<h2>Welcome to Arenal Observatory Lodge &amp; Spa</h2>Arenal Observatory Lodge &amp; Spa is one of Costa Rica's most famous and well-established hotels. It sits on land bought by the Aspinall family in 1972 for the original purpose of farming. However, scientists from the Smithsonian Institute were using the Aspinall land to study and observe the Arenal Volcano, which had erupted a few years earlier in 1968.To cater to the scientists, the Aspinalls built some cabins to house them while studying the volcano, and the Aspinalls planted the seeds of a future hotel.Throughout the 70s and 80s, the lodge was, in effect, a research station for scientists, students, and the occasional tourist. Then, in 1991, the Arenal National Park was founded around the Aspinall property, and the tourists began coming thick and fast. To this day, the Arenal Volcano Lodge is the only hotel located inside the national park.Following the national park's creation, tourism development prompted the Aspinall family to improve its facilities and become a true eco-lodge. The lodge now has 48 comfortable rooms and suites spread around its property, plus two vacation villas. It's a hotel for nature lovers who want to uniquely experience the volcano and surrounding rainforest.<h3>To Be Surrounded by Nature</h3>But it's the unparalleled access to nature draws guests to Arenal Observatory Lodge &amp; Spa rather than other hotels in the area.The lodge sits on acres of virgin rainforest, surrounded by the Arenal Volcano National Park. There are miles of trails throughout the property, perfect for hiking, exploring, horseback riding, and mountain biking.This hotel is a bird watcher's paradise - indeed, if birdwatching is your thing, you'll want to stay here while in Arenal. Over 500 birds (Costa Rica has some 900 species in total) have been observed on the hotel's property, with guided birding tours available throughout the day. But, of course, you'll still see something without a guide, maybe a toucan, parrot, or hawk.Travelers interested in geology will also love the Observatory Lodge &amp; Spa, with its museum and visitor center dedicated to the volcano itself and the history of the surrounding land.<h3>Rooms &amp; Amenities to Enjoy&nbsp;</h3>The rooms and suites come with the best volcano views in Arenal, plus amenities including coffee makers, safes, and terraces. Some come with king-size beds, others queens or doubles. The rooms at Arenal Observatory Lodge are not ultra-luxurious, but they are super-comfortable.Common areas around the hotel include a pool and jacuzzi area with a sun deck surrounded by lush rainforest. The El Jilguero restaurant is complete with floor-to-ceiling windows to admire the looming volcano directly outside. Breakfast is included at Arenal Observatory Lodge &amp; Spa, while the à la carte lunch and dinner menus consist of local Costa Rican and international flavors.Chato's Bar at the lodge is open until 10:00 PM and is the perfect place to enjoy a drink, peruse the library, and connect with fellow guests.<h3>Activities Galore in Arenal</h3>Outside of the hotel, guests can also enjoy the general area, known as the adventure capital of Costa Rica. Zip lining, rafting, caving, hiking, tubing, hot springs, and more are also within easy access.For those seeking something more relaxing, there's also a spa available. The Observatory Spa offers a range of treatments and massages in a tranquil part of the property surrounded by tropical gardens and nature.&nbsp;<h2>Contact Us for More Information</h2>If you're interested in learning more about Arenal Observatory Lodge &amp; Spa and how a stay here could enhance your Costa Rican Vacation, then don't hesitate to contact us. Our expert travel advisors will be happy to chat with you and answer any questions you might have.

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa

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Arenal Volcano and La Fortuna

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Our 35th anniversary and bucket list completed and met all of our expectations. Jake and his team help set up the perfect trip with a seamless transition from location to location. Highly recommend these guys!

John Childers - Jake

I reached out to Costa Rican Vacations because they have an amazing reputation online and exceptional reviews. It was the best trip we've ever had! Anastasia was amazing and coordinated everything perfectly. I'd definitely book another trip &amp; she'll be my first call!

Amanda Farris Shook - Anastasia

Perfectly executed 10 days of fun! Emilie helped us coordinate the trip and the execution was flawless. The activities were perfect for our family. Our experience in Costa Rica was made amazing because of Costa Rican Vacations and Emilie!

Eloise Moodie - Emilie Witham

I would like to thank Costa Rican Vacations and Felipe Martinez, my consultant. For advising, assisting and planning my dream vacation to Costa Rica. He was patient, experienced, pleasant, warm, friendly, professional and always responded to my messages.

Savi Persad - Felipe Martinez

We had such an incredible honeymoon! Thanks for customizing our package to cater to our requests and for always being so available whenever we had questions. We truly came back with memories to last a lifetime.

Moira & Dan - Marjeri Smith

My family and I spent 7 glorious days in Costa Rica. Rachel Peck put together a perfect itinerary. She was absolutely amazing! Very attentive to details and arranged unforgettable experiences for us. Many wonderful memories were made!

Marleen Chiaravalloti - Rachel Peck

Anastasia made our honeymoon so special in so many ways! I can’t appreciate enough how stress-free she has made this process and fun along the way. She was always available even during our trip when I was feeling unwell the first few days and had multiple recommendations which had me feeling better in no time.&nbsp;

Cheyenne P - Anastasia

Wow!!! All I can say is that this trip was amazing. It was an incredible experience from beginning to end. The scenery in this country is beautiful and breathtaking. So much to learn about the continental divide and diversity of the plant and tree life in this beautiful lush rainforest. The volcano in Arenal was amazing. The scenery changed every minute literally. Emma Lasiuk was the reason we decided to take this vacation. I told her what I was looking for and she gave me and my wife everything I wanted and more.

Indiana Jones returns to Paradise

I worked with Caitlin Summer to plan and book our Costa Rican vacation. She asked what we liked, wanted to see &amp; do and then sent us a proposal. We made a few changes and then booked our trip. Caitlin did a fantastic job meeting our expectations-booking a great hotel with a beautiful view in La Fortuna and an awesome bungalow in Puerto Viejo that made us feel like we were in the jungle.

Sharon Sagastume - Caitlin Summer

We visited Arenal and Guanacaste with my family. Emma Lasiuk created the best itinerary based on what we were interested in. Everything she recommended was exactly what we wanted and went so smoothly. All transfers from airport to different hotels were on time and very professional. The travel experience team answered our questions right away during our stay. I highly recommend Costa Rican Vacations.

May A - Emma Lasiuk

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Island

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Arenal Volcano and  "Middle of Nowhere" Upala

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Two Weeks in Costa Rica

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