Hotel Arenal Lodge

8.4

Excellent

969 Guest reviews

8.4

Excellent

969 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness8.4/10

Service8.8/10

Comfort7.8/10

Condition7.8/10

location7.2/10

Neighborhood8.6/10

Value7.4/10

Amenities8.4/10

This is a gem. Spacious, comfortable rooms with a stunning view from the balcony. Lush grounds with jungle trails. Infinity pool, pool table, games. Lovely restaurant with a varied menu and gorgeous view of Arenal Lake and Volcano. A welcome change from the sterile all inclusive vibe. Authentic Costa Rican experience.

The hotel needs a complete renovation Its not even close to 1 star

It is an older era quaint property and if you can accept that you will enjoy! Our family played at the pool table one night and had so much fun! It has beautiful private grounds, helpful staff and had a gorgeous view of the volcano from our room. Definitely need a 4x4 car to traverse the steep windy driveway in (there are signs that say “halfway there, trust” lol) but worth it as so private but so close to Fortuna!

Incredible view of Arenal!

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Absolutely gorgeous property!

We were thoroughly disappointed with our stay at Arenal Hotel Lodge. The only positive aspect was the friendly staff. However, everything else was outdated and poorly maintained. The furniture was stained beyond repair, making it unappealing to use two of the sofas in our room. The food was terrible, and the hotel’s location made it difficult to access outside food, requiring a two-hour journey. Getting to the hotel from the main road was an excruciating 15-minute drive on a very slopped and crapy road. By the time you finally arrived at your room, you will be so exhausted and not willing to descend again. Overall, we were very disappointed with this place.

Beautiful quaint hotel. "Old world, colonial" feel. Nestled in the mountains, stunning volcano view. Challenging access road for late arrival

Dark, Dank, & Dangerous.

Worst experience in Costa Rica. Nasty and uninviting. No view. Lamp globes full of dead bugs. Horrible shower with steps. Asked for a different room. No one even responded. Entrance not drivable. So much more that otels.com won't print

I would recommend this property to everyone! This was a great experience. We will be back

The hotel and staff were great, it was very quiet and a great view of the volcano. Little further out from town but worth it if you want a quieter stay.

Scenic views

Scenic views of lake, sunrise, volcano; location were amazing! Don’t miss the birds at breakfast. I like the location because it was quiet and a short drive to the Arenal National Park. The room was very clean and comfortable, plenty of blankets, pillows, and towels. The kitchen was nice. Restaurant was excellent.

Super cool hotel. The entry drive is pretty crazy at first and it takes a while to get to the hotel up the mountain, but once you are up there - WOW! Nice place with a nostalgic feel. Really enjoyed visiting with my family and will be back again! Thank you

Beautiful area. Views are amazing. Walking from our room to the lodge in the dark was difficult. Could use some small lights to light the path.

Incredible gardens and when the skies clear, the most beautiful view of Arenal!

Beautiful property up in the clouds. On clear days you can see the lake. Staff was excellent, front desk was very helpful with recommendations and best ways to see the area. The property is well kept for its age. The major draw back is the road to the property is rough especially at night. There was absolutely no lighting for 2 km until you get up to the property itself

Quite and serene place in the middle of the rain forest. Spotted a family of white nose coaties. Large family suite was great.

The property was nice. I liked the hot tubs and pool for the kids. The restaurant was convenient and loved the included breakfast. The staff would leave fruit scraps out for the birds in the morning and it was lovely to watch the birds at breakfast.

The property was amazing! It’s in a quiet and beautiful location with stunning views of Arenal Volcano and the rainforest. It really felt like a peaceful escape into nature.

We had a quick stay here so didn't get to enjoy many of the amenities. But the hot tub was nice and the restaurant food really good. Our rooms was charming. The only drawback was a huge rain storm overnight. We could understand hearing the rain on the roof, but there was something banging from the wind that kept us up a bit. Otherwise the hotel is in a great location to everything.

It was very quiet and beautiful, and the staff were kind and helpful. The room was a good size and it was nice having a seating area at the front patio. However, the room was dark and there was no fan in the bathroom, so our room felt damp alot of the time.

The property is beautiful the view of el arenal is gorgeous. The drive up to the actual hotel is pretty wild especially at night it felt so scary through the dark winding road like if you were in a Jurassic Park movie. During the day the ride was much more manageable but definitely not for an unseasoned driver. We came during dry season yet there was a lot of rain making the drive scarier. However the view and property ambience was worth it. Property could use some extra amenities to make it top notch, specifically you can hear every creak through the walls and floors. Overall our family had a very nice time. The staff at the restaurant was lovely. Pura vida!

