Arenal Observatory Lodge.
Arenal Observatory Lodge.
Arenal Observatory Lodge.

Dantica Lodge - The cloud forest reserve around the lodge and the Savegre valley down to San Gerardo de Dota

Hidden Canopy Tree House - The birds and wildlife in branches of the tree we were staying in.

Rancho Margot - The Children's Eternal Rain Forest and Río Caño Negro

Arenal Observatory Lodge (weather permitting)
Penthouse - Costa VerdeII

Don't have a third so, I guess we will have to go back to Costa Rica?

Villa Caletas - The view from the amphitheater(with drinks!) across the Gulf of Nicoya to Cabo Blanco is awesome.The infinity pool perched on the edge of the cliff seems to defy gravity.

Villas Gaia(Ojochal)-The hilltop rooms and the pool give a spectacular view of the rugged southern Costa Rica coast.The sunsets were unbelievable!

Lost Iguana- Waking up to the view with a great cup of coffee!

I actually prefer my views from a bed

AOL (White Hawk Villa)

http://picasaweb.google.com/kiwifann/ArenalVolcanoIncludingBirds#5544671690487636402

Tough to narrow this one down! So many beautiful views to choose from!

Mot Mot upper Villa - the pacific and jungle, lots and lots of monkeys and the sunsets!

Arenal Observatory Lodge - the volcano, awesome views!

Peace Lodge - upper floor - when the fog comes in it's very mystical and peaceful there sitting on your balcony

But I also love the views at Bosque del Cabo and one of the first views I thought of was Xandari at night.....

I'm having fun reading your suggestions. Some I haven't even heard of. Shell, yes, forgot about the Peace Lodge - love that one too, especially the hummingbirds.

Peace lodge for sure!

Not a fancy hotel, but love the overlook of the
Orosi Valley--Sanchiri Lodge

Rancho Naturalista

Bosque del Cabo

Blue Jay Lodge in Malpais (Nicoya peninsula). View of hte ocean. Bonus that it is from an open air hillside bungalow, with hammocks on the balcony.

Usually we stay in the cheaper rooms of hotels aka no view.

Shillmac's new house

Bosque del Cabo - forest & ocean views with macaws overhead, monkeys swinging by and the sounds of the Pacific crashing hundreds of feet below

Xandari - the city all spread out below you with the planes landing so far in the distance and mountains all around

Shelter from the Storm - the Monkey House with, ahem, monkeys swinging by in the forest that abuts your patio & also Villas las Rocas with the views of the Pacific coast spread out before you.

www.hotelvillacaletas.com

Awesome views of parrot couples flyong over

the Pacific Coast and Jungle.

Volcano lava view www.lostiguanaresort.com and www.tabacon.com

CV2 www.costaverde.com

The Penthouse www.costaverde.com 270 degree wrap around

views over manuel antonio park wth monkeys and iguanas on

my porch in the foreground.

cattail, can't wait to get you down there!

I heard shillmac's place comes with free Imperials.

Thank you costaricaguise for some fresh ideas.

Free imperials and free bananas.

The best view in Costa Rica is from the villas at Lomas Del Mar just before the RIU hotel. The top pool and gym area is the best view....

Oceanica Playa Flamingo

Palms in Playa Flamingo

For sunset cocktails Mar y Sol in Flamingo.

Still enjoying reading these - thanks to everyone for these great suggestions.

You're welcome 1bhcrashman and we've added a few other favorites recently that aren't on many lists (and I know for a fact that one of them isn't on any lists)

La Leona Ecolodge - anywhere with 320 thread count sheets that you have to hike to belongs on someones list
Tree of Life - Seriously, a cave behind a waterfall with some of the best food anywhere
Camp Edease - Okay so not everyone wants to spend the night under the stars in a hammock but if you ever do this spot along the Rio Piedra Blanca on the border of Corcovado is for you

Sanchiri Lodge (Orosi)
Arenal Observatory Lodge (La Fortuna)
Tiki Villa (Dominical)
Hacienda Tayutic (Turrialba)

It's fun to see this thread pop back up. I hope other people will continue to add to it.

Also love the view from Hacienda Tayutic! Turrialba area is gorgeous.

I'm topping an older thread to get ideas for future trips. Does anyone have any new ones to add?

Lagarta Lodge in Nosara...

Thanks, Tully, for mentioning Shelter from the Storm and the views... cause I know how much you love Bosque!! Hope we or I can join you there on the Osa soon rather than seeing it from our living room.

Bosque del Cabo (Congo casita).

It's fun to keep this thread going. Thanks for the new additions.

1) La Paloma Lodge in Drake Bay...amazing views of the jungle and Pacific

2) Lost Iguana-volcano view

Oops...missed my third...

3) Hotel Buena Vista-sunrise over San Jose

I am taking notes

We had lunch at Villa Caletas on a recent trip - wow, the view was fantastic!

Had the absolute pleasure of staying at Villas Caletas (Jr. Suite, I think?) Jaw dropping STUNNING view of the Pacific!

Lisa, I would love to stay there on a future trip. The property looked amazing. They told us that toucans hang ou in the early morning. What kind of activities are there in the area? I know it's close to the croc bridge and Carara.

Best bathroom view is Luna Azul near Playa Ostional. You can shower while gazing at the ocean

volcanogirl: Lots of toucans AND scarlet macaws (in flight) incredible! Some activities: boat croc tour on the Tarcoles, Carara (lots of scarlet macaws), Bijagual falls, ATV's to Bijagual. There are two really great soda/restaurants in/near Bijagual so you could also drive yourself there. Hermosa (south of V-Caletas) lots of surf action (surf competition each Saturday) or learn to surf in Jaco. There is a white sand beach north of Caletas (Playa Blanca? I think). Lots to see and do in the area but very honestly, if you're staying at Villas Caletas, it's really tough to pry yourself away from that view!

RAC, that sounds pretty good. Lisa, thanks for all that good info. Sounds amazing!

hey volcanogirl!
I'm not going to include Bdc because that is an obvious answer
Villa Caletas, Finca Rosa Blanca (Santa Barbara/Heredia), and...El Establo (monteverde).
Actually, this was a tough question because there are too many to name! We stayed at La Mariposa in MA many years ago before they made all the changes with the pool and bar area - we stopped in during the off season - got a great rate - and I thought I died and went to heaven with that sunset view! (that's how we found El Establo too - it was brand new and empty...those were the days view at Tabacon was pretty spectacular but "the flow" has changed since we were there...always love Shelter from the Storm - not just the view - Donna and Darryl make that place!

Thanks, steph - I will definitely have to go to Shelter from the Storm someday. It gets so many great reviews.

Yes you should get there, lovely views and agree D & D make the place. Heading back there in June, can't wait to sit by the pool, look at the ocean and visit with old friends.

Hi Lisa! How are things going with your new place? We were through there in March, and I thought about you and Harry. I hope you are both well and enjoying yourselves.

Have wanted to stay at Villas Caletas for years. One of these days. . . .although every who is retired in Costa Rica tells me that pensionados can't afford the luxe places too often. I'm sure that generalization will fit us to a "T"!

Nice to "see" you again.

shillmac Jill: EXCELLENT to "hear" from you! We were able to visit V-Caletas on an off season rate/discounted further than the website indicated so all is not lost! We saw the rate and thought, well if we're ever going to do this, now is the time! Totally worth it and they do have residents discounts too (I think we hit them up for that also!) Hope all is well in your new digs! Keep in touch!

I thought Villa Las Rocas Abajo (Lower Unit) had the best view at Shelter from the Storm, and it isn't very expensive.

You needed to drive up a steep gravel street at full speed with a 4wd when I was there a few years ago. Don't know if the road way has been improved since.

A few that don't get as much play as some of the obvious ones (BdC, Villa Caletas, most places in Arenal, etc):

La Paloma Lodge
Punta Islita
Selva Bananito Lodge
Iguanazul (Junquillal)
Kura Design Villas (and a bunch of others in those hills)
second floor rooms at Monteverde Lodge
some rooms at Hotel Guanamar
Pacuare Lodge
Casa Cameleon (Malpais, and several others in the hills here)
Undersea Hunter/Oceanos Aggressor
Ocotal Resort
just about any lodge in the Osa