One of Costa Ricas top hiking destinations, Arenal Volcano National Park offers a range of hiking trails that wind through wildlife-rich rainforest and old lava flows, all anchored by one of the worlds most active volcanoes. eh? Get the Costa Rica info you need by browsing our article's TABLE OF CONTENTS: Having lived in La Fortuna for a number of years, we are familiar with the majority of accommodation options located in the region. 
Arenal Observatory Lodge Trail can be crowded, so we recommend booking e-tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. Read our Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, Anti-Inequality, Anti-Discrimination Statement here. The main gate to the hotel closes at 11pm. Best View Overlooking The Pacific Coast, Best Place To See Capuchin Monkeys Because it isquite literallyLa Fortunas Arenal Observatory Lodge.
more, Arenal Observatory Lodge Trail, La Fortuna de San Carlos: Hours, Address, Arenal Observatory Lodge Trail Reviews: 5/5, #25 of 43 things to do in La Fortuna de San Carlos. 
Beautiful waterfall, lake views, volcano. 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Best Street Vendor Purchase Best Beach Hostel Our Costa Rica travel guide published by Moon Travel Guides, Our Costa Rica discounts database (Pura Vida! From the moment you arrive and find yourself with an unparalleled view of the volcano, to the incredibly extensive trails, Arenal Observatory Lodge is a hidden gem you simply cannot miss. At dinner, we found the menu to be typical compared to what most hotels in the region serve, offering staple Costa Rican dishes such as casados and a variety of meat cuts (for more information about food in Costa Rica, dont miss our related blog post What To Eat And Drink In Costa Rica: Our Costa Rica Food/Beverage List And Order Tips). Copyright 2007-2022 Costa Rica Travel Blog (Pura Vida! Got some great hummingbird pictures. We love this photogeni, Swim at the base of a waterfall! The below post isthe first part of our two-part series about the Arenal Observatory Lodge. Best Navidad (Christmas) Tradition Although we fell in love with the hotel, the Arenal Observatory Lodge isnt for everyone. In addition, given the Arenal Observatory Lodges remote location, there are few dining options situated close to the hotel, with the exception of the hotels onsite restaurant (it is also worth noting that there are no dining options within walking distance of the hotel, with the exception of the hotels onsite restaurant).
Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about food and drink in Costa Rica, including recommendations for things to eat in Costa Rica, drinks to try in Costa Rica, and Costa Rican recipes so you can re-create Costa Rican meals in your own home! eh? Even that wouldn't deter us from returning. Best Safari Float What are the nearest attractions to Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa? Even when the mountain is veiled in mist, theres still plenty to do on the Observatorys vast grounds. In addition, the propertys footpath and road lighting is turned off at 11:00pm, so to minimize risk and best avoid injury, guests should plan to be in their rooms by this time. Yes, it would be best to visit with a rental car. The Arenal Observatory Lodge is located an approximate twenty-five minute drive west of downtown La Fortuna. Most Dangerous Roadway Bridge Crossing
Beams of sunlight broke through the clouds and illuminated the Arenal Volcano National Park below; Lake Arenal shone in the distance. SEE SUMMARY FOR SPEC OFFER, The Royal Corin Thermal Water Spa & Resort, View all hotels near Arenal Observatory Lodge Trail on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Arenal Observatory Lodge Trail on Tripadvisor, View all attractions near Arenal Observatory Lodge Trail on Tripadvisor. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn what to do in Costa Rica, including recommendations for the most popular Costa Rica activities, as well as ways to discover Costa Rica off the beaten path. #Cos, Lounge around in paradise! Rega, Witness a rainforest phenomenon!
Best Hummingbird Garden As the fog lifted, a mere kilometer and a half in front of us stood the mammoth Arenal Volcano. 11km. 75 photos that will make you want to go to Costa Rica ASAP! Best Novelty Restaurant Happy hour offering two-for-one drinks: 5:00pm to 6:00pm (bar closes at 10:00pm). Best Historical Site So, why exactly is the Arenal Observatory Lodge so unique? Perched above the forest, not only do the floor-to-ceiling windows provide a stunning view of the of the Arenal Volcano, but from the restaurant, one can also admire a blanket of treetops below and swarms of birds (mainly Oropendulas) out front. The Observatory offers several guided treks, including special tours for birders, and many other activities and amenities. Foggy, mysterious, bi, Get creative in Sarchi!
