The Arenal Observatory Lodge crowns a ridge overlooking Arenal Lake and the looming volcano only 1.7 miles away, all within the refreshing ambiance of a working 870 acres farm that includes 400 acres in reforestation and 270 acres of natural forest, all surrounded by the tropical splendor of the Arenal National Park. Arenal Lake is the largest in Costa Rica and offers excellent sport fishing. The lodge actually grew out of several extremely humble buildings originally built for housing scientists and researchers from the Smithsonian Institute and Earthwatch.

1. ACCO M O DAT IO N
ARENAL
OBSERVATORY
LODGE & SPA
-
-
DISCOVER the Arenal Volcano, EXPLORE the nature,
RELAX in our unbelievable destination!
The Arenal Observatory Lodge crowns a ridge overlooking Arenal Lake and the looming volcano only
1.7 miles away, all within the refreshing ambiance of a working 870 acres farm that includes 400 acres
in reforestation and 270 acres of natural forest, all surrounded by the tropical splendor of the Arenal
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano Costa Rica | Reservations +506 2290 7011 | Fax +506 2290 8427
The Lodge: +506 2479 1070 - Email: info@arenalobservatorylodge.com | POBox: 13411-1000SJO-CR

2. LOCATION IN ARENAL VOLCANO, COSTA RICA
Arenal Observatory Lodge is located just at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, and next to the
Arenal Volcano National Park. From La Fortuna town is only 22 kms heading to El Castillo Village.
LOCATION
ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPA
The drive to Arenal Volcano from
San Jose city passes through some
of the most scenic regions in the
country – vibrant green pastures,
rolling mountains and meadows,
patches of lush cloud and rain forests and picturesque Costa Rican
villages. Driving to Arenal, you’ll
pass by working dairy farms,
hillsides full of grazing cattle, and
yucca, sugar cane and, of course,
Arenal map, if you are driving to
Arenal you can choose from
several routes to the:
Arenal Observatory Lodge
the main road that goes to our property
GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: 10.434215
Longitude:-84.701500
Driving from San Jose Airport:
http://www.arenalobservatory lodge.com/getting-here
Driving from Liberia Airport:
http://www.arenalobservatory lodge.com/getting-here
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano Costa Rica | Reservations +506 2290 7011 | Fax +506 2290 8427
The Lodge: +506 2479 1070 - Email: info@arenalobservatorylodge.com | POBox: 13411-1000SJO-CR

4. ABOUT OUR LODGE
ABOUT
ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPA
Our Reception
charming living room, Computer to use Internet
Service, Phone Cabin to make international and local
calls, and the most diverse local tours can be hired at
our reception desk
Arenal Volcano And Lake View
As soon as you arrive to Arenal Observatory Lodge, the Arenal
Volcano will be just in front. Take your time to check-in and
then few steps away there is our view point looking at the
volcano and the arenal lake
The Bird Sanctuary
Birders will be particularly delighted, as the diverse habitats
surrounding the volcano observatory lodge shelter nearly 400
species. Birds can be seen everywhere!
The Observatory Restaurant & Bar
The Restaurant overlooks the volcano southern slop with
majestic panoramic view of the lake and Arenal volcano.
The Gardens & Landscape
The gardens and landscaping are extravagant with color. Natural
wildlife. Jewel-toned hummingbirds dart from heliconia to
Spa Services
"Inspired by the natural surroundings of Arenal Volcano, The Spa
at Arenal Observatory Lodge creates an unsurpassed experience
in an environment designed for relaxation, renewal and rejuvenation. Let your cares melt away in the outdoor scenes as you
breathe in the enchanting rhythms of nature."
Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi
Tiled in cobalt blue, it melts into the rainforest beyond. A sunken
bubbling Jacuzzi provides soothing relaxation beneath a glass
gazebo framing the volcano’s peak against a starry sky

