mitmorr

Hello--

Quick question for my first post here. We are looking at staying at the Lost Iguana Resort in Arenal/La Fortuna area at the end of October. We've seen some good comments about the resort, but wonder if anyone has recently stayed there and what their opinions may be. Our biggest concern is the tours offered through the hotel. Do the tours originate at the Lost Iguana or do we have to find a way to La Fortuna to start our tour (and are they worthwhile)? We will not have a rental car, so this may prove to be a problem. Thank you so much for any info you may provide.

balibound

I stayed at Lost Iguana before it was totally finished. The rooms were lovely w/great views of the volcano. At the time I stayed there they didn't have any tours set up so I can't comment on that. I will say that it is a ways away from La Fortuna. You could get a taxi but they weren't cheap. My bet however is that if the tours are booked through the hotel that you would be picked up there.

bigjoe8

I stayed at the Lost Iguana in May of 05. It was by far the most relaxing hotel we stayed at!

I did not use their tours but during breakfast each morning I noticed tour vans coming to get their groups for the day. Be aware that they will arrive quite early.

I highly recommend the Canyoning tour, www.puretrekcostarica.com it was a highlight of our trip.

mitmorr

Thank you, both. Anyone else stay at the Lost Iguana recently? Can you see the lava flow from here (if you can see the volcano through the clouds)?

danandmelissa

Hi mitmorr,

My husband and I stayed at Lost Iguana at the beginning of July and the lava was easily viewed at night, as long as the volcano was not clouded in (one night it was and we couldn't see anything).

I would advise you to double check all reservations for tours made through the hotel--when we were there, we asked them to make a reservation for us at a private hot springs and when we got there, there was no reservation (but we were able to get in anyway). There was another couple from Boston staying there at the same time and they also had problems with tour reservations. I think a lot of the front desk people were fairly new, so this may have improved since our visit.

We really enjoyed this hotel--the grounds were beautiful and the views of the volcano were wonderful. Let me know if we can be of any more help!!

Melissa5

mitmorr, stayed at the Lost Iguana resort, ARenal in June 2005. Loved it. Every room at the Lost Iguana has a volcano view (assuming the clouds aren't blocking your view!) We were fortunate to see lava flow every night from our rooms. YOu feel like you are really staying in the jungle or rainforest, nice grounds.

The luxury suites are the best rooms. But the regular(standard?) rooms are nice too, just a lot smaller.

Yes, it's better to have a car. WE had a car. It's maybe a 15 or 20-minute drive into town which is fine with a car. Yes, I think tour transportation is available. I advise you to research your activities in advance and pretty much know what you want to book when you arrive. Front desk staff (at most hotels in Costa Rica we found) can show you their brochures but can't answer many questions though.

You can walk to the Hanging Bridges from lost iguana resort, and also buy your ticket from them half-price. Beautiful hike with hanging bridges. If you go slowly, and let everybody else pass you, and stop often and look and listen, you will see howler monkeys, interesting insects, for example. If you go too fast you won't see anything. Hubby is a biologist so we know all about going slow. that's the key. and don't make too much noise. go early in the morning. Have fun.

Food is pretty good for Costa Rica at the lost iguana.

misha2

We stayed July 2005. Tours might ask you to pay a little more to be picked up at the resort. But, it was so fabulous it was worth it.

bigjoe8

I also second the luxury rooms, the extra space and the jacuzzi tub on the balcony were great! If you stay on the ground floor you also get a open air jungle shower (it is screened in) that has two shower heads and is a neat experience.

Also at dinner be sure to sit at the tables facing the volcano, even though you can not see the mountain when the spurts of lava comes out it is a wonderful sight. It was a small flow when we were there so unless you faced that direction you would miss it.

It is also neat to have the volcano rumble and wake you in the middle of the night, well at least I thought it was neat!