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Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views

Lakefront holiday home with kitchen and balcony

Photo gallery for Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views

Side balcony-second floor
Dining area-second floor
Front door-second floor
Kitchen window-second floor
Bedroom/Living area-second floor

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Kitchen
  • Breakfast available
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Arenal Volcano
  • Place, Costa Rica Sky Adventures
  • Place, Tabacon Hot Springs
  • Airport, La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 5)

Lower Suite

2 Queen Beds

Upper Suite

1 Double Sofa Bed and 1 Queen Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Toilet · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Balcony

About this property

Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views

This house boasts the best views of Volcano Arenal and Arenal Lake. The open floor plan, spacious outdoor patio, and rooftop terrace provide beautiful indoor and outdoor living space in this lush rainforest mountain village, close to all the attractions that make Costa Rica a top destination.
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Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Mountain view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Peñas Blancas

Located in El Millon, a neighbourhood in Peñas Blancas, this holiday home is in the mountains and on a lake. While the natural beauty of Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Baldi Hot Springs. Butterfly Conservatory and Arenal Eco Zoo are also worth visiting. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
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Map
El Castillo, Alajuela Province

What's nearby

  • Costa Rica Sky Adventures - 9 min drive - 5.2 km
  • Tabacon Hot Springs - 22 min drive - 13.9 km
  • Arenal Volcano National Park - 23 min drive - 14.3 km
  • Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges Park - 29 min drive - 17.4 km
  • La Fortuna Waterfall - 44 min drive - 30.2 km

Getting around

  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 52 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shangri-La Gardens - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Tucanes - ‬21 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Palma - ‬22 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante El Jilguero - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Fusión Arenal Mirador. - ‬5 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views?

As of 31 October 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views on 1 November 2025 start from NZ$286.40, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Spectacular Arenal Volcano and Lake Views located?

Located in El Millon, this holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Butterfly Conservatory and Lake Arenal. Arenal Eco Zoo and Costa Rica Sky Adventures are also within 3 miles (5 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 19 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 19 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 19 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 19 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Lindsey H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful stay in El Castillo

We absolutely LOVED this spot. Gorgeous views, amazing neighborhood and so many birds. Very friendly community and we wished we could stay longer. Can not recommend this house enough. We will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Lyman F.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location

Mountain retreat

Overall stay was great and mostly as described. The views were beautiful, and location is in safe neighborhood. The house is well kept and clean. There is a great restaurant in town with WiFi and good food/drinks. Downsides were no working outside lightbulbs (5/6 out first day), no wifi (didn't work), no hammock (was pictured) and not enough water pressure to get a good shower.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Erika J.

Liked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

A beautiful neighborhood home close to many activities

Pros: the gorgeous views of the volcano and all the animals, the friendly neighbors, the overall space for our family (kids were downstairs, adults were upstairs), location to all the activities we planned to doCons: difficult to find (especially in the dark, after a long day of travel, and terrible cell service), upstairs had a little bit of an ant problem which the local host helped us with
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

ERIC A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Location with the Locals

We loved the house. It is perfect for two friends. An upstairs and and a downstairs apartment. Both cozy and the basics. We loved climbing the spiral staircase to get to the third floor. There is a porch swing with gorgeous views of the lake and the volcano. Easily walk to several local places to eat and mini-market. Loved it here.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

10/10 Excellent

Amy P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Costa Rica 2025

Ericka was the best! She was an excellent host. The place was perfect. We arrived later than expected and she called a local restaurant to fix us four plates and we arrived there at 9pm and ate a delicious meal! Thanks, Ericka!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dusty R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Quiet Mountain Getaway

We really enjoyed the quiet village and the house's amazing views of the volcano and lake! We saw beautiful birds everywhere. Loved the swings and the 3rd floor lookout! So peaceful. The only drawbacks were, one night the neighborhood dogs barked for an hour and we had a little trouble finding the house but Erika went out of her way to talk us through it and had her daughter meet us! Also, the first and second floor are only connected by outdoor steps. It was great for us because our teens stayed downstairs and loved it. (But with younger kids this may be an issue) We met Lilander at a stable close by and had an amazing horseback ride to a waterfall! Highly recommend this place!
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2025

8/10 Good

Rawley M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice, cozy place in a quiet little town. Close distance to a few restaurants and bars. The only complaints were not knowing that the two rooms were separated from one another (could not enter one room from the other without going outside). But besides that, very happy.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Heather B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Comfortable, clean house with everything you need for your stay in the cozy el Castillo neighborhood. Lots of birds and other wildlife. The local host Ericka is very friendly and helpful. We felt completely safe and the area is convenient to la Fortuna (about 20-30 minutes). The only downside (which the hosts can't control) is the rooster next door that starts crowing around 5am and doesn't stop for about 2 hours. I'm a light sleeper so it woke me up, but my husband and kids didn't notice it.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shannon H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

