Arenal Observatory Lodge

Absolutely amazing stay! The lodge has beautiful on-site trails and multiple stunning views of the Arenal Volcano. You really don’t need to go elsewhere for a long hike to enjoy incredible volcano views if you’re staying here. The birdlife and wildlife were fantastic, making the experience even more special. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the breakfast was very nice. We stayed in the Smithsonian room with a volcano view, and it was a truly beautiful setting—you can literally see the volcano right from your bed! 🌋✨

We came here as non guests using a day pass ($22 per person) and it's well worth it. The trails are excellent and they put out fruit which led to an amazing display of birds from the decking. The view is amazing as is the observation tower! We had a vegan burger which was homemade and tasty. I'd be happy ro skip the Main national park and come here next time, they have guided tours as well.

A truly beautiful location (seems easy to do around here!) in a very special rainforest. The service was incredible from every employee, particularly in the restaurant where we interacted with staff the most. The trails around the hotel are a delight and must-see, but you will see so many birds and monkeys just from the restaurant and observation deck! We were lucky our first day to see Arenal clear up and get some sunshine; the rest of the 3 night stay was very rainy but worth it 100%. It is a rainforest so expect some rain and wear clothes that are quick-drying! You may need layers of it gets slightly cooler. But the rooms are very comfortable and the staff are all incredibly accommodating! Thank you all for making the visit so special, it is a rare thing to get to go to places like this but it will stay with me forever. ¡pura vida! 💚

Over-priced and over-hyped. We walked all of the trails - they were very dull compared to others in the area as they are mostly farm tracks and we saw very little wildlife. We had lunch at the restaurant with friends who were staying at the hotel (they were unimpressed by the lack of AC and the tired room) and the food was ok but the service was poor given the high price. The observation deck was cool but there are lots of other places that have an equally good view of the Arenal volcano and much better wildlife.
I’m genuinely bemused by some of the gushing 5 star reviews - perhaps folks who haven’t travelled much outside the US or seen what else is available in the area ….🤷‍♂️

Great spot in middle of park! Views of arenal were incredible. The entire staff was super friendly - Genesis, Grace, Howard, Daniel, Junior, Maria and everyone else. The restaurant serves reliable food (with breakfast included) though a little pricey but leaving the premises with this view is hard to do. In the morning you can see all types of birds including toucans! You can set up tours through the hotel too. There are several trails across the property with a few waterfalls. Highly recommend Observatory Lodge.