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4.7 out of 5

"We went there in the beginning of December. The staff in the restaurant are so sweet and accommodating. Our room was huge and had great views. I love ... " More

By a verified traveler on Tue 13 Jun 2023

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Hotel Description

Family-friendly 3-star lodge near Butterfly Conservatory

In La Fortuna

You'll be within 3 miles (5 km) of Lake Arenal and 6 miles (10 km) of Costa Rica Sky Adventures with a stay here. Butterfly Conservatory is within 6 miles (10 km) and Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park is within 9 miles (15 km).

Full-service spa, dining

A full-service spa, an outdoor pool, and a restaurant are all featured at this Colonial lodge. Bring the family and enjoy the children's pool, playground, and arcade/game room. Enjoy the spa tub and free perks like cooked-to-order breakfast and free self parking.

House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room

Bed Count 4 Queen Beds Maximum Occupancy 2 Max
$88* Per night/room Sep 22 - Sep 23

Superior Room, Mountain View

Bed Count 2 Full Beds Maximum Occupancy 4 Max

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Bed Count 2 Queen Beds Maximum Occupancy 4 Max

White Hawk Villa

Bed Count 2 King Beds Maximum Occupancy 8 Max

Phil's Villa

Bed Count 3 Queen Beds Maximum Occupancy 10 Max

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails ratings based on 10 Verified Reviews

Review Summary
4.7 out of 5 4.5 out of 5.0
Room cleanliness 5.0 out of 5.0
Service & staff 5.0 out of 5.0
Room comfort 0.0 out of 5.0
Hotel condition 4.5 out of 5.0

Guest reviews for Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

Everyone (1) Couples (1) Family (4)
5 out of 5
We went there in the beginning of December. The staff in the restaurant are so sweet and accommodating. Our room was huge and had great views. I love that there are waterfalls and hiking trails on the grounds.

Posted by on Jun 13, 2023

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5 out of 5
Loved the property and the opportunities for being outside. Wish the restaurant had lighter meal options at dinner.

Posted by on Dec 14, 2022

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5 out of 5
Very impressive property for the price. The restaurant was delicious and the on-site activities were fun.

Posted by on Dec 29, 2021

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5 out of 5

Posted by on Aug 21, 2021

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3 out of 5
I stayed here previously several years back and was disappointed. View is still fabulous, however leaf blowers, 4, creating noise pollution and fumes was horrid, they went on for over 2 hours. Having to make a reservation for the included breakfast was frustrating.

Posted by on Mar 29, 2021

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5 out of 5
Better than the pictures show! Awesome bird watching. Great breakfast. Fun trails on campus. Easy access to the town of Arenal.

Posted by on Mar 4, 2020

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Comment from Hotel Management

Mar 13, 2020 by Austin G., Public Relations Manager

Dear Valued Guest, Thank you very much for taking the time to review your recent stay at our property. We are happy to read that you found the hotel to be even nicer than the photos show :D I guess it is time to update our multimedia! We wish you the very best in your future travels and hope to have the opportunity to host you again in the future.

5 out of 5
It was very clean and the staff were great. The place was better than expected. Very relaxing and the walks on the trails were awesome.

Posted by , from Upland Ca on Feb 22, 2020

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Comment from Hotel Management

Mar 13, 2020 by Austin G., Public Relations Manager

Hola Gabriel, Thank you very much for taking the time to review your recent stay at our property. We are happy that it was better than you expected :D We always aim to exceed the expectations of our customers. We wish you the very best in your future travels and hope to have the opportunity to host you again in the future.

5 out of 5
The location is unique. The grounds expansive with so much to see on the property.

Posted by on Dec 25, 2019

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Comment from Hotel Management

Jan 3, 2020 by Austin G., Public Relations Manager

Dear Valued Guest, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent stay at our lodge. We thank you for your feedback and hope to have the pleasure of hosting you again in the future. Austin G., Public Relations Manager

5 out of 5
Beautiful environment. Very friendly and professional staff. It is a great place to stay in terms of enjoying the environment away from the urban bustle.

Posted by on Jul 7, 2019

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Comment from Hotel Management

Jul 21, 2019 by Austin G., Public Relations Manager

Dear Valued Guest, Thank you very much for taking the time to review your recent stay on our property. We are delighted that you enjoyed your time with us and hope to see you again in the future. Austin G. Public Relations Manager

4 out of 5
Location is great, very close to trails and view of the Arenal volcano mountain.

Posted by on Jun 10, 2019

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Comment from Hotel Management

Jun 20, 2019 by Austin G., Public Relations Manager

Hello THY, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent visit to our lodge. We are delighted to read that you enjoyed everything about your time here and we hope you will have the chance to return in the future. Pura Vida! Austin G. Public Relations Manager

Property Features

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails offers its guests a full-service spa, an outdoor pool, and a spa tub. There's a restaurant on site. You can enjoy a drink at the bar/lounge. Free breakfast is served daily. WiFi is free in public spaces. There are 2 meeting rooms available. A children's pool, a library, and a terrace are also featured at the family-friendly Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails. An airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and an area shuttle are available for a fee. Self parking is free. This Colonial La Fortuna lodge is smoke free.

