Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

My wife and I stayed in Honeymoon Suite 17 - a detached cottage with a panoramic view of the volcano for three nights. We were gifted with a thunderous rumble and a small eruption 10 minutes after checking in and had clear views of lava all 3 nights.

“Once in a lifetime Volcano View”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

This is not a luxury resort - it's a little rough around the corners, but given the remoteness of the place (the road cannot be described and given justice, - be sure to empty your bladder prior to leaving the paved road) my expectations were exceeded

The view all night of the volcano - during the day of the valley below - morning visits of butterflies and hummingbirds to the hedge outside the room - that's what you should come here for - not 5 star service and comfort..

The place is clean, the staff attentive, and the food excellent. Given the chance, sample the crawfish, they don't grow them that big anywhere else I know of..

The suite had hot water, air conditioning, satellite tv (like you would watch that instead of the volcano) two outside patios, and a fridge.

I thought the overall price of everything was very inexpensive, The pool looked clean and inviting - with the same excellent views as our room and the restaurant - but we never took the time to take a dip.

One warning - the pillows were of the same caliber as the road, if you are fussy about such things then bringing your own would be a good idea.

“Great Volcano View”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

Stayed one night at Linda Vista. The best place for night viewing of the volcano. We stayed in the pool and deck area all afternoon and after dinner. Had great views of the active side of the volcano and were fortunate to have lots of opportunities to see the volcano, being the rainy season. Food at restaurant was good. The rooms were comfortable, but a bit "stuffy". We had to leave the door open at night as it was hot and we had no fan [obviously no A/C]. We stayed in a standard room, but if I went again, I'd stay in one of the cottages as they seemed a little more comfortable; however, the volcano view from our room was excellent. You have an 5-6 miles ride down a bumpy road to the hotel, but didn't present a problem for us at all........we actually liked the feeling of being a little more remote. The Skytram/Canopy Zip Line was within 10 minutes on the same road as the hotel and it was also very enjoyable. The views are worth the stay here. Staff was friendly, food was good and views were AWESOME of the Volcano & Lake.

“Amazing volcano views”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

Stayed at the Linda Vista for 3 nights (7/17-7/20). The views were great every night, it rained during the day but it cleared after dark.

The food in the restaurant was good (try the tilapia) They make it with all kinds of sauces but ask for it grilled w/ olive oil or butter. Lots to do in the area, go to the Tabacon for a nice afternoon of leisure in the thermal pools...well worth the $70 for entry + buffet lunch. Do not miss a walk to the old lava fields in the national park (only a short drive from the hotel) and if you are really adventurous go horseback riding from the hotel to a nearby waterfall. It poured the whole time up there and the trails are steep, muddy & rocky, the office can arrange the rides. I would also recommend driving to the town of La Fortuna if you are going to be there more than a couple of days...not much to see in town but it has a nice variety of restaurants to choose from, there are also several nice hotels along the way to town w/nice restaurants. It is not a cookie cutter hotel & there are definitely better ones in the area but for fantastic views at a good price I would definitely recommend this hotel.

“View of the volcano from your bed”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

A remote and beautiful place. Very nice staff, really good and fresh local food. The infinity pool and jacuzzi are fantastic with beautiful view of the volcano. To top it all off, a bedroom with a view of the errupting volcano from your bed is just priceless.

“Great views, quiet, great staff”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

My husband and I stayed 2 nights in July and we had the pleasure of staying in a separate studio with views from our bed of the volcano erupting at night. It was very private and watching the birds in the morning was wonderful. The staff was very friendly and went out of their way to be accommodating. Food was good and the view from the restaurant was unbeatable. I would definitely recommend this hotel. We did have a car and the roads are rough -- but if you want a peaceful place to view the lake, nature, and the volcano there is no place better.

“Volcano Lovers, This is For You!”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

One of my main purposes to travel to here was Mt. Arenal. I simply HAD to see an active volcano. To avoid disappointment, I did a lot of research and saw this was a great location to see actual lava flow.

At first, we were wary because of one or two negative comments on this website...but Linda Vista del Norte is a good hotel at a fair price and STUNNING views. Our first night was in a standard room, #1, that supposedly did not have a volcano view. I realized, however, that I could simply move my pillow to the foot of the bed and see the top of the volcano. By setting my phone alarm at intervals, 1 a.m., 3 a.m., for example, I woke up and was rewarded with lava flow each time. It was exciting and we would run outside and watch until the next cloud cover...