The jungle trail on the property was great. We saw a lot of wildlife and plants. The food at the lodge was very good and breakfast included was delicious. We stayed in the Chalet and had amazing views. Overall the property was great but highly recommend checking in during the day due to the 2km drive off the main road to the property.

Arenal lodge is much further than the main town of La Fortuna so transporting is harder. Most tour companies charge extra to pick/drop from this location. The rooms are outdated and we also felt like there were some unnatural activity like ghosts on the property. One of the nights we stayed, we kept hearing the doors slamming and stomping upstairs. The doors were not visibly slamming so not sure what was going on. We also heard people talking at night but there weren't any additional guests in the area we were staying at. The second night, thankfully, it wasn't so bad. Otherwise, the property is very nice, there is a jungle trail which honestly was so much fun to explore. The reception guy in the AM was very helpful, the guy in the PM was not.

It's a nice lodge just to get there from the entrance it's s a bit difficult.

The drive up to the hotel is very long, windy, and not in the best condition. Friendly staff and rooms have amazing view of the volcano. Complimentary breakfast and free WiFi.

Property is ok, a bit old but the access is very inconvenient.

Beautiful view of the volcano. Great Pina coladas.

Location needs to be remolded.

The views are spectacular. I wasn’t expecting to be able to look out of my window and have such a clear view of the volcano. It was really amazing. We did not have hot showers during our stay and that was the only downfall. The front desk staff said that it was not a normal occurrence.

EXTREMELY UNDERRATED SPOT!!! soooo beautiful! the only thing is specific rooms are farther away from the main lounge area or pool/hot tub spots. apart from that, hidden gem!

A little hard to get to. Beautiful view, if no rain (unfortunately there was down pouring when I was there). Kind of remote place.

Perfect

Perfect location, amazing room, amazing staff

Perfect

Perfect location, amazing room, amazing staff

This hotel was definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Costa Rica. The staff were incredibly nice and would check up with us whenever we ran into them. They were extremely accommodating to our needs and also helped us plan different activities. Overall amazing stay but just keep in mind that walking up the road to the hotel is intense and you should probably have some sort of transportation going up!

Beautiful property with Lake and Volcano views (weather permitting ;) and restaurant (many selections), pool, hot tubs and trails, gym, lobby (with garden and games). Up/down a winding road, we rarely drove after dark. Helpful front desk, especially the gentleman with (grey?) glasses, who connected our young family with a lovely zipline and hot springs experience. Would stay again! Possibly closer to amenities in rainy season.

"Aerenal Lodge is a true gem! Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, it's a paradise on earth. The lush greenery, serene atmosphere, and warm hospitality make it a standout destination. So far, it's been my best stay among all my vacations - a perfect blend of relaxation and rejuvenation. The attention to detail, comfort, and amenities are top-notch. I feel grateful to have experienced this little slice of heaven. If you're looking for a tranquil retreat, look no further than Aerenal Lodge - it's a nature lover's dream come true!

Property sits in a very quiet area. Away from the city. I enjoyed the stay even though we had a few hiccups with the AC leaking. It caused the floor to have lots of water I almost slipped. Told front desk and response was “make sure the doors and windows are closed while AC is on and don’t put at a low temperature.” Okay.

The staff was amazing and the property was beautiful, albeit aged. Be aware of a long (1 mile) twisty ascent on a mostly paved road to the lodge.

Property was safe, relaxing and quiet and had a new view to the volcano.

This lodge is a resort. Beautiful views of Arenal Volcano. Restaurant available all day. The food is delicious and the prices are very reasonable.

View was amazing

The room door did not close from the inside, you had to use the key to close the door; the bathroom door did not close. The view was amazing!!

Nice area , beautiful views, restaurant five stars, stuff was very helpful, our room, had bugs and little dirty, there was a leaking in the room

A must see!

The hotel was amazing along with the staff. The grounds and views were beautiful! An authentic beautiful place. The view from our junior suite was the best I’ve seen in Costa Rica. And the massages in the spa were fantastic.

Vert eco friendly.

Great stay.

We loved the trails, restaurant and most definitely the chalet. The window view of the volcano was incredible. No one told us we needed a ticket fir check-out. The gentleman at the gate, only do his job, refused to let us leave. It was 545 in the morning. No one was available to tell him to let us out. I ended up getting mad and he let us go. It was sad that our goodbye was like that. The front desk should have told us. Poor guy was just doing his job.

beautiful properties

Beautiful property and very nice staff.

