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Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

3.0 star property

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House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, bed sheets
Poolside bar
White Hawk Villa | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, bed sheets
Terrace/patio
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Pool

Explore the area

Map
22 km Oeste de la Fortuna de San Carlos, 1.7 km del Volcán Arenal, La Fortuna, Alajuela, 21007
  • Arenal Volcano
  • Costa Rica Sky Adventures
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • La Fortuna Waterfall
    ‪43 min drive‬
  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Room options

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

House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, bed sheets

House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room

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

View all photos for Superior Room, Mountain View

Superior Room, Mountain View | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, bed sheets

Superior Room, Mountain View

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

View all photos for White Hawk Villa

White Hawk Villa | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, bed sheets

White Hawk Villa

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

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, bed sheets

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(25 reviews)
  • 269 sq ft
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Phil's Villa + Waterfall

Phil's Villa + Waterfall | 1 bedroom, in-room safe, bed sheets

Phil's Villa + Waterfall

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

About this property

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

3-star La Fortuna lodge close to Arenal Volcano National Park
Along with a full-service spa, this smoke-free lodge has an outdoor pool and a restaurant. Free cooked-to-order breakfast, free WiFi in public areas, and free self parking are also provided. Other amenities include a bar/lounge, a hot tub, and massage/treatment rooms.
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.
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.
In addition to a full-service spa, Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails features an outdoor pool and a hot tub. The lodge offers a restaurant. A bar/lounge is on site where guests can unwind with a drink. A complimentary breakfast is offered each morning. Public areas are equipped with complimentary wireless Internet access.

2 meeting rooms are available. This Colonial lodge also offers a children's pool, a library, and a terrace. For a surcharge, the property provides an airport shuttle (available 24 hours) and an area shuttle. Complimentary self parking is available on site.

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails is a smoke-free property.

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.

Languages

English, Spanish

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
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Fireplace in lobby
  • Smoking not allowed

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Free toiletries
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker

More

  • Ceiling fan
  • Eco-friendly toiletries
  • Laptop-compatible safe
  • LED lighting
  • 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

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

Important information

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, 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
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. 686 out of 860 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 140 out of 860 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 27 out of 860 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 860 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 860 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.4/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.8/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

8/10 Good

Cathy

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
A friend and I stayed here for a week on a birding trip to Costa Rica. We found most aspects of AOL to be good, but we really disliked our restaurant experience. I have food allergies and gave the staff a translated card explaining what I can and cannot eat. This approach worked well in every other place we stayed, but not at AOL. I was provided with a meal that I was told the next night was not appropriate for my diet. So why did they give me that meal the first night? The exact same thing happened another night. On yet another day I ordered hummus with gluten free bread, only to find that the bread was still frozen. And yet again on another day, I ordered hummus with gluten free bread, only to discover that the bread on my plate was not gluten free. For an establishment that advertises their high quality restaurant and high prices, this is just not acceptable. As you can imagine, by the time I left after a week, I was quite ill.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mike

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shreyaben

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daryl

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful property and excellent staff
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

brian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
isolated quiet and good staff.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mathew

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carolyn

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful place, up close to volcano, beautiful grounds, flowers and birds everywhere. Pictures don't do it justice. Staff all extremely helpful, we had a flat tire the last day of our trip and had a flight to catch - one staff member took us to an air pump on site, but then we discovered the nail in the tire, so another staff member helped us put on the spare and we managed to make our flight! So very grateful! Food delicious at the restaurant as well. Hope to come back here some day.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeffrey

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful property! Extremely well managed and professional, friendly and helpful staff. The best of Costa Rica is well represented here. Pura vida!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Stephen, Shreveport

Liked: Staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The property grounds and hiking trails were amazing. The road to get there was rough.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Daniel

Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Arenal Observatory adventure

We absolutely loved our stay at the Observatory Lodge. Such a beautiful location, lovely room, helpful staff especially Christien our guide on the first morning - we learned so much about the flora and fauna. The setting was stunning, view of the volcano myriad birds and animals - difficult to express more how wonderful our stay was. Steve and Sally
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Douglas

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Lynne

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved being so close to the volcano and waking up to a group of coatis on our deck. Hiking was fabulous and the staff was wonderful.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Steven, Centerville

Traveled with family and small children, Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
3 night stay Und of February with 2 adults and 3 boys under 12. This place was a Peacful & Serine Jungle Stay. This property exceededed expectations. From gaming rooms, pool, hot tub, dining. Walk right out to the trails with a short drive to Lafortuna. We Hiked, did horseback riding, ziplines and swam waterfalls. We do recommend rental car. Down side is there is No AC but evening are cool in the jungel and a ceiling fan helps. Also no mini fridge or ice machines we had to get it from the dining facility. This place is well kept with a natural feel. Definitely recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Nancy

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
comfortable rooms, clean, walkable trails
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ryota

Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jayne

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities

Beautiful Grounds loved this hotel

Amazing grounds loved our stay. We had to do the shared bathroom room because only room available. It was loud when people got up but the grounds and staff are amazing. Highly recommend this hotel just try to get the normal rooms.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amy, Sammamish

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved our stay here but wish we’d had at least two nights. It was raining so we couldnt see the volcano. Instead we took a hike to a waterfall and strolled the grounds which were gorgeous. We enjoyed the night tour and saw multiple species of frogs.
Stayed 1 night in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bozena

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice place
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ruth

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

xingyan

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The environment is fantastic, offering a variety of scenic trails surrounded by beautiful plants, diverse wildlife, and vibrant birds.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Michelle

Traveled with partner
Liked: Property conditions & facilities
Wonderful stay at Arenal Observatory Lodge. Our only disappointment was not being able to see the volcano in its entirety due to stubborn low hanging clouds. It’s a beautiful property with lots to see for nature lovers and bird watchers. Bring rain gear even if it is supposed to he the dry season. Don't miss The Nest tower.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Alejandro

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing stay - beautiful room and view, many onsite trails and amenities included in stay, tons of wildlife and birds, great staff and breakfast. This is one of the best places we have ever stayed.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kevin Lloyd

Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025