WHO SHOULD STAY AT THE ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE, WHO SHOULD SKIP THE ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE IN FAVOUR OF OTHER LA FORTUNA HOTELS, THE ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE: ROOMS AND VIEWS, THE ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGES UPPER BUILDING: RECEPTION, COMMON ROOM, AND RESTAURANT, THE ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGES LOWER BUILDING: POOL, JACUZZI, AND SPA, Today's the day! Best Hanging Bridge READ THIS FIRST! In contrast, guests that stay in the lower building are situated closer to the hotels pool, Jacuzzi, spa, museum, game room, and nature trails. Pack rain gear, hiking shoes or boots, a flashlight, plastic bags for wet gear, insect repellent, and binoculars. Best Cultural Tour
We support our comments with evidence, however we welcome opposing comments. Best Place To Feed Pigeons Far from the tourist center of La Fortuna, the village of El Castillo offers a more secluded place to view Costa Ricas Arenal Volcano.
As a result of these two inconveniences (i.e., applicable pick-up/drop-off fees and the lack of dining options nearby), it is advantageousalthough not requiredthat guests of the Arenal Observatory Lodge have access to a rental vehicle during their stay in the La Fortuna region (free vehicle parking is available at the hotel). If you want to chill ou, Explore the Terraba-Sierpe National Wetlands! Best View Of Volcano Lava Rocks Beautifully maintained grounds for a hike. Many birds. Were a happily married, nature-loving, adventurous couple in our 15th year of exploring Costa Rica together. For the purpose of our series, the Arenal Observatory Lodge information has been divided into two sections: #1. As vegetarians, we could choose from one of four meal options: a mixed vegetable plate, vegetables with rice, vegetable casado (rice, beans, vegetables, plantain, tortilla, and egg), or a concoction of mixed vegetables in a curry and coconut sauce. While we provide general details below about the Arenal Observatory Lodge (specifically, the hotels rooms, property, and restaurant), what is most telling is our admittance of why it took us so long to recommend the hotel to others, and more importantly, why we are more confident doing so now than ever before. Mistico Park or Sky Walk/Adventures: Which Arenal Hanging Bridges Are The Best? Its a must do - beautiful grounds and excellent birding. We're so glad we made the arduous trip to get there. Best Adventure Tour If so, get DIY Costa Rica access. This is an amazing place to go birdwatching. The hotel (i.e., who should stay at the hotel, who might prefer to stay elsewhere, the hotels property, hotel room accommodations, and dining at the Arenal Observatory Lodge) As guests of the upper building, we were treated to easy access to the hotels reception, common room, and restaurant. The trails and gardens are awesome, well signed and really clean.
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Dining ambiance, quality, and affordability at the Arenal Observatory Lodge is important, given that the next closest restaurant to the hotel is a minimum ten-minute drive away. And, they too would be right.
Its all a bother and a care, Furthermore, since half of the drive between downtown La Fortuna and the Arenal Observatory Lodge (the latter half, if departing from downtown La Fortuna) is run on a bumpy road, having a 4X4 vehicle is recommended. Best Mascot Great staff. Best View Of The Guanacaste Plains Best Coffee Alternatively, if you are travelling in a group, it may be financially advantageous for you to pay the tour operators pick-up/drop-off fees; these are typically charged per group (not per person), and you may pay less to the tour operator overall than if you pay the Arenal Observatory Lodge their per person shuttle service rate.
Given the Arenal Observatory Lodges remote location, the hotels reception (open from 7:00am to 10:00pm daily) is the go-to spot for information and necessities. Best Butterfly Garden
99% of travelers recommend this experience. Best Intermediate Hike Fortunately for us, at the hotel we existed on what felt like our own time in what truly was our own space. Best Breakfast Menu Item (Traditional) Art, woodworking, and cult, Check out some beach caves! Great flowering shrubs. Most Likely Beach Companion Any Costa Rica expert will tell you the same as what we state above. Most Important Reason For Keeping Colones On Hand. You do not have permission to view this forum. However, taxis waiting at the La Fortuna bus stop are equipped to handle difficult road conditions. Our thoughts are influenced by our own travel experiences for the sole purpose of contributing feedback to the greater travel community. Lets get the obvious point out of the way first (a point that, arguably, many travellers consider to be a disadvantage). Best View Overlooking Arenal Lake For travellers who would prefer to walk to and from the lodges separate areas, directional signs scattered throughout the property will guide your way. Stumbled upon this hidden gemstone! Available for guest use only, the spring-fed pool is located next to the forest and is open between the hours of 9:00am and 10:00pm.
