Lavas del Arenal

My boyfriend and I stayed here for two nights and had the best experience. The hotel room was clean and very larger. The outdoor seating area is beautiful, it feels very tropical with lots of trees and greenery. The owner of the hotel was very helpful and gave us the best advice on things to do in the area and even got us discounts on zip lining. I could not have been happier with our stay, I highly recommend it,

Had a fantastic time. The owner, Mario, is unbelievably friendly and helpful with coordinating your activities and giving advice. The hotel is in a fantastic, tucked-away location among the trees. Great breakfast, great bird-watching. Highly recommended!

I was here last week driving in from Tamarindo. We arrived late at night. You have to drive through La Fortuna and it is off a bumpy gravel road. We didnt know what to think as we pulled up but were immediatly greated by the owner of the hotel Mario. He showed us our room and the grounds of the place including the pool and the river which runs through the back of the hotel, very pretty!. He went out of his way to book amazing excursions for us and called to set up times that worked for our schedule. One morning he got up early for us b/c our scheduled time wwas 7:30. He was there with fired egs, fresh cut fruit, coffee and toast. the best free breakefast I have ever had! The hotel currently does not have real hot waterl. THere is a machine on the head of the shower that heats it as the water comes out. It only makes the water luke warm., but mario promised me that they are putting solar heaters on the roof of the hotel so that there will be real hot water showers very soon and definiely by the next time i visit, which I hope is very soon!

This hotel is located 10 min out of La Fortuna down a rough dirt road. The room was clean and neat. There is not TV or internet in the room. The minimal kitchen was adequate. The wall airconditioner was loud and inadequate to cool the room (even in July, their winter). The grounds were beautiful with vibrant flowers and trees. The staff was wonderful at breakfast. serving the best breakfast I have had at a hotel! We just love the fresh papaya, mango juice.

Windows in rooms didn't open. Air conditioner in our room worked but rattled like a broken down freight train. The hotel is 3 to 5 miles south of Fortuna and the entry is POORLY marked. (NOT 3 minutes south of Fortuna as claimed). We didn't stay the 2nd night, forfeiting what we'd paid. Fortunately we managed to find a superb hotel about a mile west of Fortuna on the main road...at the SAME PRICE! On the positive side: Nice grounds and a superb stream towards the back of the property separating the hotel grounds from Monteverde Nat'l park lands. Breakfast is included and okay. The woman in charge was very sweet and was as helpful as she could be.

I travel a lot and have close to a million miles. I have never seen a better value. This hotel has hostel prices and offers the quietest setting in Arenal with views to the volcano. The owners will make you feel like family and save you money by getting you good tours and transportation prices. This is a small and simple hotel though. But at less than half the price of most places this is a great option.

This hotel is a three-four minute drive just outside La Fortuna. Very friendly staff that speaks a little English. The rooms were modest, but well kept. We felt very safe here. The owners made a great breakfast every morning. The grounds were well kept and nicely landscaped. You can tell the owners genuinely care about your comfort and stay. The owners suggested the Arenal Mundo Adventura, which is a two-three minute drive on the road back to La Fortuna. Well worth the trip, with eleven zip lines, a view of the La Fortuna waterfall and nice gardens.

After a 3 hr flight and a 4 hr drive up very, very twisty 2 (& sometimes 1 ) lane roads shared w/ cars, trucks & busses we were exhausted. Ate dinner in la Fortuna, and found lavas de arenal motel in a pastoral setting just south of town, up a side "street" paved w/ rocks (not gravel...rocks), flanked w/cows & chickens. The motel itself is only 10 units, in a well taken care of landscaped setting. The room was spartan & clean. All we needed for that nite. It rained heavily all nite. We weren"t going anywhere. We fell asleep quickly. In the morning, Alycia, the owner, cooked us breakfast out on the patio. A beautiful fresh cut flower bouquet on the table, and fresh cut fruit from their gardens, w/ eggs, ham, juice, coffee. We left after breakfast because we wanted to see the town, and then spend the day in the hot springs at Tabacon. This is all part of lifes experiences.

This was a very quaint little hotel. I assume it was family owned as it was "off the beaten path" but the staff was extremely friendly. Make sure you know how to speak some spanish before you go though, becuase the family that owns it didn't speak much english. There is an awesome river that flows along the edge of the hotel property and you eat breakfast in the morning right next to it! We loved our stay here, it was scenic, enjoyable, and the price was the most budget friendly in the area.

Wonderful experience staying at this hotel! HIGHLY recommended. It is owned by an older couple who live in a building at the front of the property. The woman, quite possibly the nicest woman in the world, was there to greet us when we arrived and cooked us amazing Costa Rican breakfasts every morning. When we left, she gave us both big hugs. She managed to make us feel at home, not as if we were staying in a hotel. Wonderful experience. Will definitely go back.