Hotel Lomas del Volcán, Arenal/La Fortuna

Pros

• You'll experience a truly tranquil location, surrounded by nature on the slopes of the Chato volcano.
• Next door is the hiking trail that takes you up to the lagoon atop Chato, less than 1 mile (1.6 km) away. 
• The hotel has two on-site restaurants, one serving all meals and the other offering lunch and dinner, plus an impressive wine menu. 
• Each room is in a private wooden cabin with two balconies, one featuring volcano views. 
• The hotel's sustainability efforts and program feature projects like tree planting and an environmental education initiative at a local school.
• A complimentary shuttle service via golf carts helps you get around the extensive grounds.
• The outdoor pool features an accessibility ramp, a waterfall, and a covered hot tub. 

Cons

• Because you'll be right on the edge of the national park, getting to the resort requires driving a short distance along a gravel road.
• Cell service is somewhat spotty around the property.
• Bungalows have a few steps, so they're not appropriate for guests with limited mobility.
• Travelers may encounter a few bugs (especially during the rainy season).

Authenticity

Hotel Lomas del Volcán offers an instant, authentic connection to Costa Rica: locals craft all the wood furniture and decor in the rooms and throughout the hotel on-site. And because the property was originally a farm (its nutrient-rich soils resulting from the volcano's 1968 eruption), you'll find a greenhouse growing veggies and fruit for the hotel's restaurants.

Location

Staying at Hotel Lomas del Volcán means a little give-and-take, as you'll be beside the national park boundary and almost next to the dormant Chato volcano but a little farther from all the action. Getting to the property requires an uphill trek along a gravel road, but everything is within easy driving distance once you're on the main road. From that point, downtown La Fortuna is just a 6-minute drive (or a 30-minute walk), and the national park entrance is about 30 minutes by car.

Rooms & Bathrooms

Rooms are located in stand-alone wooden bungalows with two balconies, one facing the Arenal volcano. All the wood furniture and details are made by hand, and all units feature air-conditioning, mini-fridges, and modern bathrooms. The decor feels in keeping with the jungle surroundings, featuring wood paneling and bright pops of color. Upgrade to a Deluxe bungalow for more contemporary furnishings and a private Jacuzzi tub on the balcony with volcano views.

Amenities

The hotel has a large, lagoon-like pool surrounded by well-maintained gardens, and you can order drinks and snacks from the pool bar and relax on the poolside patio. Adjacent to the pool is a regular (not hot spring) Jacuzzi. There's also a yoga platform in the forest, a bookshelf where you can borrow a good read, and a small spa with a menu of massages and beauty treatments. A full buffet breakfast is included in the room rate, and there's a bar/lounge that features a lunch menu and a full bar. The on-site Restaurante Hojarasca serves dinner under high ceilings and massive windows looking out at the surrounding forest. 

Family-Friendliness

Despite welcoming children, the hotel doesn't offer special amenities or dedicated activities for kids. Cribs and extra beds are not available in the bungalows. Those traveling with families should opt for the bungalow with two queen beds, as it's the only class of room with more than one bed.

Wildlife

From the hotel's cabins, you might spot exotic animals like toucans, hummingbirds, and colorful butterflies. Travelers can also take a short nature hike around the property on a nature trail and watch for tropical birds, howler monkeys, frogs, and iguanas.

Sustainability

In addition to holding a Certificate of Tourism Sustainability from the Costa Rican Tourism Board, Hotel Lomas del Volcán features a rich sustainability program with unique initiatives not seen at other properties. The property partners with a reforestation project along the Los Congos trail (which guests can participate in), "adopted" a local school to provide environmental education to the students, and established itself as a non-smoking property (guests can only smoke in the parking lot). And to top it off, you're making an impact, too, as $50 of each booking goes toward the hotel's sustainability initiatives.