Travel to Arenal Volcano can be made easier if you book your hotel in advance. However, if you prefer to have flexibility in your travels, it's not necessary to book but it's a good idea to have a look at a few options before you travel to Arenal.

Hotels in or near Arenal Volcano

• Arenal Observatory Lodge gives visitors the opportunity to stay on a ridge about 1.7 miles from the volcano. It's a close as you can get to an eruption and you'll be watching lava flows from this location. The travel reviews for the lodge are solid. Rates start at US$77.
• Arenal Paraiso Hotel & Spa has 118 rooms, spa, restaurant, thermal waters, 14 pools, wet bar, saunas and more. This hotel gets solid travel reviews and rates start at US$89/double.
• Arenal Lodge is a reasonably priced hotel built on 2,000 acres of land. It's a little off- the-beaten-path, so if you are looking for convenience, this isn't the place. But, it offers a plethora of outdoor activities. Prices start at US$78/double.
• Arenal Vista Lodge offers 25 units at reasonable rates and has an awesome view of Arenal Volcano. This is not a North American-style resort but a lodging targeted at locals. The lodge gets mixed travel reviews. But, it has reasonable rates starting at US$88/double. I feel the travel reviews/expectations are a bit harsh for this price point.
• Arenal Volcano Inn is located in La Fortuna and boasts a great view of Arenal Volcano. The hotel has a restaurant, pool, spa and immaculate gardens. The rooms are moderately priced starting at US$90. This hotel gets great travel reviews.
• Casa Luna Lodge is located in La Fortuna and has 36 units. It offers comfortable rooms at reasonable rates and gets great travel reviews. Rates start at US$110/double.
• Hotel Arenal Kioro has 42 room and 11 suites with an outstanding view. All the rooms are beautifully appointed. The hotel has a spa, hot springs, restaurant and conference facilities. This hotel gets excellent travel reviews. Rates start at US$400.
• Hotel Arenal Nayara gets rave travel reviews from past guests and has been identified as a fabulous mountainous retreat. The lodging is boutique and the amenities are terrific. Rates start at US$199/double.
• Hotel El Silencio del Campo offers accommodation in cabins built in a village style. The charming units have a fabulous view of Arenal and are well equipped with a/c, fridges and coffee maker. This hotel gets terrific travel reviews. Rates start at US$150/double.
• Hotel Gran Arenal is located outside of La Fortuna and about 15 minutes from Lake Arenal. The hotel offers 20 cabins in a private atmosphere for reasonable rates. The Gran Arenal gets excellent travel reviews. Rates start at US$85.
• Hotel La Fortuna is a new modern hotel located in La Fortuna and offers a clean comfortable environment. This hotel gets solid travle reviews. The rates start at US$80.
• Hotel La Pradera de Arenal offers rooms and cabins with a list of quality amenities and services at reasonable rates. This hotel gets terrific travel reviews and rates start at US$80/double.
• Hotel Las Colinas de Arenal is a modestly priced hotel located in La Fortuna. This hotel has a number of rooms with view of Arenal. It gets solid travel reviews. Rates start at US$66/double.
• Hotel Lomas del Volcan offers 40 cabinas on 150-hectare farm, which is at the foot of Arenal. The rooms are well equipped. The hotel gets solid travel reviews. Rates start at US$130.
• Hotel Los Lagos Spa & Resort is a moderately priced hotel overlooking Arenal Volcano and has a pool, hot springs, restaurant, spa, web bar, and fabulous view. The rates start at US$140/double.
• Hotel Mountain Paradise is a lovely hotel with reasonable rates and offers some great value. There are a couple mixed travel reviews but for the most part it gets excellent ratings. For the price point, you probably can't beat the value. Rates start at US$140.
• Hotel Royal Corin is a resort offering 54 superior-quality rooms in a luxurious setting. This resort hotel offers the services expected of a five-star hotel. It gets good travel reviews. Rates start at US$195/double.
• Leaves and Lizards Cabin Retreat is in the mountains above La Fortuna, the nearest town to Arenal Volcano. This retreat is located about 30-minute drive from La Fortuna. The lodging and cabins provide comfortable ambiance and amenities at a moderate price point.
• Lost Iguana Resort is an upscale resort that offers quality services and tastefully appointed rooms. The travel reviews are solid and the rates start at US$185/double.
• Montana de Fuego is a luxury hotel/resort offering rooms and suites in lovely setting of 45 acres. The travel reviews for this hotel are good. There's a pool, restaurant and on-site spa. The rates start at US$135.
• Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort is a resort & spa and is one of the more exlusive resorts in Arenal. The hotel offers a variety of rooms. However, the hots springs are the reason to go here. Travel reviews for this resort are quite good. Rates start at US$270.
• The Arenal Springs Resort & Spa is located just outside of La Fortuna and Arenal Lake with a direct view of Arenal Volcano on the active side of the volcano. The hotel is moderately priced with rates starting at US$117/double and gets excellent travel reviews.
• The Springs Resort & Spa is an exclusive resort with prices to match. However, it gets excellent travel reviews and is highly recommended by past visitors. The resort offers lodging, hot springs, pools, spa, fitness center, wildlife reserve, restaurant, bar, and casino.
• Volcano Lodge has 65 guest rooms and is located close to La Fortuna. Offering amenities and services such as a swimming pool, heated Jacuzzi, restaurant, playground, botanical gardens and concerierge, this Arenal hotel gets terrific travel reviews. Rates start at US$125.

