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About
4.5
#4 of 7 resorts in La Fortuna de San Carlos
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
If you’re looking for a charming resort in La Fortuna de San Carlos, look no further than Hotel Lavas del Arenal.
Given the close proximity of popular landmarks, such as Arenal Vida Campesina (2.4 km) and Iglesia de La Fortuna de San Carlos (4.7 km), guests of Hotel Lavas del Arenal can easily experience some of La Fortuna de San Carlos' most well known attractions.
Hotel Lavas del Arenal is a charming resort offering a flat screen TV and air conditioning in the rooms, and it is easy to stay connected during your stay as free wifi is offered to guests.
The resort features 24 hour front desk, a concierge, and baggage storage. Plus, guests can enjoy a pool and free breakfast, which have made this a popular choice among travellers visiting La Fortuna de San Carlos. For guests with a vehicle, free parking is available.
While staying at Hotel Lavas del Arenal, you may want to check out El Gran Abuelo Parrillada y Restaurante (1.6 km) which is a short walk away.
If you’re looking for something to do, Granja Eco Turistica Victoria (1.5 km) is a nice way to spend some time, and it is within walking distance of Hotel Lavas del Arenal.
The staff at Hotel Lavas del Arenal looks forward to serving you during your upcoming visit.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family Resort
Quaint
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
300 Meters West From The El Bosque School Toward The Reserve, Arenal Volcano National Park, La Fortuna de San Carlos 20213 Costa Rica
I visited this hotel as part of a Groupon, but I'm happy they chose this one. The hotel is very modest, but you aren't there to spend all your time in the rooms anyway. They serve made to order breakfast as part of the package and you can order dinner at night for great prices, while we were out on excursions during lunch time. The pool was clean and a good size. There are pool tables behind the dining area, but I didn't make use of them. The room has beds, a TV, safe, minifridge, and most importantly, a WiFi signal, but you'll probably be too worn out from the activities to be on your phone. A nice surprise was coming back to a towel folded like an animal on a well made bed. The real shining star of the hotel is the owner Miguel and his beautiful dog, Mia. He is a genuinely nice person who went out of his way more than once to take us into town at night when we were going to take a taxi. I had to force a tip on him because he wouldn't take it. The only thing I can say is the hotel is a little ways away from town (about seven minutes by car) so make sure you factor in cab rides into your budget. Once in the town you should be able to take an Uber, which is super cheap, or a cab back to the hotel. Also there wasn't a microwave in my room, but one of the other rooms had one that I was able to use. Overall, compared to a typical US hotel it was a very basic hotel, but has a very cozy feel with caring staff. You won't be disappointed.
*Just a tip* If you're bringing US Dollars I would recommend bringing a lot of small bills like 1s, 5s, and 10s. I made the mistake of bringing almost all 20s with me and then having to get a lot of change in Costa Rican currency, but since I was there a long time I was able to spend it all. Also, make sure the money you bring doesn't have any rips in it because they won't take it in the places in town. Also, don't be afraid to tip because they work hard and take care of you.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Two couples stayed here for two nights. The highlight for us were the grounds which had lots and lots of different bird species. Breakfasts were included in very reasonable room rate and were cooked to order. The rooms were a bit dated and there was some small amount of mold but given other considerations it was okay. Being next to a very pleasant stream was nice and the water was cool and relaxing. The staff were very amiable and welcoming. The property is a bit out of town, which is not a bad thing at all, and there are many things to do within easy drive. All in all we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would go back any time we are in the area.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Costa Rica is of course an incredible country, with the vast diversity of the flora and fauna. The lovely, smiling people with refreshing and easygoing personas really made my family's stay top tier, however. The owner of Lavas del Arenal, Miguel, and his staff went above and beyond to make sure our stay was comfortable, delicious, and encompassing of the essence of Pura Vida. After each day of tours/exploring, there was always an adorable towel and flower creation, and the staff provided anything we asked for. One thing to note is that the hotel is about a 10 minutes' drive away from downtown La Fortuna, but it is very easy to get a ride from the hotel.
