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Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

3.0 star property

Photo gallery for Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

View from room
Lake
Casitas nomadas | Living area
Outdoor pool
Yoga

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Breakfast available
The current price is AU$113
includes taxes & fees
27 Mar - 28 Mar

Explore the area

View map
1 Km Sur Escuela del Castillo, Arenal Volcano National Park, Peñas Blancas, 1230
  • Place, Butterfly Conservatory
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, Lake Arenal
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Arenal Volcano
  • Airport, La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)

Room options

View all photos for Superior Quadruple Room, Private Bathroom

Superior Quadruple Room, Private Bathroom

Superior Quadruple Room, Private Bathroom

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

View all photos for Superior Room, 1 Double Bed

Superior Room, 1 Double Bed

Superior Room, 1 Double Bed

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Casa Bella Vista

Casa Bella Vista

Casa Bella Vista

  • Lake view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Double Bunk Bed

View all photos for Casitas nomadas

Casitas nomadas

Casitas nomadas

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)
  • Mountain view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Superior Double Room

Superior Double Room

Superior Double Room

  • Mountain view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Tent

Standard Tent

Standard Tent

  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Family Tree House

Family Tree House

Family Tree House

  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

View all photos for Comfort House

Comfort House | Living area

Comfort House

  • Mountain view
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

About the area

Peñas Blancas

At Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga you'll be 0.4 km (0.2 mi) from Lake Arenal and 4 km (2.5 mi) from Costa Rica Sky Adventures. Highlights at this hostal include a restaurant, an outdoor swimming pool and in-room kitchens. .A day of pampering can include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages and body wraps along with reflexology and mani/pedis. Enjoy the Turkish bath/hammam along with access to hiking/biking trails and volleyball. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi in public areas, coffee/tea in a common area and laundry facilities. Full breakfast is available daily between 7 AM and 9 AM. There's also free self parking, along with the convenience of an airport shuttle. .Sights within a 20-minute drive of this 3-property class Peñas Blancas hostal include Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Hot Springs.

What's nearby

  • Butterfly Conservatory - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Lake Arenal - 5 min walk - 0.4 km

Getting around

  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Shangri-La Gardens - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Palma - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Lemnos Wetbar - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Ave Restaurant - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Las Palmas - ‬25 min drive

About this property

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

There's a restaurant on site. Public spaces have free WiFi. An outdoor pool, spa services, and a terrace are also featured at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga. Self parking is free.

This 3-star Peñas Blancas hostal is smoke free.

  • 15 guestrooms or units
  • Breakfast available (surcharge)
  • Coffee in lobby
  • Dry cleaning
  • Self-service laundry
  • Front desk (limited hours)
  • Storage area for luggage
  • Front desk safe
  • Tour and ticket information
  • Concierge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Outdoor picnic space
  • No smoking on site
  • Dining venue
Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga offers 15 shared accommodations with free toiletries. Accommodation at this 3-star hostal has kitchens. Rooms have detached private bathrooms. Housekeeping is provided on a daily basis.
Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the on-site spa services. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, sports massages and Swedish massages. The spa is equipped with Turkish bath/hammam. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including reflexology.

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  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
4.1 out of 5, Very good, 101 reviews
The price is AU$93
includes taxes & fees
19 Apr - 20 Apr
Princesa de la Luna EcoLodge

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Internet access
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Return airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7 AM to 9 AM for a fee: USD 15 for adults and USD 9 for children
  • A restaurant
  • Coffee and tea in common areas

Things to do

  • Books
  • Hiking/biking trails
  • Outdoor pool
  • Volleyball
  • Yoga classes

Family friendly

  • In-room kitchen
  • Laundry facilities
  • Outdoor pool

Conveniences

  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Luggage storage
  • Safe at front desk

Guest services

  • Concierge services
  • Dry cleaning/laundry service
  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Proposal/romance packages
  • Tour and ticket assistance

Outdoors

  • Garden
  • In the mountains
  • Picnic area
  • Terrace

Spa

  • Body scrubs
  • Body wraps
  • Deep-tissue massages
  • Facials
  • Hot stone massages
  • Manicures/pedicures
  • Reflexology
  • Sports massages
  • Swedish massages
  • Thai massages
  • Turkish bath

Accessibility

  • No lift

More

  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • Detached private bathroom
  • Free toiletries
  • Soap
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Kitchen
  • Room service

More

  • LED lighting
  • Recycling
  • Shared accommodation

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; check-in end time: 7:00 PM
Minimum check-in age - 18

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 7 AM - 9:00 PM
Guests must contact the property in advance for check-in instructions; front desk staffed during limited hours
This property doesn't offer after-hours check-in
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival using the information on the booking confirmation
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.
  • Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
  • Cots (infant beds) are available for USD 10.0 per stay.

