Don’t you love it when you find a spot that is off the beaten track and delivers a unique experience? Hotel Laguna Arenal fits that bill perfectly. Five modern… read more and very cool bungalows are perched on a hill overlooking Lake Arenal. You turn off the main paved road and drive 5 minutes up a typical bumpy gravel side road to the hotel. The bungalows are very modern in design and look pretty new. I was impressed with the interior layout. My only comment is one additional chair to sit in would be nice as there is presently only a couch inside. But in truth, I mostly sat outside on the deck chair taking in the lake views. Which were incredible. Our host provided a free breakfast which was unique and tasty every morning.

And after several trips over the years to Costa Rica I can tell you this is the cleanest place we have stayed in. Well done folks. More

  What a beautiful place. The room was delightful and we could have looked at the views non stop. And have plenty of pictures to prove it. … read more The breakfasts are delicous, the coffee superb. We chose to eat dinner there as well when we stayed at Hotel Laguna after our sight seeing days, and were not disappointed!! And Anna is delightful to talk to!

  We chose Hotel Laguna for the views and the bright contemporary cottages. Everything else we’d looked at seemed dark and outdated, and with views like this, who wants heavy curtains… read more and dark wood closing in on you?

We were SO happy this is where we ended up! The cottages are gorgeous – walls of windows, a deep deck on which to sit and watch the lake in the morning with your coffee. Everything is smooth, clean and modern, with a large bright bathroom, and the service is amazing.

This is much more like a bed and breakfast, than a hotel. Julio is a professionally trained chef from Europe, and his meals are artwork. We had dinner there twice, as well as the breakfasts. This was the best food we had throughout all of Costa Rica. And don’t miss Ana’s Colombian "roasted milk" dessert! We really enjoyed talking with them, I feel like we have new friends. From the coffee, to the wines, to the gluten-free pancakes Julio made for me, meals here were a treat. And with the gorgeous room with postcard views, and the wonderful hosts, this was a perfect stay.

Rainy season has begun, so Ana brought us umbrellas to our cottage (out in the pouring rain herself!),so we could escape without getting drenched – just one example of the thoughtful and excellent service.

  The view at this location is absolutely jaw dropping. Opening my eyes up in the morning to that view was insane! I stayed here with my boyfriend and we had… read more a lovely experience. The owners are so considerate and kind. Their communication was great and they were even able to get us into our room a bit early considering we arrived before check in.
The wildlife is great in this spot. I saw a ton of colorful birds, cows, a horse, and a toucan flew directly in front of my face!
Now the only thing I would consider a drawback is that the location can be challenging to get to. But at the same time, that is also what makes this a perk. It is not located in the main part of town (La Fortuna) where tourist life is bustling with restaurants and stores. The town it is in is called Nuevo Arenal. At the bottom of the hill it sits on there are only a couple of restaurants, one souvenir shop, and a small mercado store. It would be extremely helpful to rent a car if you are staying in Nuevo Arenal because getting a taxi to come get you and take you back can be difficult and pricey.
With that being said, I would not have changed my decision to stay here. The owners were so gracious, the location is out of this world, and the wildlife is amazing. It was beyond peaceful and I will never forget it.

  Stunning place! The views are incredible, the hospitality wonderful and brand new modern rooms. Best breakfast we have had in Costa Rica. Highly recommend staying here, they have a restaurant… read more too! Or you can walk down the hill to town.

  Who did these people pay to write the good reviews? First, you cannot get there without 4wheel drive. The road up is unbelievably bad. Next, the rooms… read more are smelly and the bedding stinks to high heaven. The food is greasy and overcooked. Ugh. The owners don’t seem to care.

  Laguna Arenal was special The bungalow was beautiful and well appointed with a spectacular view of the lake. And the breakfast was extraordinary. If you’re planning a trip to the… read more Volcano or Fortuna do not do it at night. The road and drivers are beyond extremely dangerous

  These bungalows were outstanding! It is impeccably clean, modern, and a very well-maintained property. The view is absolutely gorgeous. I have attached a photo that shows the view from… read more our balcony. There are only 5-6 bungalows, so it’s very quiet and private. The owners were extremely sweet and accommodating. They were helpful with sightseeing tips and suggestions too! Make sure you eat there, as the food is delicious and all made there from scratch! We will definitely be back!

  We only stayed one night but I wish we could have stayed one month. The pictures don’t do it justice. We arrived in the afternoon and were welcomed by the… read more owner’s rescue dogs and cats. We immediately felt at home! Our bungalow was out of this world. It was clean, comfortable and the view, well I don’t have any words. You feel like life is paused, the sounds are the sounds you hear on the sound apps. Birds, frogs, other animals. We left our windows open at night and it was cool and mosquito free. The breakfast was incredible. All handmade and organic. Amazing parfait with fresh fruit, mango and coconut smoothie, eggs and homemade bread. The owners are so welcome and gave us lots of good tips on what to visit. We are planning on coming back there and spending more days. This is the place to stay and you will not regret it. I run an Airbnb and I am pretty difficult on where I stay. This will not disappoint you! More

  I have to say this is one of the most amazing places we have ever stayed at. The location is stunning and very peaceful. From the moment we arrived… read more to the time we left we felt welcomed and part of a really great place. Anna the owner provides outstanding customer service, she is so very kind and friendly and nothing is too much trouble. She even took us unto town and came back to get us. We arranged transport and Jose picked us up and was very friendly and helpful. The food is delicious and we had dinner there most nights. Breakfast is very good and always presented well and tasty. A very BIG thanks to Anna, Bastian, Jose and the team for making our stay so very memorable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED More