This hotel was our first hotel in costa rica our of the capital, start of our journey and honeymoon! we were so surprised by the beauty and serenity at this… read more place, the view just amazing, it is so quiet, at night all you hear is sounds of crickets and frogs and see the reflection of the moon on the lake! the sunset view, its an expirence never to forget! the place js so secluded and away from noise!
obviously to get there you need car, taxis dont get there as it is far from everything, down the hill therr is a little cafe and restaurant ( Toucan Lane) that has soooooo delicious food that you must tree!
Milena prepared us steak dinner with lake view that just is amazing! they helped us to rent a car and before renting a car they took us themselves from san jose hotel!
Great hotel, one with nature; highly recommend it! 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!

  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.

  A very forward looking hotel at an amazing location. Very relaxing and amazing care provided. Bastian and Ana were amazing hosts and took care and it showed their passion of… read more giving the guests a welcome to their hotel and the laguna area. Highly recommended

  From the moment we were greeted by the warm and affable hosts Anna and her son (and the chef) Julio, we knew we had stumbled upon a treasure, and our… read more three night stay confirmed that initial impression.
The rooms, which are actually six separate and modern cabins, are very well appointed, beautiful to look at and comfortable. The views of Lake Arenal and the surrounding area from the moutainside perches are outstanding and breathtaking, particularly at sunrise and sunset.
If you are at all interested in bird watching, this is the place! In our stay, we were able to spot and positively identify over 40 species of birds from the comfort of our balcony or the balcony down at the end of the main building. My friend went on a guided bird tour in Mistical and saw 4 or 5 different birds and was walking up and down the paths, while at the Hotel Laguna Arenal, we were able to observe the bird life from the comfort of our balcony, wine glasses close at hand.
Julio, the chef, has worked and studied at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Amsterdam and has worked a few years at restaurants in Barcelona, and it shows. As someone who worked in the gourmet food and restaurant business for 25 years myself, I recognized the committment, intelligence, creativity and passion evident in Julio the moment he set the first dish in front of us. Both Julio and Anna are very warm and friendly people as well, and we engaged in several long conversations with them, much to our delight.
If you are planning a trip to Arenal and are looking for a home base to which you can return from a day’s hiking or soaking in thermal springs, look no further than the Hotel Laguna Arenal. I have stayed at several resorts and hotels in the Arenal/La Fortuna region, and this place, with its views, its style, its food and its hosts surpasses them all.

  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

  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

  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

  Simply stunning.

Meticulously maintained gorgeous rooms with unobstructed views of the lake. This is a true getaway from it all. Experience silence… read more and nature.

Amazing service. Silly and sweet cats roaming the property. Nothing but peace and quiet in this hotel.

  I recommend this destination to anyone looking for an unforgettable visit to Costa Rica!

On the hotel and owners: Julio and his mother are some of the… read more kindest, and sweetest I have ever come across in the hospitality industry. They care for their guests as if they were staying at their own home. Unlike large resorts, this secluded property only consists of 6 private villas. Rest assured, your time will be full of peace, tranquility, and the melodic sounds of the rain forest below. Every so often you can hear a howler monkey in the distance. The views are spectacular, as are the sunsets.

On the food: Where to begin… Julio, the resort’s executive chef, demonstrates an attention to detail and care for the preparation of his plates that would rival any white table establishment. The difference being that we had a private dining experience each night, with his sole attention on us. It was a dining experience we will never forget.
On one special night, for the first course, he prepared a shrimp based Thai soup with a distinctly aromatic red curry paste. My mouth went on a journey tasting the various deep flavors of the vegetables and juicy shrimp that mixed delicately within the spice of the Thai influenced comfort food. The accompanying crisp white wine helped to freshen the pallet at the end – it was a hell of a start.
For our main course, we sampled a steak cut called Picaña, also known as the sirloin cap. This incredibly flavorful meat was accompanied by three different textures of pineapple. fort, a coulis (a fine purée with a dash of sugar), then a fully caramelized version, and finally chopped pineapple cooked In acids with jalapeño and cilantro. The last touch was a garnish of fresh basil plucked from the garden ten feet away.
The finish, a Japanese style cake – lovely and fluffy. – made with egg white and thyme. Accompanied with a splash of yogurt, and a sweet jam. These three ingredients coupled with the texture of thinly sliced grapes makes for a quite complete dish – and a smooth finish to a great chefs menu.