La Fortuna Vacation

Family of 5 with 3 college age kids. This property was just as advertised. It is clean and simple but nice. Property has 2studio apartments and a rooftop terrace. No hammocks as in pics. The 3 kids took the downstairs floor with two beds and my husband and I took the second floor. No air conditioning but not needed with the ceiling fans and screened windows opened. Incredible views of the volcano and lake. The porches are great. No tv so we brought a couple of games and played theses in the evening. Not hard to get to but we arrived after dark and the roads were not the best to get there. There is a small market and a soda within walking distance. Very relaxing and beautiful stay. We would definitely stay again!
Stayed 5 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

steve s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location

Great property with good views of Arenal volcano and lake. Loads of wildlife around including toucans.Much quieter than La Fortuna
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Incredible views off the beaten path

We had a wonderful stay at Melanie’s home! The local host, Ericka, was super accommodating, even meeting us out on the road when we got turned around arriving the first night. The space was perfect for our group of 5 that included two teens. We absolutely loved sitting out on the porch or up on the roof just listening to the wildlife around us each morning as the sun came up and the wispy clouds moved around Arenal. The home was clean, comfortable, and had everything we needed. Located almost equally between La Fortuna and Arenal we appreciated the easy access to all of the activities we had planned. We also appreciated the quiet of this little area as compared to the busier La Fortuna area. We highly recommend the restaurant just down the road - Terrazas del Arenal (it has the alien out front and you have to pass it coming to the house). We loved it so much we ate there multiple times! The staff are super friendly, the food was delicious, the sunset views are outstanding, and the resident pups are the sweetest! Even better - it’s just a short walk from the house. If you’re looking to visit the La Fortuna/Arenal area don’t pass up this house!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anant S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing house right outside La Fortuna!

This was the perfect house for our stay in La Fortuna. It was only about a 25 min drive from the city and there were closer attractions as well. The house was the perfect size for our family of 4, although we spent most of our time on the balcony soaking up the amazing views. The property manager, Erika, was so helpful through out our entire stay. She helped us make reservations for activities we were interested in. There is the most amazing farm to table restaurant that is walking distance from the house that my family absolutely loved called Essence Arenal. This was a recommendation from Erika and we went several times over our 4 day stay. The restaurant happened to be completely vegetarian which worked out perfectly since my family is vegetarian! I can’t recommend this house enough !!
Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Rajeshwar P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent stay near to many attractions near Arenal

Very spacious and comfortable living space and most importantly very close to many area attractions like Sky adventures, El Chiyon hot water springs, Lava rock trails, Bird watching trails
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Gary S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Humble Castillo

Perfect home to experience life in north central Costa Rica. The house is comfortable with the basic necessities for an enjoyable stay. Great location with excellent views of Arenal volcano, lake, and surrounding community. Guava tree next to home attracted a multitude of colorful birds. Rooftop view was amazing. Great place to reconnect to our amazing world. The owner and host were both very welcoming and helpful with our stay. Loved it!
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kathy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing stay!

Where to begin? Let’s start from the booking! Even before I booked Melanie answered my questions and continued to be very responsive.Check in was efficient with staff onsite ready to show us everything and answer questions. Pictures don’t give the living area justice (basically 2 large studios). And we didn’t realize there was a 3rd floor with seating area!Living areas cleaned and all functional!Views - OMG!!! Again, nicer in person.Similar to another family we let kids stay downstairs with 2 beds (17 and 20… not kids anymore!) and upstairs is where we stayed and cooked.Washer dryer were great and nights were cool because of elevation so don’t let this stop you.Few authentic restaurants nearby (walking distance, much cheaper than in La Fortuna).Nothing negative to say. Very highly recommend!!!Thanks to host and staff for a very “zen” stay!Kathy
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Dawn S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful Views

What a gorgeous home! My family and I enjoyed our stay tremendously! The house is comfortable and well equipped. Close to Arenal Observatory. Highly recommend!Bu
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Danielle C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect for giving teenagers their space

Our family with two teenage boys loved this spot! They shared the downstairs and we stayed upstairs so they had some space to be messy, hang out when it rained, etc. We made our meals upstairs and it was gorgeous to eat and enjoy the spectacular view of the volcano. Behind the condo is a road that was the perfect afternoon hike. We saw monkeys playing wildly in the trees, as well as toucans and many reptiles. The property caretaker Gilbert was incredibly helpful and immediately answered any question we sent through Whats App. It's walkable to the lake, although it's a large dirt hill. Along the way there are several little restaurants. Our favorite was the restaurant closest to our VRBO home (I can't remember the name, but it's beautiful with a little alien in front). We rented paddleboards and a two-person kayak from Paddle & Peddle for a perfect day on Lake Arenal. We give this location thumbs up as long as you're comfortable with walking hills and dirt roads.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

8/10 Good

Jeff B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Emily G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025

About the host

Hosted by Melanie Herway

Host profile image
We are a family of 6 currently living in a town northeast of Philadelphia. We love to travel and have taken our kids to multiple countries over the years.

Why they chose this property

We took our family to visit Costa Rica and fell in love with the beauty and the pura vida lifestyle and friendly people. This house provides a place to stay and enjoy the quaint village of Castillo with amazing views of the volcano and lake. It's close to lots of tourist attractions, hikes, and experiences and has a handful of great dining options.

What makes this property unique

Amazing views, amazing local host and fantastic bird watching.

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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