There are an incredible number of hotels in the Arenal area that have a view of Arenal Volcano. However, there are some hotels in nearby towns such as El Castillo and La Fortuna that offer quality affordable accommodation but don't have a view of the volcano. The advantage to being in town is that there are a number of services such as restaurants and Internet, while the country setting of many of the hotels with views require travel to town for those tourism services. 

View an extensive list of Arenal hotels and cabins. I've spent time researching the travel reviews for these hotels to get a feel for the value. I hope that these reviews will help you narrow down your choice of a hotel or cabin.

Arenal Tour

Arenal tour ideas & options are considerable. There are many local outfitters & international travel agencies offering tours that include Arenal Volcano. The Arenal tours listed below include Arenal Volcano on the itinerary. There are various budgets and travel styles.

• Arenal budget travel is a tour offered by GAP Adventures and is moderately priced. This 8-day trip is targeted at the 18 to 30-ish age group and costs about US$525.
• Costa Rica National Parks including Arenal explores Costa Rica's national ecological treasures. This 16-day trip is moderately priced at approx US$1400.
• Action-packed travel to Costa Rica on a tight schedule and view Arenal Volcano. This 9-day trip costs about US$800 and gets you in and out of Costa Rica in 9 days.
• Two-week budget trip of Costa Rica includes Arenal and doesn't break the bank at US$900.

Arenal Vacation Planning Resources

Arenal vacation planning resources and tools:

• Arenal Volcano eruptions are the main attraction.
• Arenal travel ideas and options.
• Arenal Observatory Lodge is located near La Fortuna and offers accommodation and a deck to view the volcano.
• Lake Arenal is a scenic route with a lovely country side and great places to stop and enjoy.
• Arenal Springs at Tabacon is located west of La Fortuna and is on the spot where the volcanic eruption of 1975 passed. There are other springs located nearby.
• Arenal Observatory Lodge is located in a great location for watching the eruptions.
• Sights near Arenal National Park make for a lovely scenic drive and give you some great things to see.
• Hiking in Arenal National Park provides some great opportunities to get out and see nature.
• Arenal Butterfly Conservatory has a numerous Costa Rican butterflies on display.
• Arenal Snake Garden gives you and the kids a chance to see this slithery creature.
• Arenal National Park activities are fun and diverse. There's everything from water activities to horseback riding and rappelling.
• Arenal Volcano hotels and lodges has a comprehensive list with links to descriptions and photos.
• Monteverde Arenal trip: Don't miss the scenic Monteverde Arenal trip through the cloud forests to the explosive Arenal Volcano.