Hotel Eco Arenal, Arenal/La Fortuna

Pros

• This quiet property features many wildlife spotting opportunities and lovely grounds filled with plants, flowers, and trees.
• The staff is very friendly and helpful, willing to answer requests and questions via text or WhatsApp (and always with enthusiasm). 
• You'll find various room categories that suit different traveler needs, plus a mix of building styles as the property has undergone expansion at different times.
• Getting into downtown La Fortuna is easy, approximately a 5-minute drive.
• The hotel serves a good breakfast, which you'll enjoy on the outdoor dining terrace with volcano views.
• The pool was recently renovated.

Cons

• Some aspects of the property could use an update; the hotel is undergoing renovations.
• Depending on demand, the on-site restaurant is only sometimes open for lunch and dinner.
• The property can get busy with student groups during shoulder and low seasons.
• Kids aged 10 and above are charged the adult rate.

Additional Notes From Brittany 

The hotel grounds won me over immediately. It's tranquil and beside a river with lots of plant life, including flowering gardens and trees. I loved seeing (and hearing) all the different animals, including birds, insects, and a few little creatures here and there. This is a good standard option if you want wildlife viewing opportunities from your hotel—and don't mind a bug or two in your room (it's a tradeoff)! 

Authenticity

Feel like you've stepped into an authentically laid-back scene, away from the noise. The grounds are beautiful and home to lots of different critters, so you can fall asleep to the sound of chirping insects and might spot sloths sleeping during the day. 

Location

Set just north of downtown La Fortuna, you won't be far from shops, restaurants, or the area's major sites if you have a car. You'll be within five minutes from the town, 30 minutes from the national park, and under 15 minutes to La Fortuna Waterfall. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

Choose from double, triple, and quadruple rooms, plus superior options. All provide air-conditioning, minifridges, and coffee makers, though some are more modern than others and vary in configurations. For example, some standalone buildings hold just two rooms, whereas others have four, and some areas function like traditional hotels with two levels and several units on each floor. Everything is fairly basic and standard, though clean and functional.

Sustainability

Because it's next to a river, the property sees numerous daily visitors, like sloths, frogs, birds, and bugs, and commits itself to protecting the area's flora and fauna. You'll also notice recycling systems on-site and might hear about the Finding Pepper project, an initiative to plant trees that provide habitat and food to wild species.

Wildlife

Bird and animal sightings are common at Hotel Eco Arenal. The hotel's Pepper Trail walk and the paths beside a small stream are the best places to see wildlife, including sloths, frogs, and many types of birds.

Amenities

Hotel Eco Arenal has a large, rectangular outdoor pool and a smaller, semi-circular kids' pool. There's lounge seating and picnic tables around the outside, as well as palm trees, and there are volcano views when the weather's clear. The hotel doesn't have a fitness center, but there's a basketball court and walking trails. Many of the rooms are on the ground floor of buildings, so they're wheelchair accessible, even though there aren't additional amenities for those with limited mobility. 

Family-Friendliness

This is a family-friendly hotel. Kids aged up to nine stay for free, while those aged 10 and above pay the full adult rate. Cribs and extra rollaway beds aren't available. Kids will enjoy the pools, including the smaller kids' pool, as well as the basketball court and the spacious gardens with paths leading along the river. The breakfast buffet has food options that will appeal to kids.

Other Highlights

The hotel's El Turno Restaurant serves a buffet breakfast, which is included in the room rate. Options include Costa Rican gallo pinto (beans and rice), fresh fruit, tortillas, eggs, pancakes, juice, and coffee. The open-air restaurant is casual and provides views of Arenal Volcano; lunch and dinner are sometimes available on request.