Lost Iguana Resort & Spa in La Fortuna
Location and arrival
The Lost Iguana Resort [ad] is located approximately 130 kilometers north-west of Costa Rica's capital, San Jose. By car, you need about three hours from San Jose airport to Lost Iguana Resort. The ride will take you through some small villages and mountainous jungle landscape.
The accommodation is located in an absolutely undisturbed environment on the border between the provinces of Alajuela and Guanacaste, about a 20-minute drive from La Fortuna - the nearest major town.
The location of Lost Iguana Resort is so special as it sits on the opposite side of the Arenal volcano and offers incredible views of the volcano.
Nestled in the jungle, Coatis and other animal visitors are often to be seen.
Equipment and design
The unique thing about the rooms at Lost Iguana is, that they all have an excellent view of Arenal volcano.
In total, the hotel offers 42 rooms and suites in the categories of Villas Superior Suite, Luxury Suites, Standard Deluxe, Las Casitas and Villas Junior Suites.
We had a luxury suite with king size bed, a well equipped bathroom with outdoor shower and a flat screen TV. In addition, there was a kitchenette in the room, but no cooking utensils and no dishes. But there was a coffee maker and coffee available.
There was also a large fridge with freezer compartment.
For your clothes a large closet is ready. Relax on the couch next to the bed.
For a pleasant room climate enjoy air conditioning.
The terrace overlooking the Arenal volcano comes with a jacuzzi, what is really exciting. The terrace is amazingly designed with blossoming plants everywhere, so you can watch hummingbirds and leafcutter ants from the terrace.
Park your car right in front of the complex with the residential units. Very pleasant.
Let's talk about the other amenities of Lost Iguana Resort & SPA.
When you arrive, you will first enter the reception. An open-air wooden building open to almost all sides houses the reception and lobby with comfortable seating. The check-in was friendly, fast and easy. You will be welcomed with a delicious tropical welcome cocktail.
After that, the staff will show you the resort.
Again, you are surrounded by tropical vegetation in the pool area. Many large and small birds have probably found their place in this area.
Ample beach chairs and towels are available, so you can chill out here for a full day.
Fortunately, there is also a pool bar, that is accessible from both land and water. Happy Hour is between 3 pm and 5 pm.
The pool is comfortably temperatured, which is a big plus especially after sunset.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at the Hibiscus Restaurant.
A three-sided open area with great tropical plants outside invites you to linger. Everything here is kept in wood and adorned with tropical flowers and plants. The service is friendly and fast.
For dinner, a reservation is required or at least advisable.
The whole area is really nice. Everywhere tropical plants and a flowing transition into the jungle. That is probably the reason why coatis and above all countless hummingbirds are constantly are around.
Culinary
Lost Iguana offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. In addition, there is a snack menu for in between at the pool bar.
Breakfast is served buffet style. It ranges from typical Costa Rican dishes such as Gallo Pinto, Pico de Gallo and baked plantains to toast, cheese, ham and egg dishes. You can also look forward to sweet dishes like pancakes or french toast.
You can choose from two different juices and coffee or tea. Coffee specialties such as cappuccino cost extra (four US dollars + tax).
The breakfast was delicious and included in our room rate.
We did not eat lunch or dinner in Lost Iguana.
Activities
As the name implies, Lost Iguana Resort & SPA has a SPA. Prices for a massage start at around $ 50 for half an hour. Unfortunately, we can not say anything about the quality and atmosphere, as we did not treat ourselves to SPA treatments. From outside, the SPA looked very inviting.
If you want to get into the jungle, we warmly recommend the Lost Iguana Trail. You start near the rooms and soon penetrate the jungle. The trail takes about an hour and is really nice.
We have seen coatis, lizards, leafcutter ants and many birds. You also pass a small jungle stream, where you can cool your feet down. The trail is not particularly exhausting, but really exciting to walk. Keep your eyes open. At the end of the trail, when you get back to the hotel grounds, you will pass the Hummingbird Sanctuary. It is a beautifully landscaped part of the hotel garden, designed to meet the needs of hummingbirds. Accordingly, you will find countless of the small, very nimble birds here. Especially for photographers, this place is a real pleasure. Just sit still for a few minutes and show some patience and you'll get your snapshot.
If you would like to do something outside of the resort, then the location of Lost Iguana will benefit you as well. By car you need about ten minutes to the thermal springs of La Fortuna.
The dam of the Arenal Reservoir is only five minutes away. From here you can take boat trips.
The famous suspension bridges are also only a few minutes away from Lost Iguana.
The highlight of the region is the volcano and the walks on its slopes. Just ask at the reception for recommendations. The nice staff will give you advice according to your preferences.
If you want to eat or shop outside the resort, you will find a large number of restaurants and shops within ten to twenty minutes.
Conclusion to the Lost Iguana Resort & SPA
The Lost Iguana Resort is an ideal base from which to explore the Arenal Volcano and the surrounding area.
Great views of the volcano and inviting tropical surroundings are the highlights of the Lost Iguana Resort & SPA.
Convince yourself. We enjoyed our stay a lot.
