La Fortuna’s Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience

When visiting Costa Rica, seeing their most popular sites will most likely lead to you staying in the La Fortuna area for part of or even all of your trip. While in the area, you will most likely visit Arenal Volcano. You will also want to experience the thermal hot springs created from the geothermal activity of Arenal Volcano. A great way to experience the thermal hot springs is to stay at one of the many resorts that has thermal pools right on site.

I researched many different resorts for my stay in La Fortuna and finally decided on Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience due to its beautifully landscaped grounds, commitment to sustainability, the thermal pool options on site, the ability to book a room with your own private thermal pool and affordability. It was a great choice, actually exceeding all of my expectations.

Let me show you why this can be the perfect resort for your stay in La Fortuna as well.

About Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience

Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience is located in La Fortuna with stunning views of Arenal Volcano. The La Fortuna area started to become a popular tourist area in the late 1980s. After years of being tour operators, the Miranda Castro Brothers opened the 20 room Volcano Lodge. By 2003 they doubled the number of rooms and by 2005 it had grown to 70 rooms and included a restaurant, pool and hot tub.

It wasn’t until 2013 that they decided to add the thermal hot springs. These hot springs helped to share a bit of the local area right on the resort grounds. They also added stunning landscaping with beautiful flowers and plants from the natural environment around the hotel.

Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience is committed to sustainability by supporting local conservation projects, providing eco-friendly transportation and prioritizing waste reduction, water conservation and lower energy consumption.

Rooms Available at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience

Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience offer a few different types of room options for your stay. There are multiple buildings spread throughout the resort housing these different room types.

All of the rooms at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience are air conditioned and come with the following amenities:

• Private Terrace
• Mini-fridge
• Coffee maker with Costa Rican coffee
• Blow dryer

For bedding, you can choose from either a King size bed or two double beds.

There are three types of rooms including:

• Superior Room – This is the basic hotel room which includes all of the included amenities listed above

• Thermal Superior Room – These rooms are similar to the Superior Rooms but also include a private hot springs plunge pool on the private terrace.
• Junior Suite – If you are looking for a more upgraded stay, the Junior Suites are a great option. These rooms are larger in size and feature more room, a more spacious terrace with private hot springs plunge pool and higher quality mattress. Keep in mind though, you are staying at a more natural hotel so while these rooms are more luxurious than the Superior Rooms, they aren’t what you would consider luxury in some other hotels around the world.

I splurged on a Junior Suite when I stayed at Volcano Lodge and absolutely loved the room. It was so nice to have the private hot springs plunge pool. As an introvert, I like to have my space and being able to relax in the private pool was such a nice way to end long days of tours with big groups of people.

Check out this video of the outdoor area with plunge pool. It’s quite a spacious and relaxing area that really adds to the value you get for staying at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience.

Upon entering the room, there were additional amenities that I wasn’t expecting. The hotel provided not just water, but also a can of beer, small bottle of wine and a few snacks. The snacks came in very handy to bring with me on the day tours I had planned while I was in the La Fortuna area. This was a really nice added touch from the hotel.

Thermal Experiences at Volcano Lodge Hotel

Even if you do not book one of the Thermal Superior Rooms or Junior Suites, there are many ways for hotel guests to experience the hot springs while staying at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience.

The La Fortuna area has many hot springs due to the geothermal activity from nearby Arenal Volcano. This geothermal activity heats the water in the springs to anywhere from 80-105 degrees Fahrenheit. This geothermal activity also brings many minerals like magnesium and calcium into the springs. These minerals are said to be very healing. Relaxing in hot springs can soothe sore muscles, improve circulation, help to heal skin conditions, reduce stress, detoxify the body and aid your immune and digestive systems.

It’s important to note, that you should make sure to stay hydrated while enjoying the hot springs and limit your time in the higher temperature hot springs. If you are pregnant, older or on certain medications, it’s recommended to consult your doctor prior to enjoying the hot springs to ensure it’s safe for your current medical status.

There are two main thermal experiences at Volcano Lodge Hotel. The first is located in the pool area. These hot springs almost look too beautiful to actually go in. These multi layered hot springs feature small waterfalls and look out over the swimming pool. These would be great to go in and then have a cold plunge in the pool afterwards.

The other main thermal experience is what I was really looking forward to when I booked the hotel. Just on the other side of the pool, there is a walkway into a more natural area where you will find a swim up bar (Chenote Thermal Sports Bar) and thermal waterways leading to many secluded thermal pools. It’s a stunning area and the separate pools are lit with colored lights in the evenings. A very relaxing spot to grab a drink and relax in the hot springs.

Located next to this thermal experience is the sauna which makes for a great addition to your wellness journey in the hot springs. You can spend some time in sauna prior to taking a dip in the hot springs to help aid in the detoxification and relaxation.