NEW! Yes, the Arenal Observatory Lodge is one of the furthest hotels from downtown La Fortuna (technically, it is considered an El Castillo hotel). However, even when it rained briefly during our visit, we chose to make use of our rooms balcony/terrace amid the shower; as the rain began to let up, we were right there to see and hear toucans play in the mist. $12 per person. In addition to offering many items for purchase (including souvenirs, books, and toiletry items), the reception also provides guests with towels for use at the pool and a free bird guide (dont forget to ask for the bird list upon check-in). Here are your options for trails in and around the park. If not a guest staying at the lodge (we werent). The 5.6-mile (9-kilometer) dirt road from the turnoff to El Castillo is unpaved and can be rough, particularly in rainy season. Do you need to book Arenal Observatory Lodge Trail tickets in advance? Best Place For Black Sand Best Swimming Lagoon, Most Common Dining Expression Also, unlike competing blogs, we never sell your personal information (for example, your email address). The Arenal Observatory Lodges property can be divided into two sections: the upper building and the lower building.
For safety reasons, the front gate closes at 11:00pm (no exceptions) and reopens at 5:00am, so travellers should plan their check-in, check-out, and/or day trips accordingly. Best Theatre
The view from our room or even the registration office is just magnificent. All in all, we loved our time at the Arenal Observatory Lodge. Best Site For A Titanic Im The King Of The World Moment Learn more and access the tool on our sister site, DIY Costa Rica, here. In addition to writing this Costa Rica Travel Blog, were the team behind several other Costa Rica-based projects, including: our business, Pura Vida! Each Costa Rica Travel Blog article reflects our own work, travels, and lessons learned. The second edition of my #CostaRi, Marvel at the nations beautiful landscape! Best Semana Santa (Easter Week) Tradition What did you think? Weirdest Drink To Order Best Place To Scuba Dive A sign at the @BananaBe, Drink pipa fria! For more information, please visitDIY Costa Rica.
eh? When is Arenal Observatory Lodge Trail open? Best Way To Avoid A Parking Ticket Read our Anti-Hate, Anti-Racism, Anti-Xenophobia, Anti-Inequality, Anti-Discrimination Statement. We also thought that the hotels conscious decision not to provide televisions in their rooms was clever, as was the witty sign in the bathroom that reminds guests to throw all toilet paper in the trash bin as opposed to the toilet (a standard Costa Rican practice at the majority of hotels throughout the country): Kleenex, matches, pins, and strings, Good for people with mobility issues. Save your favourites.
Best Post-Meal Treat, Best Vacation Rental Property The dry season is December to April. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about spending money in Costa Rica, including Costa Rica payment policies, Costa Rica currency exchange, using USD in Costa Rica, tipping information, and more. Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa, one of the few hotels on this side of the mountain, offers impressive views of the volcano, plus well-maintained hiking, horseback riding, and mountain-biking trails. Quickly access bookings. Best Luxury Hotel Bathroom Pass through the rainforest, past waterfalls, and across hanging bridges. Perhaps most tellingly, we realized that we would have loved our visit just as much had our vehicle not been parked in the hotels lot, and from this point on, we knew that not having access to a rental car was no longer a sufficient excuse for missing out on everything that the Arenal Observatory Lodge has to offer. Best Hot Springs Best Surf Town . Best View Of The Arenal Volcano Highly recommended! We strive for quality, not quantity, and we never stuff our blog with general information about Costa Rica that is widely available elsewhere. If the following reality was enough for us to hesitate recommending the Arenal Observatory Lodge to travellers at one point in time, there is a good chance that the same reality is impacting your decision-making too. Best Place To See Coatis If you will arrive later than 11pm, you will need to contact reception. Most Romantic Gesture One of our best days in La Fortuna area! Providing a much needed boost to start off a rather adventurous hiking day, we appreciated the protein-packed peanut butter cups and the homemade banana bread. Pura vida! The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers questions.
