Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
The Lost Iguana Resort is Arenal's newest hotel, offering luxury accommodations in the rain forest The resort's 100 acre property overlooks the world's most active volcano, Arenal Volcano located near La Fortuna, Costa Rica. A premiere, upscale retreat nestled gently in the jungle, the Lost Iguana Resort only offers rooms with large private balconies overlooking the Arenal Volcano and Arenal River Gorge. All rooms are spacious and well appointed with first-class furnishings, artwork and full amenities.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Quiet
Family
Languages Spoken
English, Spanish
Location
1.5 km Northwest from Arenal Dam, Arenal Volcano National Park 21007 Costa Rica
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Nestled in a serene, picturesque location, the Lost Iguana Resort & Spa garners praise for its spacious rooms with spectacular volcano views and charming features like outdoor showers. Guests rave about the friendly staff and the array of amenities including lush trails and diverse pools.
While some find certain aspects pricey, the inclusive breakfast and the hotel's immaculate condition and elegant rustic charm offer good value, making it a popular choice among travelers seeking tranquility and natural beauty.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Spacious
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Helpful
Amenities
Relaxing
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This is our second time staying at Lost Iguana and it was just as enchanting as we remembered. The staff and waiters are all so friendly and helpful. You are greeted with a drink and the taken up the hill to your room. The room is so attractive with Costa Rican decorations, an outdoor shower (if on the ground floor), a jacuzzi facing the jungle and the volcano, and even a carved door with the volcano on it. It is so peaceful and wonderful sitting on the back balcony. The breakfast included was amazing (a buffet, but also had someone making omelets there). We had two dinners and a lunch and were thrilled with it every time. I walked the nature trail too. The hanging bridges are just up the hill if you want to visit them. I would recommend having a car if you stay here which we did.
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lost Iguana was incredible. The views were breathtaking and it was really cool being in the middle of the rainforest. There's an on-site trail through the rainforest and several ponds where you can find frogs and other cool critters at night. We loved the balcony straight into the jungle on our ground floor room. While sitting on the patio we had several wildlife encounters, including a red-eyed tree frog, coatis, and a tayra. Our room (Room 11) also had an outdoor hot tub and an outdoor shower which we took advantage of every night.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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In this resort, my partner and I spent our honeymoon vacation in July 2021. Unfortunately, we did not get a booked room (Luxury Suite), but a room with two double beds, which looked like a family room (we did not ask for a room upgrade or were satisfied with it). Also, the room we booked had an open shower in the bathroom, while we received a fairly ordinary bathroom (no rainforest shower experience).
Nevertheless, the room had a great view of the Arenal volcano. Also, the hotel had a great range of offers. From the offers, my partner and I decided on a massage for couples and a romantic dinner for two. The massage was completely average - the masseuse kept looking at the phone and the clock. The dinner, however, was warm and delicious.
The cleanliness of the hotel was also quite average. In the room you could notice traces of previous guests (e.g. a piece of uneaten pizza hidden under a curtain), cutlery in the restaurant was not well washed etc.
Fortunately, all these things could be sorted out and arranged with a very friendly staff who were determined to remain welcoming and ecological.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The hotel offers reservations for activities around Arenal volcano. Due to high demand, most...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I stayed at this hotel for 3 nights with my boyfriend. The grounds and room were amazing. The included breakfast was delicious and they even made a great packed breakfast for us when we left earlier than breakfast. It had a nice gym and steam room which we utilized. The spa looked amazing and we regretted that we didn't get a chance to get a treatment there. The wifi was decent but sometimes kicked you off. the staff was very nice. The location is a bit out of town so any excursions wouldn't pick us up for free that was the only downside to this amazing hotel. Our room was spacious and had a Jacuzzi tub with as beautiful view of the volcano. I highly recommend this hotel.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The rooms were very clean and comfortable. The view from the balcony was marvelous. Watching the sunrise over the volcano was worth getting up. The walk to the reception area was a hike with very steep inclines. My travel partner needed golf cart rides from the room. I would stay near the pool if I could do it again. Best breakfast ever that is included. Made to order omelettes fresh squeezed juice and daily multiple hot food options. This hotel is not near the downtown and you need a car or taxi rides we went on daily tours that were extra side trips so it didnt matter much. The pool is wonderful with upper heated water and lower level air temp water. There is a hiking train on premises with hummingbird garden. A small convenience store is onsite. The staff was gracious and loved to show pictures of the wildlife they saw onsite. If you want a secluded getaway this is the place.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Lost Iguana January 2020 for 9 nights (longer than most, apparently). The hotels grounds were lovely to stroll around as long as you are up for some hills and stairs. If you aren't inclined to hike the hills there's available transportation by golf cart or van when you are with your luggage. We were there primarily for a birdwatching vacation and the hotel gardens and the trail were great! They even provide a shuttle to nearby Mistico Park. Our room was large and clean and had an incredible view of the volcano on the days when the skies cleared. The balcony and jacuzzi tub were nice, the bathroom was clean - the only thing that could have made the room better would be a window that opens in the shower! (very humid) The staff were wonderful, most spoke at least some English. They arranged several tours for us outside of the resort. This resort is a long way from the town of Fortuna and all tours have an extra charge for pick up and drop off. A cab into town ran us $30 each way. The restaurant menu is large enough that we didn't get bored with it after staying 9 days, and all the food was excellent. Great buffet breakfast included. We would definitely stay here again.