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

The fees and deposits listed below will be charged at the time of service, check-in, or check-out.

  • Fee for full breakfast: from approximately USD 15 for adults and from USD 9 for children
  • Crib (infant bed) fee: USD 10.0 per stay

This may not be a comprehensive list. Fees and deposits are subject to change and might not include tax.

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
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards and cash
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children. If you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room. This property accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, debit cards and cash. This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products. For guests' safety, the property includes a fire extinguisher in all accommodation.

We should mention

  • Reservations are needed for massage services. For reservations, contact the hostal before arrival using the contact information on the booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Essence Arenal Hostel El Castillo
Essence Arenal El Castillo
Essence Arenal Spa
Essence Arenal Hostel
Essence Arenal Spa Yoga
Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga Hostal
Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga Peñas Blancas
Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga Hostal Peñas Blancas

Frequently asked questions

What is the cancellation policy at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga offers free cancellation on select room rates. Check out the cancellation policy for more info.

How much does it cost to stay at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

As of 26 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga on 27 Mar 2026 start from AU$113, 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.

Is parking available at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Yep, Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga has a free self car park.

Is there a spa on site at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

There's no onsite spa, but this property does offer services like body wraps, body scrubs and facials, as well as Thai massages.

Does Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga have a pool?

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga has an outdoor pool.

Does Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga serve breakfast?

Yep, full breakfast is available daily from 7 AM to 9 AM.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

No, but there's an airport shuttle for a fee.

Is there a bar or restaurant at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Yep, you can grab a meal at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga's onsite restaurant that serves vegetarian cuisine.

What time are check-in & check-out at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Check-in begins at 1:00 PM. Check-out time is 11 AM.

Are pets allowed at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

No, pets are not allowed.

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 51 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 51 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 51 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 51 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 51 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

James, Jacksonville

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Perfect sanctuary! A place to disconnect from the noise and tourism. Morning yoga! Guided evening nature walk! Hot tub! The food is excellent and the staff were super friendly and helpful. A true blessing! 🙏❤️🇨🇷🕉️ Pura Vida!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brian

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Unbelievable view of the lake!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Sheli

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This place is an absolute gem. If you’re considering taking a moment away in the jungle to be with nature, live on a farm, eat amazing food, try different spa treatments, hike, yoga; this is the place! I stayed farm side which was cool at night. It’s a short hike or shuttle ride to the hotel part where dinner or spa activities are. You will not be disappointed. I’m going back and I can’t wait to experience it again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Brittni

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I could have stayed here for weeks! The ladies running the front desk and kitchen area were some of the sweetest humans ever!!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas

Stayed 1 night in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Isabelmarie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Me encantó la experiencia, el equipo de trabajo a otro nivel con su dedicación. Definitivamente volveré a reservar cuando vuelva a Costa Rica
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

6/10 Okay

Andrea

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
The property is little dated but ok, it’s surrendered by nature, so it would be nice if cabins had some outdoor sitting furniture. The area has some beautiful views on the lake and volcano, it’s hard to beat!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tiffany

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This property was a true sanctuary. Nestled in the jungle with various short walking trails, daily yoga and a spa circuit. The hosts were just amazing and kind and the property was pure heaven. If you want snacks or coffee, there’s no refrigerator or coffee in the room so just plan accordingly. :)
Stayed 1 night in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kimberley

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Loved this stay so much!!!! Highly recommend.
Stayed 1 night in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Heidi

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Caroline

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing gem of a hotel.

