Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails

The room is great.  The location is very great.  Lot of birds for photography.  The trails are fabulous.

Stayed two nights at AOL, and although we didn't get to see any lava flow at night, we were very happy we chose this hotel. The grounds are lovely, it is peaceful, and our room was clean and spacious. We stayed in a standard room with the volcano view from the balcony. The views of the volcano and Lake Arenal are spectacular from the observaton deck. The road is truly terrible to get there. I had read earlier reviews and didn't really believe it could be so bad, but it is. The restaurant is not good, and we are not picky eaters. Everything is edible, it just isn't enjoyable. Breakfast was only okay, the hamburgers we had for lunch were strange tasting, and the steak my husband ordered had an odd taste. The ham and cheese for lunch was good, and the chicken fajitas for dinner were decent. The staff were nice, but not overly outgoing. They could use some customer service training. The walking trails on the property are great. We enjoyed hiking the waterfall trail. We tried to hike to Cerro Chato, but had to turn back because we started too late and it was getting dark. We didn't believe the hike would take four hours (we are in good shape). It was neat because it was misting, and it felt very rainforest-like. It is a very steep climb. Would have loved to have been able to stay for three or four nights, to see more of the area. And we definitely would stay at AOL again. We loved how remote it is.

Beautiful property with excellent staff and a very good restaurant. Worth the effort to get here, especially if you’re a birder. Highly recommended !

Understated, focus on a unique environment and location at the very foot of an active volcano. Rooms don't have televisions - and if you are looking one, you need a more mundane location and plastic environment. Arenal Observatory Lodge showcases a unique in the world natural place, with rare birds, monkeys, and all the animals one would want to see in the tropics. Spectacular would be a typical word for the place. Rooms are large and comfortable - not for the person looking for hand and foot service and artificiality. The views speak for themselves and there is none of the artifice of chains. Service and food in the restaurant are uniformly superb. A very good value with lots of diverse activities available. Highly recommend and we intend to return.