Have you ever wanted to sleep 1.7 miles from an active volcano? Then Arenal Observatory Lodge in Costa Rica is the place for you! Need more information to be convinced? No problem! First and foremost, the volcano typically spews lava in the other direction away from the hotel. Also, the lodge used to be a Smithsonian observatory, so they still have equipment in place to monitor the volcano. Oh, and I should probably also mention that the last major eruption was in 2010 and now the volcano is in a “resting phase”. That means it’s technically still active but temperatures are too low for it to erupt any time soon (basically: it’s recharging). So it’s totally safe to hang out and hit the trails of the Arenal Observatory Lodge!

Arenal Volcano National Park

The Arenal Observatory Lodge is actually located within the national park (disclaimer: the roads in the park are unpaved, so plan accordingly). A guided morning tour is free for hotel guest and covers a good amount of the park area, including a waterfall, suspension bridge, plants, birds, monkeys, and snakes all with a hilarious local guide. It’s like a real-life Jungle Cruise. The best part is after a few hours of walking the trails, they take you back up to the Lodge via tractor.

3-1 Costa Rica Volcan Arenal Observatory Lodge

3-2 Costa Rica Volcan Arenal Observatory Lodge

5-1 Costa Rica Volcan Arenal Observatory Lodge

5-2 Costa Rica Volcan Arenal Observatory Lodge

Arenal Observatory Lodge

The hotel is worthwhile for the stunning views alone, but is still able to provide a nice resort feel despite its location. There is plenty to do on-site, including a pool, spa, game room, observation deck, and even a museum! The restaurant serves very good food considering its lack of competition with both European and Costa Rican dishes offered. We stayed in the Smithsonian rooms and spent hours on the balcony watching the volcano and looking for toucans. Fair warning to light sleepers: you are truly in the rainforest here! You will hear birds chirping, monkeys howling, frogs croaking, and insects singing at all hours of the night. I felt like it really added to the beauty of the location and slept perfectly fine!