Brisas Arenal Hotel

The smaller hotels of La Fortuna are well-known for offering a laid-back, no-frills vibe where guests come to appreciate the simple beauty of Costa Rica’s famous rainforest. Brisas Arenal Hotel is no different: the rooms and grounds are clean, well-maintained, and unfussy. Lush, picture-perfect landscaping — including passionfruit trees, traveler palms, and dense, tropical shrubbery — creates a secluded atmosphere that’s well-suited to the clientele. Day and night, the atmosphere is quiet, with the only sounds coming from howler monkeys and parrots hiding in the three acres of rainforest that envelope the property. Guests are a mix of families traveling on a budget and couples seeking a rustic, yet romantic, getaway courtesy of the upgraded Tropical Suites.

Situated near the end of a residential road, there’s nothing of note within walking distance from the hotel. While just eight minutes by car from downtown La Fortuna, the hotel feels a world away from anywhere. The adjacent dead-end road abuts Parque Nacional Volcan Arenal, ensuring little vehicle traffic and lovely views to Arenal Volcano. Even so, it's only a short 10-minute drive into La Fortuna for restaurants, markets, and tour operators. Rio Fortuna — Costa Rica’s most popular and stunning waterfall — is also just eight minutes away by car. The country’s two largest international airports — in San Jose and Liberia — are each three hours away in typical traffic. Foreign travelers would be well served to skip the high cost and inconvenience of renting a car. Shuttle buses are the preferred method of airport travel, as they’re almost always cheaper, safer, and easy to arrange.

Room decor is typical of the budget hotels in the Arenal area. Local woods — particularly mahogany and teak — can be seen in walls, floors, and furniture with varying frequency. Simple local artwork and earth-tone fabrics provide the only pops of color. The overall look is equal parts rustic and modern, and interiors are impeccably clean and well-kept. Entry-level Standard Rooms and mid-range Family Rooms offer similar, studio floor plans that feel more spacious than average, with high ceilings and ample private porches. Room amenities are modern for this category, and include free Wi-Fi, mini-fridges, air-conditioning, and flat-screen TVs with cable service. The flagship 538-square-foot (50-square-meter) Tropical Suites are designed for honeymooning couples and upgrade to more modern furnishings and decor, plus sunken hot tubs surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows that offer excellent rainforest views.

Bathrooms are roomy and surprisingly modern in every category, with large vessel sinks (Suites upgrade to dual sinks), hardwood flooring, and stone wall tile or inlays. Walk-in showers are standard, along with generic pump-style toiletries.

The hotel offers few common amenities, though most guests are pleased with what's available. A basic, open-air restaurant serves a free hot breakfast daily. Selections are limited and typically include an authentic Costa Rican breakfast and a more Western-friendly option like pancakes with fruit. Adjacent the dining area, a tiny (and mostly unadvertised) plunge pool about the size of a large hot tub is a decent-enough place to cool off. Off-street parking is free, and the surrounding neighborhood is safe and secure. Wi-Fi is likewise free in the hotel’s few common areas, and we found the service reliable and fast.