Free
Children allowed

Facilities

Health or beauty spa nearby
Offsite parking discounted rates available
Non-smoking rooms
Swimming pool
Restaurant
Room service
Terrace
Family rooms
Luggage storage
Safety deposit box
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly staff
Good food quality
Beautiful surroundings
Cons:
Remote location
Cleanliness concerns
High prices

Categories

Cleanliness
7.65
Some reviews indicated issues with room cleanliness and maintenance.
Service
9.15
Guests praised the staff for their friendliness and excellent service.
Location
8.15
The location is beautiful but can be remote and hard to access.
Room Quality
8.15
Rooms were described as minimalist and could have better sound insulation.
Amenities
8.65
Wellbeing facilities such as spa services were highlighted positively.
Value for Money
7.65
Some guests felt the prices were too high for the quality received.
Food and Beverage
9.15
The food was well-received, especially the fresh, locally sourced meals.
Overall Experience
8.65
The overall experience was very positive with some caveats regarding location and cleanliness.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-01-11 09:57

Property Description

Surrounded by Nature
Experience the tranquility at Essence Arenal, an ecological hotel nestled in the Tropical Forest with stunning views of Lake Arenal and the majestic Arenal Volcano.

Wellness Center and Eco-Friendly Amenities
Indulge in our wellness center and enjoy a variety of services including yoga classes, spa circuit, and therapeutic massages. Explore our organic farm, relax by the outdoor pool fed by a natural spring, and unwind in the lush gardens.

Farm-to-Table Dining and Cultural Experiences
Savor delicious meals at Essence Restaurant, offering organic, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Immerse yourself in local culture with cocoa tours, bird watching, and various themed activities.

Escape to Essence Arenal for an unforgettable eco-friendly retreat. Book now to experience nature at its finest.

Important information:

Breakfast is only included in reservations made from July 12th, 2025 to October 18th, 2025.

Reservations made after October 18th, 2025 include 1 free hour of spa access per day (Hot Tub, Turkish Bath, and Finnish Sauna).
Children from 0 to 8 years old do not have access to this benefit.

The free spa benefit is available daily from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Please inform of your expected arrival time in advance. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly using the contact details in your confirmation.

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM

Property Policies

  • Parking

    Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).

  • Children and extra bed policy

    Children of any age are allowed.
    Children up to and including 5 years old stay for free when using an existing bed.
    You haven't added any cots.
    You haven't added any extra beds.

  • Internet

    WiFi is available in all areas and is free of charge.

  • Pets

    Pets are not allowed.

Location

Guest Reviews

8.4
Based on 791 reviews
Cleanliness: 7.65
Service: 9.15
Location: 8.15
Room Quality: 8.15
Amenities: 8.65
Value for Money: 7.65
Food and Beverage: 9.15
Overall Experience: 8.65
B
Boris • family_with_children • de
9
Pros:

Wunderschönes Areal, nette Mitarbeiter, alles top

2026-02-27 • via Nuitee
A
Alexandre • solo_traveller • fr
6
Établissement au calme
Pros:

C'est plutôt isolé avec une belle vue.
Les tentes sont originales.
Le jacuzzi est agréable
J'ai du partir (raisons personnelles) et ne faire qu'une seule nuit : le petit déjeuner (bon) m'a quand même été offert !

Cons:

L'espace de toilettes partagé, le fait qu'il n'y ait pas de serrure ou de portes, le petit déjeuner payant, le prix pour la prestation proposée.
La tente était bruyante, pas d'espace de rangement ni de quoi accrocher ses affaires. Une seule prise de courant

2026-02-27 • via Nuitee
E
Eliette • solo_traveller • ca
8
2026-02-27 • via Nuitee
B
Boris • family_with_children • de
9
Pros:

Alles sehr liebevoll gemacht. Wunderschönes Areal mit etlichen Angeboten. Top Personal, super Frühstück

2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
R
Roberto • couple • cr
1
Pros:

The staff is good.

Cons:

The room is small, the internal road is only for 4x4.

2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
C
camille • family_with_children • fr
9
2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
A
Anusuya • couple • au
8
Immersed in nature.
Pros:

If you’re looking for a place where the jungle whispers, the volcano broods dramatically in the background, and your stress quietly packs its bags — Essence Arenal is it. 🌿🌋

The views of Arenal are unreal (yes, that postcard volcano), the vibe is peaceful without being pretentious, and the whole place feels like a little eco-paradise you accidentally stumbled upon and now don’t want to leave. Bonus points for the yoga deck — main-character energy unlocked.

