Arenal Oasis Eco Lodge & Wildlife Refuge

Wildlife-Filled Stay Close to Town Arenal Oasis Lodge was a very nice place to stay—close to town, yet surrounded by a wildlife refuge, so it never felt urban. We woke up every morning to howler monkeys, saw a resident sloth daily, and enjoyed abundant birds and butterflies. The butterfly observatory was a highlight, and we also did a beautiful self-guided day hike on the property. We joined a guided night walk and saw an impressive variety of wildlife, including frogs, insects, a fer-de-lance, and a coral snake. The restaurant was excellent; we ate there twice and enjoyed the food, drinks, and service. We stayed in the largest cabin, which was clean and very spacious—it comfortably accommodated our group of four and could easily work for 6–7 people. The front desk staff were wonderful and helped us with anything we needed, including navigating town. Helpful tips for future guests: There is no air conditioning. Normally this wouldn’t bother us, but during our stay it rained frequently and the humidity was very high. Clothes (even quick-dry and wool) never fully dried, and bedding felt damp. We would happily stay again during a drier period. Online photos made it seem like the large cabin had only one bathroom without full walls, so we booked an extra cabin for privacy. This turned out to be unnecessary—the large cabin actually has two bathrooms, one fully enclosed off the common area and one in the master bedroom (the bedroom itself has a door). The night walk, while great for wildlife sightings, felt a bit disorganized and crowded with multiple groups at times. Overall, a peaceful, wildlife-rich stay with great staff and food—especially appealing for nature lovers who don’t mind rustic touches.

I did the early morning bird tour through arenal oasis. Francisco was an amazing teacher! The tour was just me and he really took the time to show me things. Pablo picked me up and was also great about spotting birds. They didn’t rush and extended our 2hr tour for an extra 90mins. Ended our tour with a great breakfast. Highly recommend the early wake up call to see some amazing species!

American visitor who stayed three nights in late January 2026. Adequate facility. This is an eco-lodge so the emphasis is being in nature. Comfortable bed, clean cabin. Includes free breakfast, which is good. Fresh fruit is put out in the morning very near the dining area to attract beautiful birds. This is a great photo opportunity. One should understand that there apparently is NO dry season in central Costa Rica. We understood we were visiting during the dry season but that is only the case on the Pacific coast early in a year. Inland, it still rained daily, sometimes for hours. This is important to know when staying at this facility (and perhaps others) due to the metal roof. A light sprinkle is noticeable and a gentle rain is a roar which caused some sleep disruption. But this rainforest area is pretty impressive if you immerse yourself in nature. There is an on-site butterfly exhibit my wife liked. (I decided to take a nap instead.)