Located in Peñas Blancas, Chateau Arenal is in a national park, a 1-minute drive from Lake Arenal and 8 minutes from Costa Rica Sky Adventures. .This hotel is 7.2 mi (11.5 km) from Tabacon Hot Springs and 7.4 mi (12 km) from Arenal Volcano National Park.
What's nearby
Lake Arenal - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Butterfly Conservatory - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
Getting around
La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 40 min drive
Restaurants
Shangri-La Gardens - 19 min drive
Soda La Palma - 20 min drive
Lemnos Wetbar - 26 min drive
Ave Restaurant - 18 min drive
Restaurante Las Palmas - 25 min drive
About this property
Chateau Arenal
Chateau Arenal offers 16 air-conditioned accommodations, which are accessible via exterior corridors and feature hair dryers and blackout drapes/curtains. Each accommodation is individually decorated. Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access. Guests can make use of the in-room coffee/tea makers and minibars. Bathrooms include showers. Change of towels and change of bedsheets can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily. Renovation of all guestrooms was completed in June 2024.
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 by indulging in the onsite spa services. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, sports massages, and Swedish massages.
Make yourself at home in one of the 16 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers. Conveniences include coffee/tea makers and blackout drapes/curtains, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Treat yourself with massages, body treatments, and facials. You can take advantage of recreational amenities such as an outdoor pool and a hot tub. Additional amenities at this hotel include complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and a picnic area.
Enjoy a meal at the restaurant or snacks in the hotel's coffee shop/cafe. 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 9:30 AM.
Featured amenities include multilingual staff and laundry facilities. Free self parking is available onsite.
A complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast is served each morning between 6:30 AM and 9:30 AM.
Chateau Arenal has a restaurant on site.
Property amenities
Internet
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Free uncovered 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 9:30 AM
A bar/lounge
A coffee shop/cafe
A restaurant
Couples/private dining
Things to do
Books
Children's pool
Ecotours
Games
Hot tub
Outdoor pool
Family friendly
Children's games
Children's pool
Laundry facilities
Outdoor pool
Conveniences
Laundry facilities
Limited-hour front desk
Guest services
Change of bedsheets (on request)
Change of towels on request
Concierge services
Housekeeping (daily)
Multilingual staff
Proposal/romance packages
Tour and ticket assistance
Outdoors
Garden
In a national park
Outdoor entertainment area
Outdoor furniture
Picnic area
Pool loungers
Pool umbrellas
Spa
Body scrubs
Body wraps
Deep-tissue massages
Facials
Hot stone massages
Manicures/pedicures
Sports massages
Swedish massages
Accessibility
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
No lift
Stair-free path to entrance
Tile flooring in public areas
Tile flooring in room
Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
Wheelchair-accessible parking
Wheelchair-accessible registration desk
Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
More
2 floors
Designated smoking areas
Renovated guestrooms - June 2024
Room amenities
Bedroom
Bedsheets provided
Blackout drapes
Bathroom
Hair dryer
Private bathroom
Shampoo
Shower
Soap
Toilet paper
Towels provided
Food and drink
Champagne service
Coffee/tea maker
Minibar
More
Access via exterior corridors
Air conditioning
Individual decor
Policies
Check-in
Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before noon
Special check-in instructions
The property charges 3.5 percent for credit card payments
The front desk is open daily from 7:00 AM - 9:00 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), key retrieval
Pets
Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
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:
Christmas Eve (December 24) Gala Dinner per adult: USD 65
Christmas Eve (December 24) Gala Dinner per child: USD 30 (from 6 to 12 years old)
We have included all charges provided to us by the property.
Optional extras
Credit card charges are subject to a surcharge of 3.5 percent
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, debit cards, mobile payments, and cash
Mobile payment options include: Apple Pay
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a security system
We should mention
This property does not have elevators
Pool access available from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation
Property is also known as
Chateau Arenal Hotel
Chateau Arenal Peñas Blancas
Chateau Arenal Hotel Peñas Blancas
Chateau Arenal Reviews
Reviews
8.8
Excellent
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
The place was nice and so close to the volcano. The front staff is also amazing and very helpful. I noticed in some spots the wifi was spotty so we had to switch rooms, the staff was accommodating and let us do our laundry too as a nice gesture. We also borrowed a tv from the front desk but theres no table is the room so we had to awkwardly put it on the bed. The breakfast was filling and good, there are about 3 options to choose from. I would be careful with some of the tables and cuterly because there were some bugs crawling around. Overall a great stay and would recommend.
