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Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

3.0 star property

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Photo gallery for Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

A paved pathway, lush greenery, a mountain, and a body of water.
Exterior
Exterior
A garden with a circular pool, surrounded by lush greenery and a gazebo.
Two people exercising on mats in a room with large windows and bamboo structures.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Parking included
  • Restaurant
  • Breakfast available
  • Laundry

Explore the area

View in a 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, Tabacon Hot Springs
    ‪42 min drive‬

Room options

View all photos for Superior Quadruple Room, Private Bathroom

A hotel room with two single beds, a double bed, a desk, and a window with curtains.

Superior Quadruple Room, Private Bathroom

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

View all photos for Superior Room, 1 Double Bed

A bedroom with a bed, a desk, and a window with curtains.

Superior Room, 1 Double Bed

  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Casa Bella Vista

A bedroom with a bed, a wardrobe, and large windows with curtains.

Casa Bella Vista

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

View all photos for Casitas nomadas

A bedroom with a wooden ceiling, a large bed with white linens, a brown throw blanket, and a bedside lamp.

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

A bedroom with a bed, a bedside lamp, a framed picture, and a door leading to an outdoor area.

Superior Double Room

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

View all photos for Comfort House

Comfort House | Bed sheets

Comfort House

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

About the neighborhood

Peñas Blancas

Lake Arenal is within a 5-minute walk of Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga while other popular sites like Costa Rica Sky Adventures are within a few miles (5 km). This 15-room, 3-star hostal has a restaurant along with conveniences like an outdoor pool and free self parking.

What's nearby

  • Butterfly Conservatory - 3 min walk - 0.2 miles
  • Lake Arenal - 5 min walk - 0.3 miles
  • Tabacon Hot Springs - 42 min drive - 9.1 miles
  • Los Lagos Hot Springs - 52 min drive - 14.3 miles
  • Baldi Hot Springs - 53 min drive - 14.9 miles

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Shangri-La Gardens - ‬18 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Las Palmas - ‬25 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Palma - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Baldi Premium Bar - ‬27 min drive
  • ‪Lemnos Wetbar - ‬25 min drive

About this property

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga features an outdoor pool, free WiFi in public areas, and spa services. You can take advantage of free parking, along with an airport shuttle for a fee. Front-desk staff can assist with tours or tickets, securing valuables, and luggage storage. Other amenities at this hot springs hostal include coffee/tea in a common area, a terrace, and laundry facilities.
Recreational amenities at the hostal include an outdoor pool.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Guests can pamper themselves by indulging in the onsite 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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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7:00 AM to 9:00 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 elevator

More

  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Smoking not allowed

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 accommodations

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

  • This property doesn't allow pets

Children and extra beds

  • Cribs/infant beds are available for USD 10.0 per stay

Property payment types

Important information

Optional extras

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

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

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

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
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
  • Check-in: 1:00 PM—-7:00 PM
  • Check-out: 11 AM
  • Minimum check-in age: 18
The front desk is available during limited hours. For convenient arrivals and departures, you can take advantage of the airport shuttle (fees apply). Driving? This property offers free parking.
Property Registration Number 3101801084

We should mention

Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:

  • 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, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room.
  • Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
  • A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
  • Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
  • This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash.
  • Onsite safety features include a fire extinguisher.

Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:

  • Reservations need to be made in advance for massage services. Contact the hostal at the phone number listed on your booking confirmation.
  • There are no elevators.
  • No rollaway or extra beds are available.

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

Is a free cancellation option available at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga provides free cancellation on certain room rates. For additional details, review the cancellation policy on Orbitz.

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

As of Jul 2, 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga on Jul 3, 2026 start from $83, 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 is there to do within easy reach of Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

This hostal in Peñas Blancas is within a 10-minute walk of Lake Arenal and Butterfly Conservatory. Costa Rica Sky Adventures is also within a driving distance of 2.5 mi.

Is there parking available at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Yes, self parking is offered for free at the hostal.

Is there a spa available at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Spa services at the hostal include Thai massages, deep-tissue massages, body wraps, and reflexology.

Does Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga feature a casino?

No, Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga doesn't have a casino.

Will I find an indoor pool at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

No, this hostal doesn't have an indoor pool; however, there is an outdoor pool.

Is Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga a good place to stay for couples?