5. ARENAL VOLCANO
After having lain dormant for over 400 years, Arenal Volcano erupted violently on July 29, 1968,
wreaking havoc on the local population and creating a “lava-scape” for miles around its base.
feet – all this right outside your Arenal hotel room at the Observatory Lodge
At roughly 7:30 a.m. on Monday July 29, 1968
– after having lain relatively dormant for over
400 years – Arenal Volcano erupted with
violence and fury.
Extreme eruptions and volcanic activity
continued for several days, killing some 87
people and burying over 15 square
kilometers in rock, lava and ash.
In Costa Rica, volcanoes are a
natural part of the landscape,
contributing to the area’s history
and folklore, The Guatuso Indians,
for example, believed the volcano
was home to the God of Fire.
Status
of Arenal
Volcano
square kilometers in the surrounding area to
varying degrees, with damage to crops,
property, livestock and forests. One of the
major eruptions occurred on May 8, 1998 and
gave rise to temporary evacuations from area
hotels, although the danger quickly passed
and no one was injured.
The last big explosions occurred: August 25,
2001; March 2007, September 18, 2008;
March 2, 2009; And May 24, 2010. At Arenal,
current conditions are closely monitored for
the safety of local residents and visitors alike.
Arenal Volcano which lay dormant for centuries, erupted in 1968 and has been
active but in the last months the Arenal volcano is in a passive phase with very
little activity as a part of its natural evolution. Arenal Observatory Lodge was
originally built in 1987 as a Smithsonian Institute scientic research station.
Unlike other La Fortuna hotels, this volcano lodge is the only Arenal Volcano
observatory situated within Arenal National Park, protected from danger by
the deep gorge of the Agua Caliente River.
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano Costa Rica | Reservations +506 2290 7011 | Fax +506 2290 8427
The Lodge: +506 2479 1070 - Email: info@arenalobservatorylodge.com | POBox: 13411-1000SJO-CR
VOLCANO
ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPA

6. ACTIVITIES IN THE LODGE
Arenal Observatory Lodge isn’t just a beautiful Arenal family hotel from which to
watch the wonders of the Arenal Volcano. It’s also a great base for an entire gamut
of activities and adventures.
ACT IV IT IES
LO DGE
ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPA
The hotel lies within the Arenal National Park where
primary and secondary tropical forests grow on the
fertile volcanic soils, and abundant birds, mammals
heard in the forest in the early morning or late afternoons.
An 11km (7 miles) network of well-marked and
maintained trails crisscrosses the property, ideal for
hiking, horse-back riding or bicycle rides. These trails
give you access to so much local natural beauty and
we also have 800 m (0.5 miles) of paved pathway for
wheelchair access, which enters the tropical forest and
gives excellent views of the volcano and primary forest.
Seven and a half kilometers (4.6 miles) of the
networked are color-coded into red, yellow, brown,
and blue, green and orange to help you keep your
bearings. Please ask for the trail map from Reception.
Morning walk (free): A guided walk along the property's trails. The walk starts from the hotel every morning at
8:30 am and lasts about two and a half hours. You start by crossing the hanging bridge (Saino / Peccary) and follow the Saino and La
continues into primary and secondary forest to reach a lovely waterfall and continues over the hanging bridge (Danta / Tapir) which
crosses the river of the same name. Your walk then passes through pastureland and tropical vegetation bordering the river, which it
crosses and where a comfortable, tractor-drawn "Jungle Bus" will take you back to the hotel. During this walk, you might observe many
Birdwatching:
Approximately 400 bird species
habitats that make up the 350 ha. (865 acres) of the Lodge. From the trails, you pass through primary forests, cattle pastures, secondary
bitterns, laughing falcons, red-lore parrots, great curassows, northern jacanas, steely-vented hummingbirds and keel-billed toucans. Ask
in Reception for the complete Bird List
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano Costa Rica | Reservations +506 2290 7011 | Fax +506 2290 8427
The Lodge: +506 2479 1070 - Email: info@arenalobservatorylodge.com | POBox: 13411-1000SJO-CR