Traveling to Costa Rica was a wonderful experience and the Chateau Hotel is located in a very nice place. The staff was magnificent.
Ada
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Serban
Travelled with family
16 Jul 2025
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
PROS : good for the value, clean, VERY friendly, pleasant, a gorgeous restaurant terrace with a superb view.
CONS : Rooms & bathroom are outdated, they need a lot of love.
OVERALLL : Think more of a cabin lodge than a 'Chateau'. Cheapest in the area, so it is good for the value.
Serban
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
RANDY
Travelled with family, Travelled with family and small children
Nice hotel with good breakfast. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Nice pool and jacuzzi. Quiet, neighborhood area with views of the lake, volcano and mountains. We went for a walk and it's very close to the Butterfly Conservatory and a local restaurant. About a 30 min drive from the La Fortuna town center.
Really enjoyed our stay here. The staff were kind and helpful. Location is lovely, and rooms are super clean. Would absolutely stay here again if we return.
My. Family and I stayed here a week. The staff was very friendly and we enjoyed the quiet atmosphere and excellent small hotel. The view was beautiful and they staff was very friendly and always greeted us with a friendly smile and always went above to make our visit pleasant. If you would like to experience small local Costa Rica I highly recommend this small quiet friendly clean hotel.
We enjoyed the Chateau Arenal very much. If I could add a 1/2 star I would do so. It has a beautiful view, the pool and hot tub are lovely, the food is good and interesting, the drinks are delicious and the people are all amazingly friendly, helpful and kind. My only slightly negative comment is the remote location. While we enjoyed ourselves and loved the view, it was quite a drive to get anywhere.
Dogs barking, every night,... motorcycles and 4 wheel ATV's running up and down road in front of hotel.... until late at night....and very early every morning...staff friendly and helpful... would not go back because of the noise.....and lack of sleep...
Eugene
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
8/10 Good
James
Travelled with family
31 Dec 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
The staff were awesome as well as the views. The pool was nice too. Water was cold, and the toilet seat was broken.
James
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
6/10 Okay
Erica
Travelled with family
25 Dec 2024
Liked: Staff & service
Great breakfast and staff
We enjoyed our stay. The staff were very nice and helpful. Gave suggestions on where to go. The room is small with no tv. The bathroom is shower only and no counter space. There is a very tiny sink. It was raining the whole time we were there, but if not it would have been a great view of the volcano. Most rooms had 1-2 hammock chairs in the back. The breakfast was great and loved the coffee. The sound of the river was very soothing. The pool was nice with beautiful view and hot tub too.
1st Costa Rica visit & 1st Hotel stay - wonderful!
This was our first hotel for our first ever visit to Costa Rica. We absolutely loved the room (#15). We had a spectacular view of the the Arenal Volcano and got to see Tucans & humming birds. We visited Baldi Hot Springs and Mistico Swinging Bridges during our stay, both within about a 25 minute drive from the hotel. The staff was superb in customer service and a filling breakfast each morning. While it is a 3+ hour drive from SJO airport, we were so glad to have stayed here as it set a positive vibe for our trip. We even got to see a Coatimundi while driving in to town the first morning of our visit. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to stay here!
TIP: When WAZE shows you at the end, drive about another 500' up the hill, past the Butterfly sign, to the hotel entrance on the right.
Brian
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
6/10 Okay
Ludger, Alpharetta
Travelled with family
7 Dec 2024
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The room was very basic. 2 beds no chairs small bathroom without shelves
However with great view of the Vulcano and proximity to the national park trails
Infinity swimming pool and hot tub
Excellent dinner choice with red snapper and great sides. Very friendly staff
This property is the cutest. Tucked away on the top of a mountain. Waking up each morning with the sunrise over Arenal was amazing. The humming birds all around were magical. Thank you for a fabulous relaxed stay closest enough to all but far enough for quiet.