Other Amenities at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience

In addition to the thermal experiences, there are many other amenities you can enjoy while staying at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience.

• Swimming Pools – There are two cold water swimming pools on property including the main pool located near the thermal pools making it a great way to take a cold plunge after enjoying the thermal pools.

• Playground – Located next to the pool is a playground for the little ones to enjoy. There are tables and chairs nearby for parents to relax while still being close enough to keep an eye on the kids.

• Vital Chill Out Lounge – Looking to relax? Located near the pool is Vital Chill Out Lounge, a covered area featuring chairs, couches and pool tables. This makes for a great place to relax if you want to get out of the sun for a bit or during a rain shower.

• Volcano Spa – While the thermal pools are quite relaxing for you body, if you are looking for even more relaxation, head to the Volcano Spa. The spa includes such services as massages, facials, body scrubs and body wraps. You can even add on a thermal bath ritual to your service. This thermal bath takes place on the massage table after your body work. A true thermal experience you can’t get at just any spa in the world.

• Walking Trails Thru Tropical Botanical Gardens – The tropical botanical gardens on the resort grounds are stunning. There are so many colorful tropical flowers to see. There are many walking trails on the resort to enjoy these botanical gardens and nature.

Dining at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience

While there are not many dining options available at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience, their one restaurant is very good and has a menu with a variety of options, so you likely won’t feel like you are eating the same thing every day of your stay.

Sura Bar & Bistro is located right next to the pool with stunning views of Arenal Volcano. The restaurant is a covered open-air concept open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A breakfast buffet is included with your stay at Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience and it is quite a bountiful buffet. The buffet includes breads, pastries, fresh fruit, waffles, pancakes and made to order omelets. They also have fresh fruit juices and of course the delicious costa rican coffee. It’s a great breakfast to fuel up for a busy day enjoying the local activities.

The lunch and dinner menu has a variety of options: traditional costa rican dishes, steak, chicken, fish, pasta, burgers, tacos and so much more. There is something different for you to enjoy at each meal.

They also offer room service for lunch and dinner if you prefer to eat in the privacy of your room.

Things To Do in the La Fortuna Area

While you will want to spend some time at the resort, there is also so much to do in the La Fortuna Area. Below are some options of activities in the area. There are many tours that you can take that will pick you up directly from Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience if you do not rent a car.

• La Fortuna Waterfall, Arenal Volcano, Hot Springs Full Day Tour – I highly recommend this tour to see the main highlights of the La Fortuna area. It’s an especially great tour to take if you are only in the area for a short period of time. If you would like to read more about this tour, check out my post on this tour.

• Rio Celeste Full Day Tour and Hike – Head to the Tenorio Volcano National Park to see the Rio Celeste water fall and some of the bluest water you’ve ever seen. While there be on the lookout for wildlife.
• Mistico Park Hanging Bridges – Take a walk up in the tree canopy to see the rainforest from above.
• Ziplining – Want to get even more adventurous than the hanging bridges? Why not soar thru the air ziplining.
• Wildlife Viewing – There is so much great wildlife to see in Costa Rica including sloths, frogs and exotic birds.
• Take a Coffee Tour – Costa Rica is known for its coffee, take a tour to learn more about how coffee is produced and a little history about the Costa Rican coffee.

Things to Know About Volcano Lodge and Thermal Experience

When booking your stay at Volcano Lodge and Thermal Experience there are some things to keep in mind:

• The resort is spread out, with many of the rooms being far from the lobby of the resort. They do however have a golf cart on hand that they will use to bring you to your room with your luggage. When checking out, you can call reception for them to send the golf cart to pick you up.
• As the resort is spread out, if you do have a car, there is a parking lot located near the main area that the thermal pools, main swimming pool and restaurant are located.
• The plumbing in Costa Rica is not the same as other countries like the US. They do ask that you not flush anything in the toilet, including toilet paper. They also do not clean the rooms every day, so the toilet paper in the trash can could smell a bit, I recommend bringing some air freshner with you.
• The resort has a bit of a rustic and luxurious combination to it. The thermal aspects make it seem luxurious, but the rooms are pretty basic. While a great hotel, don’t expect a 5-star luxury resort.
• Respect the wildlife and nature on the resort. If you see any wildlife while there, keep your distance. While there I had a whole pack of turkeys walk thru my terrace, it was fun to see.
• The La Fortuna area is not located too close to either the San Jose or Liberia airports. But that does not mean you need to rent a car, Costa Rica has many private transportation companies and alot of times they can be cheaper than renting a car. I used I Love Travel Costa Rica for my trip and they were absolutely amazing.

Volcano Lodge Hotel and Thermal Experience was a great resort to stay at to be able to enjoy the nature of Costa Rica while having a bit of luxurious relaxation.

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica, I’d be more than happy to use my experience from visiting this wonderful country myself to help you plan your trip there. Contact me for travel planning and itinerary services.

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