Trails around the compound were fun to walk, and the view from the slightly swaying "Nest" lookout tower was another highlight. And yes, the bumpy drive to and from the hotel isnt the most pleasant. Inc.), Our Costa Rica trip planning 101 e-course, Itinerary / Trip Planning: Getting Started. Best Breakfast Menu Item (Non-Traditional)
Based on our booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, this experience is likely to sell out through Viator. Browse our Costa Rica blogs to learn everything you need to know about Costa Rica destinations, including recommendations for cities, towns, and communities to visit in Costa Rica.
If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. I visited the lodge as a solo hiker to use the trails. but oh my dear! (7 miles) of well-maintained hiking and mountain biking trails wind through the Arenal Observatory's 870-acre (352-hectare) property. If youre just setting out on this journey, review our introductory Costa Rica trip-planning resources first. country plumbing will reject Just behind the hotels reception is a set of stairs that lead down to the propertys Spider Bridge hanging bridge. Theres certain. Best Slogan To Recite
If you are a lone traveller and you do not plan to drive yourself to and from La Fortuna in order to participate in day tours/activities, and if one of Arenal Observatory Lodges shuttle service times will work for you according to your days itinerary, consider taking the hotels shuttle to and from downtown La Fortuna and catching the tour operators pick-up from there. It is a wonderful property, lots of trails to hike and enjoy! When to start reserving Costa Rica day tours, When to start reserving all Costa Rica trip items, Costa Rica Covid entry and exit requirements, Kudos to these Costa Rican tourism companies, Shaking off tourism competition in Costa Rica, 30 popular things to do in Costa Rica (Costa Rica activity guide), Off-the-beaten-path things to do in Costa Rica (Costa Rica activity guide), The cost of tours and activities in Costa Rica, How to save money on Costa Rica tours and activities, Info about self-guided adventures in Costa Rica, Free or cheap things to do in Costa Rica, Mistico Park vs Sky Walk/Adventures: Arenal hanging bridges comparison, Guide to all 12 Arenal hot springs / hot springs comparison, Club Rio (outdoor center with hot springs), The cost of transportation services in Costa Rica, How to use guided tours to travel between destinations, Tour transportation: hotel pick-ups and drop-offs, Best ways to travel between La Fortuna and Monteverde, Highway 1 / Highway 2 / Highway 3 / Highway 4 / Highway 6 / Highway 10 / Highway 14 / Highway 17 / Highway 18 / Highway 21 / Highway 27 / Highway 32 / Highway 34 / Highway 35 / Highway 36 / Highway 39, Driving distance/duration charts for popular routes, Driving directions to/from the SJO airport, Driving directions to/from the LIR airport, Use our Costa Rica Destination Tool to determine where to go in Costa Rica, Off-the-beaten-path Costa Rica destinations, Common Costa Rica destination name and location misunderstandings, Monteverde cloud forest vs. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Manuel Antonio / Quepos / Central Pacific Coast, Puerto Viejo / Southern Caribbean Coast, All Northern Pacific / Guanacaste beaches, High-end accommodations for luxury travel, 7 types of high-end accommodations for luxe-loving travelers, All-inclusive resorts and non-all-inclusive resorts, FREE discounts for Costa Rica tours and activities, FREE discount codes for Costa Rica hotels, shuttles, and car rentals, How to use tour transportation to save money on travel in Costa Rica, The cost of food and drink in Costa Rica, 20 things to drink in Costa Rica (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), Vegetarian and vegan food in Costa Rica, Recipes for Costa Rican food and drinks, Costa Rica safety information and recommendations, How to maintain a level head while you travel, Costa Rica travel anxiety information and recommendations, Ways Costa Ricas mantra, pura vida, can help you get through the pandemic, Our master list of Costa Rica do's and don'ts, Internet, technology, and electronic devices, Packing, Souvenirs, & Responsible/Sustainable Travel, Sustainable tourism in Costa Rica: 15 ways to travel responsibly, Our answers to common Costa Rica questions (master list), Our answers to Costa Rica rafting tour questions, Our answers to Costa Rica hot springs questions, Our answers to Costa Rica ziplining questions, Our answers to travelers' questions submitted through our blog, English And Spanish words and phrases you'll see around our blog, Moon Costa Rica, our guidebook published by Moon Travel Guides.