The second night, a junior suite came available and we upgraded for an additional 37 dollars. Money well spent - resulting in actual hot water in our shower, a private patio that looked out on the volcano, and the opportunity to hear what the rain forest really sounds like in the wee hours. I'll never forget the sounds of the birds and howler monkeys.

There is a free breakfast that was actually pretty good. We also had two suppers there and felt the meals were rather tasty and fairly priced. Do not eat dinner here expecting to see lava flow - at least during the wet season. Things cleared off after midnight both nights we were there. I recommend this hotel to anyone who MUST see lava flow from Mt. Arenal while on their vacation.

“Shame it was not better...”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We stayed at the hotel for 2 nights and the view of the Volcano was second to none. However because you are a captive audience (it takes 45 minutes on a very rough road to get to the nearest town) it makes sense to stay the night and that is where the hotel unfortunately dissapoints.

The food is terrible: the menu was expensive and the ingredients were not fresh. The vegetables were tinned and the portions small. It's a shame as there is no reason why the restaurant cannot produce decent, fresh food. I paid upwards of 12,000 colones ($24) for a steak and it was stewed... it was chewy and tasted boiled.

The room we stayed in was new and although it was clean there was a leak in the ceiling just by our bed so the rain dripped onto the tile floor of our room during the night. The hot water was unreliable and flashed hot and cold continuously during showers which meant we had to continually change the temperature... in the end we gave up and had cold showers. When we complained we were begrudgingly offered to switch rooms. There was no apology and the girl at reception even shrugged when we told her. It was as if she could not have cared less. We stayed for 2 nights and the room was not made up in between, no fresh towels or bed making. I am happy to get what i pay for, but it cost us $105 per night to stay at this place so therefore it was not good enough. Its a shame this hotel is let down by the food, service and attitude of its staff. It has a beautiful view of the Volcano and i cannot help thinking that because of this, they are not particularly concerned with providing decent service to match.

“Nice Place With a Great View”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

This place is pretty great. The rooms are very nice and clean, and the staff was quite pleasant. The food in the restaurant is pretty good, but I thought it was a little on the expensive side. Sitting on the patio and watching the volcano erupt was fun.

If you're driving here be warned that the road up to the place isn't too great.

“excellent review”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We had an amazing view of the volcano. Room was clean and neat. Staff seemed friendly enough and they had a good breakfast included. We liked the pool, while nothing fancy, appeared clean. You need a car to get to and from the hotel. We didn't require much from the hotel other than that.

“Decent hotel, great view!”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

I desperately wanted to see the lava, and had read the clouds don't always cooperate, so staying someplace with continuous views made sense. To my research that left only 3 hotels. I wanted the Arenal Observatory Lodge but it was booked for 2 of the 3 nights we would be in the area, so we went to LInda Vista for the 1st 2 nights. First, what they say about the roads there is entirely true. It's not just unpaved, it's rocks. Bone-jarring is not an exaggeration...but it's also not a huge deal. It is true this hotel is in the middle of nowhere, and that any excursions cost a little more for the driver to come get you...still I wouldn't have a car. For me, the views were worth it. We talked to so many people who didn't see lava their whole trip!

The staff was extremely helpful to us. We checked in at sunset and I mentioned we had an early tour, before the bfx would be open. She went to the restaurant and they agreed to open early just for us. We had requested (multiple times since I'd read they don't always follow through) adjacent lava view rooms, and that's what we got (though there was a through-way between the rooms).

We went to our room, the sun went down, and immediately we saw lava - and continued to see it all night (I woke up a bunch - beds not so great), and the next night. That was amazing! We didn't really have a porch so much as a bench near the door on the walkway in front of all the rooms. Still we sat there till late, then slept with the drapes open. No A/C and the fan was really loud. We left the tiny screened window in the "closet" open, but if we left the sliding glass door open there were too many bugs entering. So it was a little warm, but not bad at the time we were there.

Ate at the restaurant the first night (captive audience really). Our friend who got seafood enjoyed his meal, the rest of us not so much, but I think that's b/c of our taste, not that the food was bad. Kids didn't like that everything tasted "different" from the ketchup to the spaghetti. Too much cilantro in my arroz con pollo, but we found that to be common in CR. View was unfortunately disturbed b/c the dim lights in the restaurant prevented a view of the volcano in the dark - much better in the AM for bfx - which was adequate.

