We have booked the lodge for our 4 night, 3 day stay in the area. We will have a car so transportation is not a problem. I'm just checking to make sure that our time there will be restful. We don't know how much noise the volcano makes but want to make sure we get some rest. Are we crazy for staying there or will we find this an incredible experience?
A week from now, I'll be starting my second night there. I'll let you know!
It is sort of a remote eco camp experience a number
of miles up an unpaved hard pot-holed very rattly road
if you are up for that.Close to the volcano and pretty
far from town noise not really a problem..For me a night or two would be the max.Was there a couple of weeks ago they charged admission just to go up to the lodge and eat thought that was pretty wierd.Seem to have gotten too commercial since the last time I was there.Prefer Silencio Del Campo in the same general range better located.
Contributor 
9,850 posts
154 reviews 
130 helpful votes You'll sleep fine up there. It's a great, great location, and you don't hear the volcano inside your room.
It's not that loud outside either--the main sound is boulders tumbling down the volcano.
The only drawback is the food they serve at dinner--eat in town if you can.
We stayed there is June. The location is great; the view is perfect. Not noisy. The pool/hot tub are very nice. Be sure to take the included morning hike as the property is beautiful. We saw lots on animals on their property. However....the food is awful. Breakfast is OK; just eat dinner in town or we ate lunch in town and brought take-out (arroz con pollo) back for dinner. We saw the volcano erupt our second night at 4AM and it was worth it!
The road is definitely horrible driving up to the lodge.
I ate a meal at the restaurant there and thought it was pretty good.
Definitely take the 15 minute hike to the waterfall near the lodge. It was worth it.
Volcano noise...not a problem...but 4 nights there...you are brave people...!! The food is the worst miles around...I will be more concern about the food than the volcano!!
But it will be an a incredible experience!!
Luis Road Advisor
Just buckle up and enjoy the ride in paradise!!
It's settled. We will have a wonderful time at AOL and eat at other places. Thanks everyone.
Roadadvisor,
There's nothing wrong with the food at Arenal Observatory. Ours was quite good, and the candlelight dining room at night was really nice.
Contributor
9,850 posts
154 reviews
130 helpful votes I'd say the breakfast is good, the lunch is decent, and dinner--well that's what evening slots at the thermal baths are for.
Maybe it's just hit or miss, but the dinners we had were awful--my chicken curry tasted like Velveeta, my wife's chicken parm tasted like Chef Boy-Ar-Dee, and the cheesecake was square and yucky.
SHOOIE123.
Some times people had different taste for food and service...sorry that this time I do not agree with you or the other way around...
Try Don Rufino's in La Fortuna...that is good food in Arenal Area...
Luis Road Advisor
Just buckle up and enjoy the ride in paradise!!