  • 48 guestrooms or units
  • Built in 1992
  • Cooked-to-order breakfast (free)
  • Poolside lounge chairs
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front-desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Game room or arcade
  • Library
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gift shop
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Television in lobby
  • No smoking on site
  • Bar or lounge
  • Dining venue

Family Friendly Amenities

  • Family property
  • Number of outdoor pools - 1
  • Children's pool
  • Free WiFi
  • Laundry facilities
  • Playground on site

Internet

Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking

Free self parking

Transport

  • Property shuttles: Airport shuttle and area shuttle
  • Parking: Free self parking

Room Amenities

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails offers 48 accommodations with laptop-compatible safes and coffee/tea makers. Rooms open to balconies or patios. Bathrooms include showers and complimentary toiletries. Housekeeping is provided daily.

  • Private balcony or patio
  • Private outdoor space
  • Coffee maker
  • Shower
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Laptop safe
  • Toiletries (free)
  • Ceiling fan

Food & Drink

Guests are served free cooked-to-order breakfast daily from 7 AM to 9 AM.

El Jilguero - This family restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Nearby Activities

An outdoor pool, a children's pool, and a spa tub are on site.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

  • Ecotours on site
  • Hiking/biking trails on site
  • Horse riding/rental on site
  • Cave exploring/spelunking nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Hot springs nearby
  • Ziplining nearby
  • Playground on site
  • Bicycle rentals nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Boat tours nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Kayaking nearby

Spa Services

Guests can pamper themselves with a trip to the onsite spa, which has 1 treatment room. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Swedish massages, and facials. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and reflexology. The spa is open daily.

  • Number of treatment rooms 1
  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Body treatments
  • Body wraps
  • Facial treatments
  • Body scrubs
  • Aromatherapy treatments
  • Hot stone massage
  • Deep tissue massage
  • Swedish massage
  • Prenatal massage
  • Reflexology
  • Detoxification wrap
  • Massages

Accessibility

If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.

  • Wheelchair-accessible on-site restaurant
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • No elevator (single level property)
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Pool access ramp on site
  • Accessible bathroom (in select rooms)
  • Roll-in shower (in select rooms)
  • Wheelchair accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
  • In-room accessibility (in select rooms)
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible pool

Hotel Policies

Check-in

  • Check-in time starts at 3 PM
  • Check-in time ends at 10 PM
  • Minimum check-in age is: 18

Special check-in instructions:

The front desk is open daily from 7 AM - 10 PM. Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival.

The front desk at this property is open daily from 7 AM - 10 PM.
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival.

Check-out

  • Check-out by noon

Payment types

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Kids stay free! Up to 2 children 8 years old and younger stay free, per registered adult, when using existing bedding.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cribs (infant beds) are not available.

Pet Policy

  • Pets and service animals are not allowed at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

Policies

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

This property accepts credit cards and cash

This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector

Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.

A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.

Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.

This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business, or profession. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and cash. This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector in each accommodation. This property advises that enhanced cleaning and guest safety measures are currently in place. Disinfectant is used to clean the property; commonly-touched surfaces are cleaned with disinfectant between stays; bed sheets and towels are laundered at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F. Social distancing measures are in place; staff at the property wear personal protective equipment; a shield is in place between staff and guests in main contact areas; periodic temperature checks are conducted on staff; temperature checks are available to guests; guests are provided with hand sanitizer; masks are required in public areas. Enhanced food service safety measures are in place. Each guestroom is kept vacant for a minimum of 24 hours between bookings. This property affirms that it adheres to the cleaning and disinfection practices of Safe Travels (WTTC - Global).

  • Staff temperature checks are conducted regularly
  • Masks are compulsory at the property
  • Temperature checks are available to guests
  • Bed sheets and towels are washed at a temperature of at least 60°C/140°F
  • Commonly-touched surfaces are cleaned with disinfectant
  • Property confirms they are implementing guest safety measures
  • Property is cleaned with disinfectant
  • Contactless check-out is not available
  • Staff wears personal protective equipment
  • Debit cards not accepted
  • Food service has been amended for enhanced safety
  • Protective clothing is not available to guests
  • Property follows sanitization practices of Safe Travels (WTTC - Global)
  • Shield between guests and staff in main contact areas
  • Guests are provided with free hand sanitizer
  • Staffed front desk
  • Children stay free - maximum age 8
  • Social distancing measures are in place
  • Contactless check-in is not available
  • No rollaway/extra beds available
  • No cribs (infant beds) available
  • LGBTQ friendly
  • No elevators
  • Property confirms they are implementing enhanced cleaning measures
  • Smoke detector
  • Children stay free
  • Service animals not allowed
  • Individually-wrapped food options are not available
  • Number of children who can stay free - 2
  • Gap period enforced between guest stays - 24 hours

Fees

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 170.00 per vehicle (one way)

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

Hotel Names

  • Arenal Observatory Lodge La Fortuna
  • Arenal Observatory Lodge
  • Arenal Observatory La Fortuna
  • Arenal Observatory
  • Arenal Observatory Hotel La Fortuna De San Carlos
  • Arenal Observatory & Trails
  • Arenal Observatory Lodge Spa
  • Arenal Observatory Lodge Trails
  • Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails Lodge
  • Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails La Fortuna
  • Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails Lodge La Fortuna

You should know

  • Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
  • Up to 2 children 8 years old and younger stay free, per registered adult, in the same room as the parent or guardian when using existing bedding.
  • Registered guests are the only ones allowed to be in guestrooms.
  • Pets and service animals are not allowed on site.
  • This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
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Frequently Asked Questions

*Price based on the lowest price found within past 24 hours and based upon one night stay for two adults over the next thirty days. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.