Top Hotels in El Castillo
The best available hotels & places to stay near El Castillo
Discover the best hotels in El Castillo, Arenal Volcano National Park, Province of Alajuela including Linda Vista Hotel, Essence Arenal and Spa, Nepenthe B&B, Castillo del Arenal, Cabinas Los Tucanes, El Castillo Paradise, Hotel Linda Vista, Arenal Vista Lodge.
Restaurants in El Castillo
1. Linda Vista Hotel
Overall Ratings
4 based on 910 reviews
Linda Vista Hotel is located at El Castillo, just 22 km from La Fortuna downtown. A perfect choice for hikes in the Arenal Volcano National Park or activities on Lake Arenal. There is, however, a nice range of amenities located at the hotel for those that would rather stay put. Guests will enjoy lounging within the hotel's unique three-tiered swimming pool, which affords spectacular views of the volcano, and relaxing jacuzzi. The Loma Linda Restaurant serves up a nice variety of international and national meals, including a large free breakfast every morning. Guests in need of libations can visit the bar, which is stocked with beers, wines, juices, liquors and more. The rooms at Linda Vista are clean and spacious. Tile floors extend to private terraces, where guests can sit and enjoy astounding views of the Arenal Volcano. All rooms are equipped with a private hot water bathroom, ceiling fan, a/c, and coffee maker. Wireless internet helps guests to stay connected to friends and family at home, while an in-room safe ensures that valuables remain secure. The Badilla's would love to share the secrets and beauty of this area with you and your friends or family! General Information Hotel Facilities & Services: Safe deposit box Mini bar Wet bar Swimming pool (for adults & kids) Jacuzzi Restaurant Bar Free WiFi Laundry Service - We accept all Credit Cards Accommodations: All rooms come equipped with a private hot water bathroom, ceiling fan, terrace, coffee maker, safe deposit box, and wireless internet. Standard Room - these rooms have one double and one single bed. They do not have a volcano view and can sleep up to three people. Junior Suites - these suites have two queen size beds, air conditioning, mini bar, hairdryer, satellite TV, and a private parking lot. They have a volcano view and can sleep up to four people. Master Suites - these suites have two queen size beds, air conditioning, mini fridge, hairdryer, private terrace, coffee maker, satellite TV, bathrobes, and an iron. They have a volcano view and can sleep up to four people. Honeymoon Suite - this suite has one queen size bed, air conditioning, mini fridge, bathtub, hairdryer, coffee maker, private terrace, satellite TV, PC station, and a private parking lot. It has a volcano view and can sleep up to two people.
The BEST view of Arenal! Stunning!
Reviewed By Victoria RA great hotel with the best view of the lake and volcano!!! The staff was very friendly, the rooms were clean and well-appointed, and the grounds were absolutely stunning!! We upgraded to the queen suite and had a beautiful view of the volcano every morning! The included breakfast was delicious! There was wildlife and beautiful flowers everywhere on the grounds! This is a romantic, beautiful place. The infinity pool and hot tub were perfect! I would come back here for sure!
2. Essence Arenal and Spa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 573 reviews
Alojamiento Bienestar y Aventura Aléjate de las multitudes y sumérgete en la Costa Rica más pura y auténtica. Essence Arenal se encuentra en el Castillo, un pequeño pueblo cerca de la Fortuna. Desde las colinas de este idílico pueblo disfrutarás de una vista inolvidable de la laguna y los volcanes Arenal y Cerro Chato. En Essence Arenal te espera una experiencia única paseando por nuestra finca orgánica donde podrás disfrutar de senderos en la selva, una piscina, una zona para hacer yoga y mucho más. Alejándote con nosotros tendrás a tu alcance una gran variedad de actividades como caminatas a los volcanes, tirolinas, excursiones a caballo o aguas termales entre muchas otras cosas. Bienvenidos al paraíso amigos! Qué ofrecemos. Magníficas vistas del lago y los Volcanes Arenal y Cerro Chato, zona para practicar yoga, jacuzzi, restaurante vegetariano y vegano con productos orgánicos de nuestra finca ecológica, piscina, hamacas, estanque de tilapias, caminos en la jungla, duchas de agua caliente, masajes en una cabina de bambú, servicio de lavandería y Wi-Fi gratis. En el restaurante se sirven desayunos, almuerzos y cenas.
