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Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

Property class: 3

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Photo gallery for Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

A resort with a pool, lush greenery, and a mountain view.
A hotel with a mountain view, a reflective pond, and lush greenery.
A wooden deck with a restaurant, overlooking a scenic landscape with a sunset view.
A spacious living area with a wooden ceiling, large windows, a sofa, and a coffee table.
A hotel room with a bed, a desk, and a view of a natural landscape.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
$142 nightly
The current price is $161 total
Total with taxes and fees
Nov 11 - Nov 12

Explore the area

View in a map
22 km Oeste de la Fortuna de San Carlos, 1.7 km del Volcán Arenal, La Fortuna, Alajuela, 21007
  • Place, Arenal Volcano National Park
    ‪1 min walk‬

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

A hotel room with two beds, a balcony with a table and chairs, and a view of greenery outside.

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(35 reviews)
  • Garden view
  • 269 sq ft
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Superior Room, Mountain View

A covered outdoor seating area with two people seated, overlooking a lush landscape with a mountain in the background.

Superior Room, Mountain View

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(34 reviews)
  • Mountain view
  • 215 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for White Hawk Villa

A room with a large window offering a view of a mountain.

White Hawk Villa

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Mountain view
  • 215 sq ft
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 8
  • 2 King Beds, 2 Twin Beds and 2 Twin Trundle Beds

View all photos for Phil's Villa + Waterfall

A hotel room with a bed, a lamp, a window with a mountain view, and a towel on the bed.

Phil's Villa + Waterfall

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Mountain view
  • 3 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 10
  • 3 Queen Beds

View all photos for House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room

A lodge with a covered porch, a wooden deck, and a stone pathway leading to the entrance.

House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room

8.8 out of 10
Excellent
(6 reviews)
  • Lake view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Family Villa

A building with a covered entrance, a stone wall, and a gravel driveway.

Family Villa

  • Mountain view
  • 215 sq ft
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Queen Bed

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About the neighborhood

La Fortuna

Located in La Fortuna, Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails is in a national park, within a 15-minute drive of Lake Arenal and Costa Rica Sky Adventures. .This family-friendly lodge is 4.5 mi (7.3 km) from Butterfly Conservatory and 8.9 mi (14.3 km) from Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park.
View more Lodges in La FortunaOpens in a new window

What's nearby

  • Arenal Volcano National Park - 1 min walk - 0.0 miles

Getting around

  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 48 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shangri-La Gardens - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Soda Tita Rosa - ‬33 min drive
  • ‪Lemnos Wetbar - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Baldi Premium Bar - ‬29 min drive
  • ‪Soda Fortuna - ‬36 min drive

About this property

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails offers 48 accommodations with laptop-compatible safes and ceiling fans. Rooms open to balconies or patios. Bathrooms include showers, complimentary toiletries, and hair dryers. Housekeeping is provided daily.
An outdoor pool, a children's pool, and a hot tub are on site.

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

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.
Make yourself at home in one of the 48 guestrooms. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Private bathrooms with showers feature complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include laptop-compatible safes and ceiling fans, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. If you're looking for recreational opportunities, you'll find an outdoor pool and a hot tub. Additional features at this Colonial lodge include complimentary wireless internet access, an arcade/game room, and gift shops/newsstands. Getting to nearby attractions is a breeze with the area shuttle (surcharge).
Enjoy a satisfying meal at El Jilguero serving guests of Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails. Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. A complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast is served daily from 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM.
Featured amenities include luggage storage, laundry facilities, and a library. This lodge has 2 meeting rooms available for events. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free self parking is available onsite.
A complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast is served each morning between 6:30 AM and 8:30 AM.
El Jilguero - This family restaurant specializes in international cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Open daily.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transportation

  • 24-hour roundtrip airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Free cooked-to-order breakfast available daily 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • El Jilguero

Things to do

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • Ecotours
  • Foosball table
  • Full-service spa
  • Hiking/biking trails
  • Horseback riding/rentals
  • Hot tub
  • Library
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Table tennis
  • TV in common areas

Family friendly

  • Arcade/game room
  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool
  • Playground
  • Pool gate