Kids enjoyed the pool, though it's nothing special. There's the beginnings of a swim-up bar, but it was not completed. Not much grounds to walk, but our friend went up and down the rocky hill for exercise. I enjoyed sitting on the bench outside listening to the howler monkeys and birds wake up. Actually there's a farm nearby and the roosters and cows were a bit incongruous from the jungle sounds.

Biggest complaint was just the rooms. They are TINY. They squeeze a full-size and twin bed in there, with a small walkway between. A sink, then a tiny bathroom with shower. It looked like they started to make it nicer, then failed to follow through somehow. There's nice tile in the shower, but misplaced grout all over. A pretty wood door with smoked glass, but the door wouldn't close. The towel racks had fallen off and never been replaced. Anyway, none of it a deal-breaker, just know what to expect. I'd still say it was worth it for the view. My husband was less enthralled with the view and more uncomfortable with the beds which seemed to be at least 20 years old.

All in all, if I couldn't get into the observatory lodge, I'd stay here for a first-timer...assuming the lava continues to flow that direction.

“Beautiful View but that is about all.”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

If you are here for the view, this is the place to be. If comfort is important to you at all - BEWARE! Hard bed and pillows. Old bedding that you couldn't sell in a yard sale. Food isn't very good and the drinks are expensive.

“Great Volcano View”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We just returned from a 4 night stay at the Linda Vista. We stayed in room 21- it was like a small house down the hill and not attached to any other rooms. The view of the volcano and lake were spectacular. We could sit on our patio at night and watch the lava flow! The rooms were comfortable. Do not expect American accomodations! Brian at the front desk was outstanding with any question or concerns. He even tried to locate our 7yr. old's lost bear. Do not miss the horseback ride expedition with Lelander Alvarez. You get the real flavor of Costa Rica as you ride through the mountains onto his family's farm and hike down to a small waterfall. It is our second stay there and we would return again!

“A great view of Volcan Arenal.....”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We stayed two days at Hotel Linda Vista del Norte in room #15, one of two rooms that stand alone across the parking lot from the office. It has a small porch on which you can sit and enjoy the view of the volcano. This is a bird paradise! If you are a birdwatcher, you will really enjoy this place.

The large room was clean and attractive with two large comfortable beds. We felt that a chair and small table would make it more comfortable, as there is no place to sit except for the beds. There is a plastic lawn chair on the porch that you could bring into the room, but a small table would still be very useful. There is a ceiling light and a night table lamp, but the lighting was barely sufficient for reading. There is no TV and no telephone, but we did not need either. There is no ceiling fan and that would be a plus, especially during the hottest part of the day and early evening. The air conditioner worked well, but is very noisy!! The last thing you want is a noisy air conditioner when you are sitting on the front porch trying to enjoy the spectacular scenery and the lovely birdlife! It is unfortunate that the air conditioners were installed in the front of the room where the porch is. There is no screen on the front window that slides open, so you cannot leave the window open for fresh cool night air because you know why. There is a wide gap under the entry door that will allow large bugs to crawl in, but we did not experience any bug problems. We placed a towel at the bottom of the door during the night. The floor is hard, no carpeting. The shower/tub is large and could easily accommodate two adults. There is plenty of hot water. The large refrigerator worked very well.

Room #15 (and 16) are special because of their views of the volcano, which are great! However, after dark the hotel office lights come on and they are in a direct visual line between these rooms and the volcano. These lights are blinding! You cannot see the volcano until they are turned off late at night. The yellow lights aren’t as bad as the brilliant white lights. Of course you can go to the (open air) deck, outside of the restaurant, to watch the volcano at night and you could do the same from the beautiful pool!!

The food in the restaurant was very good, but the portions were not as generous as we had expected. The staff was friendly and helpful, especially Brian at the front desk. The pool appeared to be very nice, though we didn’t have a chance to swim. At night, it was lit up with different colors. We would certainly love to return to Hotel Linda Vista and we would recommend this beautiful hotel to everyone, but there are some small shortcomings.

The road in was pretty bad, but not as bad as the road to Monteverde! It is also very close and convenient to the entrance to the Arenal Park and the zip lines.

