Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
22 Km Oeste De La Fortuna De San Carlos, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 21007 Costa Rica
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About
#1 of 162 Specialty lodging in La Fortuna de San Carlos
Location
4.7
Cleanliness
4.5
Service
4.3
Value
4.2
Travelers' Choice
GreenLeaders Bronze level
Situated only 1.7 Miles from the majestic Arenal Volcano and with a spectacular view of Lake Arenal, the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa (AOL) offers guests the opportunity to DISCOVER, EXPLORE and RELAX. AOL sits on an 870 acres property and offers 48 comfortable rooms surrounded by gardens, the majority with a direct view of the volcano and/or the forest. The 7 miles of well-maintained trails for walking, horseback riding or biking running through the property provide good opportunities to observe a variety of flora and fauna. Approximately 500 species of birds live in the area making AOL a preferred destination for bird watchers. Activities at the hotel include hikes to the waterfall, horseback riding, enjoying a refreshing swim in our pool, or simply relaxing with a massage in our spa. Arenal Observatory Lodge is the perfect place for adventure lovers, families, and honeymooners. With its spectacular location, great service, and friendly personnel you won't be disappointed.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Pool
Free breakfast
Game room
Hiking
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Kids pool
Secured parking
Wifi
Hot tub
Pool / beach towels
Pool with view
Outdoor pool
Shallow end in pool
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Breakfast buffet
Happy hour
Kids' meals
Special diet menus
Wine / champagne
Horseback riding
Canoeing offsite
Patio
Table tennis
Walking tours
Highchairs available
Shuttle bus service
Spa
Body wrap
Couples massage
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Head massage
Massage
Neck massage
Concierge
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun deck
Sun loungers / beach chairs
Sun terrace
First aid kit
Laundry service
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Room features
Housekeeping
Interconnected rooms available
Private balcony
Safe
Clothes rack
Laptop safe
Coffee / tea maker
Bath / shower
Tile / marble floor
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Room types
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Park View
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Hotel links
Location
22 Km Oeste De La Fortuna De San Carlos, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 21007 Costa Rica
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2786Reviews78Q+A100Room tips
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Great hike with great up close views of the volcano. A nice museum to learn the history of the volcano and the lodge. Well worth the entry fee. We spent around 4-5 hours here. All trails were well marked. To end the hike we stopped at the restaurant for a refreshing beverage. Great service.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip: Road to resort is dirt at times but very doable.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Property's Favorite Review
While the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is not easily accessible and will take you a 30 minutes car ride from the next city, it is well worth the journey. You are far away from mass tourism and situated directly next to Arenal Volcano and surrounded by nature. The property is well kept and you can wander through the lush gardens and adjacent jungle. Trails are in very good condition and you will be able to discover a plethora of plants, flowers, and animals all around you. The hotel rooms are simple, but have everything you need. A small balcony with a great view, strong WIFI signal, showers with excellent water pressure! Keep in mind that the rooms do not have TV nor air-condition. I recommend sleeping with your windows open and get the full wildlife experience. You will be awoken by the birds in the early morning, which is the perfect time to get up and catch a glimpse of the exotic animals. The outdoor pool has a decent size and you will be able to spot monkeys in the nearby trees. The sunset from the restaurant deck is breathtaking. Words cannot describe it which is why I am adding a photo. The restaurant has delicious food and drinks and a well-priced happy hour. Breakfast was also more than solid, so being away from everything else was not an issue. I can highly recommend this property if you enjoy the luxury and tranquility of nature to unwind and relax.…
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Date of stay: September 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
6 Helpful votes
Helpful
+1
We stayed here for 3 nights with our 2 sons aged 10 & 8 in mid September. The drive to the lodge is via a very long, gravelled road which I would advise is best to first approach in daylight. The scenery is incredible & the volcano is simply awesome! There are plenty of trails to access, wildlife to be seen & the complimentary morning tour was really appreciated. For nature lovers this place is a must as you can’t take a step on this property without seeing something new. The property is quite isolated which some people will love but we found quite restricting. The drive into La Fortuna was over 30mins away & there are some excellent food/drink choices as well as tours to visit there. The restaurant was great with decent food & breakfast included in the stay. The staff in the restaurant were brilliant! They were really good with our kids & nothing too much trouble. A special mention to Pablo, Howard & Ulvado (I hope I have got your names right) who were friendly, helpful & patiently listened to the boys talking football with them. They are an asset to the AOL team. The not so great bit, unfortunately, was the team at the reception & our walk guide who didn’t seem as enthusiastic to make our stay special. At times, we felt like an inconvenience. The receptionist missed some important details - parking card for our car, the water is drinkable from the tap - & didn’t ask if we needed any help with luggage simply pointing in the direction of the room which we were left to find. The guide was informative & clearly knows a lot about wildlife but lacked the ability to connect with his visitors. Neither party ruined our stay but just not as friendly or as enthusiastic as other places we have visited in Costa Rica. Lastly, there is no air conditioning in the room. It can get really hot in your room, there are lots of bugs & the fan is pretty noisy. We did find it hard to sleep at night. However, the room is really clean & the shower is great!…
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
Always a great place for birding and lounging. Rooms are very clean and comfortable. No need for ac.....even if it's hot outside the ceiling fan was enough for us at night. The view of the Volcano was stunning! Food and drinks were top notch. Flower gardens are wonderful and so many birds!!! By far my favorite spot in Costa Rica!
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
This was one of the highlights of our trip--our room was gorgeous, the grounds are amazing, the food and service delightful (shout out to Genesis!) She was the best, smiling and helpful when ordering. You can communicate in English with her, I promise was the sweetest waitress. Ask for her! The trails and waterfall are gorgeous. The nature walk was incredible--we saw monkeys birds, cotis, snakes, frogs--this was an incredible experience.
