11 Best Hotels in Arenal, Monteverde, and the Northern Lowlands, Costa Rica

Perched canyonside with views of the forest and the volcano beyond, these spacious, modern cabins of stone and wood below soaring ceilings and massive windows are cozy, private, and comfortable. Your villa includes free minibars featuring local beer and kombucha, a private deck with a plunge pool, indoor/outdoor showers, a huge high-end gym, complimentary yoga classes, a swim-up bar for socializing, and unparalleled service. The breakfast with a personal French press of coffee is mostly grown on-site and will fill you up until dinner.

Nestled among 13½ acres of rolling hills nearly 3 km (2 miles) from town, luxury tree houses have wraparound decks, driftwood headboards, tree-stump nightstands, waterfall showers, and skylight ceilings, ultimately fading the line between nature and decor. Each unit is unique in design, but all are built of wood, stone, and glass and have minibars, lounge areas, and private entrances. The spacious two-bedroom Rivendell tree house looks more like a two-story chalet cupped in the branches. Eden has an indoor Jacuzzi, and Neverland—built over a koi pond—has floor-to-ceiling windows with views over the hills to the Gulf of Nicoya. Breakfast and tea are served in a lovely solarium in the main house, which also has two standard guest rooms. The rules here are simple: no shoes in the house, no working during your stay, and dessert is served before dinner promptly at 5 (the coconut flan is to die for). The property's views are among Monteverde’s best, and there are plenty of quiet spots for reflection and a network of hiking trails.

Inspired by the owners' years in Austria, two spacious chalets built into a hillside command expansive views of the Gulf of Nicoya and the hilly peninsula, and contain elegant, airy, and downright regal rooms—all with balconies, minibars, polished woods, and plush white duvets. Decor is clean and tailored, and service is impeccable, lending a sense of old-world charm reminiscent of a mountaineer's version of the Ritz. Rooms in the Main Building, where you'll find the lobby and restaurant, are on the small side but are more affordable; those in the Chalet Building are larger and have outdoor showers or Jacuzzi tubs. Splurge on one of the spacious suites with panoramic sunset views, spa-like bathrooms, and expansive private terraces featuring soaking tubs and swinging daybeds.  On the ground floor of the Chalet Building you'll find a boutique, juice bar, and yoga studio. Food served in their restaurant Celajes is prepared with ingredients from the greenhouse. A trail from the main building leads to a microbrewery, Jacuzzi, and natural spring for swimming on warmer days. For a fee, you can opt for such pampering perks as picnic lunches, spa treatments, breakfast in bed, and private in-room dinners.

Scattered over expansive grounds are freestanding casitas, villas, and "tents," all tastefully decorated with dark-wood furnishings and equipped with luxurious touches like indoor-outdoor showers, four-post canopy beds, plasma TVs, and whirlpool tubs. Rooms fall into three categories (suites, casitas, and villas) but are similar in design with an eclectic mix of imported decor ranging from Italian crystal chandeliers to Balinese hand-carved furniture. The wood-plank floors and ceilings made from sugarcane reeds add a natural touch. The adults-only villas are at Naraya Springs, an exclusive section of the resort connected by way of a 230-foot jungle bridge. Double the rate of the casitas, villas have private plunge pools and complimentary extras like minibars, Wi-Fi, laundry service, and yoga. Although lacking volcano views, villas are extremely private and have their own reception area, spa, and pool. Only half of the casitas and suites have volcano views. The highest-end is the tented camp, large luxury "tents" have soaring ceilings, soaking tubs, breathtaking vistas of the volcano from the suites and private plunge pools, walk-in closets, your choice of breakfast served on the patio, and every amenity (daily laundry service is included). There are cascading termales, thermal pools heated by the natural springs, and the spa has open treatment rooms so you can hear the wildlife and rain during your massage. The resort's five restaurants offer tapas, international, Asian, Mediterranean cuisine, and even a wine bar, so you never have to leave the comforts of the grounds. Special packages are available for those who want meals included in the rate.

