“An Excellent Place To Stay” I don't normally give the houses I've rented the "highest" rating, nor do I normally write reviews in the first place, buy I feel compelled to do so for Arenal Springs Villas. For the simple reason that, in the past when I've rented houses on-line, pictures posted have usually overstated how nice the homes and surrounding area actually was. Not they were bad, just that the their pictures left me with high expectations. But Arenal Springs was/is different. In my opinion, the pictures just can't quite capture how nice the houses/villas, the grounds, and the surrounding area, actually are. And that's why we keep going back.

“Beautiful home in lovely setting.” This home had all the amenities to make our family comfortable. We loved sitting on the patio in the morning watching hummingbirds and listening to howler monkeys in the distance. The extensive DVD collection was a hit with our kids during some of our down time. The location near the town of Nuevo arenal was nice for short trips to the grocery store and many restaurants.

“Wow! You'll love the Red Sunset!” Are you looking for a luxury guesthouse near Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano? If so, look no further and book yourself into the Red Sunset. My husband and I, along with six friends, spent a week in March there. We are so glad we did! We found the accommodations to be everything they were advertised and more. The views are amazing and the house, pool house and grounds will give you plenty of opportunities to relax and explore. While the guesthouse is excellent, the very best feature is the owner/operator Patrick. Patrick met with us each day to help us plan activities and make reservations with the best tour operators. His local knowledge and recommendations were spot on each day, and his help was invaluable. The breakfast provided each morning was a highlight unto itself. Come prepared to eat well – you won’t be disappointed. We’ve never had meals of this quality at similar style lodgings. We also took advantage of the optional evening Chef services. While there were several great places to eat in the Lake Arenal area, all of which were recommended to us by Patrick, you won’t beat the meals prepared by Patrick and his wife. Our favorite was the Chicken Parmesan – sorry, Mom, but it was the best we’ve had anywhere! The Red Sunset was the perfect place for our Costa Rica vacation. We arrived as guests and soon felt like family. We’re glad we chose the Red Sunset!

“Beautiful condo, very friendly owners!!!” As we love to explore and participate on as many outdoor activities as possible, we needed to stay on a central location. This was perfect for us as arenal Volcano is within 1.5 hrs drive to the left and Monteverde within the same distance to the right. Liberia airport just about the same distance (all in all, very convenient for our purposes) note: as Costa Rica has so much to offer, 1.5 hrs is not an unusual drive if you want to experience as many activities and sites as you can) All the units are state of the art (wireless, fiber high-speed internet, kitchen appliances, etc) and with all the amenities of a very modern condo. The owners, Zen & Doreen were very nice and friendly and made us feel quite welcome. Thank you!!! :-) I have provided my e-mail address, in case anyone is interested in contacting me with any questions; I won't mind sharing and confirming all this information as I have nothing but great things to say about this place and their owners. All in all, a Great stay and will definitely stay here again next time while in Costa Rica. ~Manny (from Los angeles, Ca)

“Amazing! Didn't want to leave!” This cabin is everything we wanted and more! Great location (just a few minute drive to snowboarding/dining) and none of that cheesy typical cabin feel with plaid and bears everywhere. It was decorated nicely and felt very homey. There are 2 bedrooms downstairs with a jack-and-jill bathroom. There was a kitchen, living room and another full bath upstairs. The living room was a great place to relax after a long day of boarding and we enjoyed the convenience of the kitchen (stocked with plates, utensils, mugs, paper towels). I highly recommend! OH, also, the owner was great! I booked last minute (Friday night) and Jeff responded right away and I got it booked for that weekend. I really appreciate the responsiveness and would love to stay here again if I'm in the area.

“Thoroughly Impressed” My stay at Casa Ceiba was simply relaxing, fun, and adventurous. The house is brand new, very clean, and well designed with 3 bedrooms, each with their own porch, a nice living room, and gourmet kitchen. The house has tile floors throughout and a wooden ceiling design that catches your eye as soon as you walk in. We enjoyed a spectacular view while hanging out in the pool and hot tub. Pool and house were cleaned every day, no issues! We were greeted each morning by a charming woman who took great care of us during our stay, cooking us gourmet breakfasts and dinners and treating us so very kindly. Nearby town of La Fortuna was quaint and plentiful of our needs and included a coffee house for which we went to a few times and enjoyed the best cup of coffee I ever had. Our Zip Lining adventure was quite exhilarating and within 10 minutes of the house. Our hike up the very well maintained Cerro Chato Volcano in nearby La Fortuna was the most challenging hike ever but I enjoyed every minute! We also visited one of the many hot springs which are located nearby and just enjoyed a great afternoon of relaxation and beautiful atmosphere. While we drove by many other rental properties in the area, I think our rental was in the best area, with the best view, and offered the most amenities. I highly recommend this rental and I plan to revisit next year.

“Our stay at the lake arenal” We stayed with 2 families 54 kids between 5 and 7) in the Lake arenal cabins. We really enjoyed our stay in this fabulous environment. Tucans flying in the garden during breakfast, monkeys on top of the cabin, the noice of the volcano. The cabins itself are well kept and practical, perfect breakfast, the host very helpful. Do not miss this place during your trip in Costa Rica!

“The Best of Costa Rica!” This was my second visit to Villa Encantada! After the first visit in 2010, my daughter decided this was the place to get married! We returned with a group of 30+. The bridal party(14) stayed at the Villa and Glenn helped to place the rest of us in properties close by, including his sister's house up the hill. The whole event could not have been better! Let me say that Glenn is a great guy and incredible host! If you want to experience the best of Costa Rica, stay with Glenn at the Villa! The grounds are as beautiful as the pictures indicate and you can be entertained right on the property. The Tabacon Lodge and Skywalk at Volcanoes National Park are under one hour drive. Shopping and dining in Nuevo Arenal has a true Tico feel and much better than dealing with the big tourist towns. Pura Vida! Thank you Glenn!

“Spectacular!!!” Our stay at Hacienda Encantada during the days 21 to 25 July 2013, it was an unforgettable experience. Comfortable, clean and everything you need to have fun with the family. The landscape, the rainy season, and the ambient sounds of birds and animals were elements that made us feel at peace and in communication with nature. Although the way to reach the house was a bit difficult, the same was not reason to stop enjoying all of the wonderful of the place. Talk with Mayquel on the customs and way of life of the inhabitants of the area, it was very interesting. Without a doubt, we would love to return. Thanks Marty.

“Wonderful experience!” We loved our stay at the Forest and Surf Villa. The house is an architectural gem - very open, beautiful wood, gorgeous views of the ocean. We spent most of our time on the porch swing. We traveled with an infant (5.5 months), toddler (2.5 years) and four adults (including two seniors) and it all went so well. A gorgeous, quiet beach is a short drive from the villa. We heard lots of monkeys, but they were never a nuisance. The beds are comfy, there is a washer and dryer and the place comes with two surf boards and yoga mats. It also stays fairly cool there - compared to the beach. We were never bothered by mosquitoes. Things to know: the drive down to Sjds is long-ish and bumpy, so get supplies in advance. It is very helpful to bring a flash light or headlamp for when you get back after dark, although the paths to the villa are well lit. We didn't have hot water or wireless for the first two days, but it was then fixed (probably would have been fixed sooner, but it was Christmas). The lighting in the kitchen is unpleasant and the kitchen needs more glasses and bowls and a big cutting board. These are all small things, though - we loved our time there.