Chachagua Rainforest Hotel & Hot Springs is a full-service rainforest hotel south of La Fortuna, set inside its own 94-hectare forest reserve that borders the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. It suits travelers who want the Arenal area’s tours within reach but would rather sleep among trees, trails and spring-fed pools than on the busy strip outside town. It isn’t a rustic lodge: think bungalows with outdoor Jacuzzis, two restaurants and a family waterslide, wrapped in real forest.
Older guides, including this one, knew it as Chachagua Rain Forest Lodge, a working cattle ranch with a biological station attached. The ranch heritage still shows, but the property has grown into a hotel with villas, treehouses and vacation homes.
At a glance
| Location | Near the village of Chachagua, south of La Fortuna, Alajuela |
|---|---|
| Style | Upscale rainforest hotel with villas and private homes |
| Setting | 94-hectare private reserve of secondary rainforest beside the Chachagua River |
| Best for | Families, couples who want comfort, travelers basing themselves near Arenal |
| Getting there | About 10 km south of La Fortuna toward San Ramón, last 2 km on a dirt road |
| CST status | Not listed in the CST directory |
Where it is
The hotel sits in the foothills of the Tilarán range, on the Caribbean-facing side of the mountains that separate La Fortuna from Monteverde. Frommer’s places Chachagua village about 10 km south of La Fortuna on the road to San Ramón, with the lodge roughly 2 km further along a dirt road. That’s the trade-off worth knowing before booking: you’re close enough for day trips to Arenal Volcano, but you won’t see the cone from your terrace, and dinners in town mean a drive each way.
The upside is the neighbor. The hotel’s own reserve page says its forest borders the 23,000-hectare Children’s Eternal Rainforest, the country’s largest private reserve, managed by the Monteverde Conservation League. Together with Arenal Volcano National Park to the north, these lands form a biological corridor that, according to the hotel, supports more than 300 bird species and about 120 mammal species.
Rooms, villas and homes
The official site describes 28 rooms spread through tropical gardens, plus a growing set of larger units. Rooms have screened but open windows so you hear the forest at night, and covered decks, most with hammocks.
- Rainforest Bungalow: two queen beds for up to 4 guests, a private covered terrace and an outdoor rain shower.
- Master Bungalow: one king bed, set up for couples, with a covered terrace and outdoor Jacuzzi.
- Casita Suite: two queen beds, a terrace and dual rainfall showers.
- Two Bedroom Villa: a freestanding unit near the river for up to 6, with a dual outdoor shower.
- River Villa: 150 m² of interior space above the Chachagua River, with a Jacuzzi in a wooden tower reached by a small bridge.
- Jungle Tree House: the newest category, adults only, raised about 20 m above the forest floor, with a king bed and a Jacuzzi on a second deck.
For groups, Hacienda Cercone is a four-bedroom house inside the property that sleeps up to 13 and has its own pools. A second home, La Fortuna Country House, sits near town about 20 minutes away, so it’s a convenient base but not a forest stay. The villa and treehouse pages list breakfast and yoga classes on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday as included.
The pools and the food
The pool area is the social center. The hotel describes a set of warm mineral spring pools and cool spring-water pools, reserved for hotel guests, with a waterslide that makes it a hit with children. Earlier descriptions note the main pool is spring-fed and treated without chlorine; the hotel’s current pages focus on the springs themselves, so ask if water treatment matters to you.
There are two places to eat. Colibrí is the main restaurant, serving Costa Rican dishes and international plates with forest views. Morpho, beside the pools, handles lighter food and drinks. According to the hotel, the kitchen uses ingredients grown on the property or on nearby farms. Room service and spa treatments can be arranged through the front desk.
Things to do on the property
Three hiking trails and a network of smaller paths run through the reserve, and a trail map is posted on the hotel site. Guided options on site include:
- A daily nature walk in the early afternoon.
- Early-morning birding with a naturalist.
- A night walk for frogs, insects and sleeping birds.
- Horseback rides, a nod to the property’s ranching past.
The most distinctive experience is Rancho Don Lelo, a rustic gathering place named after one of the original owners, a farmer and horseman from the area. After a guided walk through the forest, guests make tortillas, patacones or ceviche with a local cook, follow cacao from pod to chocolate, roast and taste coffee, and press sugarcane on a traditional mill. Old saddles and farm tools are displayed there as well.
Wildlife around the rooms is part of the appeal. Sloths are common enough that the hotel has written a guide to them, and older accounts of the lodge mention white-faced capuchins, blue morpho butterflies and poison dart frogs near the bungalows. Sightings vary by season and luck.
Day trips from Chachagua
The concierge books a long menu of outings. Some of the better nature options:
- Children’s Eternal Rainforest expedition: a 4×4 drive to the Pocosol research station, then a guided hike past volcanic fumaroles and a lagoon of volcanic origin, with views toward Pocosol Waterfall.
- Peñas Blancas safari float: a calm raft trip about 30 minutes from the hotel, looking for monkeys, sloths and river birds.
- Río Celeste: a full-day hike of close to 6 km in Tenorio Volcano National Park.
- Caño Negro: a boat trip through the wetlands of the wildlife refuge near the Nicaraguan border.
La Fortuna Waterfall, canyoning and a canopy tour are also offered. For a wider look at what the region holds, see our Arenal and Río Celeste ecotourism guide.
Sustainability
The hotel calls itself 100% committed to sustainable tourism and points to its on-site naturalists, its protected forest and its farm. The clearest piece of conservation is the land itself: 94 hectares of regrowing forest kept as a buffer against one of Costa Rica’s most important private reserves. Beyond that, the site gives few specifics on energy, water or waste, and the hotel doesn’t appear in the CST directory. Treat broader green claims as the hotel’s own.
Who it suits
Chachagua works well for families who want a pool day between excursions, and for couples who’d like a treehouse or villa with a private tub without giving up a real rainforest setting. Birders will appreciate waking up inside the forest instead of driving to it.
It’s less suited to anyone who wants volcano views from bed, a walkable town, or a simple, low-key lodge; with homes, villas and two restaurants, it runs more like a resort. If you want a farm stay with a stronger organic focus a short drive away, look at Finca Luna Nueva. For a park-side base facing the volcano, Arenal Observatory Lodge is the classic choice. Earlier coverage of the lodge is also on Costa Rica Journeys, and more options are listed on our Arenal and La Fortuna page.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Arenal Volcano from Chachagua?
No. The hotel sits in forested foothills south of La Fortuna, and the volcano isn't visible from the rooms. Most guests visit Arenal Volcano National Park and the La Fortuna area as day trips.
Are the hot springs open to day visitors?
The hotel says its spring pools are reserved for staying guests. If you want public hot springs, the larger resorts along the road west of La Fortuna sell day passes.
Is the Jungle Tree House suitable for children?
No. The treehouses are adults only. Families usually choose the River Villa, the Two Bedroom Villa or a Rainforest Bungalow, and larger groups can take Hacienda Cercone inside the property.
What is Rancho Don Lelo?
It's the hotel's farm and culture space, named after one of the property's original owners. Guests take part in a cooking class, a cacao and coffee experience and sugarcane pressing after a guided forest walk.