This is one of the closest properties to the volcano, with rooms boasting hydromassage Jacuzzis, sitting areas, jaw-dropping views, Juliet balconies, and nearly 700 square feet of space. High ceilings, almost too much space, and queen beds that face walls of glass are what set this property apart from competitors; but at night when the curtains are drawn, rooms can be rather dark and stuffy (electricity operates by key card). The beautifully manicured grounds make up for this minor pitfall, with streams, gardens, and thermal springs that cascade from the swimming pool down to the spa. Guests receive complimentary admission to the Titokú Hot Springs, located 6 km (4 miles) south of the hotel and 5 km (3 miles) north of La Fortuna.

Set in the rainforest, these marvelous, secluded casitas have elegant furnishings, sizable bathrooms with private garden showers, and terraces that entice you to spend time in nature. There are hot tubs and a massive pool, a gracious dining area and bar, and beautiful grounds with lots of ponds where you may discover exotic rainforest frogs (and possibly the snakes who feed on them).

Despite the relative isolation, travelers flock to this rainforest resort largely because each hillside room has a huge picture window and a door opening to an individual balcony with volcano views. Although there is a steep climb to many rooms, they are decorated with locally made art and bamboo-frame beds, and suites have vaulted ceilings, garden showers, and private whirlpools. A few cottages are tucked away on the grounds and make ideal getaways for families, while the spa and two heated pools ensure a relaxing stay. The location, a short drive above Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges, makes this a good bet if you have your own vehicle, but otherwise factor in a $35 taxi ride to La Fortuna and most area attractions.

This hotel has a volcano view along with luxury perks like a swim-up bar, five-star cuisine, a swanky lobby, and an impressive spa. Spacious, nicely decorated accommodations come with friendly service, a sense of intimacy, and another big bonus—on-site hot springs. Soothing cream-color walls, white polished floors, and wood furnishings prevail in the decor, with colorful accents scattered about in the form of pillows and wall hangings. Suites have stone accents and private hot tubs. Every room has a balcony with views of the pool and volcano. Three bars and a restaurant with international cuisine round out the offerings here. There's a sundeck on the second floor and plenty of lounge chairs near the three thermal pools.

Situated on 3 acres with private nature trails, these completely updated casita duplexes with large windows, separate bedrooms, porches, and luxe linens are lovely, but it's the top-notch service that sets Senda apart. The parklike setting is made even better by views of the Gulf of Nicoya at the top of the property. Check out their complimentary cooking and yoga classes. The property is wheelchair accessible.

With its own adventure park, hot-springs complex, and activities for all ages, this resort caters to both hotel guests and the outside public with day passes to its massive grounds. Near-perfect volcano views from individual balconies, a 14,000-square-foot spa, and rustically elegant rooms all contribute to a sense of well-being at this luxurious and remote retreat. The sky is the limit in furnishings (and price) as you work your way up to the suites and villas—additional rooms, arched sky-lighted ceilings, and hot tubs are among the amenities. Even the standard rooms have surround-sound speaker systems and huge balconies facing the volcano. Below the property is Club Río, an outdoor adventure park with kayaking, horseback riding, rock climbing, rappelling, hiking, and a wildlife preserve for rescued animals. Visitors are transported up and down the hill by shuttle bus, and many of the hot-spring pools are surrounded by the kind of artificial rocks and boulders you see in amusement parks.

At one of Central America's most relaxing and romantic resorts, it's the hot springs and lovely spa, coupled with attractive rooms, that customarily draw happy guests inland from the ocean. Most rooms have a terrace, all with either volcano or garden views. Luxurious touches include nightly turndown service, bathrobes, a minibar, a movie library, and free access to the hotel's hot springs (day passes for nonguests cost $89). Updated rooms provide respite after a day's adventuring. As the most romantic and beautifully designed hot-spring facility in the area, the 20 pools tend to get crowded with outside visitors. For a break from the public, hotel guests have access to the Shangri-La Gardens, an exclusive adults-only hideaway. The hot springs and spa are actually 300 meters east of the hotel; you can either walk from your room or take the complimentary shuttle.