“Budget rooms with fantastic views.”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

From the moment we arrived to when we left, the front desk was very helpful and gracious. Our room was plain in furnishings and faced the valcano which provided spectacular views both day and night. We were able to lay in bed at night and watch lava tumble down. The pool and restaraunt had amazing with views of Lake Arenal and the volcano but be prepared for some long waits for soso dinners that cost too much. We found a pizza place past El Castillo called "Jardin Escondido" run by John DiVita who will entertain you while the pizza is cooking. Delicious and affordable!

For fun check out Serpentario El Castillo. If you are lucky, Eric will be your guide. He is very knowledgable and great with kids.

One of the best memories of this area was the people. Everyone treated us with much respect. We will be back.

“Saved by the View”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

The reason to stay at this hotel is the view of the volcano. If you're lucky enough like we were to get a clear night with lava flowing from the volcano, then the negative aspects of the hotel fade into insignificance.

The location is great but I would only go there with my own transport as there is a long dirt road to drive along which is easily driven in any car, a 4x4 is not essential.

The hotel restaurant is mediocre at best unless you are a steak fan and then you will be in heaven, (I am a vegetarian so for me it was a poor menu although that is a observation not a critisism as I knew before I booked that the on-site restaurant was a steak house).

The restaurant staff were very unprofessional and at times rude. We chose not to eat there after our first evening experience but as breakfast was included we did tolerate it in the morning.

The biggest let-down was the cleanliness of our bathroom which was old and tired and not very clean. The door was plastic folding door. The toilet seat was broken but no attempt was made to fix it in the 3 nights we were there. We were suppose to be there 4 nights but couldn't stand it any longer so left after 3 nights.

Do stay at Linda Vista for the view - it is worth it - but go with your eyes open (except when you're in the bathroom, it's better to keep them shut) and don't stay too long.

“Arenal Area Side Trips”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

El Castillo is a small town near Arenal Volcano. We stayed at Hotel Linda Vista. (Clean but not fancy - no TV, if this is important.) The hotel had wonderful views of the Volcano and Lake Arenal.

To reach the town you must drive past the hotel entrance on a gravel road. There is a Serpentarium in town run by Victor H. Quesada (358-6773). It was interesting seeing the variety of reptiles from the area. (We did not have the opportunity to visit the butterfly area as we visited at night. The restaurant next store serves delicious fried chicken.

We arranged to have one of the guides, Franklin, to take us on an evening tour to the base of the Arenal Volcano. It was fabulous. We were able to see howler monkeys, toucans and other birds along the way. Watching the volcano erupt at dark was an experience not to be missed.

We also went horsebackriding with a young man named Nelander (not sure of the spelling of his name). The horsebackriding was on the family farm to the rainforest. From there we hiked through the rainforest to a beautiful waterfall. (All of this on the family farm!) Well worth the hike (it was a bit of a steep climb back up from the waterfall).

We will return to this area & visit with our new friends soon!

“Great View, Tired Hotel”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We were greeted courteously upon arrival and checked in/out smoothly.

The hotel has a lovely infinity pool, although it and the hot tub are not heated. The view from the pool, the restaurant, and our room was great.

The room left much to be desired tho. It was uncomfortably hot and most of the guests were up and about at two in the morning trying to escape the heat. You can't open the sliding windows as there are no screens. There doesnt appear to be alot of maintenance going on as the walls are a kaleidescope of peeling paint and grime, shower doors dont close, and curtains fall off their tracks repeatedly. Overall the place is just abit too grubby for the price they are asking.

We made a collosal mistake in not renting a car right off the bat. We paid between 15-25 dollars to go between the hotel and La Fortuna. Not having a car trapped us at the hotel for meals which turned out to be a very expensive and unsatisfying proposition. Our first dinner there, steak, was excellent. The next meals were so-so, pretty unremarkable for prices charged. The dining room has a gorgeous view but terrible ambiance as it is illuminated by bare bulbs and a TV by the kitchen blares nite and day where most of the staff congregates. Very un-romantico!

