Three nights at Hotel Laguna wasn’t enough. The views are breathtaking with unbelievable sunsets. There are just six bungalows, so you rarely see other guest and you almost feel like… read more you have the place to yourself. Sliding glass doors on three sides allowed us to enjoy the fresh air all night. Private, clean, and comfortable; each bungalow has a view of the lake. Anna and her team provide a delicious breakfast each morning (no need to stop for lunch until mid-afternoon). We had dinner here one night and it was also very good. There are a few other restaurants just down the hill from the hotel. We had a great experience at these restaurants as well (bring a small flashlight for the walk back to the hotel). We loved this hotel so much it was hard to leave. Future trips to Costa Rica will always include a stay at Hotel Laguna. More

  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.

  I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to stay around the La Fortuna/Arenal area. Absolutely stunning view! Going to sleep and waking up with such breathtaking views is totally… read more amazing.

The owners are the best hosts you can wish for. Very friendly and always ready to help.

We will be back!!!

  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.

  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.

  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.

  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.

  Our stay in this Bungalow was magical! We enjoyed the most incredible sunsets from the balcony, with spectacular views and magnificent birds right in front!
The Bungalow itself was very… read more modern, clean and really had the best view around the lake! The whole hotel area was carefully thought of, and well taken care of. After our traveling in the jungle, this was the best possible place to relax and cool down.
The Owner Bastian was so very nice, he even showed us around and always had great stories and helpful tips for us.
Breakfast was incredibly good, with self made yoghurt and the staff was absolutely charming!

We would love to come again and recommend this place to anybody who loves nature and quiet!
Thank you for everything and all the very best! More

  Honestly there are not enough words to describe how PERFECT this place is. An absolute hidden gem!!! My husband and I stayed here for part of our honeymoon trip in… read more January 2022 and were simply blown away by the kindness, service, beauty, and breathtaking nature of this stay. To start with- the buildings themselves are simply stunning. Pristinely clean, amazing architecture, and frankly …. The views literally cannot be beat. Next are the owners, who are simply the most welcoming, kind, thoughtful people in the world. I texted in advance that we were tired and hoping to have dinner on checking in and they (plus their chef Carlos) made what was honestly one of the best meals in our lives. No joke. We travel a lot and have been to Michelin starred restaurants that weren’t this good. I cannot emphasize enough HOW AMAZING the food was… you should come here if not for the views then the food alone!! We essentially had a private chef while we overlooked the most gorgeous landscape in their open concept restaurant. We ended up foregoing the five star resort dinner we had planned for the next night to eat here again and it was equally as amazing. On top of that- breakfast was served every day and was also phenomenal. A huge thank you to the owners, the staff, Carlos, for making our stay unforgettable. This place is a must see-must stay and we… Honestly there are not enough words to describe how PERFECT this place is. An absolute hidden gem!!! My husband and I stayed here for part of our honeymoon trip in January 2022 and were simply blown away by the kindness, service, beauty, and breathtaking nature of this stay.

To start with- the buildings themselves are simply stunning. Pristinely clean, amazing architecture, and frankly …. The views literally cannot be beat. Next are the owners, who are simply the most welcoming, kind, thoughtful people in the world. I texted in advance that we were tired and hoping to have dinner on checking in and they (plus their chef Carlos) made what was honestly one of the best meals in our lives. No joke. We travel a lot and have been to Michelin starred restaurants that weren’t this good. I cannot emphasize enough HOW AMAZING the food was… you should come here if not for the views then the food alone!! We essentially had a private chef while we overlooked the most gorgeous landscape in their open concept restaurant. We ended up foregoing the five star resort dinner we had planned for the next night to eat here again and it was equally as amazing. On top of that- breakfast was served every day and was also phenomenal.

A huge thank you to the owners, the staff, Carlos, for making our stay unforgettable. This place is a must see-must stay and we are so thankful to have stumbled across it. You will be SO thankful to stay here as well! More