About the Farm at Arenal Observatory Lodge Visitors to Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, next to the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica, are always deeply impressed at the size of the famous Arenal hotel’s property – 870 acres! This lush green land of forest, rivers, waterfalls, and pastures holds an interesting history.   Forty-three years ago when the Aspinall family of Costa Rica purchased the 870 acre farm, it was an abandoned cattle ranch. The Costa Rican Electrical Institute (ICE) was building the dam to create the Arenal Reservoir – one of the [...]

Ecological Blue Flag Award - Protected Natural Spaces At the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa, we are pleased to announce that we have been awarded the Ecological Blue Flag (BAE) award for Protected Natural Spaces, obtaining the maximum rating of five stars.   The Ecological Blue Flag is a distinction that is awarded annually which recognizes efforts in the pursuit of conservation and development in accordance with the protection of natural resources.   The Protected Natural Spaces category recognizes the efforts made by the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa in the promotion and [...]

Energy Savings at the Arenal Observatory One thing many guests notice upon their arrival to the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa is the lack of air conditioners, televisions, and refrigerators in their rooms. The absence of these amenities is not by coincidence. Deciding not to include these amenities in the rooms helps the Observatory Lodge in its mission to protect the biodiversity of the Costa Rican rainforest, and makes it one of the leaders in conservation initiatives in the La Fortuna region.   Fortunately, the microclimate at the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa [...]

Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa - One of the Most Interesting Webcams in the World The webcam at Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa was recently selected as one of the 25 Most Interesting Webcams of 2018. This webcam was selected by a panel of judges from thousands of nominees around the world. As a family-owned ecolodge, the Arenal Observatory Lodge & Spa has always dreamed of sharing the natural wonders of Costa Rica with the world. Through our partnership with EarthCam, we have been able to make this dream a reality.   EarthCam is [...]

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.