“Terrible start to honeymoon”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

My husband and I arrived at Linda Vista after a 13 hour day of traveling. We had been looking forward to relaxing in a nice room, checking out the volcano and celebrating the start of our honeymoon. Needless to say, none of those things happened when we arrived at Linda Vista. We were given one of the rooms that faces the lake (although all was dark and we didn't know that at the time). The room was awful. There were dead cockroaches on the bathroom floor. The wardrobe consisted of one broken hanger. The towels on the bed were dirty (and they proceeded to give us these the next morning as well--easy to tell by the unforgettable stains). The walls looked like someone was practicing the running man on them. We tried to get our minds off the dire state of the room by going to their "steak house" restaurant and treating ourselves to a nice meal. After trying 2 different steaks on the menu, we realize the reason that every dish had sauce covering it was because they were covering up for terrible food. They even served frozen veggies and cold toast! And they charged an arm and a leg for the meal. We returned to the room, defeated, tried to fall asleep but were kept awake by the local discoque until all hours of the night. We even wrapped ourselves in our own sheet that we brought! Although we did wake to a beautiful view of the lake, we couldn't get out of there soon enough and checked out early. The woman at the desk gave us a knowing look, apologized and stated that we were in the one of the "old rooms" and that the new ones were all booked otherwise she would upgrade us. No thanks! As we left the hotel, we noticed they are building additional rooms. Maybe they should focus some time on the old ones to make their current guests happier! We found a room at the nearby Arenal Observatory Lodge and felt like we found heaven.

“Great Views”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

Stayed for 2 nights in February. We were really lucky with the weather and had an amazing view of the volcano from our room. The drive to the hotel is definitely a bumpy one but well worth it. We spotted a couple of Toucans on the track leading to the hotel. There is a nature trail closeby too where you can see monkeys and lots of different birds. The rooms were basic but clean. No hairdryer or TV, probably because the walls are so thin, you can hear people talking next door! The food in the restaurant was just OK, we would have ventured into La Fortuna to eat if the road to get there hadn't been so bad.

I would stay there again just for the view of the Volcano and the lake.

“2nd visit, still the place to be...”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

This was our second visit to Arenal and Linda Viste del Norte. The first visit was in January of 2005. We originally found the hotel by first researching arenal.net volcano map (http://www.arenal.net/arenal-costa-rica-map.htm) which shows where the volcano is currently erupting and which hotels are located within the view.This is important otherwise you'll be taking the tour bus to rio aqua caliente and getting a 15 minute foto-opp. Coming up from San Jose (about a 3 hour drive) we found La Fortuna, kept driving west past Tabacon (if you are just looking for a good hot soak, try Baldi thermals its a lot less expensive) continuing till we came to the Policia station and turned left onto the road for Arenal National Park. The 9Km road was uhh, err deeply and rapidly massaging. This visit, the road was in MUCH better condition, as were most of the other roads in Costa Rica, but on the first trip to Linda Viste by the time we reached the entrance to the hotel we thought we must be crazy! Then we drove up the hill to the hotel and well, WOW! Location, Location, Location this place has a view that no other hotel in La Fortuna or the Arenal region can even remotely match. The Hotel is not the Marriott but, it is clean, comfortable and adequate for volcano junkies. If you get tired of watching the volcano you can always turn around and watch the sun and clouds play over Lake Arenal. Beautifully landscaped, LOTS of hummingbirds, migrating parrots and howler monkeys in the surrounding rainforest. The restaurant has good food, free breakfast and a new dining room with a breath-taking view of the volcano. Hopefully, the staff will realize that the bare light bulbs should be removed and opt for candles on the table. When we were there this January, the mountain was incredibly active and there was almost a riot as the German, English and French tourists took control of the sliding doors and opened the dining room to the elements so we could all see the lava flows rolling down the mountain. We thought it was great Steaks and lava! The mountain was clear 3 of the 4 days we were there this trip and lava was clearly visible every night. The hotel has a deck next to the restaurant which has a perfect photographic view of the volcano. The restaurant closes and the lights go out by 11:00pm then it is you and the mountain. Make sure you know how to make long exposures with your camera. 10 minutes or longer to experience images like you see on the postcards. The hotel has a new pool and warm tub. The staff are local Ticos and a few minutes to get to know them will make you friends for life. There are great zip lines just down the road, the Arenal Observatory is just a few kilometers away and has great hiking and a small natural history area with details about the volcano. Not to be missed is the Arenal National Park, especially the trail to the lava field where you will be spell bound by the view of lava shooting down the mountain so close you can hear the rocks as they hit the ground a few hundred yards away. When you go down the steps at the lava fields don't miss the unmarked nature trail which begins on your left. We were treated to white faced monkeys, wild Coati, and howler monkeys in a distance of less than 1/4 mile. Just be sure to turn back when you come to the yellow arrow encouraging you to turn right.