There are plenty of amenities for couples at this hostal, including a restaurant, an outdoor pool, and proposal/romance packages.

Does Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga have a hot tub?

No, this hostal doesn't have a spa tub.

Does Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga have a restaurant with a breakfast menu?

Yes, Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga serves a full breakfast each morning for a surcharge from its restaurant.

Will Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga allow pets to stay free of charge?

No, pets aren't allowed at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga.

Does Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga have connecting rooms available?

No, this hostal doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.

Where is the closest airport to Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

The closest major airport to Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga is La Fortuna (FON-Arenal), which is 15.6 mi away (35 minutes by car).

Are there rooms with balconies at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Yes, some guestrooms at this hostal offer either a balcony and a terrace where guests can enjoy lake and mountain views.

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga Reviews

Reviews

8.8

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 52 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 17 out of 52 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 52 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 52 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 52 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

Verified

8/10 Good

Yang

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Friendly staff, great view, many fun and educational activities, food is delicious and healthy.
Overlooking the lake
Cacao smoothie
Breakfast
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Eugene

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Loved it, quiet, remote, eco friendly, it was fabulous!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

Jill

Liked: Cleanliness
Pros- friendly staff, good vegetarian food, good 7am and 4pm yoga, enjoyed the hot tub and steam room Cons-room was very basic with out a fan, screen door or any way to make tea/coffee, very steep, difficult walk from back section to front section of property and only infrequent shuttles
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Emile

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Very nice little hotel with Hiking trails, spas, healthy food options and very nice view of Arenal as well as the lagoon
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brittni

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Kimberley

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

10/10 Excellent

James

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
Verified

8/10 Good

Salvador

Basica hotel with great views to the arenal vulcan

Basic hotel with great views to the arenal vulcano, our room with private bathroom was simple but clean. Nice property with great walks in nature, 30 mins away from fortuna but a car would solve all.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brian

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

10/10 Excellent

Caroline

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
Verified

6/10 Okay

Andrea

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Benjamin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
The room was great -- clean and spacious. The yoga classes and meals were awesome. I went solo and met a lot of great people, we ended up putting together a group that ate meals together and took a couple of trips together outside of the property. The only real friction point was commuting between the room (some of the rooms are deeper into the property) and the restaurant/sauna area. You can walk the steep road, take a 20 minute trail (which is beautiful), or wait for the shuttle. Not a dealbreaker, just wish I had known. Awesome time! Take the night tour with Aurelio!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified

8/10 Good

michele

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
The Retreat is gorgeous. The views of the Volcano and Lake are amazing. The pescatarian menu is perfect for vegetarians and pescatarians. All three meals are served. We did not have meals included but very much enjoyed dinner and breakfast there. The pocket sized gathering places are charming - slider over looking lake, dining room and reception, the separate lounge area with tea and coffee looking into the jungle. The evening walk was fun. The property is on the top of a very steep hill with accommodations running down the hill. A shuttle takes one up and down for yoga, however the hill is very steep and very long. With a reconstructed ankle I could not do it so was confined to the top of the hill which was beautiful. Also the resort is very hard to contact. Our arrival plans changed because of a missed connection and we had no phone number or email to let them know.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2026
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

8/10 Good

Laura

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

Beautiful surroundings

This place is really nice. The surroundings are amazing - you can see both the volcano and the lake, and they have a beautiful garden with a pound, a pool, a spa-area and yoga studio. The morning yoga was really good! And the make really nice food in their kitchen. We thought their activities were a bit to pricy for our taste - but that shouldnt stop anyone from going. Im pretty sure you wont regret it!
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2023
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Janice

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
Verified

8/10 Good

Franka

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
Verified

6/10 Okay

Saskia

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities
Disliked: Property conditions & facilities
Het personeel en de voorzieningen waren zeer goed. Echter, de tent waarin wij sliepen was in zeer slechte staat. Het materiaal was op veel plekken vergaan en de tent kon niet meer goed worden afgesloten. Gezien de andere tenten precies hetzelfde waren denk ik dat de staat daarvan net zo was... Het is dat je ook betaalt voor de voorzieningen, maar de overnachting in de tent was het echt niet waard.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jose Manuel

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

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nous avons adoré cet hôtel avec une magnifique jungle et une super vue sur le volcan. Le personnel est très sympathique et les repas sont excellents.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2020
Verified

8/10 Good

Jeff

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

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