FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL QUESTIONS

1.What Should I bring?

As almost any Costa Rican hotel list or lodge directory will show, the Arenal Observatory Lodge is a comfortable, modern hotel. It offers many conveniences, including a small gift shop stocked with a variety of necessities. At the hotel, recommended items may be available: still, adventure travel in Costa Rica is different from most other forms of tourism and a little foresight and planning will make your trip much more enjoyable

Here’s a short list of some essentials and a few recommendations of what to bring:

Binoculars,

Flashlight

Camera

Rain gear

Hiking shoes/boots

Bathing suit

Light sweatshirt/sweater or windbreaker

Birding list

Any necessary personal medications

Pocket Knife

Insect repellent

Sunscreen

Sun hat

A small day pack for hikes

Plastic bags for your gear

In addition, you may want to pick up a copy of the book A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica, by F. Gary Stiles and Alexander Skutch (Cornell University Press).

2.When is Check in and Check out time?

Check in is from 3.00 to 9.00 p.m. Check out is at 12.00 noon.

3.How can I pay?

You can pay with US dollars, colones (which is the national currency), credit card (Visa, American Express, Master Card, JCB -there are NO additional charges). We do not accept travelers check.

4.At what time will the main gate close?

Due to security reasons the main gate to get into the hotel will close at 11:00 p.m

5.What are the chances of seeing the volcano?

Arenal volcano, which lay dormant for centuries, erupted in 1968 and has been continuously active ever since, now you can share in the excitement from our rooms a magnificent display of firework as the rumbling Arenal volcano explodes massive plumes of molten fire high into the sky on a cloudless night, or the soundless eruptions of an ash cloud that raises large “cauliflower” head into the sky. However, as any natural phenomenon the possibility of seeing the volcano is subject to the unpredictable weather conditions.

LODGE FACILITIES

6. Is Arenal Observatory Lodge a safe place?

Arenal Observatory Lodge is situated on a ridge 120 meters above Lake Arenal, southeast of this active La Fortuna volcano. The ridge rises between the Agua Caliente and Quebrada Danta rivers. This topographical feature is important as it keeps lava flows from affecting the Arenal lodge. The lodge is within ZONE “D” (Low Danger Area) near Volcán Arenal. Moreover, as prevailing winds are from the east, the Arenal volcano lodge would seldom be affected by ash or other fallout from a major eruption.

7.What is the difference between the Standard rooms and the Smithsonian rooms?

The main difference between these rooms is that the Smithsonian rooms have a direct view to the volcano from the bed, while the Standard rooms have view a view of the volcano from the porch.

8.How many people can stay in one room?

Each room has 2 queen beds, for a maximum of 4 people per room.

9.Are there any rooms accessible for handicaps people?

Five rooms are fully equipped for disabled travelers, with rooms, bathrooms, hallways, parking areas and even a swimming pool has been designed for this purpose. There is also a paved wheelchair-accessible trail that extends 800 meters into the rainforest.

10.Does the lodge have any transportation services?

The lodge offers a transportation service to the nearby areas and transportation from & to the International Airport Juan Santamaria in San José and the Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia. Please ask in reception for the prices.

11.Can I reach the lodge with public transportation?

Yes, using this service the buses leave from San José three times a day with destination to La Fortuna. If you want to take this service call to Autotransportes San Carlos. Tel. (506) 2255-4318. From La Fortuna you can then take a taxi to the lodge for $25.

12.How is the climate & the weather for the Arenal Volcano Area?

13.What are the driving time from/to Arenal Observatory Lodge?