Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

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The Arenal Observatory Lodge crowns a ridge overlooking Arenal Lake and the looming volcano only 1.7 miles away, all within the refreshing ambiance of a working 870 acres farm that includes 400 acres in reforestation and 270 acres of natural forest, all surrounded by the tropical splendor of the Arenal

DISCOVER the Arenal Volcano, EXPLORE the nature, RELAX in our unbelievable destination!

Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano Costa Rica | Reservations +506 2290 7011 | Fax +506 2290 8427The Lodge: +506 2479 1070 - Email: [email protected] | POBox: 13411-1000SJO-CR

ARENAL OBSERVATORYLODGE & SPA

ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPALOCATION IN ARENAL VOLCANO, COSTA RICA


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Arenal Observatory Lodge is located just at the foot of the Arenal Volcano, and next to the Arenal Volcano National Park. From La Fortuna town is only 22 kms heading to El Castillo Village.

the main road that goes to our property

The drive to Arenal Volcano from San Jose city passes through some of the most scenic regions in the country – vibrant green pastures, rolling mountains and meadows, patches of lush cloud and rain for-ests and picturesque Costa Rican villages. Driving to Arenal, you’ll pass by working dairy farms, hillsides full of grazing cattle, and

yucca, sugar cane and, of course,

Arenal map, if you are driving to Arenal you can choose from several routes to the: Arenal Observatory Lodge

Driving from Liberia Airport: http://www.arenalobservatory -lodge.com/getting-here

Driving from San Jose Airport:http://www.arenalobservatory -lodge.com/getting-here

GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 10.434215 Longitude:-84.701500

ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPAABOUT OUR LODGE A

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Our Receptioncharming living room, Computer to use Internet Service, Phone Cabin to make international and local calls, and the most diverse local tours can be hired at our reception desk

Arenal Volcano And Lake ViewAs soon as you arrive to Arenal Observatory Lodge, the Arenal Volcano will be just in front. Take your time to check-in and then few steps away there is our view point looking at the volcano and the arenal lake

The Observatory Restaurant & BarThe Restaurant overlooks the volcano southern slop with

majestic panoramic view of the lake and Arenal volcano.

The Gardens & LandscapeThe gardens and landscaping are extravagant with color. Natural

wildlife. Jewel-toned hummingbirds dart from heliconia to

Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi

Spa Services

Tiled in cobalt blue, it melts into the rainforest beyond. A sunken bubbling Jacuzzi provides soothing relaxation beneath a glass gazebo framing the volcano’s peak against a starry sky

The Bird SanctuaryBirders will be particularly delighted, as the diverse habitats surrounding the volcano observatory lodge shelter nearly 400 species. Birds can be seen everywhere!

"Inspired by the natural surroundings of Arenal Volcano, The Spa at Arenal Observatory Lodge creates an unsurpassed experience in an environment designed for relaxation, renewal and rejuve-nation. Let your cares melt away in the outdoor scenes as you breathe in the enchanting rhythms of nature."


ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPAARENAL VOLCANO

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After having lain dormant for over 400 years, Arenal Volcano erupted violently on July 29, 1968, wreaking havoc on the local population and creating a “lava-scape” for miles around its base.

feet – all this right outside your Arenal hotel room at the Observatory Lodge

Arenal Volcano which lay dormant for centuries, erupted in 1968 and has been active but in the last months the Arenal volcano is in a passive phase with very little activity as a part of its natural evolution. Arenal Observatory Lodge was originally built in 1987 as a Smithsonian Institute scientic research station. Unlike other La Fortuna hotels, this volcano lodge is the only Arenal Volcano observatory situated within Arenal National Park, protected from danger by the deep gorge of the Agua Caliente River.

At roughly 7:30 a.m. on Monday July 29, 1968 – after having lain relatively dormant for over 400 years – Arenal Volcano erupted with violence and fury.

Extreme eruptions and volcanic activity continued for several days, killing some 87 people and burying over 15 square kilometers in rock, lava and ash.

square kilometers in the surrounding area to varying degrees, with damage to crops, property, livestock and forests. One of the major eruptions occurred on May 8, 1998 and gave rise to temporary evacuations from area hotels, although the danger quickly passed and no one was injured.

The last big explosions occurred: August 25, 2001; March 2007, September 18, 2008; March 2, 2009; And May 24, 2010. At Arenal, current conditions are closely monitored for the safety of local residents and visitors alike.

Status of Arenal Volcano

In Costa Rica, volcanoes are anatural part of the landscape,contributing to the area’s historyand folklore, The Guatuso Indians,for example, believed the volcanowas home to the God of Fire.


ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPAACTIVITIES IN THE LODGE

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Arenal Observatory Lodge isn’t just a beautiful Arenal family hotel from which to watch the wonders of the Arenal Volcano. It’s also a great base for an entire gamut of activities and adventures.

The hotel lies within the Arenal National Park where primary and secondary tropical forests grow on the fertile volcanic soils, and abundant birds, mammals

heard in the forest in the early morning or late after-noons.

An 11km (7 miles) network of well-marked and maintained trails crisscrosses the property, ideal for hiking, horse-back riding or bicycle rides. These trails give you access to so much local natural beauty and we also have 800 m (0.5 miles) of paved pathway for wheelchair access, which enters the tropical forest and gives excellent views of the volcano and primary forest. Seven and a half kilometers (4.6 miles) of the networked are color-coded into red, yellow, brown, and blue, green and orange to help you keep your bearings. Please ask for the trail map from Reception.

