Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Costa Rica, the Arenal Volcano is a stunning natural wonder that attracts countless tourists every year. The towering peak and its surrounding lush forests, hot springs, and waterfalls make for a breathtaking destination.
If you’re planning a trip to the Arenal Volcano, finding the perfect accommodation can make all the difference in your experience. Luckily, there are several world-class hotels and resorts located near the volcano that offer luxurious amenities and breathtaking views.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the four best hotels and resorts near the Arenal Volcano, where you can unwind and indulge in the natural beauty of this awe-inspiring destination. So, lets get started
The 4 Best Hotels and Resorts Near the Arenal Volcano
1. Tabacon Resort and Spa
I remember the first time I went to the springs in Tabacon, there wasn’t a hotel, just a night guard who let us in and lets us stay for a while. At that time I thought it would be a great place for a hotel, but I never did think that such a great place like Tabacon would be built there.
Tabacon offers a really unique experience as you are able to sit in springs that are heated by the volcano that you are looking at each night AND if you are lucky and its a clear night you will get to see the lava coming from it.. Its really a unforgettable experience.
The hotel itself is split into two sections: One part for reception, rooms, restaurants, etc. and the second part about 300 meters away is for the hot springs, another really nice restaurant, and the incredible naturally heated pool.
What makes a great stay at the hotel is by going on day trips from the resort then spend the late afternoons and evenings at the hot springs and pool. The hot springs themselves are incredible and very lush with beautiful paths and pools and are open at night until 10PM.
This makes for a perfect ending after a long day of hiking, zip-lining and swimming at the waterfalls! By staying at the you get access to the more luxurious part of the hot springs which is on the very top. It was more private and quiet which is nice.
The rooms at the hotel are amazing and most have a large suite, large seating area, dining table and an incredible bathroom with lots of extra “touches”.
Note: The hotel rooms are not near the hot springs. They have a shuttle that runs every 10 minutes and you can take your robes from your room to the hot springs. You can also walk there and it takes about 5 – 10 minutes…
2. The Springs Resort and Spa
This resort is great for both families or couples. It has a Great location, exceptional service, spacious and clean rooms but not and the grounds including the pools are amazing. General feeling you get there is of serenity and relaxation.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a place to party, then, I think you want to look at other options. The grounds are sprawling you never feel crowded regardless of how many people are there. As long as you’re up for a little walking you’ll love it! By and large the Springs are outstanding and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Location
The Springs Resort is located off the beaten path and surrounded by uninterrupted nature. Fantastic views of the volcano and surrounding area from the rooms.
Rooms
Room was well-appointed, spotless, and spacious. I think you will find to have more than enough closet/dresser space for storage. The balconies are very large with seating for four, plus a hammock and of course, a spectacular view of the Volcano.
The bathrooms have Double sinks and they are big! And the shower? You could spend your whole time there in it as its one the nicest you will see in any hotel. H
Grounds
The property itself is absolutely beautiful. The whole property in away from the main town of La Fortuna and incorporates the natural surroundings with the property itself. There are variety of hot springs throughout the property and a couple even cater to kids.
The best part about having this many pools around is that never seems overly crowded. The one spot where there tends to be the most people is the main pool as that has a swim up bar to it.. so go figure!
Food
As with the pools there are quite a few eating options from your standard lunch and dinner menus to a more deluxe dining area. Also the restaurants and eating areas are spreads fairly far apart so none of them seem overly crowded. The food was good and the atmosphere was incredible.
How bad can a eating experience be when you sit outside looking at a pristine forest and see howler monkeys near by.
If one wanted to save some money, you could leave the resort and go to a restaurant but I don’t really think its worth the effort. Is the food here more expensive then at local restaurant?
It is, but your paying for more then just the food and the ambiance and atmosphere, more then make up for the extra you may pay.
Things to do while at the Springs
Down the road from the resort is the Club Rio. Here you can do a whole slew of activities such as rafting, horseback riding to hike through a nature preserve.
