Lake Arenal-Stunning views of the lake, volcano and jungle. Reviews, Deals & Photos 2025

Q: Does Lake Arenal-Stunning views of the lake, volcano and jungle. have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Q: Is Lake Arenal-Stunning views of the lake, volcano and jungle. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

Q: Where is Lake Arenal-Stunning views of the lake, volcano and jungle. located?

Located in El Millon, this chalet is within 1 mi (2 km) of Butterfly Conservatory and Lake Arenal. Arenal Eco Zoo is 0.7 mi (1.2 km) away.

10/10 Excellent

Corey S.

16 Mar 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay

Property was fantastic, beautiful view and garden and pool. Place was well looked after and clean, hosts were great. Town was friendly with decent places to eat. Butterfly sanctuary is a must. Really enjoyed waking up everymorning to the sounds of birds and view of the volcano

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Derek B.

13 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place

We loved our stay in El Castillo. The people are incredible as well as the food. The hosts were very helpful and accommodating. I would highly recommend staying here.

Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Tom S.

28 Jun 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Came in the rainy season

We came at end of June. The house is very nice and cute. Beautiful gardens, clean pool , and comfortable beds. The host lives close by and brought us Tums instead of having to leave. Lots of birds watching. The ticos near by the nicest people. Great restaurants close and the views are spectacular. We are from FL and knew the house had no AC. We wouldn’t stay in a place again with out AC. We were hot. The water is very good and mountain well. The shower didn’t stay hot long but long enough. The main town La Fortuna is far about 35 min drive. We had a 4x4 and recommended it. We went to the butterfly conservatory and happy we did. It rained every day about 2 pm and mostly into night so we had to get events in by then and didn’t get to do everything we wanted. We love Costa Rica and the ticos are so nice and kind to Americans. We also stayed on beach Jaco before driving to the volcano side and prices are better on volcano side.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nikki M.

21 Dec 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

The Beautiful Castle in the Clouds

My husband and our 7-year old had about a month long stay at this property. It was lovely. The property was clean, laid out well and spacious. The views were incredible and the neighborhood was so quaint and friendly. There were lots of great food options right near the house as well as things to do. The busier town of Fortuna was close enough but I really enjoyed the countryside quietness of our location. It was such a beautiful, relaxing, rejuvenating stay. The hosts were also extremely helpful to us during our stay. I highly recommend this property. What a dream.

Stayed 19 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Deborah W.

15 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location with awesome view of volcano

Located away from hustle and bustle of Fortuna, but close to many activities. Anna was a great help to us in suggesting activities and even helping us access some cash so that we could take the amazing horseback ride with Lilander to his secret waterfall. Highly recommend this stay and the warm people of El Castillo.

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susan M., Kerrville Texas

26 Jan 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

El Castillo

The home was perfectly located with views and enjoying nature. We enjoyed the village and people who were so friendly and the proximity to everything. Will definitely return.

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2023

10/10 Excellent

KRISTINA C.

13 Feb 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful private home

Amazing views, gardens, perfect space for 2 couples. A little hard to get to at first but once you know where your going it’s all good. Highly recommend!

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Judy L.

25 May 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Breathtaking View

El Castillo village is an experience in true authentic culture. Our stay was wonderful. The property is a little challenging to get to because of the steep gravel road but the view and sunrises are breathtaking. Property managers were very responsive and helpful.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Scot B.

4 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing!

There aren’t enough superlatives for our stay! We loved the house, especially the view. We watched the sun come up over Arenal every morning. And when the volcano showed herself in all her glory that first morning it was magical. We loved La Mesa de Mama at the end of the road, too. Great local food with wonderful people. Can’t wait to come back for a longer stay!!

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Barbara M.

7 Aug 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic Adventure

This property was the perfect spot for the first portion of our Costa Rica vacation. We did a lot of hiking, zip-lining, and waterfall repelling all very close to this property. We loved relaxing in the plunge pool each day and enjoying the gorgeous gardens and views. Loved the cool evening air with the windows open. We would gladly return!

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Angela H.

17 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing place to stay!

We absolutely enjoyed the amazing home and incredible views. It is exactly as pictured/described, with a ton to do easily accessible from the home via car. The entire process was seamless, and we would highly recommend this as a place to stay, off the beaten path. I would note that it is difficult to walk anywhere besides one or two restaurants (be prepared to walk straight uphill on the way home), something to be cognizant of when booking!