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Date of stay: December 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Me and my family of 8 just spent the week at this hotel. We had very busy days scheduled with adventures that included white water rapids, horse back riding, zip lining through forest, touring waterfalls and rain forests. All the people that work there were incredibly kind and generous. A special shout out to Andrea who made us fabulous breakfasts every morning that kept our tummies full during our AM adventures. Also Daniella was super helpful in checking us in and helping with preparing food. Miguel had his attention on the property, which is very nicely maintained. Fresh sheets and folded towel animals surprised us when we returned back to the hotel in the afternoon. The rooms aren’t super fancy, but once you settle in, it feels very nice and comfortable. Andrea also cooked dinner, so we didn’t have to go back out and negotiate evening dinner. Able to spend family downtime after very busy days!
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Less than 1 star motel. Small rooms, uncomfortable beds and a mile high pillows- made for a very restless sleep. Room had coffee maker but no ingredients to make coffee, you had buy from store outside . No Uber service would come to the hotel due to location. No food delivery available. Restraunt breakfast was limited to cold burnt toast and eggs or pancakes or reheated beans and rice everyday. For fruits they gave half slice of papaya and 2 small pieces of pineapple and refused to serve you more. The attendant refused to give milk for coffee as well. Felt like I was paying to live in a prison. No attendant on duty after 10pm. No hot water. Pool was dirty.Far away from main city. Tv didnot have any English language channel. Overall very poor experience. Very disappointed with the adrenaline tour service as well . Won’t recommend both to anyone. There are plenty of better options to try .
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Date of stay: October 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place will make you feel like you are one with nature. How often can you see a river in a hotel? The owner/manager is the best in maling sure they will help you with anything you need. The cooks are amazing, the cleaners, the entire staff are just well trained. This place is not the fancy hotel but will definitely make you feel like you are experiencing the REAL Costa Rica. Not too far from all the store and restaurant. Good food. Decent rooms. Amazing nature vibes. 👌🏼
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This hotel was clean, quiet and the food was fresh. Luis, Sophie and KC did an outstanding job taking care of us! They provided daily breakfast and towels for our water activities. This is more of a bed-and-breakfast so you can’t expect them to be at the front desk while they’re cleaning your room. If you have a question use WhatsApp, Luis always responded. It’s the rainforest so you can expect bugs. Use a good repellent. We did and we had no problems. We loved Rocky the dog!
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:End your day touring by getting dropped off in La Fortuna to shop and dine, then you just catch...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed for four nights at Hotel Lavas del Arenal and I was pleased with the service and hospitality. The hotel is taken care of by a wonderful husband and wife, who is an amazing cook. I always looked forward to breakfast before our adventures began which Luis was so kind to arrange for us. Luis was always there to answer any questions or concerns and made us feel right at home. I honestly can't express how happy we were with the stay especially with it being our first time in Costa Rica. Oh, there is a little fridge in the room so feel free to visit a grocery store and stock up on snacks/drinks for those moments by the pool.
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I can't say enough about this hotel. We came to visit from Tx and brought our family with us. We rented three rooms at a great price. The hotel is about 10 minutes from downtown La Fortuna. Don Miguel and he's wife along with their friendly staff were great host. The breakfast was the traditional Gallo pinto and it was delicious. There's a river running through the back of the hotel that just relaxes you as you sit and take in the sounds and the scenery. My wife also fell in love with their dog Mia she even let her go in our room. We will definitely be coming back here next time we're in Costa Rica 🇨🇷.
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Date of stay: May 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a great stay. 7 nights. Really cool place. Friendly staff and family friendly. The only thing we didn’t realize was that it is a 10 minute drive to town, and about 8 dollar taxi ride one way to get dinner. Really awesome views of the volcano driving to town and in town as long as it isn’t too cloudy. The staff speak good English and are very helpful with advice and recommendations.
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Date of stay: August 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saint Paul, Minnesota9 contributions2 helpful votes
We saw a couple big hairy spiders on a nature hike to Rio Celeste. I was surprised that we saw no bugs other than the occasional mosquito at the hotel. Going during the dry season helps, I suppose. Oh, and there are lots of ants. But we only saw the two spiders the whole week--not that we went looking for them!
Hi Monica, rafting is defintely more intense than ziplines and there is 50/50 chance of flipping in the first rapid. I've seen people all ages and shapes do both. The 'scary' feeling goes away once you are on on the raft/zipline. :)
There are more places to choose from in the La Fortuna de San Carlos area.
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of AlajuelaArenal Volcano National ParkLa Fortuna de San Carlos
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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