7. Seven miles of manicured, well-marked walking, bike and horseback riding trail
system traverses the property and provides safe, easy access to breathtaking natural beauty
La Catarata (Waterfall) Trail:
This is a favorite walk in
AOL. A moderate walk of about 1 km. from the hotel takes you along a cobble and
hardcore path that drops 50 steps down a slope to the base of the six-meter (19.7-ft) high
waterfall. The air is refreshing by the waterfall and spectacular ferns and palms in this lush
secondary forest surround you. You might spot monkeys (howler, spider and white-faced
capuchin), birds (crested guan, toucan, Montezuma's oropendula, tanagers, trogons), and in
December you could be lucky enough to see the quetzal and hear a black-faced solitaire
during their vertical migration to the property. Look out for sloths, peccary, margay and
coati. This trail takes about one hour there and back.
Saino (Peccary) Trail:
A paved trail of approximately 650 m (0.4
mile) that takes about 45 minutes and is suitable for the physically challenged. It leads
through secondary forest and the Lodge's gardens. You can often spot coatis and
monkeys (howler, spider); birds (crested guan, toucan, oropendula, clay-colored robin,
tanagers), many types of humming bird (rufous-tailed, black-crested coquette, green
La Hormiga (Ant) Trail:
A 450-meter (0.28 mile) hardcore trail
that can be walked in about 25 minutes. The path goes through both secondary and
primary forest. You might be able to see coati, sloth, anteater, monkeys (howler, spider,
white-faced capuchin); birds (crested guan, toucan, oropendula, clay-colored robin,
tanagers, trogons and migrating species in August or March such as the umbrella bird
Los Cangrejos (Crabs) Trail:
This trail cuts through primary
forest for 500 m (0.31 mile) and can be walked in about 20 minutes. It starts 2 km (1.23
mile) from Reception (part of the trail to Chato volcano). Some species that inhabit this
part are peccary, armadillos, rabbits, coati, monkeys (howler, spider, white-faced
capuchin); birds such as crested guan, toucan, oropendula, tanagers, trogons, chestnaked Indian and pilon.
Guided walk up Cerro Chato Mountain:
Cerro Chato is an extinct volcano with a summit crater that is now a lake. To reach the
top, you leave the hotel and walk to the farm at the base of the volcano. This is a
challenging hike up through primary tropical forest to reach the Crater Lake. Its waters
Lava Vieja (Old Lava) Trail:
This trail leaves the hotel and
drops down to the Agua Caliente (Hot Water) river. Beyond there, the trail is out of
bounds because it used to pass through a high-risk zone to reach the foot of Arenal
volcano. During this walk, you will see how plants have recolonized, and with luck, you
should spot some howler monkeys. The trails are quite challenging because of the
uneven ground and takes about 40 minutes there and back.
Guided horse-back rides:
with a guide and costs $10 / hour
This tour follows the hotel trails
ACT IV IT IES
LO DGE
ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPA

8. ACTIVITIES IN ARENAL VOLCANO
• Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
• Safari Canoeing
• White Water Rafting
• Venado Caves
• ATV Tours
• Canyoning (Rapel)
• Arenal Eco-Zoo
• Transfer by Monteverde by boat
• Transfer Horseback riding to
Monteverde
Contact Us
At the Lodge
Tel: (506) 2290. 7011
Toll free Usa & Canada: (877) 804-7732
Tel: (506) 2479. 1070
Arenal Observatory Lodge, San Jose Costa Rica O ce
Fax:(506) 2290. 8427
PO BOX: 13411-1000
Reservations Address: Uruca, San Jose
info@arenalobservatorylodge.com
Arenal Observatory Lodge, San Jose Costa Rica O ce
Fax:(506) 2479. 1074
Address: La Fortuna, San Carlos, Alajuela Costa Rica
www.arenalobservatorylodge.com
Very important notes:
WE INCLUDE:
HOTEL RULES
• Full Bu et Breakfast
• Taxes
• Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi
• Bird Listings
• Personal Attention by our Guest Service
Manager
• Free guided morning hike along
the trails of the property
• 7 miles of well-maintained trails for walking,
bike and horseback riding
• Children under 6: free meals and lodging
r
(shared room with parents)
• Children 7-11 years old: children menu,
free lodging (shared room with parents)
• For security reasons our main gate closes at
11:00 p.m
• Check in: From 3:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. Check
out: 12:00 m
• No pets allowed
• No Smoking (Law N* 9028)
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano Costa Rica | Reservations +506 2290 7011 | Fax +506 2290 8427
The Lodge: +506 2479 1070 - Email: info@arenalobservatorylodge.com | POBox: 13411-1000SJO-CR
CO NTACT US
• Hike Cerro Chato Volcano
• Lava Tour 1.968
• Birdwatching Tour
• Horseback riding
• Massage Service
• Biking
• Hot Springs
• Arenal Hanging Bridges
• Sky Trek- Sky Tram
• Canopy
• Fishing Tour
ACTIVITI ES
ARENAL VOLCANO
ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPA