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Located 2.7 km from the majestic Arenal Volcano and offering a spectacular view of Lake Arenal, Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails provides an opportunity to DISCOVER, EXPLORE, and RELAX at our destination!
Situated within Arenal Volcano National Park and surrounded by a natural environment, AOL & Trails is set on a 350-hectare property that includes 160 hectares of reforestation, 110 hectares of natural forest, and 80 hectares of agriculture. AOL & Trails features 48 rooms distributed throughout the property, surrounded by gardens, and offering direct views of the volcano or the forest.
Eleven kilometers of trails for walking, horseback riding, or biking traverse the property, providing opportunities to observe a variety of flora and fauna. The approximately 500 species of birds that inhabit the area make AOL & Trails a preferred destination for birdwatching enthusiasts. Activities at the hotel include walks to the waterfall, hikes on the property's trails, and enjoying a refreshing swim in our pool. The hotel's location serves as a base for excursions such as Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, Hot Springs, Venado Caves, Canopy Tours, Hanging Bridges, Monteverde Cloud Forest, Fishing, Whitewater Rafting, Rappelling, Bike Rides, and more.
.Spacious and comfortable Standard Rooms at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa all feature two queen-sized beds, a private bathroom, a coffeemaker, a room safe, sitting chairs, and a writing table. Some Standard Rooms are located in the main hotel building and overlook the gorgeous Costa Rican rainforest or the impressive Arenal Volcano from their private balconies, while others are located 500 meters (0.3 miles) from the main hotel building, down a moderate slope, and feature terraces with striking views of Lake Arenal.
.Our Smithsonian Rooms are located either in the main hotel building, by the hotel restaurant, or near the swimming pool area. They all showcase huge picture windows that frame the majestic Arenal Volcano and the beautiful rainforest and gardens. Smithsonian Rooms have two queen-sized beds (4 rooms have one king-sized bed), a private bathroom, a private deck, a coffeemaker, and a room safe. Five rooms are fully equipped for disabled guests with wheelchair access
The Junior Suite rooms at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa are located near the restaurant, these spacious rooms have a spectacular view of the Arenal Volcano and a beautiful view of Lake Arenal from a terrace. For your comfort, each room has two king beds, a small room, a safe, a coffee maker, and a small refrigerator.
.The White Hawk Villa is one of our Costa Rican vacation home rentals. With its peaceful surroundings in the rainforest and spectacular views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal, White Hawk Villa is an excellent choice for guests traveling with family or friends or those who simply want the utmost in privacy.
The White Hawk Villa is located about 1.1 km (0.7 miles) from the hotel Reception, near some of our hiking trails. It is recommended that guests have their own transportation, or enjoy long walks, to stay here. However, you can arrange a shuttle to and from reception for when you want to skip the walk.
The main level entrance leads into a well-ventilated living room with huge picture windows, a “wall-to-wall” balcony, a dining room, a fully-equipped kitchen, a smart television, and a full bathroom. From the balcony, you have dramatic panoramic vistas of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. Downstairs on the lower level, two bedrooms each have one king-sized bed, one twin bed, and one single hideaway bed, accommodating eight persons in total. Each room has its own private bathroom and a room safe.
Phil’s Villa is a magnificent Costa Rican vacation home rental at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, located about 800 meters (0.5 miles) from the hotel’s reception. It is recommended that guests have their own transportation, or enjoy long walks, to stay here. However, shuttle transportation can be arranged for when you want to skip the walk.
“Phil’s Villa” is named in memory of Phillip Slosberg, a longtime guest at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, who built this house and lived here with his wife, Jeanie, from 2008 to 2011. Read more about the history of Phil’s Villa here.
Modern and spacious with refined touches and colorful local artwork, Phil’s Villa is surrounded by the splendor of the tropical forest with panoramic views of the Arenal Volcano from a large balcony and terrace.
Phil’s Villa can accommodate up to 10 people and is recommended for families or groups traveling together. The two-story villa has a roomy open living area with a fireplace and smart television, a dining area, a large fully-equipped kitchen, and three spacious bedrooms each with their own private bathrooms and safe boxes. Two bedrooms have two king beds each, and the third bedroom comes with one king bed.
