Hotel Linda Vista

Hotel Linda Vista, above the lake in El Castillo

Linda Vista means pretty view, and the hotel lives up to its name. It sits on a hill in the small village of El Castillo, on the far side of the volcano from La Fortuna, with Arenal Volcano on one side and Lake Arenal below. It suits couples and honeymooners first, and families who want quiet more than nightlife.

Why we choose it

• An infinity pool that faces the volcano. You swim with the cone in front of you, the kind of view people picture when they think of Arenal.
• Suites with the volcano and the lake. The Junior, Master and Honeymoon suites all look out over both the volcano and Lake Arenal.
• A village away from the crowds. El Castillo is small and quiet, so the evenings are about the view, not the traffic.

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Rooms and views

The Standard Rooms are comfortable and simple. For the views that give the hotel its name, step up to a suite: the Junior Suite and the Master Suite both face the volcano and Lake Arenal, and the Honeymoon suite adds the privacy a couple wants. A room set-up takes up to 4 people, which works for a small family.

On the property

The restaurant sits at the top of the hill with a panoramic view, serving international and Costa Rican food, and a candlelit dinner there with the volcano outside is a fine way to end the day. By day the infinity pool is the place to be.

The hotel cares about the forests and parks around it, and the Arenal Volcano National Park is close by. Pets and service animals are not allowed, as the hotel states.

Location and getting there

El Castillo is on the lake side of the volcano, so hikes on the volcano trails, the hanging bridges and the hot springs are all within reach. The last few kilometres into the village are gravel, and the hotel recommends a high clearance vehicle, which your private driver will have. Check-in runs from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m., and the main gate closes at 11:00 p.m., so we plan your arrival around that. It is about 3 hours from Liberia or San José. Read more about Lake Arenal.

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