LOST IGUANA RESORT AND SPA, La Fortuna

The resort has 42 hillside rooms spread across a 120-acre private rainforest property with a 1.5-mile Puma Trek hiking trail and a suspension bridge on site. Guests have access to multiple outdoor swimming pools, including a heated pool with a swim-up bar and a separate shallow-end pool. The hotel offers complimentary roundtrip airport shuttle, free parking, and golf cart transportation for navigating the steep terrain.

All 42 rooms have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, and a private balcony or patio with direct views of the Arenal Volcano. Upper-floor rooms feature vaulted wooden ceilings and furnished balconies with rocking chairs, while ground-floor rooms include patios with double jetted tubs. Suite options provide two bedrooms, a sitting area, and a kitchenette with a microwave and minifridge, accommodating families up to five.

The on-site Blue Hibiscus restaurant serves international cuisine in an open-air setting with views of the volcano and surrounding jungle. A complimentary breakfast buffet is offered each morning, featuring a mix of Costa Rican and American selections, including made-to-order omelets. Guests can also order dinner from the same menu at the poolside bar, which runs a daily happy hour from 4 to 5 pm.

The full-service spa provides a range of treatments including massages, body treatments, facials, and reflexology in a treatment room open to the sounds of the rainforest and a nearby stream. A fitness center with basic equipment is available on site, and guests can book hiking tours, zip line excursions, and visits to thermal springs arranged by the front desk. The hotel also offers a coffee house with a gift shop and seating area for relaxing between activities.

The resort allows children of all ages and has a children's playground and family-sized rooms with two beds or suite configurations. Guided night walks on the property let families spot frogs, spiders, coatimundis, and other wildlife with flashlights provided. The heated pool with a shallow end and the swim-up bar serving smoothies and non-alcoholic drinks make the pool area safe for kids.

Location: Private rainforest property, 5 min from Mistico Hanging Bridges

Views: Every room has a private balcony facing Arenal Volcano

Grounds: 120 acres with exclusive Puma Trek hiking trail and suspension bridge

Pool: Heated pool with swim-up bar and daily happy hour

Safety: Private gated entrance, 24-hour security, CCTV, and smoke detectors

Transport: Free roundtrip airport shuttle and on-call golf carts