The thing that is unique about this property is it's view of Volcan Arenal. I first visited Arenal Lodge approx 16 years ago. My last visit prior to yesterday was 14 years ago. Upon my arrival at the front gate yesterday yesterday, I was looked at and then "ignored" by the gate guard as he turned his back to me for couple minutes without saying anything. I didn't know if I was supposed to get out of my car or not. He finally turned around and asked me to verify my name. I then began my trip up the winding road to the lodge and after 15 min or so I realized that I did not remember how long the drive into the lodge was. And the road was incredibly poor with holes and dislodged cobble stones. I was thinking how easy it would be for my rental car to become damaged in some manner because of the condition of the road. I honestly felt like I should have been in a jeep or a truck. There was only one other patron there on the day of my stay and they were put in the "same" chalet as I was which eliminated the privacy that I could have experienced. The rest of the staff was polite and helpful for the most part. Breakfast in the morning was marginal but suitable. For what I was charged for a night's stay after the issues that I experienced really diminished the wonderful memories that I have thought about in the past 14 years since my previous visits.

The view to this hotel is amazing Volcano view for pic beautiful but is located in a very uncomfortable hill need to be in a 4x4 to get here. Very peaceful hotel ecofriendly environment.

The property facilities could be improved, including room painting, furniture, lighting, and food quality.

Nice hotel, excellent views of the arenal volcano!

Great staff and service. Distance is a little far from LA Fortuna, but there is a lot to do on the property, and it is not too much trouble if you have a rental car already!

My family love the hotel, thank you guys!

If you’re looking to be in nature this is the right place to be. You can definitely enjoy the fresh air a good walk in the morning with the sound of the birds. Enjoy a good swim in the pool with a breathtaking view of the volcano. The staff is very nice.

The view is amazing! Quiet and woodsy. Well worth the short drive from town to get out of the congestion and noise.

It was remote with beautiful grounds. Horseback riding onsite was a highlight of our vacation. Friendly staff and good included breakfast. A bumpy, twisty 15-minute drive to leave the property so we only went in and out once a day.

Could’ve had more things to do or better food options and quality.

The staff at the hotel was very friendly, and the food was excellent. We really enjoyed the Casado with chicken, one of the local dishes. The beef meals were also very good. Desserts, the coconut flan and brownie with ice cream, were fantastic. Exceptional view of the volcano and there are tons of birds on property. We really enjoyed seeing them when eating and around the pool. Rooms were clean with air conditioning, and lots of amenities.

Chalet gives an AMAZING view of the Arenal mtn

The lodge is in on the mountain, so be prepared for a 2 km drive up to the lodge on rough road. It is 35 min from Fortuna Town, so account for additional time. The room itself was very good and views from the lodge are stunning. Breakfast was ok for vegetarians. Overall a good hotel, nice pool and jacuzzi.

Great 1 night stay in a beautiful lodge in forest

The lodge itself is beautifully placed amidst the cloud forests of Arenal. Lovely views from the top and all over the well maintained property. Very pristine and spiritual feeling. Staff was very courteous and welcoming, the restaurant has great views over their infinite pool. Even though we only had one night stay, a walk around the whole property gave a very good feeling of being in a forest. If you want great views from the top of the mountain choose Chalet rooms, we had a family room which was two bedrooms setup and living room. I would have given 5 star, it’s an 4 star only because of the access road which could be better maintained and paved, it will make it so much easier to reach there. But then many roads in Costa Rica are known for giving you the CR massage and the country is going thru a huge construction boom. Overall great stay !

Great place, nice breakfast, great view of the volcano, friendly staff, 2km uphill from the entrance to the lodge

Please see above.

Amazing stay, outstanding breakfasts!

We stayed in the older part of the hotel and while the view was amazing, the walls were paper thin. You could hear complete conversations of the parties in the other rooms as well as any additional noises. The property is very close to Hanging Bridges Park and is within 20 minutes of any other food or items you may need.

The distance from main entrance to lobby / reception area was quite far and the road was steep and hilly (took almost 10-15 minutes drive to reach the reception area from the main entrance) . Hotel should have shuttle service for the guests . Not wheel chair accessible. Breakfast portion size was very small and .

Hotel Arenal Lodge

Very unique one of a kind hotel. Great to see a family run business with actual members working daily to make it a sucesss. The view of the volcano and surrounding natural beauty is unmatched.

The drive up to the hotel was long, narrow, curvy, and unpaved. The drive from the main road up to the hotel takes at least 5 minutes so the benefit is that you are secluded and it is very peaceful but it’s a bit out there. Check in was super easy and the restaurant on site is ok. There are a few hiking trails connected to the property which I thought was pretty cool! The views from the hotel are stunning of the volcano.

