Chachagua Rainforest Hotel & Hot Springs — Hotel in Peñas Blancas

We had a fabulous time at Chachagua Rainforest Hotel and Hot Springs! My husband, 2 kids (ages 5 and 2) and myself all went for 3 nights. We stayed in the wonderfully appointed and private 2 bedroom villas with the private pool. I can't say how much it was worth the extra money. While there were neighbors next door, we barely noticed. It felt like we were all alone in the beautiful rainforest. It was peaceful and luxurious. We especially loved the private, heated infinity pool. The pool is probably about 46" deep, but has a seated area that you could put a little if you are in the pool next to them. We brought floaties which made it even more fun. The outdoor shower was also a hit with the family. The rooms had high quality linens, glassware, body products and snacks, all included. The room was always tidied and well taken care of. As a heads up, there will be some bugs and lizards. Don't worry, they keep mostly to the spaces close to the outdoors, and did not bother us at all. It was actually kind of cool. But with the outdoor shower being open to the bathroom, it's just gonna be a thing. Overall, this space was worth every penny.

The resort itself is gorgeous. You could stay here and never go anywhere else and have a full vacation experience. The hot springs were super cute and had both a natural, and man-made option. There is a slide that would be good for kids and one that was more for older kids or grownups. There are lovely hiking trails that lead to small waterfall. While we hiked, we heard howler monkeys and saw a big lizard! The grounds are beautiful too, so really anywhere you go, it's awesome.

The restaurants were beautiful and had great food. We wished that the menus changed from night to night, but you could rotate between restaurants as there were two to choose from, if you needed to change it up. The service at each restaurant was fantastic. They took the time to get to know our family and were especially patient and attentive to our children, which meant the world to us. They tried to keep the same waiter for each time we were there which was cool.

While enjoying out stay, we utilized their private tour option. While expensive, I can't recommend it enough because it made our lives so much easier. We did two tours, one to the hanging bridges and La Fortuna Waterfall, and one to the Arenal Volcano and Ecotermales Private Hot Springs. Our guides were amazing! They were each very friendly and incredibly knowledgeable. They were also very patient and kind to our children. They were able to spot animals so easily and helped us find them with and without their scopes. They also helped us get great photos! We had one hang up where our guide had to change to someone else for pick up and this was a bit upsetting as we felt a little nervous and didn't know who was going to pick us up. Ultimately, we did find out guide, but it would have been better if we had a specific name of the driver and that person had called for us when they arrived to get us from the hot springs.

Overall, I highly highly recommend this resort and would absolutely go back if given the chance. It is about 20-30 mins outside of La Fortuna, but honestly, we didn't mind at all, especially since we had a driver to do excursions. It is very dark since you are out more in the rainforest, so keep that in mind when deciding whether or not to...

Great experience in my bungalow. Friends and family also all had a great time. Rooms are spacious and clean. Reception and staff were all top notch and very responsive. Use of WhatsApp was perfect and the thermal spring is perfect after a long day having fun. We had a car and did ziplining jungle tours river rafting and climbed Mt Artenal. Stayed for 6 nights and while it rained almost every day we coordinated and had a blast anyway since the rain is not constant. Rooms had nice spacious showers and coffee makers. The outside porch was perfect for entertaining and we decided to venture out to other restaurants on the second day because while the restaurant is good we had pretty much exhausted the menu options. We share. Breakfast was great and the waiters even let us come early one morning to meet our rafting trip. Arranged our tours through the hotel and they were fairly priced and top notch. Our zipline was one of the best and the guides on the tours were clearly well versed in the subjects. The hotel tour of the local jungle was spectacular and highly recommend also doing the evening tour because you get a whole new vantage point of the jungle. Only minor observations are the need for towel hooks 🪝 expanding the restaurant menu and better sized drinks at the bars. In other words, picky nothing things. We are a group that meet a couple of times a year and all have traveled extensively around the world. This place rated as one of our favorites. It's very fairly priced and not overly established as a one stop provide all resort. It is the perfect combination of natural reserve with very nice accommodations to offer a nice balance of natural jungle and comfort in your bungalow. The privacy is terrific and the service is great. I think it was Kendal (I never get names right) who greeted us after a howling drive at night in the rain to get there. We were tired and abit leery since the drive takes you literally into the jungle. He was waiting there w umbrellas as we drove up and got us quickly settled into our respective rooms. I was most impressed he remembered me each time we met. Very personable and a big help. Wish our experience in San Jose had been half as good. If you are looking for a great natural eco experience and still want those nice comforts like bars hot springs and oh yes getting your laundry done at a very reasonable rate than this is the place. Beautiful grounds with nature all around you and good quality food make this...

I cannot rave about this place enough!

The reservations department started my amazing experience with exceptional customer service. They were initially fully booked for my requested dates, but Miguel added us to the cancellation list, routinely updated me on the status, and reached out to me as soon as a room became available to book. Leydi & him were extremely helpful in providing me with additional information, helping me book tour reservations, and answer all of my questions prior to our arrival.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted by Greivin who helped check us in and gave us information on the daily walking tours and yoga offered by the hotel. He then directed us to the parking area near our bungalow, where Hector was waiting (umbrella in hand) to greet us and show us around the property. Hector helped bring our luggage to our room first before proceeding to the restaurant where he assisted in making dinner reservations. He then took us around the remainder of the property, explaining the different plants and animals in the area. We even tried coffee beans from a tree before heading to the hot springs and bar area where our welcome drinks were waiting.

During your stay, you should definitely participate in a morning yoga session with Jessica. She leads a very relaxing flow utilizing essential oils and the surrounding rainforest sounds to create a calming environment to start the day. Our guides on the nature walks around the property, Nainai and Johnny taught us so much about the plant and animal life in Costa Rica. They knew exactly where to find the animals, like sloths and toucans, and made sure to bring along a telescope and binoculars so we could get a better look.

Lastly, the entire bar & dining staff was great. I am amazed that they maintain such high levels of service even at times when they have many guests. We typically had the same team serving us for most meals, which was so nice to consistently see familiar faces. Starting from the first day, they knew exactly who we were and by day two they could anticipate our wants/needs. I wish I could give a shout out to them all, but just know that the hostess, the servers, the bartenders, and the chefs will take care of you.

I feel very lucky to have stayed at Chachagua and am very much so looking forward to making...