Nothing!

The food was phenomenal! This place really feels like a retreat from the world-- but is also close to activities, so you can opt in or out, choose your own adventure.

Stayed in August 2025

Essence Arenal is very authentic and genuinely beautiful! It is far from Fortuna and it’s ugly restaurants and stores. Very quiet! Great view on the volcano! The park and farm around are amazing. You live very close to the forest and can observe the birds and insects quietly. The yoga classes are excellent and very inspiring in this gorgeous surrounding. The food is delicious, cooked mostly from the products of the eco farm. The personnel is absolutely dedicated and adorable !! I recommend for people in search of simplicity and beauty! Better with a car even though I didn’t have one and managed a few excursions ( taxis are expensive and scarce !)

Stayed in August 2025

The room was quite small for 4 of us and no air con.

Food was good, and great options for veggies. Nice to be so near the lake and town . Had a wonderful massage and joined in with yoga one morning

Stayed in July 2025

There's nothing that I didn't like and there were no negative surprises. My only regret is not having more time to explore the property's trails and take advantage of the spa circuit. Also, the butterfly conservatory just a short walk down the hill also features a frog sanctuary. My schedule didn't allow for me to visit, but another guest at Essence reported really enjoying her visit.

The staff is very friendly, proactive, and helpful. The property is a yoga retreat and bio farm. Meals are prepared with ingredients from the farm. Spa, massage, and other services are available. Dinner was vegetarian and delicious every time, and I haven't yet attained to the height of vegetarianism. The location was in close proximity to Lake Arenal with the volcano just on the other side, Sky Adventures ziplining and hanging bridges, the waterfalls and hot springs. La Fortuna is a bit further away. Views from here are great. Several paths to walk and sight see directly on property.

Stayed in June 2025

It is a beautiful property at a great location so peaceful and the hosts are also very kind and helpful. Super cosy and nice accommodation that I would highly recommend.

Stayed in April 2025

Sounds of the birds/insects in the forest at dusk

Stayed in March 2025

The Casita could be equiped better, the sleeping room was smelling moldy.

The whole Resort invites for walks through the Djungle, very good breakfast and vegetarian Lunch and Dinner, very nice staff and owner! Wonderful view from the casita and the bed into the jungle.

Stayed in March 2025

The rooms were not the best, a bit run down but clean nonetheless. The rest of the amenities and the nature make up for it. I also got dirty vibes from the pool and didn’t go in. Not sure if it is cleaned properly/maintained. During the night tour we saw frogs in there. Also, be prepared that this is about 30-40 minutes away from La Fortuna downtown. You can book a shuttle into the city from the hotel but it might be pricey if you are going alone more than once. You can find other people who are staying there to split the shuttle with. They also open up a tab for people who don’t book through the retreat websites which could have miscalculations so be sure to keep track of what you are purchasing there so the numbers align.

I loved this place! Great hospitality. Loved all the nature closeby. I also loved the cozy/family vibe with the kitchen/food they would make. Every meal was delicious! Especially the set-menu dinners. The yoga was great and so were the on-site services.

Stayed in March 2025

Electricity system was not stable

Beautiful nature

Stayed in February 2025

Food was uneven- we had the best salad of my life , and delicious breakfasts, but another Japanese style meal was less successful. Evening meal is a fixed price 3 courses which is sometimes too much if one has had a big lunch, though they kindly made us a salad one night when we didn’t want the full deal.

Amazing location on a forested hill with spectacular view of the volcano. It was so convenient to stay somewhere that offered so many options for services and activities. Our room Was basic but clean and comfortable. We enjoyed the spa circuit. Loved the covered sitting areas for daytime lounging/reading. Bird and night Tours with Aurelio were the highlight. His knowledge was extraordinary, and his passion for systems ecology infectious.

Stayed in March 2025

It is not right in on the action of a town so you have a little drive to get to most excursion.

I loved that it was more than just a place to stay, it was an experience in and of itself. Set on 26 acres it had its own hiking trails, restaurant (100% recomendó), and vibe. Also the staff was so friendly and accommodating that even when our trip was delayed they were flexible in adapting our reservations. They even have a toucan that was hanging out around the office. We stayed in the glamping tents which were perfectly clean and comfortable . An amazing view of the lake and the volcano.