Solo-Female Yoga Traveler Finds a Magic Mountain Retreat
Reviewed By KGpoolsandwifiThere are as many ways to review Essence as there are reasons that people come here. First I want to give special recognition to few people in order of impact: Juan Carlos, Aurelio, and Coletane. Juan Carlos contracts through his brother to drive for the resort. I basically got a 3.5 hour priceless tour guide from the moment I hit Costa Rican soil until we got to the resort. I felt so at home immediately and his information was priceless. His English was unbelievable. You can ask for him, but there is no guarantee unfortunately. If I were the resort, I would hire him full time to ferry my guests and welcome them in – he sets the tone that well. Aurelio works part-time a few days a week doing the Cacao-Jungle Tour, the morning bird-watching tour, and the night jungle tour. His knowledge, passion, mastery of English, and his complete total dedication to his work is something one should experience no matter what. He is the Indiana Jones of Arenal and you will want to find yourself swinging from the jungle vines with him, savoring the fruits of the lands, and shelling your fresh cacao seeds for your very own luscious chocolate. If you are heading to Essence, ask ahead to see if you can align with one of his tours and do not miss it for anything. Coletane works part-time running the spa circuit, ionic cleanse, and will also invite people on jungle walks amongst other things. She is passionate about Essence, healing, and everything there is to do about making your stay memorable. Her hugs and shares were beautiful and she enriched my stay with her love. I would like to also thank Jairo the manager, Lena the behind-the-scenes scheduler, Nicola and Jovanny front desk coverage, and Marvin and his engaged kitchen staff. They welcome you with open arms. My purpose in going was a solo-female 10-day yoga retreat and cleanse and to check out the option for a leadership retreat for my business. A beautiful group vibe occurred wth other single female retreat travels and based on other repeat travelers, the magic of a beautiful cohort forming is very common. There are others that come there for touristic reasons and brief stays for the national park, termales, sloths, zip lines, and waterfalls in nearby La Fortuna. The area attracts Europeans and Canadians more than Americans but there is a mix. This is not a great place for advanced yoga classes. Not that the teachers cannot teach them- they can. But because there is invariably a few first-timers passing through or some travelers new to their practice. They must safely accommodate and teach an all-levels class. Just be aware and do not blame them for serving the more common attendee. Solo female travels – you can come here safely and be at peace. This is one of the few places that has managed to figure out a way to do a rolling yoga retreat successfully. I needed that flexibility of no exact date start and stop. I have my business to run and found I could work four hours a day in peace. The wifi is good but shared amongst all guests and some were doing video calls successfully. However, I feel if I had to zoom or teams I would be at the mercy of other remote workers that come here. Luckily, I did not need that but it is worth noting that video calls might be tough. We did good with electricity but after I left I was told there were some days it went out for five hours. One priceless thing I had was a travel fan. The strong prevailing breeze is helpful in the mid-day heat if you are outside but inside, if you are like me, I need a fan. Get one with a rechargeable battery backup and that will continue running with the electric out. Another positive note. I got about as many mosquito bites as I would on a summer night outdoors with the Great Lakes. Totally doable and pleasant with light bug repellant There were some powerful things that happened, deep soul-level engagement. Incredible stay.
3. Nepenthe B&B
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 228 reviews
Nepenthe Bed and Breakfast is Beautifull piece of paradise located in the little town of El Castillo of La Fortuna in Costa Rica. Surrounded by the rain forest and exuberant wild life, you can appreciate the magnificent Arenal Volcano and the mistic Arenal Lake, enjoy beautifull sunsets from our infinity edge pool or relax in the jacuzzi after a day of adventures and fun in the area. ** Also, the Phoenix Restaurant at Nepenthe is located on the grounds of Nepenthe and serve a daily dinner menu with handmade food and fresh local ingredients.
Comfortable B&B
Reviewed By AndraparrellWe had a lovely stay at Nepenthe. The staff were incredibly helpful and hospitable. The breakfast provided every morning was wonderful. The views truly cannot be captured in photos (we tried but nothing is quite the same). The staff arranged some tours for us upon arrival. In retrospect I regretted doing this. I don't feel that the details of the arrangements were clearly communicated to me. As a result we rushed to things that in truth had no time restrictions/time scheduled but were late to other activities that had hard and fast start times. The value for money was great. We had a hard time finding places in this area that had a separate bedroom from living space that didn't cost a fortune. Nepenthe provided ample space and comfort a very reasonable price. We stayed in family room which worked well for us (we were traveling with our baby and toddler). The set up was a bit odd, there was a queen sized bed right as you walk in the door next to the kitchen and the first bathroom. There is a dividing curtain you can pull across to separate the bed from the living room. The living room is a decent size with a small futon couch that could sleep a child or very small adult in a pinch. Past the living room is the separate bedroom (this one has a door) with its own bathroom. There is a small wrap around patio with hanging chairs and amazing views of the mountain side. Somethings to note: 1) No AC only ceiling and pillar fans (we were comfortable when we stayed in May but I think in hotter months this might be a deal breaker for some people.) 2) Some of the screens at small holes that allowed insects in. This meant we couldn't open up the windows for more ventilation. 3) You need a 4 wheel drive vehicle to access this place. It is really up on a hillside and the paving leaves something to be desired. It was unseasonably dry when we were there so we had no problems but if it were really raining hard I don't know if we could have gotten up there.