Morning walk (free): A guided walk along the property's trails. The walk starts from the hotel every morning at 8:30 am and lasts about two and a half hours. You start by crossing the hanging bridge (Saino / Peccary) and follow the Saino and La

continues into primary and secondary forest to reach a lovely waterfall and continues over the hanging bridge (Danta / Tapir) which crosses the river of the same name. Your walk then passes through pastureland and tropical vegetation bordering the river, which it crosses and where a comfortable, tractor-drawn "Jungle Bus" will take you back to the hotel. During this walk, you might observe many

Birdwatching: habitats that make up the 350 ha. (865 acres) of the Lodge. From the trails, you pass through primary forests, cattle pastures, secondary

bitterns, laughing falcons, red-lore parrots, great curassows, northern jacanas, steely-vented hummingbirds and keel-billed toucans. Ask in Reception for the complete Bird List

Approximately 400 bird species

ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPASeven miles of manicured, well-marked walking, bike and horseback riding trail system traverses the property and provides safe, easy access to breathtaking natural beauty

La Catarata (Waterfall) Trail: This is a favorite walk in AOL. A moderate walk of about 1 km. from the hotel takes you along a cobble and hardcore path that drops 50 steps down a slope to the base of the six-meter (19.7-ft) high waterfall. The air is refreshing by the waterfall and spectacular ferns and palms in this lush secondary forest surround you. You might spot monkeys (howler, spider and white-faced capuchin), birds (crested guan, toucan, Montezuma's oropendula, tanagers, trogons), and in December you could be lucky enough to see the quetzal and hear a black-faced solitaire during their vertical migration to the property. Look out for sloths, peccary, margay and coati. This trail takes about one hour there and back.

Saino (Peccary) Trail: A paved trail of approximately 650 m (0.4 mile) that takes about 45 minutes and is suitable for the physically challenged. It leads through secondary forest and the Lodge's gardens. You can often spot coatis and monkeys (howler, spider); birds (crested guan, toucan, oropendula, clay-colored robin, tanagers), many types of humming bird (rufous-tailed, black-crested coquette, green

La Hormiga (Ant) Trail: A 450-meter (0.28 mile) hardcore trail that can be walked in about 25 minutes. The path goes through both secondary and primary forest. You might be able to see coati, sloth, anteater, monkeys (howler, spider, white-faced capuchin); birds (crested guan, toucan, oropendula, clay-colored robin, tanagers, trogons and migrating species in August or March such as the umbrella bird

Los Cangrejos (Crabs) Trail: This trail cuts through primary forest for 500 m (0.31 mile) and can be walked in about 20 minutes. It starts 2 km (1.23 mile) from Reception (part of the trail to Chato volcano). Some species that inhabit this part are peccary, armadillos, rabbits, coati, monkeys (howler, spider, white-faced capuchin); birds such as crested guan, toucan, oropendula, tanagers, trogons, chest-

naked Indian and pilon.

Lava Vieja (Old Lava) Trail: This trail leaves the hotel and drops down to the Agua Caliente (Hot Water) river. Beyond there, the trail is out of bounds because it used to pass through a high-risk zone to reach the foot of Arenal volcano. During this walk, you will see how plants have recolonized, and with luck, you should spot some howler monkeys. The trails are quite challenging because of the uneven ground and takes about 40 minutes there and back.

Guided walk up Cerro Chato Mountain: Cerro Chato is an extinct volcano with a summit crater that is now a lake. To reach the top, you leave the hotel and walk to the farm at the base of the volcano. This is a challenging hike up through primary tropical forest to reach the Crater Lake. Its waters

Guided horse-back rides: This tour follows the hotel trails with a guide and costs $10 / hour

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ARENAL OBSERVATORY LODGE & SPAACTIVITIES IN ARENAL VOLCANO

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SContact UsArenal Observatory Lodge, San Jose Costa Rica O ce

Tel: (506) 2290. 7011Toll free Usa & Canada: (877) 804-7732Fax:(506) 2290. 8427PO BOX: 13411-1000Reservations Address: Uruca, San Jose

At the LodgeArenal Observatory Lodge, San Jose Costa Rica O ce

Tel: (506) 2479. 1070Fax:(506) 2479. 1074Address: La Fortuna, San Carlos, Alajuela Costa Rica

[email protected] www.arenalobservatorylodge.com

Very important notes:WE INCLUDE:

• Full Bu et Breakfast• Taxes• Swimming Pool & Jacuzzi• Bird Listings• Personal Attention by our Guest Service

Manager• Free guided morning hike along the trails of the property• 7 miles of well-maintained trails for walking, bike and horseback riding• Children under 6: free meals and lodging (shared room with parents)• Children 7-11 years old: children menu, free lodging (shared room with parents)

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HOTEL RULES

• For security reasons our main gate closes at 11:00 p.m

• Check in: From 3:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. Check out: 12:00 m

• No pets allowed• No Smoking (Law N* 9028)


• Hike Cerro Chato Volcano• Lava Tour 1.968• Birdwatching Tour• Horseback riding• Massage Service• Biking• Hot Springs• Arenal Hanging Bridges• Sky Trek- Sky Tram• Canopy• Fishing Tour

• Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge• Safari Canoeing• White Water Rafting• Venado Caves• ATV Tours• Canyoning (Rapel)• Arenal Eco-Zoo• Transfer by Monteverde by boat• Transfer Horseback riding to Monteverde

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Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica