I made online reservations through gocostarica (or something like that) and while I was initially a little skeptical about making a reservation that way, I had no problems whatsoever. We took a taxi (~$5) from our hotel in La Fortuna (Mayoral Lodge--awesome!) and checked in at the desk. We were given a towel and key for a locker in the... more

Perfect and relaxing, beautiful grounds....the food at dinner was great....really yummy!! We would have stayed all night if it weren't for a group of about 20 high school girls the came after we ate dinner. They were very loud and rude.....not a place for a group of unsupervised kids in my opinion. There were many couples and families trying to... more

I had no idea what to expect when we arrived for our evening visit to the hot springs at Ecotermales. We were greeted by very friendly staff and directed to the change rooms. The paths to the springs and the bar are all well maintained; the springs are laid out very nicely with several levels divided by concrete walls that... more

On my previous visit to Arenal, we hung out at the Tabacon Hot Springs, which at the time was a $15 entry fee. Having received many rave reviews the price for a day pass has escalated to somewhere north of $60. If you are staying at Tabacon, where rooms are around $200 per night, the springs are included. Seeing all... more

MY wife and I went to the Eco Termales hot springs as part of another tour. The springs are family run and admission is limited so it does not get crowded or noisy like the place across the street. There are 6 springs and the water gets hotter the higher you go. We were there in the evening and it... more

not crowded at all. the food was very, very good. extremely clean and very friendly. totally relaxing. more

This was a good experience, but not our favorite activity of our trip. They provide towels and lockers to each person. They only allow a few people in at one time, which makes it very quaint. This was nice and relaxing, but we really couldn't spend more than 1 hour here. We had dinner afterward which was nice, not the... more

Don't let the gate fool you. Just push the button and it will open to the most pleasant and relaxing experience in Costa Rica. I went with my adult son and we enjoyed it all from the pools to the food to the drinks. The atmosphere got us talking as we were chin deep in 101 degree pure water. We... more

EcoThermales is booked in 4 hour blocks, with an optional dinner (costs extra, but it's VERY good). It's a private, family owned place, the best way to make reservations is through your hotel. The number of guests is limited (I think 100 or so?), which creates a more intimate experience, but be aware that you should probably book early. I... more