Conveniences

  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Business services

  • 2 meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • In a national park
  • In the mountains
  • Pool loungers
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Aromatherapy
  • Body scrubs
  • Body wraps
  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Deep-tissue massages
  • Detox wraps
  • Facials
  • Hot stone massages
  • Prenatal massages
  • Reflexology
  • Spa open daily
  • Swedish massages
  • Treatment room

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • Accessible airport shuttle
  • No elevator (single-level property)
  • Pool access ramp on site
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible concierge desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible lounge
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible pool
  • Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

More

  • Built in 1992
  • Colonial architecture
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bed sheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2 private bathrooms
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

More

  • Ceiling fan
  • Laptop-compatible safe
  • Window screens

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 3 PM; Check-in end time: 10 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7 AM - 10 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

No pets or service animals allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
2 children, per adult, up to the age of 8 years, can stay for free if using existing beds when occupying the parent or guardian's room
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

  • American Express
  • Discover
  • Mastercard
  • Visa

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Deposit: USD 200 per accommodation, per night

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Airport shuttle fee: USD 225 per vehicle (one-way, maximum occupancy 7)

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit 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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a smoke detector
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms
No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

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

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails Reviews

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 815 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 135 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 37 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 1000 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 5 out of 1000 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.4/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great place to stay
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Incredible place with views of the volcano and Lake Arenal, good hiking trails, nice restaurant with excellent service and food, and great amenities and services.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful place to relax and enjoy nature, clean rooms , delicious food and friendly staff.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rooms were extremely nice and clean. Restaurant food and staff were awesome. Location and view were no douth the best in Costa Rica. 100% recommend this to my family and friends...
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The hotel was fantastic. Spotlessly clean. The free wildlife tour was excellent and we were lucky to see Armadillos. The pool and jacuzzi were lovely too. Would definitely recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Between the amount of wildlife I saw while there, the short hike to a beautiful waterfall, and the just simply stunning views, and the friendly staff.. There really isn't much not to like here.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This is an AMAZING place to stay. I highly would recommend it and pray that I can return. The staff is great, the location is wonderful, and the grounds are beautiful. There is a restaurant that is fantastic and everything you need is on site. 20 out of 10 is my score.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great food, amazing staff, gorgeous view of the volcano! Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Unbelievable gardens, very good food. Very nice and helpful employees.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing place to relax and enjoy any celebration. The stuff are nice,friendly and super helpful. I loved the place. 💯 recommend
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was nice.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Rustic lodging with incredible trails, views, dynamic landscapes, and SOOO many animals!! If you are an animal lover, staying here is a must in La Fortuna!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The animal and bird sightings are wonderful here. As a solo female traveler, I felt safe and comfortable. The well-marked hiking trails and daily planned events to enrich your experience are top notch. I will be pleased to stay here again.
Stayed 1 night in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Terrific location with view of volcano and deck for bird watching as well as many onsite free nature activities
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful place, views and gardens!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Uniquely beautiful location and world class birding
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Disliked: Amenities
Far from everything and only 1 restaurant with mediocre food that was ridiculously expensive
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We love wildlife. This place made seeing it and experiencing it a truly amazing place. The breakfast was also quite nice and our room was also very good. We may well come back. We were here for three days and between the amazing sights on the lodge grounds and three places we explored closer to town (La Fortuna), we could see staying more like a week. A true treasure.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The place was incredible in every way
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Access to birds, monkeys, and other wildlife was amazing - did not even need to leave the property to see most of them. Rooms do not have ac, so keep this in mind. Food at restaurant was great and staff was very helpful booking daily excursions.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The entire staff were great. The facility was well maintained and terrific. Highly recommend.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Highly recommend the villa
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
It was a wonderful stay. Clean, great bed, attentive and helpful staff, food was excellent, massage was great too!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The room was amazing. The staff friendly and attentive. The grounds were beautiful with monkeys and birds, especially hummingbirds, happy in the trees and flowers.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Arenal observatory and lodge is a biodiversity and conservation gem! We saw so many animals and plants while on the property! The accommodations were great and in line with ecotourism. Highly recommend for nature lovers!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026