4.5 Km NW, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 21003 Costa Rica, La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica | (888) 399-9863
Close-up view of the Arenal volcano, as the hotel sits right in its lap
Pool with waterfall feature and adjacent hot tub, with lush tropical landscaping
Free breakfast with hot items such as made-to-order omelets and pancakes
Attractively rustic rooms with lots of wood, private decks, AC, and TVs
10 minutes by car from La Fortuna
Free Wi-Fi
Business center
Not all rooms have volcano views
No shuttle service (front desk can arrange for taxis)
No hot springs
This mid-range gated resort has 47 terraced bungalows that seem to climb up the side of Arenal volcano. These big-windowed but dimly lit wooden cabins don't always have stunning views of the volcano, but each one has two private decks. The property is about 10 minutes north of La Fortuna by car, and property features include a swimming pool, hot tub, excellent restaurant serving all three meals (including the free breakfast), and a bar with volcano views. There are no hot springs, though; for that, consider Hotel El Silencio del Campo.
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Scene
A secluded community of bungalows at the foot of the volcano, attracting older couples who want to appreciate the peak in comfort.
Made up of a series of terraced bungalows at the foot of the volcano, the hotel is a resort that has a worm's eye view of the peak. Even though it's only a 10-minute drive from town, it has the feeling of being in a small community that's secluded from the rest of the area. On our visit, the guests were mostly older couples from the U.S. and Europe. Bungalows are decorated with artwork of local fauna -- a painted frog stood guard over one bed we viewed.
Location
A short ride north of La Fortuna, but the 800-meter dirt road leading off the main road makes it less convenient for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The hotel is located about a 10-minute drive north of La Fortuna and its restaurants and adventure outfitters. It's convenient for tourists with cars or bikes, but the roads in this area are not made for pedestrians. It's nearly on the opposite side of the volcano from Arenal National Park (about 30 minutes) and the lake (about 40 to 50 minutes), which means a lot of time on the road for those who want to spend time exploring the Arenal attractions. The road leading in is adjacent to the cow path for the dairy farm that's the sister property of the hotel -- you may stare down curious bovines as you approach. The most obvious immediate neighbor is the volcano itself, which looms above the whole property.
Rooms
Small, standalone bungalows climb up the slope of the volcano and are outfitted in beautiful wood, but tend to be dimly lit. Some rooms don't have volcano views.
The rooms here are all identical wooden bungalows with front and back porches that look out onto the volcano. The clustered groupings create a feel that's quaint and commune-like -- you may sometimes get the feeling you're in an exotic but comfortable retirement community, or a summer camp for especially independent and well-off kids. Rooms come with modern amenities, including AC and free Wi-Fi (neither of which are a given in the region), as well as flat-screen cable TVs with 76 channels, safes, mini-fridges, and laundry pickup (for a fee). All rooms have two queen beds, except for the ADA Accessible Room, which has one. The rooms are dimly lit even by Costa Rican standards, making the big windows all the more necessary. They are attractively rustic, with wood walls, peaked wood ceilings, terra-cotta tile floors, and dark wood furniture. Paintings of local fauna (such as tree frogs) are on display. If you need to be in touch with the volcano at all times, it's smart to ask if the room you book has a view of the peak.
Features
The dominant feature of the hotel is the volcano itself, which makes its presence known every time you turn your head -- it's that close.
The volcano dominates the entire property -- just look up and you'll see its reaching down toward you -- but if you need an even closer gander, there's a private trail that leads up its slopes. If you're more inclined to admire from a distance, you can splash around under its gaze in the pool (with its own artificial waterfall) or the hot tub. The restaurant and bar look out onto a pretty garden, but not toward the volcano. The extensive free breakfast includes fresh fruit, cereals, breads, and hot items made-to-order omelets, pancakes, and sausage.