Oh yes, no TV, no phones (front desk phone is free for in-country calls), and no internet. Internet cafes in La Fortuna are 25 minutes away high-speed, Skype equipped and cheap ($.50/hours)

Admittedly we go to Arenal to see the Volcano, we are volcano Junkies and everything else is incidental.

We've stayed twice and wouldn't hesitate to stay again. It is pure Costa Rica, bad roads, local staff, ok rooms, no frills but incredibly peaceful and WHAT A VIEW!

“Great view!”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

Stayed for one night. The hotel is perched on a hill with a great view of the volcano itself, if the clouds are not in the way like they were for our trip. The room was adequate, clean and near all the amenities. There is a restaurant on location, but we never ate there. It is a 20-30 minute drive to La Fortuna, so remember this when considering dining options. The staff was helpful, answering any questions we had. There is a walking trail that gives you a taste of the flora and fauna of the area. I saw one toucan and several hummingbirds on it.

“Worth the ride!”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

My friend and I found out about this hotel on the net and read some reviews and decided to stay here. The hotel is located on the North West side of the volcano and provides the BEST views of the volcano (the side where you can actually see the old lava flows). It is about 23 kms from downtown La Fortuna. It takes a awfully bumpy 9km ride on an unpaved road to actually get to the hotel. The moment we got out of the car at the hotel (it was sunny!) we realized we chose the right spot. Beautiful view of the Arenal lake and breathtaking view of the Volcano. We could actually hear the volcano in the night. The food at the Steak House was brilliant for the first two days and the third day was aweful (the main chef had gone on vacation and it showed). It was hard to get back into Fortuna as it is a very bumpy ride back and forth but other than that, it was worth every penny. Great views, great rooms and good staff. Breath taking views. Cons: No internet, no room phone.

“Impressive view of Arenal”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

My family and I stayed here on our last night in Costa Rica. We were very fortunate to have clear skies for a few hours when we arrived around 11:00 PM. The view of Arenal from our back patio of room #20 was unforgettable. You could even see the volcano from inside the room with their all glass back.

Since the lava flow switched two years ago to the southwest side of Arenal, this hotel is one of only a few places where you can get this view. There isn’t much built out here yet. To get here, we had to drive on a gravel road the last 10 kilometers, but it was worth it. The road was nowhere near as bad as what we experienced on the southern Pacific coast. The room was clean and spacious. We didn’t get a chance to try the food here but our morning swim in the pool was nice.

I was astonished by the view of Arenal at night and think that flowing lava is something everyone should see at least once in their lives. Hotel Linda Vista Del Norte is the perfect place for that sight.

“An Out of the Way Bargain with an Incredible View”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

This up-and-coming establishment on the south side of Lake Arenal is working hard to keep its guests comfortable. It is off the beaten path, and I highly recommend it for its peerless views of the volcano's active face. It's a true bargain in the price range. It is NOT for travelers who expect absolute perfection or carry with them a sense of entitlement (overinflated or otherwise). There are definitely loose ends here but I found it easy to forgive them. It seems the hotel staff, like everyone else, is "learning as they go" as the region's tourism sector expands. None of the flaws I noted were severe enough to diminish in any way the awesome experience of living for a few days with a spectacularly active volcano literally right off my balcony. I stayed at the Hotel Linda Vista del Norte for three days in December 2007 and recommend it highly (if reserving a standard room, ask from Room 6, 7, or 8). It is a great place to start a Costa Rican adventure of any length. The restaurant menus are hit and miss (but, isn't it fun discovering the diamonds in the rough anyway?) and serves several interesting local dishes at dinner time, including crawfish from Lake Arenal. Dinners are expensive but budget travelers can save by ordering a more substantial breakfast or lunch. I expect the economies of scale will shift as competition increases. Check this place out and try the cheesecake at least once!

“Great lava views”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We stayed for 2 nights at Linda Vista, and we booked through Anywhere Costa Rica. I would recommend that route, as they made sure we had 2 rooms side by side with the lava views. The other rooms have a lake view, and the lake is beautiful. We had the standard room. The one wall is all glass, so you can lay in bed and watch the lava, which was fantastic. We had lava views both nights, which was very lucky for us. The room is fine-clean and large, with a coffee maker with coffee. The restaurant is expensive by Costa Rican standards, most entrees were in the $17 range, but there is no other place close by, so eat before you get there or pay the price. The included breakfast was excellent. The restaurant staff were helpful, as were the cleaning ladies. The man on duty when we checked in was what my brother (who lives in CR) called 'old Costa Rican'-he was rude, unfriendly, sarcastic and unhelpful. Natalie was friendlier. The hot tub is a luke-warm tub. So a good place to stay, and all the best on the views!