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Dave S.

24 Aug 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful stay. Great access to La Fortuna but just far enough to avoid the crowds

Beautiful gardens and bountiful birdlife. The house was great and we did not have any problems. Definitely listen to the owners advice to arrive during daylight as the entrance is a little tricky the first time. Once you know where it is, it's easy

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kim P.

12 Sept 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing!

We loved staying here as a part of our CR trip it was definitely a highlight. Anna was nearby and so responsive and all her suggestions were wonderful. Our highlight was definitely lilander horse trail and waterfall. Lee is so kind and it was an unforgettable day. We loved the views from this villa all the birds so many tocans etc, heard the howler monkey's. It was very cool at night we were always comfortable. I would highly recommend

Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Nicole W.

11 Apr 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise

This home is exactly as pictured and featured beautiful lake and volcano views, a beautiful garden and well appointed furnishings. We arrived and it was sunny and beautiful and we just enjoyed the views. We also ate locally at the restaurants in El Castillo and they were great. We appreciated being out of busy, tourist trap La Fortuna. The local hosts arranged a horseback ride with he stable right down the street and my kids, aged 10 and 14, said it was the best horseback tour they've ever had. Everyone was friendly. My kids even asked if we could move while we had dinner at nearby El Patio. This is a great spot!

Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Alexis M.

20 May 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Everything we could have asked for!

We had the most incredible time staying here! From waking up to the sounds of howler monkeys to enjoying a nice afternoon visit with the neighbor’s horse to dinner with a volcano view in the gazebo we had everything we could have asked for and more. Anna and team were so responsive and helpful they even recommended local activities and restaurants we should try. When our luggage was left behind by the airline, she even offered to be available for the delivery so we wouldn’t have to give up time from any of our adventures - truly above and beyond! The house has everything you could need from the wonderful pool for recovery from adventure, a fully stocked kitchen to fuel your stay, and a great location for easy access to things like La Fortuna waterfall, the hanging bridges, and of course the water sports on the lake. We look forward to staying again on our next trip to Costa Rica!

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Antonia B.

8 Apr 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful place with outstanding views

This house was perfect for our family of 5 as a base to explore the La Fortuna/Arenal region. Everything was great, especially the incredible panoramic views and the lush garden with all types of tropical flowers and the kids loved the plunge pool. We didn't bother cooking at night so it was nice that there were a few close by restaurants on the street. Highly recommend La Ventanita for good prices, nice ambiance and delicious milkshakes. Only way the house could be improved would be a few more standing electric fans to supplement the ceiling fans as we were there in a hot spell and it took awhile for the rooms to cool down in the evening as we followed instructions to leave all windows closed when we went out in case of sudden weather changes.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Michael C.

9 Oct 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Surreal location.

We loved our stay in El Castillo. High above the lake, adjacent to the slopes of Arenal, we enjoyed breakfast lunch and dinner with spectacular views. The property has wonderful gardens laden with many varieties of plants and flowers attracting hummingbirds and an array of Costa Rican birds creating a relaxing day or evening to enjoy the property. A four wheel drive is a must. The local village people are friendly and welcoming. A One mile walk up to the El Castillo camp affords magnificent views of the lake and the volcano. 35 minutes from La Fortuna this vacation stay presents a remote location among the locals and away from the tourists! pura Vida!

Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey A.

3 Jun 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stunning property!

The house was everything you needed; cozy, quaint, stunning views, gorgeous landscaping and privacy. It accommodated everything we needed, which was surprising because we failed to realize there was no central air, and we have a ln 11 month old, but the area we were in stayed relatively cool, and even better at night (nice & cool) and they provided multiple fans to circulate the air. We were never uncomfortable. It was truly a treat for my son and husband who had so much fun checking out the frogs, snakes and stunning birds around the property, especially at night. The road leading to the house wasn’t bad at all, once you get up there the first time you’re not too worried about it but definitely do suggest 4WD. The drive to the house was beautiful and there are dozens of restaurants to stop and enjoy and take on the scenery. We absolutely prefer the jungle area over the beach towns! This house was a win!!!