Stayed in March 2025

The coffee was a bit pricey. Room was fine but a bit worn. It was a little far to get to activities but honestly we didn’t mind because I’d gave a more peaceful atmosphere. Might be hard to get around without a rental car tho.

Breakfast was great, the food was awesome and vegetarian. We loved our time and enjoyed walking on the beautiful grounds and doing the spa circuit. This is a really special place and wayyy better than saying in La Fortuna (too busy). Loved the amenities and all the tours and daily yoga! We both got massages or reiki which was great. Felt like a yoga retreat but without the steep prices.

Stayed in March 2025

Such a beautiful place! Amazing views, wildlife and wellness offerings. Truly a sanctuary.

Stayed in March 2025

This hotel is a little gem with its stunning views, private rainforest, viewpoint...etc. We loved stepping out of our room and seeing hummingbirds and toucans all around. The staff was extremely sweet and helpful, and the food was great quality. We really appreciated their veggie policy given how meat-heavy Costa Rican meals usually are. They also offer plenty of activities on site: the night jungle tour with Aurelio was a huge highlight of our stay in Costa Rica - this guy is so knowledgeable and so passionate, an absolute pleasure to listen to! Another great activity was the morning yoga in a beautiful setting. There was generally a great vibe with guests, staff and volunteers connecting. The room itself wasn't our best: it was teeny-tiny, nothing to hang our clothes, and the light was so faint that we could barely find our stuff in our suitcases! But all the positives make up for this small inconvenience.

Stayed in February 2025

It is a steep walk from the main reception area to some of the housing which is challenging if you are older as we are or if it’s raining. Took the shuttle but would have liked the shuttle to run more frequently

Staff were friendly, warm and helpful. We felt cared for. Food was delicious and healthy. There are a variety of activities offered on site. We did the cacao tour and had fabulous massages. Enjoyed morning yoga.

Stayed in February 2025

Rude the receptionist was an angel, he went above and beyond to be sure our stay was comfortable and perfect. We upgraded from the tents to the cabins with no problem. The communal areas, trails, and services were amazing. Highly recommend getting a massage from Annie and a craniosacral session from Kai. The people were so kind and welcoming! Truly felt like home. The sunsets and views of Arenal were hard to beat! We had a lovely stay here! Thank you, staff!!

Stayed in February 2025

Clean, seclusion, in natural setting

Stayed in February 2025

Beautiful setting. Excellent food. wonderful staff.

Stayed in January 2025

Everything was good.

The restaurant was superb. Manfred was our main waiter and he was a delight. He was one of the reasons why we came back to eat. The food was wonderful. We liked the superior tent is never leaked although it rained a lot.

Stayed in January 2025

For us the breakfast was a bit to simple for a high price.

It’s a great hotel to calm in El arsenal environment. They have a great concept (yoga sessions, spa and a vegan restaurant) and an amazing view on the volcano! We enjoyed the hotel room as well as the spa and the dinner! Even we did not have a car there is a shuttle service as some of the rooms are located a bit far from the reception and the way is a bit steep. Please don’t expect a luxury place. We highly recommend this place!

Stayed in December 2024

Accessibility within the property isn't good. This wasn't made clear when booking the muddy and slippery paths and steps were it navigable for me. I had to ask for a different room and my ability to to use various facilities within were restricted by the same reason

Location and views were amazing. Staff were great..Food was very good too.

Stayed in December 2024

Beautiful location and amazing views. Lovely vegetarian food. Some of the best we had in Costa Rica.

Stayed in December 2024

Really unique, amazing location. The staff is very friendly and they offer very interesting and fun tours on the property. We were able to spot many different animals, even around our cabin. Also the massages, spa and yoga are great add-ons. We really enjoyed our stay!

Stayed in December 2024

It would have been nice if there was a lamp in our room, not just an overhead light.

Beautiful views and wonderful staff. It felt like the property was trying to be as sustainable as possible. The yoga in the morning was brilliant. The little pool was big enough for us all to have a dip with the kids. Brilliant Kombucha at the restaurant and healthy drinks. The nighttime jungle tour was superb. The guide Arewel really taught you about the importance of nature.

Stayed in December 2024