sea level on a plateau surrounded by a magnificent knife’s edge of green mountains,…
Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Perched on land that becomes a virtual island in the Río Frío during the rainy season, this lodge is surprisingly upscale. Well-appointed rooms have…
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 & Northern Lowlands
Perched above Río San Carlos, ‘My Little Piece of Heaven’ is a rustic retreat, and don Marco is keeping apace with the times, paving the parking area,…
Sarapiquí Valley
Willing to forgo some creature comforts for the chance to commune with the rainforest? At Yatama, you’ll amble along wooden walkways above the forest…
Sarapiquí Valley
This former finca in Chilamate is now an elegant lodge protecting 200 hectares of rainforest. Choose to stay at the river lodge, elevated above the forest…
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 & Northern Lowlands
Fulfil your childhood fantasy with a couple of nights in an awesome treetop hideout. With solid wood construction and big windows facing the rainforest,…
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…
Sarapiquí Valley
On the edge of town and at the edge of the forest, this charming B&B is a rough-around-the-edges gem. Breakfast with the birds can't be beat, and night…
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 & Northern Lowlands
Set in an orchard of mango and citrus trees next to the ‘Chapel’ lagoon, this friendly hotel is a fisher’s and birdwatcher’s paradise. After angling for…
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…
Sarapiquí Valley
Very basic but clean rooms equipped with twin beds, bathrooms, fans and balconies overlooking the forest. Prices include meals and two daily guided hikes…
Sarapiquí Valley
About 2km north of La Virgen, this ecolodge offers bat-proof lighting and an education in environmental conservation and pre-Columbian culture. Modeled…
Tirimbina Rainforest Center & Lodge
Sarapiquí Valley
Situated 2km from La Virgen, this is a working environmental research and education center. The spacious accommodations are located at the lodge or at a…
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…
Arenal & Northern Lowlands
Seven kilometres north of Santa Rosa de Pocosol, off Hwy 35, is this opportunity to be part of rural life. This cooperative, female-driven effort took…
Sarapiquí Valley
Near La Virgen's southern end, Pozo Azul features stylish (and screened in) ‘tent suites’ scattered on the edge of the tree line, all on raised polished…
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 & Northern Lowlands
Surrounded by virgin rainforest, this outpost is legendary among birders. Basic screened rooms share large, hammock-strung verandas. It’s not fancy, but…
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…
