so, you've all recommended tabacon over eco tamales for my family (w/3 kids) to visit. But, with the food being so bad, where do you recommend we eat? I assume we'll go in the late afternoon and can then leave and go for dinner, or can eat dinner and then go to the springs. We'll be staying at Lost Iguana. Thanks, Lisa

El Novilla Restaurant is good for dinner and about 2-3 kms from Tabacon Hot Springs on the left toward La Fortuna - before you reach Montana de Fuego.

The swim up bar at Tabacon is a good choice for something to tide you over. Just wouldn't recommend the more expensive buffet. . not that it would be so bad, just might not be so great for the $$. We haven't eaten there, my remarks based only on what I've heard from others. We spent the morning, had lunch and did other things in the afternoon, and returned after dinner for a couple of hours. El Novillo is a don't miss!

Thanks for the info. However, if we are arriving at Lost Iguana by private driver (got his name from the hotel, he has emailed me a few times, English is good, etc. If it's a success, I'll let everyone know.) what is the best way to get around La Fortuna. Can we call taxis to take us to the springs, to El Novillo, etc. or do we need to have a rental car at our disposal while in arenal area?

If I were going to be there a few days, I'd get a rental for sure. It's a place where you move around quite a bit, so I'd not like depending on taxis, although they are there and are certainly an option.

Hi, My family is going to CR the last week of Feb and I have a related question to ask the forum.

We like to visit tabacon hot springs for its photo taking opportunities. But tabacon requires me to buy the buffet package if I make reservations now (they told me that the day pass alone was not available). I think $60 is too expensive.

My question is: (1) Is reservation really necessary for Tabacon? (2) If I walk in, can I buy the day pass only ticket? (3) How long I have to wait before I can be admitted into the pool?

Thanks.

I'm not sure anyone is going to be able to answer that for you. It has been 3 years since I was there, and it wasn't quite in such demand then! Certainly not as pricey. We just walked up, bought a day pass--and that was on December 26, so definitely a busy time. But not crowded. Things have changed. I'd take my chances on that day, I think. . .I agree it is too much. We're going in March and will face similar--several in our group haven't been to Arenal and I'd dearly love them to see Tabacon.

El Novillo for steak, Dom Rufino in town for buzz, mojitos and grandma special recipe baked chicken, las nenes for Italian:

http://costa.rica.typepad.com/la_for...una/index.html

Thanks shillmac for comments. I will post my find when I come back from my Feb trip.

You're welcome. I wasn't very much help--just sympathizing at the ridiculous cost! Looking forward to your comments. . .

We just got back from CR and personally I think paying $60 for Tabacon is a rip off. We had read that if you go after 7pm it is cheaper but in reality you are better off just getting the full day pass because you only save $5 by going after 7pm. While the actual hot springs were nice, I did not enjoy the food at all and did not find it to be worth what we paid. In hindsight, we probably would have tried out Eco-Termales instead.

If you just get a night pass its $35 and well worth it I think.

Check out Eco-Termales pics here - to me it looks pretty crappy. Tabacon was laid out very nice and was just a really pretty area - not just 4 big jacuzzi's. My brother was there 2 weeks ago and just showed up to buy passes and did not have a problem.

http://www.arenal.net/tour/eco-thermales-hot-springs/

I agree the buffet at Tabacon is not so hot. I recommend El Novillo - and if the lava on Arenal is visible you will have a great view

Yeah, we never eat there--and that's one of the reasons I'd not ever choose to stay there--too many negative reviews on the food (and frequently the rooms).

We like to go in the a.m or early afternoon and back at night. But we either leave and eat somewhere else or have a snack at the swim up bar in the big pool.

I'll never forget my first impression of Tabacon. Still think it is a great place to visit. That said, I do regret that it has gotten so expensive. It's price gouging pure and simple.

I was recently in the area and the word is that Tabacon wants to become more exclusive and is trying to phase out day-trippers, eventually only being open to hotel guests. I've been there a few times and while it's pretty, I really prefer EcoTermales. It's very beautiful and more natural and the food is very good.
Sandy

Hi Shillmac,

I went to Tabacon last Saturday and I had no problem buying a day pass, that is $45 p.p. I asked the receptionist whether a reservation is necessary, she said no.

I also went to Baldi,$19 a person from my hotel. Most of Baldi's pools have unblocked view of Mt. Arenal. I can see lava flow down along the far right side of the mountain even during the day but not too much (red) lava view at night.

I like both Tabacon and Baldi. Their differences might be summarized as Baldi - hot spring pools, Tabacon - hot spring streams. Baldi is also good for families with young kids because the bottoms of the pools are flat.

Naplo99

why do you keep recommending arenal.net on these boards?

Their prices for say a jeep-boat-jeep trip from Monteverde to Arenal are DOUBLE what i pay when im there.
same for most of the tours, cheaper to book direct or -in the case of the prices ive seen on arenal.net- it would be cheaper to book it thru the hotel!!

AND, they have had numerous complaints about the service on all the travel boards!


Eco Thermales is the best for quiet, more natural.
Baldi is the worst,but if youve got a tour group or a load of kids its OK.
Tabacon is worth it if youre in an older group, senior citizens are now a large part of the clientele at Tabacon, or on honeymoon or if youre the kind of person who goes on cruise ship holidays and Disneyland. Its kitsch!!
The food last time i paid for it- stupidly- was overpriced mediocre 'holiday resort buffet' food!

BTW if youre in La Fortuna or any length of time youll find out that in fact there are FREE hot springs all over the place!

Unfortunately the locals- understandbly- dont tell tourists about them.

Thanks for all the guidance - I had very similar question. I'm going to CR for the first time in 10 DAYS and this is one stop my friends and I really want to make!

I was unable to purchase a daypass ($45) for our day in the area (March 16), but the $60 daypass with lunch was available. We bought 6 of them, simply because we are taking a group of friends on their first visit and I wanted them to see Tabacon. Also, the ladies in the group have appt. at the Grand Spa, which has recently achieved Top Ten in the U.S. and Central America status in Travel & Leisure mag.

It may be Disney, but I still think it's gorgeous there. Definitely will try Eco sometime, though.

Also, I should mention that the $60 didn't seem so bad to us, given the fact that Tabacon is going to be our main destination while at Arenal. We'll just have one day there, so we'll spend most of it at the hot springs, leaving for awhile in the p.m., returning in the evening. It's meant to be a very low key, low activity short time--just for family and friends to spend a little time together. Everything always depends, of course, on one's intentions and purposes!