Huge shout-out to Jesús, who basically deserves his own five stars. Warm, attentive, and somehow always one step ahead of what you need — he’s the kind of staff member who turns a great stay into a memorable one.

Would 100% come back. Might “accidentally” miss my flight next time.

2026-02-25 • via Nuitee
P
pernille • family_with_children • dk
8
2026-02-25 • via Nuitee
N
nathanael • family_with_children • fr
7
Pros:

La nature , le calme

Cons:

Chambre très mal isolée, ont entend absolument tout ce que disent les voisins, c'est vraiment gênant et désagréable.
L'eau de la douche était souvent tiède.
Les chambres sont beaucoup trop isolée et très difficile d'accès.

2026-02-24 • via Nuitee
N
Natascha • solo_traveller • de
10
2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
S
Shannon • couple • be
10
Parfait
Pros:

Un petit havre de paix. Situé dans un petit village, cet endroit est très ressourçant.
Le personnel est super aimable, le restaurant et les petits déjeuners sont excellents.

Nous vous conseillons de faire les activités avec Aurélio (morning bird tour et plantation de cacao). Il est très passionné et nous avons appris plein de choses.

L’espace détente (sauna, hammam etc) est super!!

La masseuse est super aussi! Excellent massage.

Bref, rien à dire! Tout est top!!

Cons:

Il a plu beaucoup mais ça ne nous a pas empêché de faire toutes les activités prévues.

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
T
thomas • couple • de
7
Trotz allem zu empfehlen . Den Spa-Bereich haben wir nicht genutzt.
Pros:

Die Lage in einem Park, sehr gutes vegetarisches Essen, nettes Personal. Tolle Aussicht auf den See und Vulkan

Cons:

Der Weg zu den Casitas ist schwierig , da sehr steil und rutschig, wenn man zu Fuß geht. Man braucht häufig das Auto, um zum Spa und Restaurant zu kommen. Problematisch bei schlechtem Wetter. Es fehlen Ruhebereiche bzw. Sitzgelegenheiten außen ( Terrasse) an den Unterkünften. Das könnte verbessert werden.

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
E
ERIC • solo_traveller • fr
9
Bonne évasion sur les hauteurs du lac
Pros:

Le principe de la tente, bien que ce soit très aménagé à l'intérieur.

Cons:

Rapport qualité-prix élevé
Dîner bon mais cher
Petit déjeuner hors de prix (pas pris

2026-02-11 • via Nuitee
I
Isaac • couple • gb
7
Pros:

nice room and there are activities to do at an extra charge. The staff are very nice.

Cons:

Frustrating that breakfast not included at $15pp and is a 15min walk from the lodges. Yoga is $12 which tots up. The pool is a paddling pool and covered in bugs. It was raining during our stay and you are not in the mood to do the outdoor spa when its cold and like this. The costs add up if you want to do something fun.

2026-02-11 • via Nuitee
A
Andrea • couple • fi
9
Pros:

Un lugar muy bello con muchas opciones de actividades dentro de la propiedad.

2026-02-10 • via Nuitee
M
Margaret • solo_traveller • ca
10
2026-02-08 • via Nuitee
B
beatrice • couple • it
10
Siamo stati benissimo, lezioni di yoga con Aurelio 🔝
Pros:

Bellissima immersa nel verde, tantissime attività da fare

2026-01-28 • via Nuitee
T
Thériault • solo_traveller • ca
10
J'ai vécu une belle expérience même si elle était courte.
Pros:

La vue est très belle, surtout sur le volcan et la nature. Je n'ai pas pris de repas et je dormais dans une tente. Le vent entrait dans la tente, ce qui était très froid et surprenant.

Cons:

Le vent qui entre dans la tente.

2026-01-28 • via Nuitee
S
Susan • couple • de
10
Toller Ort für Ausflüge um den Arenal Vulkan herum.
Pros:

Tolle Lage mit Blick auf Vulkan uns See, viele Optionen - Wanderwege auf dem Gelände, gutes veganes Essen

2026-01-26 • via Nuitee
F
Francoise • extended_group • fr
4
2026-01-25 • via Nuitee