Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica – Mountain Paradise Hotel Overview

Mountain Paradise hotel is really located in a paradise. There is a perfect balance between nature and luxury. It is a place that reflects a totally Costa Rican environment. Mountain Paradise Arenal hotel is a picturesque place to enjoy all that is Costa Rica. Below you will find an overview of this beautiful hotel in Arenal Costa Rica:

There are 40 suites with three styles of rooms available. Rooms have wireless Internet and the hotel will provide laptop computers for those clients who need then during their stay. The 24 Junior Suites have the choice of a king or queen sized bed. For entertainment there is a flat screen T.V. and cable. For comfort it has air conditioning and a whirlpool. Most important is the private garden and stunning view of the Arenal volcano Costa Rica.

The Master Suite has two bed rooms. One with a king sized bed the other with two single beds. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi and hydro massage shower. There is also a kitchen and mini bar. This suite comes with a pool are and garden to relax in. The big bonus is the personalized meal service for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The Premium rooms all come with My Home Intelligent Systems. This is a smart system that lets a guest control all the internal commands in the room with a remote control.

The Arenal hotel offers free transport to La Fortuna and the thermal waters. There are some holiday making tours available from Hotels Arenal Costa Rica. There is a walk or hike along the Las Colada Trail to the Arenal Volcano. It starts with a drive to the active north-western side of the Arenal volcano Costa Rica. The hike traverses the rain forest and a large lava flow that formed in 1992. The hike gives unique opportunities to see the variety of nature in the area as well as the lava formation. Arenal lake can be seen from the top of the flow formation. Red hot lava rolling down the side of the mountain can be seen at the viewing area at the end of the hike.

Most Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica offer horseback riding, perfect for admiring Costa Ricas beautiful landscape. The tour offered by Mountain Paradise hotel includes trained horses that go to the entrance of the La Fortuna waterfall. The ride includes traveling through private farms, forest and over hills. At the waterfall there is a short walk to the river. The swimming in the crystalline waters is worth the trip. A horseback volcano tour is also offered. It involves 3 hours of horseback riding through farms to the Arenal Volcano Costa Rica.

The Venado cave tour is an underground adventure through passages and chambers. There are stalactites, stalagmites, bats, spiders and the rock formation La Papaya to enjoy. Expect to get wet and muddy. There is also evidence that the caves were once at the bottom of the ocean.

There are many tours offered by Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica. Cano Negro Wildlife refuge is a great place for bird watching or just enjoying the exotic wild life native to the wetlands. Rio Celeste tour goes from La Fortuna to Rio Celeste in the Tenorio Volcano National Park. The Arenal hanging bridges is an easy 1.9 mile hike that includes crossing nine fixed bridges and six suspension bridges.

The Mountain Paradise Arenal hotel variety of tours offers many of the attractions in the Arenal region in one day. There is so much to do and see in the Arenal region. The views are stunning. Nature draws people out of the Hotels in Arenal Costa Rica.

San Jose Costa Rica Boutique Hotel with a Stunning View of the Central Valley

The Alta Hotel is a small and comfortable place to stay. It is away from the hustle and bustle and yet only about 20 minutes from the airport. It is small, special, intimate, elite and fashionable Costa Rica luxury hotel. It is strategically placed on the mountainside above San Jose. Below is a brief overview of the hotel:

This location is the real reason to stay here. This Costa Rica luxury hotel provides one of the most spectacular views of the Central Valley and San Jose. From the first floor up the units have private balconies that give an amazing view. The covered terraces are a perfect place to watch the sunset. The main floor has garden patios to enjoy.

The architecture of this luxury hotel in Costa Rica also makes it stand out. The high ceilings and winding staircases provide excellent ambience. There are curves and high arches everywhere. The interior hallway winds down from the reception through the hotel. This Costa Rica Boutique Hotel has a relaxed old world but elegant atmosphere.

The rooms are well priced and comfortable to stay in. It is a fashionable but exclusive Costa Rica luxury hotel with only 23 units available. The limited number of units results in personalized quality service. The Alta hotels employees take the time to make guests feel relaxed and well cared for. The service is friendly and personal.

Sixteen of the units are deluxe rooms. They are double rooms with a queen sized bed or twin beds. They each have a luxurious bathroom. There are 6 junior suits. There is a king or queens sized bed in each one. The attached living room also has a sofa bed. There is one master suite. It has a king size bed and an additional sofa bed. The bathroom has a Jacuzzi and steam bath. The master suite is part of the penthouse. The penthouse covers the entire upper floor. It has three bedrooms. The master one with the king size bed and two with queen sized beds. There is a living area and a dinning and reception room.

There are other attractions to this five story luxury hotel in Costa Rica. There is an elliptical swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and exercise room to enjoy. There is room service from 7 am until 10 pm. The hotel restaurant provides in-room or balcony dining service.

