Blog

The year 2022 ends and one of the best experiences for bird lovers begins -Arenal Bird Count 2022. This time we had...

As another year of birding comes to an end at the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, we reflect on what has been a...

Are you planning a trip to Costa Rica during the COVID-19 pandemic? With 28 national parks, including the...

Where in Costa Rica can you see trees the color of a rainbow?   At Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa by the...

Visitors to Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, next to the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, are always deeply impressed...

At the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, we are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Ecological Blue...

One thing many guests notice upon their arrival to the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is the lack of air...

The webcam at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa was recently selected as one of the 25 Most Interesting Webcams of...

Planning how to best spend a two-night, three-day stay at the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa in La Fortuna, Costa Rica is no easy task. With a complimentary morning walk, two observation towers, a pool and jacuzzi, a variety of spa treatments, a historical museum, horseback riding tours, some of the best birding in the country, 7 miles (11 kilometers) of trails to explore across 870 acres (352 hectares) of property, and much more to offer, finding time for it all can seem an impossible task.

50 years ago today, on July 29, 1968, a large forested hill, known as Cerro Arenal, exploded ending its nearly 500-year slumber. The large eruption of rock, lava, and ash lasted three days, affecting more than 15 square kilometers and devastating the towns of Tabacón, Pueblo Nuevo, and San Luis. 87 people living in these areas tragically lost their lives.

As a part of our continued activities involving environmental education in the local community, the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa in coordination with SONATI (Sociedad y Naturaleza Internacional), carried out a class about the threats facing wildlife in Costa Rica at the nearby high school in El Castillo.

The second part of the lesson consisted of a field trip to the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa trails, where students learned about the ecology of the tropical rainforest.

As a part of our commitment to sustainable tourism, the local community, and the environment, the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, in coordination with SONATI (Sociedad y Naturaleza Internacional) carried out a course about environmental education for the nearby school in El Castillo, La Fortuna.

The course consisted of two theoretical and dynamic talks which encouraged participation from the students. Topics included: the different types of ecosystems, the importance of the forests, conservation, and wildlife among others.

The Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is an eco-lodge entrenched in nature. Surrounded by the Arenal Volcano National Park in Costa Rica, and in between the Guanacaste and Tilarán Mountain Ranges, it is an area of incredible geological and ecological diversity. The union of mountainous terrain and abundance of water that exists at the lodge creates the perfect conditions for the formation of waterfalls.

In the United States alone, it is estimated that up to a billion birds die each year in collisions with windows, walls, and other structures. In fact, window collisions are the second largest anthropocentric mortality threat to birds, second only to domestic cat predation (more on that in a future blog). Although this widow collision problem is serious, and human-caused, solving it is complicated, involving cooperation from businesses and members of the public alike.

With over 500 species of birds sighted at the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, shortlisting a selection of several especially emblematic birds is no easy task. However, we believe these following nine species deserve the designation due to their uniqueness, dependence on the area, and representation of the tropical rainforest.

1) Lovely cotinga (Cotinga amabilis)

Thai Massage is an ancient technique in which the client is laid on a floor mat, and stretched and massaged from head to toe. This technique is very different than those which we are accustomed to thinking of when we hear the word massage. Normally, we think of a massage table and oil. Thai massage breaks these stereotypes be employing a floor mat, comfortable clothing, and the use of most of the masseuse´s body. This includes use of the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearms, legs, and feet.

Located 2.7 km from Arenal Volcano, lying on the skirts of the volcano, Arenal Observatory Lodge and Spa offers the opportunity to enjoy not only the views of our close neighbor, Arenal Volcano but also the views of some more distant volcanos within the Guanacaste Mountain Range. Located to the northeast of the lodge, you can observe Rincón de la Vieja, Miravalles Volcano, and Tenorio Volcano.

The Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is located in the Caribbean foothills of the Tilaran Cordillera, in the premontane rainforest of Costa Rica. Occupying an elevational range between 600 and 1100 meters above sea level and nestled in-between the Rio Agua Calliente and the Rio Danta, the 350-hectare property encompasses a diverse array of ecosystems and micro-habitats.

Many tourists have heard about the world famous bird watching in Costa Rica, but there is also another type of animal that is worth your attention: wild cats. Costa Rica is actually home to six different wild species: Ocelot, Margay, Jaguar, Puma, Jaguarundi, and Oncilla. Below are some cat facts for you to know when planning your next adventure vacation to Costa Rica.

Since its launch in 2002 eBird has been the primary database used by birders at the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa to keep track of their observations. By utilizing eBird for our bird observations we are providing key data on the biodiversity of avian populations in the Arenal Volcano National Park and Costa Rica as a whole.

Costa Rica’s success story with reforestation is quite amazing. The Central American nation did a complete turn-around from being one of the most deforested countries in the world by the early 1980s, to today being over 52 percent covered with forest.