Essence Arenal is an ecological hotel surrounded by Tropical Forest that offers a wellness center to tourists, it is surrounded by gardens and beautiful views of Lake Arenal, the Arenal Volcano and Cerro Chato. Its location is in the Castle, 6.2 mi from the Arenal Volcano National Park and 7.5 miles from the hot springs. It offers accommodations, gardens, trails, volleyball court, organic farm, free parking, WiFi, outdoor pool with water from a spring. Additional services are offered such as Yoga classes, Temazcal, Spa Circuit (jacuzzi, Turkish bath and sauna), Massages, different therapies such as Reiki, Ionic Detox, cooking classes. The cocoa tour, bird tour day and night are also offered. We have our Essence Restaurant that offers vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free breakfasts, à la carte lunches and themed dinners, all created with local products or from the Essence organic farm. Essence has rooms with a wardrobe, tiled floors and a private bathroom equipped with a shower and free toiletries. Paid laundry service is available. The reception provides tourist information and is open from 07:00 am to 21:00 pm everyday. If you plan to arrive outside reception hours, you must notify Essence, and they will provide you with the information necessary to do the check-in process. You can do so in the special requests section. Juan Santamaría International Airport is a 3-hours away

Couples in particular like the location – they rated it 8.7 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Property highlights

Top Location: Highly rated by recent guests (8.7)

Breakfast Info

Continental, Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-free, American, Breakfast to go

  • Free private parking available at the hotel


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Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Select occupancy
Room Type
Number of guests
 
1 full bed
1 full bed
and
1 bunk bed
1 full bed
and
1 bunk bed
1 sofa bed
1 full bed
1 king bed
1 bunk bed
1 queen bed
1 full bed
1 full bed
and
1 bunk bed
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Guest reviews

Categories:

Staff
Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free Wifi

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See what guests loved the most:

Patrice
France France
in the heart of the forest, with a view on the Arenal Volcano, surrounded by wildlife and tropical floral. We've been waken up by howling monkeys every morning ! a lot of emphasis on ecology and sustainability - 100% solar powered equipments,...
Anne
United States United States
The vegan options were always unique and freshly delicious, with a new menu everyday. The holistic massage helped unwind tension in my legs I had been having a long time. I was supported by the staff there when I got some sad news. The spa circuit...
Kira
United States United States
Comfortable and clean resort with amazing staff. Very warm and peaceful ambience with healthy fresh food. Wonderful choice if you are looking for the tranquility and peace.
Michael
Canada Canada
The site - wilderness, animals, walking trails. Food was amazing. The yoga was great. Night tour with Aurelio was great, as was massage with Daniela. Personal touch by the staff - they remember our food and drink preferences.
Alvarado
Costa Rica Costa Rica
I liked the location—far away from the overcrowded 'resorts' but close enough to the places worth visiting. The view of the Arenal Volcano and the lake is amazing. The organic and environmentally friendly concept is what makes this place...
Anusuya
Australia Australia
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...
Lara
Germany Germany
The beautiful location and jungle grounds were fantastic. The staff was wonderful, friendly and very helpful. The vegan breakfast and dinners were so delicious, freshly made and locally sourced. We would love to come back in the future.
Susanna
United States United States
The food was phenomenal! This place really feels like a retreat from the world-- but is also close to activities, so you can opt in or out, choose your own adventure.
Kerstin
United States United States
Breakfast was excellent. The staff was very attentive and nice, very personable. They were great in answering questions and organizing activities. The location is just beautiful, with a wonderful view at the volcano and in the midst of the...
Jason
United States United States
The staff is very friendly, proactive, and helpful. The property is a yoga retreat and bio farm. Meals are prepared with ingredients from the farm. Spa, massage, and other services are available. Dinner was vegetarian and delicious every time, and...

Hotel area info

Restaurants

1 Restaurant On Site
Restaurante #1
  • Open for
    Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner
  • Ambience
    Family-friendly

Amenities of Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

Great facilities! Review score, 8

Most popular amenities

  • Outdoor swimming pool
  • Free parking
  • Free Wifi
  • Family rooms
  • Spa and wellness center
  • Airport shuttle
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Room service
  • Restaurant

House rules

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga takes special requests – add in the next step!
Check-in
From 2:00 PM to 8:30 PM
You need to let the property know what time you'll be arriving in advance.
Check-out
From 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Enter your stay dates and check the conditions of your selected option.
Children & Beds

Child policies

Children of all ages are welcome.

Children 8 and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy info, add the number and ages of children in your group to your search.

Crib and extra bed policies

0 - 2 years
Crib upon request
Free

The number of cribs allowed depends on the option you choose. Check your selected option for more info.

There are no extra beds available at this property.

All cribs are subject to availability.

No age restriction
There's no age requirement for check-in
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Accepted payment methods
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The fine print

Must-know information for guests at this property

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

There is an additional charge to use the spa/wellness centre:

Adult: 20 USD, per hour/per day.

Child: aged 7 – 12 years: 15 USD, per hour/per day.

Please inform Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga 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.

Due to coronavirus (COVID-19), this property adheres to strict physical distancing measures.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), wearing a face mask is mandatory in all indoor common areas.

FAQs about Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga