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Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

3.0 star property

Photo gallery for Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

Terrace/patio
Front of property
Poolside bar
White Hawk Villa
Breakfast, lunch, dinner served; international cuisine

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi

Explore the area

View 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
  • Place, La Fortuna Waterfall
  • Place, Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park
  • Airport, La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)

Room options

View all photos for Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

Standard Room, 2 Queen Beds

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(29 reviews)
  • Garden view
  • 25 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

View all photos for Superior Room, Mountain View

Superior Room, Mountain View

Superior Room, Mountain View

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
(31 reviews)
  • Mountain view
  • 20 sq m
  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Double Beds

View all photos for White Hawk Villa

White Hawk Villa

White Hawk Villa

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Mountain view
  • 20 sq m
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 8
  • 2 King Beds, 2 Single Beds and 2 Single Trundle Beds

View all photos for Phil's Villa + Waterfall

Phil's Villa + Waterfall

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

House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room

House Economy - Shared Bathroom - Private Room

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

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About the area

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 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Shangri-La Gardens - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Virgita Ristorante - ‬28 min drive
  • ‪Lemnos Wetbar - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Las Palmas - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Roca di Baldi Sports Bar - ‬28 min drive

About this property

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

Family-friendly lodge with a full-service spa, in the vicinity of Lake Arenal
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.
Make yourself at home in one of the 48 guestrooms. Rooms have private balconies or patios. Bathrooms have showers and complimentary toiletries. Conveniences include laptop-compatible safes and coffee/tea makers, 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.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • 24-hour return airport shuttle on request for a surcharge
  • Area shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking
  • 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 lift (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
  • Smoke-free property

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
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

Payment types

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
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. 752 out of 936 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 146 out of 936 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 31 out of 936 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 4 out of 936 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 936 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.4/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Andrea

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Teresa

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Fabulous resort and location. Lots to do on property. Excellent food and service. Amazing value in the off season. Highly recommend.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

craig, Kailua

Travelled with family, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The AOL was spectacular! the mountain, the grounds the staff, the food the birds....al of it great! We will be back!
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ian

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Beautiful lodge with outstanding staff who went the extra mile at all times. Miles of trails, perfect for hiking and birding
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

8/10 Good

Sheila

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Arlene

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing views of the now inactive volcano, with plenty of easy hiking routes around your room, since the hotel is situated within the national park. A birder’s paradise, with a small museum about the volcano and the history of the area. We had a birding tour booked through the hotel with Raúl Obregón, whom we highly, highly recommend! Raúl is passionate about birds, knows their habits, and will share his passion with you. The room is comfortable, though not luxurious. WiFi is only available on/next to the balcony and in common areas. Be aware that to maximize ventilation the area near the ceiling is only screened, so you can hear everyone in the rooms around you. But the trade off of being immersed in nature is worth it. The onsite restaurant serves pretty good food, although for variety you may want to leave a few times during your stay. Be aware that the road up to the hotel does wash out, so you may be in for a rough (but short) ride up from the main road until you reach the entrance gate.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

8/10 Good

Alexander

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Wonderful property. Beautiful walks. Pulled down by the staff in the restaurant and the quality of the food.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Todd

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property is amazing. Lots to see. Staff was amazing. Not a place to watch tv. It's all nature. Not really friendly for people with walking issues. Lots of stairs and large inclines. That being said i loved it!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Derek

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Almost want to leave a one star review so that no one else finds out about this wonderful place
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Adam

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great view of the volcano and the monkeys were amazing in the trees
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Thomas

Liked: Amenities, property conditions & facilities
Had a great time. Very beautiful
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jean-luc

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Amazing location, excellent staff and delicious food. A little expensive but well worth it.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

CHRISTINE

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great place to stay. The trails were amazing.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Conor

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Loved it. Such a beautiful unique place.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chadd

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We loved the views of the lake and volcano, the food was great, the hiking trails were tons of fun, the dante waterfall was beautiful, and the staff were absolutely amazing! We loved Howard and our beautiful waitress with red hair! Also, don't let the shared bathrooms scare you away from the casona. It was an amazing room with the best view and toucans!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Autumn

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Excellent in every way.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer

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

8/10 Good

Lezley

Travelled with family and small children
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The location is amazing. We saw so much wildlife and lots of great hiking trails including waterfalls. We loved the frog pond. We went at night and heard all the croaking and saw lots of frogs including a few red eye tree frogs. The free tour they provide guests in the mornings was awesome. The only thing my family didn’t like was no AC in the rooms. The restaurant provided great free breakfast. We ate at the same place for dinner and found it was way overpriced and not great quality. Overall the stay was great and we would recommend it.
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Joseph

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

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

Surrounded with nature

Beautiful surroundings, peace and quiet, nature at it’s best
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Spilman

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We liked tye beauty of nature,the views,wildlife,food and friendly service of everyone.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jacek

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sebastien

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing location!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

ileana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
we loved the property . gorgeous lanscape and views . pleasant personnel , felt very safe. cabins are very nice designed . walls are very thin and you can hear all the wildlife outside and the rain . didnt mind that and fortunately it was very cool at night so we werent hot (no AC). the doors werent well sealed so we did have several spiders coming in but nithing major.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2025