Very unique and old property. Cool features and wonderful staff and service

Wonderful nature all around but the property itself is quite run down. All the rooms need excessive renovation and new furniture as the old sofas are pretty disgusting and are getting eaten by some sort of bugs already. The staff is nice and welcoming. The restaurant is sub-par, I recommend having dinner some place else around La Fortuna.

Location is unique and beautiful. Some facilities are showing their age and need to be renovated

Great beautiful place

Very nice & quiet property, reminded us of a retreat. It is very isolated and therefore very relaxing. It's about 30 minutes from La Fortuna, and the drive up to the hotel is very rough and steep. You won't want to come & go very much as it's a bit inconvenient. The hotel itself is pretty old and dated, but our room was very big and clean. The staff were very friendly.

Stunning views - beautiful property

When we checked in there was a lady that helped us and she was phenomenal. However a male checked us out and he was abrupt, arrogant and matter of fact with me until my husband came to the counter and he was better but not as mean. The property is gorgeous. The dinner and breakfast service was a bit scrambled and all over the place. The bar service was great. They need more organization and customer service initiatives.

We enjoyed our stay.

We enjoyed our stay here. The room was great and so was the restaurant.

Friendly and accomodating staff

Unbelievable property. Superb views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. Great bird and wildlife watching.

Nice gardens, and grounds, with a good view, when the clouds weren't there

The property sits in a beautiful secluded area where you can immerse yourself in Nature. You can birdwatching from your breakfast table. The staff are friendly. You will need 4w drive to get to the property. Some improvements can be made: room is dark and hard to read a book at night; the trails on property could use some maintenance.

There are beautiful trails to walk on this property. The restaurant has excellent choices from breakfast until dinner, at very reasonable prices. It could be a little tricky to get from the chalet to the restaurant and back though: steep and slick after/during rain. Although it is an older resort needing a little TLC, our only complaint, other than the driveway up to the resort (!) is the extremely hard bed, and not much softer pillow. Those have to go!

Location was great, surroundings were great. The whole place was amazing but the rooms need remodeling they are like 35 years old. So if they remodel the rooms the experience would be totally different

The view is amazing. The staff are great - very helpful and friendly. The grounds are very interesting with several walking trails - could use some upkeep but a unique offering. Overall, a bit dated but well worth it for the location, staff and grounds. We would go back.

Wonderful property with great views, and friendly staff. Within reasonable driving distance to La Fortuna.

A wonderful place to stay, quiet and out of town

Beautiful landscape filled with wonderful trails. Very friendly staff.

The road to reach to the property is a dirt road and it takes too long, property is in need of renovation and food below average

This was a really nice, private, quiet hotel with a great view of the volcano. We took a horse ride that was really fun and the view from the top was amazing! I would also recommend the massage. It was a super relaxing atmosphere and the staff was so friendly.

Great setting

We had honeymoon suite #220. This was probably the most fancy suite I have ever stayed. It was a separate house, the last one, on the hill. We had glass windows from top to bottom on one of the walls and partial glass on the other two looking out to the jungle. There was a private jacuzzi inside the room with a very cool area to chill after. I loved the room. The breakfast was very mediocre. The dinner was just ok. The grounds of the hotel have jungle trails but it rained the whole time and we walked just for a bit. Now, here is what you don’t read and what they don’t advertise- the hotel is about 2 kilometres from the main road. It is kind of paved road but will only fit one car at a time. It takes about 15 min to get up to the hotel and 15 min to get down. It is not a pleasure ride what’s so ever. Because it was raining and we only stayed for one night, we literally just stayed in the hotel and didn’t drive to town to explore. We just didn’t want to drive that driveway again, especially at night. Not sure if any tour companies will even pick up from that hotel. Didn’t ask but maybe so for an extra charge.

Difficult road to access the property and since there are no lights making it extremely dangerous at night.

A little out of the way but so worth the drive!

Beautiful views in the entire property, all the rooms clean neat and well maintained.

The hotel is simple, but has a perfect atmosphere if you are staying in La Fortuna. You feel like home. Hotel owners are there with you!

Excellent hotel! Horseriding, animals, atmosphere - amazing

Beautiful site and views. Our condo had no kitchen ware, no knives, spoons, forks, no dishes, no cookware, etc.

A beautiful property with a wonderful view of the volcano. We were in an economy vehicle and were able to get up the steep entrance road with no issues. Simple but lovely accommodation, good food on site and lovey grounds. We also did a horseback ride that allowed us to see more of the beautiful property. We did our own night walk around the property and saw a number of frogs. AC is available but we didn't need it in August. Porches are great for enjoying the sites and sounds of the rainforest.

A true piece of paradise with spectacular volcano view.