“Horrible Staff/Great View”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We had heard great things about this hotel but were incredibly disappointed. We booked two nights stay, as well as activities for the three days we were there but Natalie-the manager-would not return our queries about the plans she had supposedly made. It wasn't until day three that she even bothered to return our questions about our tours...of course at that point we were leaving and it didn't matter anymore.

The wait staff was inattentive and slow....the housekeepers actually rolled their eyes at us when we asked for a few minutes (at nine in the morning) to get dressed before room service, and the front desk completely ignored our requests to see about our scheduled tours.

We were also charged for a tour that we did not take (after we signed out)...supposedly one that Natalie had scheduled for us (but refused to give any information on).

The view is amazing, but the hotel staff horrible, and they are undergoing major construction (which starts at six thirty in the morning).

“Loved it and the views are spectacular”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

The hotel is set on top of a hill overlooking Lake Arenal and the Volcano. The views from any place on the property are wonderful but especially from the rooms. We chose to stay in a room with a volcano view and they were not kidding. A large window in the room gives a direct view of the volcano from your bed. So you can lay in bed and stare out the window and watch the explosions. The room was very clean, cozy, and comfortable. The grounds are lovely, lots of flowers. The staff was super helpful. And then there is the pool where you can sit in the jacuzzi and look at the views--just spectacular.

My only complaint about the place is the overpriced restaurant. The food was ok and way too expensive. Breakfast was the only meal that I thought was good. But the positive about it is that you can sit on the deck, watch the lava and drink a Corona.

“Excellent hotel and staff!”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

My husband and I stayed at Linda Vista for the start of our two week vacation in Costa Rica. We stayed at Linda Vista for 4 nights in a standard room. Even befor we arrived in Costa Rica we were greeted so warmly by Natalia Morales who booked our stay and helped us with other arangements for our travel in Costa Rica. Natalia responded to all my emails quickly and helped me out enormously with my vacation planning.

When my husband and I landed in San Jose we found out that our luggage did not, and American Airlines had no idea where it was. So we were in Cost Rica for the first time with only the clothes off our backs. (I at least brought a change of clothes, my husband did not.) Natalia called our driver, Fabio Molino, (who was also wonderful) as soon as we landed to see how we were doing. We told her what had happened to our luggage and she said she would handle it. Well she did and we got our luggage the next night.

As for the hotel. It was amazing! The hotel is far away from La Fortuna which is the nearest town and where all the touristy things are located. We had to pay extra for many of the tours because of our location, but it was worth it! The view is amazing, as well as the hotel grounds. Our room was very nice and clean.

The restaurant's food was very good and it had the best view. While we were at Linda Vista the lava flow was visible and we saw our frst lava flow while eating dinner. We were really lucky because we were able to see the lava every night while in Arenal.

If you want to be near all the town action, I would think about other hotel options. However, the view is worth the extra travel.

My husband and I highly recomend this hotel. Oh, I do not want to forget about all the wonderful and helpful staff and Linda Vista. Brian who worked at the front desk was so helpful and nice. Out of all the places we stayed in Costa Rica this was our favorite hotel.

Melinda Clark

Brooklyn, NY

“Loved the lava views”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

Lava views were excellent, highlight of a wonderful Costa Rica holiday. Stayed with our 3 young daughters who had a great time. The rooms are basic but fine. Same for the restaurant, nothing special but all ok. The road out there is a little bumpy just take it easy and you will be fine.

“If you want to see the lava....”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

Stay here. We stayed 4 nights in room 16. We had great views of the lava from everywhere on the property, including our bed. We were lucky enough to see the lava flow 2 nights. As long as the lava flow stays on this side of the volcano, there are only 2 great options, the hotel linda vista and the arenal observatory lodge.

The landscaping of this hotel was immaculate. The restaurant had good food, and like others say, is a little overpriced. All of the workers were very nice and helpful, including booking tours for you at reduced pricing. Try the Baldi hot springs. For $17, it’s a great deal and a good way to relax.

My only real complaint about this hotel was that the bed and pillows were pretty hard and the Jacuzzi was not heated. The road to the hotel was pretty bumpy but it’s not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Took maybe 15-20 minutes to get to the main road. You do not need a 4x4, which I had, but i'm sure it makes a smoother ride. There are also bugs, but what do you expect when you stay in the rainforest.

