My wife and I stayed in this hotel two days and had wonderful and memorable time. We stayed in four different hotels, each two nights, around Lake Arenal. … read more All four of them were best hotels Costa Rica presents in different ways. This hotel stands out as a unique one. Its bungalows are well designed and modern. The view from each bungalow is unhindered, looking down Lake Arenal in the right distance and perspective. The hotel is owned and run by Anna and Bastian, who had stayed in many other countries in their earlier life. They bring in their multi-cultural experience in running this remote hotel. They are very warm and very accommodating, for local tours and places to visit, including our losing bungalow keys. We had one dinner and one breakfast, the best food I ever had in a long while. Anna is very passionate of her food from raw materials, cooking and serving. The hotel exceeded my expectation from every possible way! Thank you Anna for the time we stayed there! We missed you to say bye when we were leaving because You went out for your daily shopping for the night’s cooking.

  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.

  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!

  Julio and his mother are the best hosts we could have asked for. The service was top-notch and always came with a smile. When Julio found out we would be… read more heading out one morning before breakfast was going to served, he knocked on our door the night before with fruit bowls and sandwiches for us to take with us. It was almost like staying with friends (that actually want you there).

The units are brand new, modern, and offer sensational views of Lake Arenal. There is really nothing better than waking up to that kind of a view. The hotel is located in close proximity to some good restaurants, and is convenient to explore the area attractions including the volcano area, Rio Celeste, La Fortuna Waterfall, etc.

I would not hesitate to stay there again. Thank you for a memorable stay.

  This place was the bomb! Beautiful room, great food, wonderful hosts, and an amazing view. Super clean and comfortable, we enjoyed our afternoon just sitting on the deck in the… read more sun drinking beer and watching birds. Don’t hesitate in booking; you’ll love this place!

  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.

  Such a beautiful place with panoramic view to Arenal Lake. The rooms are beautiful, very private, super clean, and comfortable. Owners attention has no comparison, she’s very nice and kind,… read more will help you with anything you need to know in the area. The food was the cherry on top. Delicious breakfast and dinner!

  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

  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 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.