Hotel Rancho Cerro Azul

The staff were amazing and went out of their way to help us during our honeymoon. This is a beautiful, convenient place to stay while visiting La Fortuna. I'd suggest contacting them ahead of time to arrange tours, since they know the best ones and you can pay through them. The beds are a little firm, but I honestly slept better than I usually do. The restaurant food is good and convenient, though it's definitely worth trying other places too.

The walk and trail to the river were pleasant. We spotted several birds and got a close look at an agouti, which was too busy eating fruit to pay us any attention. The staff were pleasant and helpful, especially Isaac, and the restaurant food was delicious despite the limited selection. Our room was clean and nice, with a fridge, small kitchen, jacuzzi and two verandas. We had laundry done for $5 per kg. A few things would have helped: hooks for coats and towels, plus bigger mugs. The cups provided were tiny, so we bought some at the supermarket for a dollar each. We paid about £145 a night, which is a lot, and breakfast wasn't included. Neither was the night tour, which cost another $40 each, so we skipped it. I think breakfast should be part of the room price.

The staff at Rancho Cerro Azul were incredibly welcoming and helpful. After we'd left and were riding a shared shuttle, my husband realized he'd forgotten his raincoat and binoculars. We were panicking about what to do, but the staff had already contacted the driver and arranged to meet him along the route to hand over the items. That alone earns the five stars. We loved cabin #9, with its balcony opening into the forest. The property's river trail was lovely, and there were lots of amazing birds on it and on the Rancho Cerro Azul property across the street. I'm a birder, so I especially enjoyed that.

The individual cottage was very nice, with a spacious room and two beds. The location was convenient for both La Fortuna falls and Arenal Volcano, though I kept missing the entrance and having to backtrack. They need a bigger sign. There was a jacuzzi out back, but I'm not sure whether I used it wrong or it wasn't working properly. It started shooting water higher and splashed the whole area, even outside the tub. A luggage stand and a table for belongings would also have been useful, though I didn't see these much at the few Costa Rica hotels I stayed in. I only used the breakfast service, which I had to pay for. If there was a menu, the staff weren't following it. I asked for a vegetable omelet, but it came out undercooked and liquidy. They only had basic coffee, despite posters on the walls advertising cappuccino. I'm more of a chai drinker and can tolerate coffee, but I didn't care for theirs.