All in all I would recommend this hotel as a great way to see the lava flow.

“Awesome Lava Views”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We just got back from a honeymoon in CR that included two nights at Hotel Linda Vista. Stayed in room #6 -- it's definitely the best for views of the volcano. Rooms are extremely clean and windows are wide and kept clean for those awesome glimpses of lava and such. During the rainy season, though, be prepared for rain, 'cuz it does and did.

The pool is great, the restaurant is overpriced, yes, but the service is very good and the bar looking out at the volcano is a fabulous place to eat. The road into El Castillo area is bumpy but we had a big Toyota 4Runner-type vehicle and it wasn't a problem. You're not going to want to drive much anywhere, really.

UNLESS ... it's to one of the hot springs or to the nearby SkyTrek zip line (way fun - beautiful views and superfast zip lines). As for hot springs, btw, we visited both Tabacon and Eco Termales, and HIGHLY RECOMMEND Eco Termales over the far more touristy and overdone and overpriced Tabacon. It's across the road from Baldi and you have to call ahead to reserve -- there's not even a sign outside. A 20 minute drive or so from Linda Vista.

“Million $$ view, Medium-Priced Hotel”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

Hotel Linda Vista isn't the fanciest or best hotel around Arenal, but the view makes it priceless!

We could sit pretty much anywhere...pool, restaurant, outside our suite, even on our beds & see the volcano with Lake Arenal beside it.

TripAdvisor Experts (thanks guys!) tipped me off that the lava flow had suddenly switched to the south. Since everyone warned clouds usually keep you from seeing an eruption, I upped the odds by staying 4 nights.

Incredibly, just as my friend & I sat down for dinner by the window on our very first night, Arenal welcomed us! The eruption continued for hours. The next day the sky was so clear we could see the actual cone...and swam while Arenal rumbled and smoked. The display was even better the next night!

Linda Vista is remote & getting there takes a good half hour past Fortuna on rough roads. Rather than racking up the taxi bills, we only left once, for the lovely Eco-themales hot springs & ate all our meals at the hotel restaurant. It was a bit overpriced and spotty. But the fresh tilapia from Lake Arenal was delicious. The full breakfast is very nice, but again, the real star is the view. All guests start their morning sitting at a long counter outside the restaurant, facing the volcano & wildlife!

Our suite had the best view thanks to Natalia, the hotel's caring reservation agent. It's really one large room with 1 queen & 2 twins, along with a little fridge, coffee maker & table & chairs. My main criticism is the lighting...very strong on the ceiling, while the 2 twins had no side tables or lights. The only drawers were 4 tiny ones in the queen headboard. We also had to keep asking the front desk for more that just 3 hangers. And be warned, keep those sliding glass doors closed, or risk visits by flying & crawling creatures at night!

I don't know why, but at first the staff wasn't that friendly. But by day 3, everything changed and they suddenly showed us the warm "tico" spirit we had come to love throughout our trip.

The hotel also set us up with an amazing driver, Fabio, who transported us to and from SJO at a reasonable rate, so we could stay there on our last night in Costa Rica. When I got home, the hotel even e-mailed asking for comments/complaints. That shows that this family-run business really cares. If Arenal continues to flow south, Linda Vista Norte should prepare for more tourists, eager to soak-in it's million dollar view, without paying a lot of bucks.

“What a view!”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

Went for one night and had a spectacular view of the volcano. Stayed in room #6 best view in the main building. The room was large and clean. Breakfast was really good more than continental. Pool area was

beautiful and the view was breath taking. We saw the lava flow at night and in the early morning. We even heard it rumble several times

during the morning. There is a hiking trail in the back of the hotel which was excellent. We saw many many different kinds of birds and we saw monkeys driving up to the hotel. We went to the hot springs which I would skip next time (very touristy, and not very rustic, tiled pools) and just stay at the hotel and watch the volcano!

“An Spectacular View”

Hotel Linda Vista del Norte

We stayed at Linda Vista del Norte two weeks ago and we got a nice time there! Even saw the lava flows...amazing!!!!! And the new swimming pool its great ...very peaceful place We stayed in a Junior Suite with an awesome Arenal Volcano & Arenal Lake View , spacious rooms with a/c for up to 5 persons in the same room. Steak House Restaurant it`s very good but a little bit overpriced. Katalina