The restaurant, La Luz, is an elegant place to dine. There are hand-forged lamps and fresh followers. The floor is made of tropical hardwoods and the ceiling is hand-painted. Dinners can enjoy a breathtaking view of the valley through large glass windows. It is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Local residence will often come in to enjoy the fantastic food. A fusion of Costa Rica, continental and California cooking styles.

The Alta Hotel is a small but high end luxury hotel in Costa Rica. It is a top of the line Costa Rica boutique hotel. It is endowed with old-world luxury. It is situated to provide an unbelievable view. It is a great place to have a short stay for business or pleasure.

Nosara Costa Rica Vacation

When I want to unwind and unplug at the beach I head for Nosara. The feel of this seaside town is relaxed yet upscale, and has some pleasantly familiar tones for a California native like me that echo holistically oriented communities like Santa Cruz, for example. At the same time, it is uniquely Costa Rican with a Guanacasteco flair.

Nosara is part of the proudly independent Guanacaste Province, that was once part of Nicaragua. The focus on wellness is represented well and genuinely in what the area is best known for: surfing and yoga. You dont need to partake of these, however, to completely enjoy and appreciate your Nosara vacation. Thankfully not too many people know about Nosara yet, and I am hoping that this unspoiled gem can stay low key for a long while to come. The town is 40 miles from the nearest paved road, and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in all of Costa Rica. What I really appreciate is the strong sense of community and the commitment to keeping Nosaras water and environment healthy and clean. The Nosara Civic Association was established to represent the interests of the people living in the region in a sustainable way. The community is inviting to locals and foreigners alike, and I simply just feel at ease whenever I visit. Pura Vida is alive and well in Nosara!

My family and I especially enjoy the Harmony Hotel on Playa Guiones:

The ambiance, the caring staff, and the sustainable practices pull it all together in an elegant, yet relaxed environment that leaves all of us refreshed and recharged after every visit.

The cuisine is a natural extension of the focus on health and wellness, with many vegetarian options, no red meat, and plenty of organic fruits and vegetables, as well as just-caught-fresh fish and seafood.

The juice bar has many inventive concoctions including both beverages such as Ginger Lassi (Indian yogurt drink), and fun vegetarian appetizers such as coconut-lime ceviche-delicious! Reflecting a harmonious way of living, the kitchen uses organic ingredients whenever possible.

The rooms are natural, roomy and very private with a great indoor/outdoor feel. One of the best kept secrets is the Harmony House. It is a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom beauty and simply elegant.

The open kitchen, dining and sitting area open onto an expansive patio boasting the best views in Nosara. You can check the surf on Guiones below, while floating in the infinity pool. We stayed with family and had an incredible time.

The Harmony staff even offered to shop for our family dinner we insisted on cooking together in the fully equipped kitchen. It is the best of both worlds: a private beach house , fully equipped and with all the amenities of a hotel. Perfect for families up to 6. The natural wood and crisp white linens work well and the amenities include organic products locally made for you to enjoy during your stay.

The pools are easy on the skin, leaving no harsh chemical burn because the treatment is done with salt water instead of chlorine.

The spa is wonderfully appointed with tantalizing services including a chocolate wrap, using organic cacao and coconut oil.

The coffee rub is amazing and invigorating with great anti-oxidant effect.

The spa also uses organic ingredients as much as possible, for example insisting on organic coffee beans only for the coffee rub from a local family producer.

There are yoga classes overlooking a pond with lotus blossoms, a natural juice bar, ping pong table, and great little store with art supplies, books and many other gems.

The very short stroll to the beach will reveal the long, pristine Playa Guiones with surfing, boogie boarding and a private palapa (with attendant) where you may leave your belongings while you frolic in the sea.

There are many local tours and activities to choose from in addition to the very popular surfing, boogie boarding, yoga and spa treatments. These include kayaking the Rio Garza, Rio Montana, or Rio Nosara, ocean kayaking, bird watching, waterfall hike, Ostional Turtle Nesting, canopy tours, horseback riding, estuary boat tours, among others. One of the best natural highlights is the Lagarta Lodge Biological Reserve Tour, which is very near to the Harmony Hotel. The private reserve is 125 acres along the Nosara river mangroves boasting an abundance of plants and animals including herons, waders, seabirds, motmots, monkeys, coatis, armadillos, anteaters, crabs, iguanas and many others. The best time for animal activity is early morning, and after the tour it is a wonderful option to enjoy the breakfast buffet at the Lagarta Lodge with a lovely ocean view.

Some other highlights include the local eatery/bar/bakery called Cafe de Paris. This is a great spot, right in the heart of town, with a wonderfully diverse menu, yummy bakery and extensive beverage selection. You will find unique German and Belgian beer, along with many tropical drinks, and eclectic international wines. The Black Sheep Pub up in the Nosara hills is a fun place with a great view and vibe. Strolling through the surf shops and boutiques in town, you will find an old fashioned ice cream shop with giant waffle cones and a super wide variety of flavors. You will meet locals, North Americans, Europeans, South Americans all in a very enjoyable, easy setting. If you want to unplug and unwind, with a focus on well-being, you will love Nosara, too.