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

8/10 Good

Tracia K., Pittsburgh, United States

11 Dec 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing views! House is rustic

So the views are amazing of the lake and the volcano. They have amazing gardens outside. The house itself is pretty rustic. There’s no heating or air-conditioning so you have to leave the windows open at night which is fine except for the jungle noises lol. Also, the sofa in the living room is a polyurethane fold out sofa and there is a support bar about every 6 inches. So we really couldn’t even sit there and watch TV and drink our coffee in the morning. It’s pretty remote. It’s close enough within 20 to 30 minutes of zip lining and thermal springs and waterfalls. The road was rough but we were used to that as we’d already been in Costa Rica for seven days. There is a pool, but it was too cold to get in during our stay. It’s a fine place. It’s a place to sleep, the beds are comfortable. The views are amazing and the garden is beautiful. It is not luxurious, sleeping on the couch is not an option.

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Guy W.

29 Sept 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Absolutely wouldn’t stay anywhere else in the Arenal volcano area.

My girlfriend and I totally lucked out with this rental. El Castillo is the best village to stay in around the lake and volcano. This is not a highly touristy area but it is the closest to all of the activities you would want to do. Everything is close!!! If you like privacy, horses, cows, wildlife and are looking for the most amazing view you could imagine, this property is the place to stay. When you are home you will spend a lot of your time in the enclosed balcony on the second level. The pool was a little cool for our liking but we were there during the rainy season so it was expected. That said, we were busy all day so we wouldn’t have swam much anyways. Places we visited: Mistico - amazing. 30 minutes Arenal Lodge - amazing 20 minutes Arenal 1968 - amazing 20 minutes Fortune waterfall - beautiful 45 minutes Ecothermals - WOW - 40 minutes Arenal Lake - very peaceful - 10 minutes Hiking from house - gorgeous - 0 minutes Cocoa tour - worth it - 2 minutes Places to eat Essence Arenal - our favorite - 2 minutes Burritos - forget name - delicious 3 minutes Johns Pizza - delicious - 10/15 minutes Fusion - don’t go Assorted sodas - all are good If there is a bad review for this place, ignore it. You will not be disappointed.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2019

10/10 Excellent

Hali H.

17 Mar 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Can't beat the views!

The views of the Arenal volcano and lake were amazing! There may not be a better view of the volcano anywhere, even at the National Park where we hiked the trail to the lookout. We enjoyed waking up to the horses grazing outside of our window, and taking in the sights and sounds while eating breakfast in the gazebo. The grounds with all of the flowering plants were stunning, and, while we didn't see any monkeys, we did see a lot of beautiful birds. Inside, the artwork was also beautiful. The beds were comfortable, as was the furniture on the screened porch. I was really happy that they provided a pail for composting. Tomas and Anna were very receptive to our questions and so helpful and kind! Some suggestions: 1. Put a curtain on the window in the back bedroom, as the lights from the other houses shine in at night. 2. Change out the bed frames as they're a bit too big for the beds and the rooms. We bumped our shins on the corners countless times until we leaned pillows against them. 3. Provide storage containers in the kitchen for leftover food. 4. As the couch (pull-out sofa) in the main living area is not very comfortable, perhaps replacing it with a futon would be better. 5. Fans in the upstairs bathrooms would be helpful. These are minor issues compared to the benefits of staying here, and I would highly recommend El Millon to others. It was the perfect size for two couples, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Erin C.

31 Jul 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family stay in El Castillo

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paule B.

15 Mar 2023

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Villa très bien située dans le charmant village El Castillo

Villa avec une très belle vue, un joli jardin et très bien située pour faire les activités autour du volcan Arenal et découvrir la faune et la flore

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2023

10/10 Excellent

Amy D.

28 Jun 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful place to stay near Fortuna

We loved our stay here. It was a perfect place to explore the Arenal/Fortuna area. We loved the quiet neighborhood/town that was still very close to all the activities and adventures near Arenal/Fortuna. We would absolutely stay there again.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Joseph B.

25 May 2022

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing!

The property itself is beautifully furnished and decorated on the inside yet it’s the outside grounds and picturesque views which steal the show. Hummingbirds are in abundance when you’re in the back patio/pool area looking at the postcard like view of the volcano and lake. It was truly a piece of heaven.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

Lake Arenal-Stunning views of the lake, volcano and jungle.

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