Absolutely beautiful hotel with incredibly friendly service and amazing food. I would highly recommend it. The chocolate tour was a highlight.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Franka

Travelled with family, Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
We had a wonderful time. The grounds are beautiful. We saw monkeys lots of birds and other wildlife right from our window. The staff is incredibly nice and helpful. The restaurant is cute and offers good food at a reasonable price. We had lots of rain while there and it does creep into the casitas. Our towels never really dried and the bed felt clammy too. So be aware of this and decide if that works for you before booking. The kitchen is also only sparsely equipped. It would've been nice to have a chopping board and a sharp knife as we did cook a few times. If you like to cook extravagant meals at home this is not your place but we did make pasta, tacos and other simple dishes without any problems. There is much to explore in the area and it's helpful to have a car, preferably even a 4x4. Overall, we very much enjoyed our time at Essence and would come back. Bring a raincoat and change of shoes and don't miss the Night Jungle Tour. It was a highlight!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Janice

Travelled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Amazing

Essence is a wonderful place to stay…. The property is well thought out for you to enjoy nature and has a variety of accommodation options. The Glamping tents are surrounded by bamboo trees and very peaceful. (Shared bathrooms, but that was no problem for us….expected with Glamping) They have their own farm and I would recommend taking a walk through it. There are also a number of hiking trails, which makes it feel like you are not only staying at a hotel, but also a nature park. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Gabriel is an amazing chef and wonderful person. We enjoyed our stay tremendously and will recommend Essence to friends.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jose Manuel

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff, eco friendly hotel
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
The most wonderful place to relax, detox, and recharge. The staff is full of genuine love and kindness. Beautiful views and excellent heathy food.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Jeff, Prince George bc

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Rustic. Beautiful views. Staff was amazing. Beds were not so comfortable. Food was great. Right in the jungle so lots of wildlife.
Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing stay! Beautiful view of Lake Arenal and good vibes
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2020

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I absolutly loved staying here. It was a great setting, a nice break out of town, with a wonderful view of the volcano. The staff were amazing and extreamly helpful. I loved the daily yoga classes out in nature with amazing teachers. There were lots of walking trails around the property and you could go walk around the farm where they grow a lot of the fruit used in the kitched for vegitarian meals. Also the massages were super relaxing. I will definitely be coming here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

8/10 Good

Carrie, Canada

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Amazing view, beautiful property and trails, delicious meals with the lovely Lillian. If you want some time away from the tourism and to be in nature, this is the place! The staff are so helpful and kind, and I highly recommend you get a tour of the area with Lilander in horseback... will blow your mind!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018

8/10 Good

Cameron

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Beautiful place to stay

The rooms are small but nice, service is great and the views are amazing!
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2018

8/10 Good

erin, Tacoma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Family fun time

We took our three young kids, agreed 6, 8, and 10. Our room was very small, but doable. If the kids were a little older, we would have gotten 2 rooms. The service was fantastic. My kids didn't want to leave. The pool wasn't a pool, but more of a mosquito pond children's pool. The food was fantastic. I'd like to see maybe another light out brighter light brought into the room. It was a bit darker than I prefer..
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2018

8/10 Good

Yann, Philadelphia

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Very nice hotel next to the Volcano Arenal

Very nice place, easy to find, the staff is nice and very welcoming. If you stay more than a night you will be able to enjoy the swimming pool and the jacuzzi. Waking up and taking a very good breakfast while looking to the Volcano is priceless!
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2018

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Amazing place with amazing staff
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2017

8/10 Good

Núria , London

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Great location to feel close to nature

We stayed 3 nights in a troom-tent and it was very clean and nicely done. We really liked the location and the lovely walks around!, specially the horse riding journey to the nearby waterfall. Very convenient they have a communal area with a small fridge where you can keep stuff. We had shared bathroom and I wouldn't say that is the highlight of the place... Very basic and impossible to get a decent warm shower from it, I'm afraid that you can only freeze or burn on it... The upside is definitely the almost isolated location away from the tourist crowds but the downside is that you're far away from town / amenities and the "road" is quite a pain to drive! It's a good 30 min drive through road with the most potholes I ever seen...be ready!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2017

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Nice secluded hotel in the jungle

Hotel staff were friendly and accommodating. It's far from out of town but there were ahuttlea that went to the main town if needed or to arenal observatory. It was nice to go into to town for the day by sleep in the jungle. During our stay we were able to see howler monkeys on the trail. Lillian's meals were worth coming back for everyday.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2017