In addition, the people they have running these activities are top notch and cannot be more obliging to any concern or request you may have.
This is a place that has to be seen in order to be appreciated. The people who own this hotel also own the incredible Peace Lodge near San Jose.
I have a special affinity for this resort as a group of use were instrumental in helping find the land on which this place was built. Little did we know at the time what a gem of a property was going to built here.
3. Volcano Lodge and Springs
When I am looking for a hotel in Arenal I would like it to have 3 essentials: hot springs, cocktails and a volcano view (not necessarily in that order). And with that in mind the Volcano Lodge and Springs has all this plus more and at a very reasonable price considering what you get.
The “more” that I mentioned above is that your breakfast is included and is wonderful buffet , complete with an eggs to order station.
PRO TIP: Order the Omelette, it is excellent
The lodge also has beautiful landscaping, is close to town whether by taxi or driving. ( To La Fortuna is about 10-15 mins / $10 cab ride) and the hotel offers a list of activities to choose from for you do during the day ( My recommendations are listed above)
There were two large hot spring pools and a regular swimming pool on the property and there is also an area where the wild turkey and other birds come to eat the fruit that is set out.
The rooms vary in size and amenities depending on what you are looking for but they all have a patio and wonderful views of the volcano.
If you get lucky and its a clear night, you will be able to see the lava flowing from the volcano all while sitting on your porch.. Its really an amazing and unforgettable experience.
BONUS: The front desk is open 24 hours a day in case you need anything at an odd time.
4. Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa
The Arenal Observatory Lodge is one the oldest but yet still one of the best places to stay in Arenal. You can get an idea on how long the hotel has been there when you see its great location and how close it is, compared to the other hotels, to the Volcano itself.
Due to its age you have to understand that the rooms are not as “modern” as places that have been built more recently but the location and atmosphere more then make up for any lack of conveniences.
Getting to the lodge can sometimes be a mystery as the lodge itself is a bit far from La Fortuna, the main town of the area, and the roads here are gravel at times.
That said once you make it there, you have the chance a to do a ton of activities that won’t require you leaving the hotel. These activities include horseback riding, hiking, swimming, birdwatching just to name a few.
However, if you want to go to La Fortuna and don’t or can’t drive there, the hotel offers a shuttle at certain times at a cost of about 8 dollars per person. There is also a free guided walk each morning and I highly recommend that you take it.
The garden and grounds at the lodge are, are well maintained and absolutely beautiful, as you might expect and are worthy of stroll arounds.
There is an extensive network of trails around the property, a sun deck where you can view many birds, a swimming pool and frog pond as well as a observatory.
Included with the price at the hotel is breakfast and its a good one! There is plenty of choices to choose from including eggs, pancakes, sausage etc. plus fresh juice, cereals, fruit, homemade bread and muffins/cake.
A great and filling way to start your day but you will probably burn off all those calories with all you will be doing each day!
As I mentioned at the beginning the rooms are what some would call basic but they are clean and comfortable and do not have a TV, which, may not be such a bad thing, especially if you are on vacation.
They do have WIFI so you can always use your prime video or netflix accounts if you need to. All the rooms have a view of the Volcano which, on a clear night, can be a unforgettable experience.
They are also just steps away from the forest so you should hear plenty of wildlife during the night especially. A lot of people complain that the howlers monkeys make too much noise and wake them up earlier then they may have liked but thats not such a bad alarm clock.. for me.
Getting To Arenal
While its every changing, there are not, currently, domestic flights to Arenal and the quickest way to get there is about 3-hour drive by car from San Jose. If you really want to fly, there you can check with Sansa to see if they have any flights going at the time of your travel.
While you probably can make it in a regular car, I strongly recommend a renting four wheel drive car as its simply just a more pleasant and comfortable way of getting around Costa Rica and the price difference between a basic 4×4 and a sedan is normally not that great.
For those who do not want to drive I would recommend a package tours (by tour bus) from San Jose or arrange a private transfer.