4. Castillo del Arenal
Overall Ratings
4 based on 328 reviews
Castillo del Arenal overlooks the beautiful little village of El Castillo, located right next to the Arenal Volcano National Park. Amazing location allows guests to enjoy beautifull views. The Hotel it´s a CR family owned business located in a beautiful, quiet and unique area in Arenal. All our rooms have stunning views of the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. Our hotel is only 3.5 milles km from the National Park and 700 mts from the Arenal Lake. We are very accessible for all types of vehicle, many activities as well. Special for all those who wants a real expirience with nature of the Arenal Volcano area.
Nice and clean Rooms
Reviewed By joannebrown14A very nice hotel with great rooms, We had one of the bungalows which was very clean , The hotel location is just perfect a lovely view to the arenal volcano and arenal lake, Very nice and friendly staff
5. Cabinas Los Tucanes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 80 reviews
Tourist from the UK
Reviewed By Adam PBeware of the room next to the owner’s office (and front dining room)! Its the image shown in the booking.com profile. Noisy (next to office, so you hear all conversations between guests and the owner, plus her dog barking outside the room window, and phone ringing). Lighting in the room did not allow reading of books - you’d have to use a torch. The only positive is that the room was clean. I acknowledge that other rooms may be much better (I have read sone of the other reviews), even very pleasant and spacious, but my room was unacceptable. I don’t think it should be rented out given its location. You have been warned. I’m sorry I can’t be more positive - perhaps my standards are too high.
6. El Castillo Paradise
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
We are your best option in el Castillo de la fortuna, We offer rooms with the best view to the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. The hotel is located at only 800 yards from el Castillo town, all the rooms offers great views to the arenal volcano
Amazing place
Reviewed By Belarminorojasvery nice place with only 2 cabins so it is very romantic and the views are just amazing, there is no restaurant or swimming pool, but there are a few bars and place to eat in el castillo, also la fortuna is not that far
7. Hotel Linda Vista
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 3 reviews
No gym as promised on Hotels.com - terrible customer service
Reviewed By ceciliavaccariPrimarily we are disappointed that there is no gym although it says in the Hotels.com ad that there is one. When we asked the desk where it was, the staff laughed and said there is none. We went back to the room (because wifi is so bad it only works during periods un the room) and read the fine print on Hotels.com and it said the hotel has a partner deal with a gym in town. So we went back to front desk. According to the desk neither of these facts is true - nor a gym at the premises or any type of partner gym elsewhere. We were counting on a gym and that is partly why we chose this hotel. It is a scam to claim that you have a gym/ have access to one when you in fact do not. The desk personnel hardly regretted this fact and did not offer any type of compensation. Very rude. Otherwise, rooms are outdated, jacuzzi in the pool area is not at all hot and the food at the restaurant is of very poor quality and ridiculous prices, compared to what you get. Overall, if the staff would have shown any typ of ambition of customer service I would bit be wasting precious time on my holiday on writing this review but this is just not acceptable. PS lights by the sink do not work
8. Arenal Vista Lodge
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 166 reviews
Located in the northwestern region of Costa Rica, 30 minutes away from La Fortuna, in the BiologicalCorridor between Monteverde Reserve and Arenal National Park, our lodge rests marvelously in one of the surrounding hills of the Arenal Lake, enjoying a unique view of the Lake and the Volcano. Coming to our lodge, you will be surrounded by a dense tropical forest, where more than 300 species of birds can be seen, as well as 100 species of mammals and 2500 species of plants and orchids. The Hotel Arenal Vista Lodge was conceived from a prevailing necessity derived from the deficiency of facilities in the Arenal area. We felt the need for a place that took advantage of the natural beauties the area, while offering the national and international tourists the commodities they require in the Biological Corridor between Arenal Volcano National Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest FEATURES: • 25 comfortable rooms, each lodged up to four guests. • Every room includes a private hot water bathroom, walk-in closet and a balcony with spectacular view of the volcano and lake area. • Facilities equipped to care for disabled people. • Restaurant and salad bar with costarrican and international recipes. • Swimming pool, wet-bar, souvenir shop and a meeting room, natural forest trails. Internet facilities. Parking area with 24-hour security • Restaurant, which fits 90 guests, Bar and Souvenir shop • Conference room for 30 people and swimming pool with wet bar • Optional tours: hot springs, canopy, horseback riding, boat rides, transfers to Monteverde. We offer laundry service as well. Special offers for honeymooners, students, families and cycling groups.
Bad servide and noisy rooms
Reviewed By alexandraa498I had a terrible night and very bad serivce experience. food was ugly too. The first night was ok, and the view is nice, but the second night there was a lot of noise and they did nothing to stop it. The service was very very bad.