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:The first floor suites have an outdoor shower and a deck, the second floor suites have a balcony...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in a casita, which has 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, a living area w fridge and sink, and a porch that directly views the Arenal volcano. The porch has a jaccuzi. In the mornings, hummingbirds and butterflies buzz through the garden off the porch. The bathroom has an outdoor, screened, stone-lined and landscaped double shower. The restaurant is excellent. Breakfast is included. We had several meals at the pool bar, which serves the same food as the restaurant. Good house wine! The staff is friendly and capable and all speak good English but they will help you practice Spanish if you want! We arranged several tours and transfers with the hotel and they went very well. The Mistico Hanging Bridges is within walking distance, as is the Arenal Lake and Dam, and there is a beautiful, wild hiking trail on the property that winds down to a rushing river. Lost Iguana is quiet. This is a rain forest experience, with all the flora and fauna you come here for. It is about a $30 cab ride (no Uber) to La Fortuna, the next town, and about a 4 hour ride from San Jose airport through windy and beautiful hills. It's about a 3-hour drive from Liberia Airport.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Rooms
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed in the villas junior suite for 2 nights with our 4 kids (ages 15, 11, 8, 5). The staff was very helpful and friendly. The view of the volcano and rainforest were truly out of this world. They have a restaurant, we ate breakfast (included) which has reasonable options and pancakes for the kids. The dinner was delicious and gourmet. The restaurant itself has a beautiful outdoor setting with a view of the rainforest and my kids enjoyed finding frogs while waiting for dinner. The walking trail in the hotel was a challenging climb (we started from the exit) with incredible immersion into the rainforest, I recommend taking advantage of that activity. The villa itself had 2 rooms (1 room had a king bed, living area, microwave and full-size fridge, really cool semi-outdoor bathroom) and the other room had 2 double beds and a bathroom. The rooms need a bit of attention to detail in their amenities (I would recommend upgrading to a bed not just a bed frame). The balcony was absolutely amazing with incredible views of the volcano, rocking chairs and a jacuzzi tub (didn’t use). The hotel is a 2 minute drive up a hill to the Mystic Hanging bridges which was partly why we stayed here. It was very convenient instead of driving around the Costa Rica roads. The sounds of the rainforest are unbelievable so if you’re looking to be immersed in the natural rainforest while having modern amenities you won’t regret a stay here. I did feel it was overpriced along with everything else in Costa Rica. However, the views and memories are priceless.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beautiful grounds and a wonderful staff and that‘s were the good ends. The COVID restrictions have hit the area hard, many attractions and restaurants are closed or operating with limited services. This hotel is a perfect example of that. The “heated pool” has not been operational for months and trust me, there is no way to get in a regular pool here unless it is heated. The spa is closed. The below average and expensive restaurant is working very limited hours and considering the hotel is 25 min away from town, there are no options near by. To top it off, the TVs in the room are not functioning either. Regardless of the many excuses we were told, none of this will change anytime soon. The hotel is empty, so the owners have little motivation to correct the problems. As somebody that has visited the area many times, I can assure you you will be much happier at a slightly bigger resort. They will be able to offer you a accommodating restaurant, be closer to the town’s great restaurants, have an operational spa and natural hot springs to welcome you after a day of activities during the rainy afternoons.
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Date of stay: November 2020Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I would actually give 3.5 stars for this hotel. I have mixed feelings about my stay here. Pros: The view of the volcano especially at sunrise is amazing! Very quiet Nice staff (but not enough of them- It was clear they were filling multiple roles so I didn't have the chance to check out the gift shop because it was never open since the person running it was always working at another location.)
Cons: Although it's nice that it's quiet, it is farther from town than I expected. Not bad but just be aware of that. Needs updates. The room wasn't cozy at all. If they just updated the bedding and added some lamps and artwork, it would feel completely different. There were some small bugs in my room. I realize I was in Costa Rica no somewhat expected but I was hesitant to leave my things on some of the furniture.
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Date of stay: May 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Los Angeles, California346 contributions111 helpful votes
The hotel can arrange a covid test. They helped get us in touch with a lab who was able to come to our room and give us the test. I think it costs roughly $160 US dollars.
I strongly recommend renting a car. The hotel doesn't have a shuttle and taxis are pretty expensive if you want to go more than 1 place during your stay. There were car rentals in town.
There are more places to choose from in the Arenal Volcano National Park area.
PRICE RANGE
R 5,240 - R 7,671 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
lost iguana hotel la fortuna de san carlos, lost iguana resort and spa, hotel lost iguana
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of AlajuelaArenal Volcano National Park
NUMBER OF ROOMS
41
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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