Property Facilities
Activity Desk, Bar, Internet Access (Complimentary), Pool, Restaurant, Spa, Vegetarian
Room Facilities
Balcony / Deck, Bath, Complimentary Wi-Fi, Detached Private Bathroom, Disabled Rooms, Electrical Outlets, Fan, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Safe, Shower, Tea / Coffee
Available Services
Airport Shuttle (Complimentary), Credit Card Facilities, Disability, Laundry Service (Available), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Travel Desk
Activities on Site
Bird Watching, Massages, Walks (Guided), Walks (Self Guided), Wildlife Tours
Activities Nearby
Adrenaline Activities, Bird Watching, Boating, Canoeing, Cultural Tours, Fishing, General Sightseeing, Health and Fitness Centre, Hiking, Horse Riding, Walks (Guided), Walks (Self Guided), Wildlife Tours
Located in the heart of the Arenal Volcano National Park, the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails is a gateway to experience the birdlife of Costa Rica, one of the most recommended “Birding Hotspots” in the Arenal & La Fortuna area.
Half of the birds in Costa Rica, more than 500 species have been recorded in our forest, such as the cute cotinga, black-crested flirt, yellow-eared toucanet, parasol bird, black-eared tanager, great peacock curassow, cinnamon-bellied tororoy, golden eagle, tiger heron, etc.
Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails is one of the best places for birdwatching in Costa Rica and is part of the country's Birding Hotspots Route.
Our 350-hectare property encompasses two life zones: the tropical rainforest of the Caribbean plains and the premontane forest at the foot of the Atlantic slope. The diversity of habitats, from primary and secondary forests to agricultural pastures, creates various niches for birds and other animals to inhabit. During your stay at the hotel do not miss the opportunity to climb our 28-meter Observation Tower “The Nest” for a unique birdwatching experience. The abundance of flora and fauna in and around Arenal Observatory Lodge & Trails will make your stay a birdwatching paradise.
70% of life in the forests comes out at night… What are you going to see?
We will provide you with an exclusive guide for your night walk through the trails of the Arenal Observatory Lodge and the Frog Pond. You will experience the nightlife in the forest, and you will see flora and fauna in general, especially amphibians and reptiles.
Departure time: 6:00 pm.
Duration: Approx. 1.5 hours.
What to Bring: Insect-repellent, ponchos, sweaters, tennis shoes or shoe covers, flashlights, and cameras.
El Jilguero Restaurant
Enjoy delicious meals in our restaurant, El Jilguero, with floor-to-ceiling windows looking at the “so-close-you-could-touch-it” southern slope of Arenal Volcano, and panoramic views of Arenal Lake. Restaurant doors open to the wide viewpoint deck just outside, giving you a completely unobstructed view of the towering volcano and the rainforest leading down to the picturesque lake.
Our terrace doubles as a sun deck and provides the perfect place to meet other travelers from around the world and hear about their adventures. Happy hour on the deck daily from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. is the perfect time to experience the sunset over Lake Arenal. If there is any volcanic activity, this is definitely an excellent spot for front-row viewing. The surrounding gardens draw tropical birds and other animals for fantastic photo opportunities.
Chato’s Bar is another wonderful spot to gather and meet other guests and to see the sunset. Large sofas invite you to relax and chat. You can browse the bookshelves for a good read, or use the chess set.
Our ample breakfast selection will fill you up for a day of adventure with hot coffee and tea, fresh juices, cereals, eggs, bacon, fresh homemade breakfast bread, and Costa Rica’s famous “gallo pinto” breakfast of rice, black beans, and spices.
Be sure to check out our lunch, dinner, dessert, and kid’s menus for an idea of our offerings.
A la carté lunches and dinners are exquisite masterpieces of Costa Rican and international cuisine prepared by our chefs. Our substantial wine selection will delight you.
Delicious cuisine. Excellent service. Stunning volcano and lake views.
Life couldn’t get much better!
