Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

The nature around the hotel was incredible, with hummingbirds, other really cool birds, and plants I’d never seen before. From the restaurant patio there’s an awesome volcano view, and the infinity pool is great. Everyone working here was so nice, and the fruit and food were the best. The hotel is cozy, and my family and I liked staying here on our holiday.

We barely used our room because it was quite small, spending our time out exploring, in the infinity pool or large jacuzzi, or having drinks on the shared porch. The porch was great for birdwatching. The restaurant was AMAZING, every dish was excellent, and breakfast was tasty and good value. Luis and Robert were fantastic servers, and did more than bring food. They helped keep everything running alongside the helpful, attentive, friendly front desk staff, especially Danielle. I wish we’d had more time to see the little town. This is a wonderful place, and the staff are especially great. Only complaint: the cat is mean, lollll!

We went back for more even though we were full. Chateau Arenals restaurant put on a delicious New Years dinner, with a special buffet that included excellent baked chicken, marinated grilled pork, pasta salad, grilled vegetables, mashed potatoes, the best stuffed baked potatoes I’ve had in years, and ceviche. There were cheesecake and coconut flan custard for dessert, plus fresh tropical fruit compotes. The head chef is fantastic, and the service, staff, and management were great. I recommend eating here. It was an unforgettable New Years dinner.

We had a great stay thanks to the location, food, and service, especially Maria. She was attentive, kind, and did her best to make the trip go smoothly. Breakfast was okay, while lunch and dinner were the best meals. After a lovely dinner on our last night, we got to meet the chef. The pool is small, but there aren’t many guests, so with the right timing you can have it to yourself. The view is awesome. The bedrooms are the problem. The planks beneath our bed weren’t secured properly and fell off during the night, and the mattress was literally the worst I’ve ever slept on. There was no seating or closet space, and the tiny bathroom made getting ready difficult. It has exposed piping, too. A lot to do in Costa Rica meant we were barely in the room, so I still gave it four stars. If they fixed the mattress, added a little breakfast nook in the room, and improved the bathroom finishes, I’d definitely come back again and again.