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Date of stay: September 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Enjoy the happy hour
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
The location of this lodge is excellent with stunning views of the Volcano. The rooms were spacious, well-maintained, and of exceptional value. The restaurant's food was excellent and reasonably priced. The lodge is secluded from the main town- which gives it a private and exclusive feel. We saw a lot of beautiful birds ( Toucans, Curacao, etc.), families of coatis, and herds of spider monkeys in the trees near the reception. The staff were also helpful and professional. One cannot ask for more.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
We stayed two weeks at 4 different lodges in La Fortuna and this one we stayed at for the wildlife and bird sitings. A major disappointment in the bird department=only 7 varieties and according to our guide most of the birds are not coming in since their is fruit on the trees at this time of year. I do have other issues=Beds are crazy hard, we paid alot to have a lake Arenal view and yes you could see it thru all the telephone wires and posts but you would not want to take a picture with all of that in front of the lake. Rooms nearby noisy with kids yelling and screaming. Food was not bad but lacking in flavor and taste-the waitstaff was under staffed but they were very nice and friendly and professional. The WORST was that we had arranged for a taxi to take us to the next Lodge which was wonderful and it was not arranged apparently since the guy was 40 minutes late-did not come in a taxi but a private car-his name was Ezekel the driver and I believe the front desk just called his friend to come and make extra money on the side. Every time we asked the front desk guy what the hold up was he said accident in town delay then he is almost here, he is at the front gate entrance. According to Ekezel there was no accident downtown so being LIED to is another reason I will not return as we have tried 8 different places in town and LOVE their service and food. …
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: Much better places available with better services and hot springs
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Nestled amidst the verdant landscapes of Costa Rica, our family's stay at the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails felt like stepping into a scene from classic films such as "Shining" and "Dirty Dancing". The lodge's ambiance, with its well-paved trails, evoked the charm of Argentinian pampas and Swiss pastures, making every stroll a delight. The environment around the lodge is truly captivating, and the meticulous care with which the lodge is maintained is evident in every corner. Every aspect, from the pristine condition of the property to the impressive attention to detail, speaks of the staff's dedication. The culinary offerings, spanning from breakfast to dinner, catered beautifully to our palates. Moreover, waking up to the mesmerizing views outside our room added a touch of magic to our mornings. For those who find solace in nature, the trails, well-maintained and thoughtfully designed, are a true delight. However, no stay is without its quirks. We did miss the comfort of an air-conditioned room, especially during the warmer times. The room's ventilator, though perhaps effective, was loud enough at its highest setting to disturb our sleep and gave a sense that the room might just take off! The requirement of reserving our meals beforehand added a layer of planning that some might find inconvenient. Prospective visitors should also note the absence of a supermarket on the premises and be prepared. The lodge's remote setting, with a rugged terrain suitable mostly for 4WD vehicles, does make accessibility a bit of a challenge. Lastly, a word of caution for those venturing out: our experience at a nearby cafe was marred when our sandwiches arrived with mold; the lack of an apology when they were replaced left a bit to be desired.…
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip: A word of caution for those venturing out: our experience at a nearby cafe was marred when our...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
What can I say. This is a must if you are staying in the Arenal area. The staff was amazing. Starting with the waiters at the restaurant. Very welcoming, helpful and always smiling. Not to mention the food was incredible. The cleaning staff kept our room spotless and attended to our needs. And last the staff at reception. Everytime I had a question they always had an answer. They helped us arrange our excursions and transportation which was a big help. The grounds are absolutely amazing with monkeys, coatis and many different types of birds. You can hike to a waterfall, visit a frog pond and have an amazing view of Arenal volcano right there.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: We recommend the night hike and make sure you leave time to enjoy the resort.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
+1
I cannot say enough good things about AOL. The opportunities to observe and be a part of nature are everywhere . The surroundings are breathtaking. We saw toucans and monkeys right from our room. My favorite was the hike to the waterfall on the hotel property and the red eyed tree frog we found on our tour of the grounds with Eduardo. Equally impressive was the staff. They made us feel so welcome from the moment we arrived. The front desk reception, restaurant cooks and waiters, groundskeeping, housekeeping, drivers, and tour guide all were amazing and obviously take great pride in their work. I also appreciate all the efforts the hotel puts in to conservation and respect for the environment. My kids loved the pool and hot tub. The place is a nature lovers dream vacation. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be away from the crowd and experience pure nature in a beautiful, welcoming environment. Pura Vida is right here! Mucho Gracias, AOL. Our family made wonderful memories at your lodge.…
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Traveled with family
Room Tip: Make sure to hike to the waterfall! It is tucked away in the jungle and so magical. Smithsonian...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Helpful
Not the right property for you?
There are more places to choose from in the La Fortuna de San Carlos area.
PRICE RANGE
$98 - $148 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
arenal observatory hotel la fortuna de san carlos
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of AlajuelaArenal Volcano National ParkLa Fortuna de San Carlos
NUMBER OF ROOMS
50
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Claim Your ListingARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & TRAILS $109 ($̶4̶8̶7̶) - Updated 2023 Prices & Reviews - Costa Rica/Arenal Volcano National Park
Frequently Asked Questions about Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails
Which popular attractions are close to Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Nearby attractions include Bogarin Trail (4.6 miles), Arenal Oasis Wildlife Refuge (3.8 miles), and Butterfly Conservatory - Arenal (3.4 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Yes, free parking and secured parking are available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Conveniently located restaurants include Tiquicia Restaurant, Essence Arenal Restaurant, and Chifa La Familia Feliz.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Does Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish.
Does Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the mountain view available here.
Is Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access, reduced mobility rooms, and facilities for disabled guests. For specific inquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.