Encantada Guest House: Spectacular View & Excellent Reviews

Marty and Nita encouraged us to treat the property like home, and we spent a lovely day by the pool looking out at the volcano. A trail runs down to a creek, where we saw birds, hummingbirds, lizards, and frogs right nearby. We also booked massages with Julie, which were super relaxing with the sounds of the forest. For Christmas Eve, Mira cooked a delicious private dinner with several courses, and we left very full. We stayed in the Parrot Room in the main B&B, not the holiday cottage. The room had a huge, comfy bed, welcome drinks in the fridge, and useful things like binoculars, sunscreen, and a poncho. There’s a little table and chair just outside and a hammock swing, both lovely spots to sit with the nature sounds and views. The shower is powerful and takes a moment to warm up. Tap water is drinkable. Priscilla made one of the nicest breakfasts we’ve had, fresh each morning. Her omelets were the best we’ve tried, and there were plenty of other options to choose from the night before. The hosts have clearly put care into designing and building a home they love, and thought of everything. The property road is easier in an SUV or 4x4, as with many places in Costa Rica. Marty and Nita have blocks to help with traction in wet weather, though we saw a motorbike and sedan manage fine. Being out of the village puts you close to the forest, but it’s still a quick five minute drive to several good restaurants. We tried all the places they suggested and ate well everywhere. We had a fantastic stay with wonderful hosts, good food, and private nature and volcano views right outside.

This beautiful region is a pleasure to explore from here, and you can skip the hustle and bustle of La Fortuna. It’s about 30 minutes away, but the Guest House feels like a world apart. The bakery nearby is really yummy, there are plenty of small grocery stores, and La Ventanita restauraunt has great prices and excellent pizza. The two-bedroom casita is beautifully appointed, with a full kitchen and comfortable bedrooms. They provide a nice breakfast basket, there’s good Wi-Fi, and a small private plunge pool at ambient temperature to cool off after a day out touring. Marty and Nita were great to deal with, and their onsite assistant Michael was very helpful. I’d suggest an SUV for the hill up and down, though you don’t need four wheel drive.

We booked Encantada Arenal B&B for the second part of our babymoon, and the winding drive up to Marty and Nita’s beautiful home made us feel we were in for something special. It’s secluded and private, surrounded by lush rainforest and tropical plants, with a great view of Arenal volcano. Marty, an architect, designed the thoughtfully laid out property. Our hosts showed us around, including the infinity pool, jacuzzi, stretch and yoga studio, massage studio with several services, and a maintained 10 minute trail into the rainforest. I loved meeting Cinco and their sweet dogs. We stayed in the colorful Parrot suite, with plant accents, a king bed, walk in shower, and cozy robes. Marty and Nita had also left snacks, drinks, and handmade chocolates as a welcome gift. The made to order breakfast was a highlight. We picked from the menu the night before, and Priscilla and Michael served it in the open air breakfast area. The eggs Benedict were especially good, and everything we tried was delicious before our planned adventures. Nita and Marty arranged a private dinner for us with dishes from a local chef. We loved the sea bass ceviche, jerk chicken, and arroz con leche. There are several restaurants and a bodega close by, and though the B&B isn’t right next to La Fortuna, most major attractions, including volcano hikes, hanging bridges, and hot springs, were an easy drive of no more than 20 minutes. We highly recommend their place. It’s a gem, and waking to howler monkeys is quite an alarm clock. If you want a private, romantic stay with your partner, this fits the bill and more.

The hosts, Marty and Nita, welcomed us warmly and showed us around. They’d prepared wine, chocolates, robes, slippers, a personal card, snacks, and water in our room. It was beautifully furnished, spotless, and stocked with everything we might need. The bed and pillows were so comfortable we slept like babies. We loved the jungle hike and private creek, where we could walk right into the rainforest and enjoy nature and water. There’s a spa, yoga studio, pool, hot tub, and private creek on the pristine property. Priscilla made an incredible breakfast, especially the omelet. We also had massages and facials with Julianna and Fabian, both fantastic. He had Julianna and called it the best massage of his life; I had Fabian, who was also wonderful. We enjoyed the treatments so much that we got massages again the next day after white water rafting. The staff were flexible and accommodating. A great restaurant is just down the hill, so we didn’t need to go into town to eat. The location is as good as it gets, private, with beautiful views of the volcano and lake arenal. It’s 15 minutes from Tabacon, away from La Fortuna’s busier crowds, but close enough for a short drive to its adventures. We couldn’t recommend this romantic stay more. It exceeded every other stay I’ve had. True paradise!