Arenal Observatory Lodge vs. Arenal Paraiso?
Aug 1st, 2007, 09:40 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Arenal Observatory Lodge vs. Arenal Paraiso?
We'll be spending 4 nights in Arenal and plan to do SkyTrek, hanging bridges, rappelling down waterfalls, hiking and whatever else we can fit in! Where would be the better place to stay? We do want to venture into La Fortuna and patronize the local restaurants - would prefer that over hotel food if recommended.
Aug 1st, 2007, 09:53 AM
#2
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 24,839
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We stayed at Lost Iguana, so can't help you with your hotel decision, but for restaurants, we enjoyed the steaks at El Novillo and La Choza de Laurel was actually quite good also. They're known for their rotisserie chicken. They grill it on a big spit out front, and you can see it as you come in. We ordered it, and the waitress said, "No chicken." We have no idea why because the spit was full of them, so we had casados - still good.
Aug 1st, 2007, 11:50 AM
#3
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 541
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
redconley - SkyTram/SkyTrek, hanging bridges, and the various hot springs (Tabacon, Baldi, EcoThermales) are easy driving distance from Arenal Observatory Lodge and on the south side of Arenal it is one of the only hotels and the best right now for lava viewing. However, it is the farthest of the major hotels from La Fortuna. Arenal Paraiso is more centrally located on the north side of Arenal but no lava viewing.
Aug 1st, 2007, 05:06 PM
#4
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good choices...Lost Iguana...great volcano view..Los Lagos great volcano view...Volcano Lodge great volcano view!! Arenal Paraiso great volcano...Kioro great volcano view..Montana de Fuego great volcano view...Silencio del Campo great volcano view ...Mountain Paradise new hotel with great volcano view...
All those volcanos offer lava view...without a problem!!
If the night is clear you can see lava even from the front door at Don Rufinos restaurant in La Fortuna...from there the lava will be visible all the way around the volcano until El Castillo...
Arenal Observatory...location...location...location...goo d idea to patronize local restaurants...because the price to pay for food in the Observatory is high and terrible!!
El Novillo is a great TICO steak house...NENES is another good choice...Soda La Parada...for good typical casados...and of course Don Rufinos!!!
R.A Luis
Just buckle up and enjoy the ride in paradise!!
All those volcanos offer lava view...without a problem!!
If the night is clear you can see lava even from the front door at Don Rufinos restaurant in La Fortuna...from there the lava will be visible all the way around the volcano until El Castillo...
Arenal Observatory...location...location...location...goo d idea to patronize local restaurants...because the price to pay for food in the Observatory is high and terrible!!
El Novillo is a great TICO steak house...NENES is another good choice...Soda La Parada...for good typical casados...and of course Don Rufinos!!!
R.A Luis
Just buckle up and enjoy the ride in paradise!!
Aug 1st, 2007, 08:39 PM
#5
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,750
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi red -- There are many good hotels around the volcano in Fortuna, so it will really depend on your personal preference. What is your budget and style? There is anything small lodges with a few cabinas sprinkled about, to larger places like that, and then more budget w/o pool, and "lux spa" places and others away from volcano.
