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Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

3.0 star property
A peaceful retreat near Costa Rica Sky Adventures where travelers can enjoy hot stone massages, reflexology treatments, and healthy vegetarian dining options

Choose dates to view prices

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga offers a serene escape near Lake Arenal. The hostel features an outdoor pool, a vegetarian restaurant, and WiFi in public areas, perfect for a break from wellness activities.

Reviews

8.8 out of 10
Excellent

Popular amenities

  • Pool
  • Spa
  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Breakfast available
The current price is AU$112
includes taxes & fees
11 Mar - 12 Mar

Room options

Available filters for rooms
Showing 8 of 8 rooms

View all photos for Superior Quadruple Room, Private Bathroom

Superior Quadruple Room, Private Bathroom

Superior Quadruple Room, Private Bathroom

Highlights

Balcony
Kitchen
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

View all photos for Superior Room, 1 Double Bed

Superior Room, 1 Double Bed

Superior Room, 1 Double Bed

Highlights

Kitchen
Detached private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Casa Bella Vista

Casa Bella Vista

Casa Bella Vista

Highlights

Kitchen
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Lake view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Double Bunk Bed

View all photos for Casitas nomadas

Casitas nomadas

Casitas nomadas

10.0 out of 10
Exceptional
(1 review)

Highlights

Kitchen
Separate bedroom
Private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Mountain view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Superior Double Room

Superior Double Room

Superior Double Room

Highlights

Kitchen
Detached private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Mountain view
  • 1 bedroom
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Queen Bed

View all photos for Standard Tent

Standard Tent

Standard Tent

Highlights

Kitchen
Detached private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 Double Bed

View all photos for Family Tree House

Family Tree House

Family Tree House

Highlights

Kitchen
Detached private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Mountain view
  • Sleeps 4
  • 1 Double Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed

View all photos for Comfort House

Comfort House | Living area

Comfort House

Highlights

Kitchen
2 bedrooms
Detached private bathroom
Daily housekeeping
  • Mountain view
  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 King Bed and 1 Single Bunk Bed
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About the area

Located in Peñas Blancas, Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga is in a rural area and in the mountains. Costa Rica Sky Adventures and Los Lagos Hot Springs are worth visiting if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Lake Arenal and Arenal Volcano. Tabacon Hot Springs and Arenal Volcano National Park are two other places to visit that come recommended. Kayaking and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with ziplining and ecotours nearby. Visit our Peñas Blancas travel guide
Map
1 Km Sur Escuela del Castillo, Arenal Volcano National Park, Peñas Blancas, 1230

What's nearby

  • Had to stop the car and breathe in the beauty. #lake #nature
    Lake Arenal
    5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Arenal Eco Zoo
    2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Butterfly Conservatory
    3 min walk - 0.3 km

Getting around

  • La Fortuna (FON-Arenal)
    35 min drive

Restaurants

  • Shangri-La Gardens
    18 min drive
  • Soda La Palma
    20 min drive
  • Lemnos Wetbar
    25 min drive
  • Ave Restaurant
    18 min drive
  • Restaurante Las Palmas
    25 min drive

About this property

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga

Hostal near Lake Arenal
Located close to Costa Rica Sky Adventures, Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga provides a terrace, a garden and dry cleaning/laundry services. Active travellers can enjoy amenities, such as volleyball and hiking/biking trails, at this hostal. For some rest and relaxation, visit the Turkish bath/hammam, and indulge in a body wrap, a deep-tissue massage or a body scrub. The on-site restaurant offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Guests can connect to free WiFi in public areas.
Additional perks include:
  • An outdoor pool
  • Free self-parking
  • Full breakfast (surcharge), a round-trip airport shuttle (surcharge) and coffee/tea in reception
  • Smoke-free property, a front desk safe and tour/ticket information
Room features
All guest rooms at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga offer amenities, such as room service.
Extra amenities include:
  • Recycling and LED light bulbs
  • Bathrooms with free toiletries
  • Kitchens and daily housekeeping

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  • Parking included
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
8.2 out of 10, Very good, 99 reviews
The price is AU$95
includes taxes & fees
14 Mar - 15 Mar
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Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transport

  • Return airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking

Food and drink

  • Daily full breakfast available 7 AM to 9 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 lift

More

  • Eco-friendly cleaning products used
  • Smoke-free property

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 accommodation

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

Pets not allowed

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
Cots (infant beds) are available for USD 10.0 per stay

Payment types

Important information

Optional extras

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

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may 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
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
Reservations are required for massage services; reservations can be made by contacting the property prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation

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

Does Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

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

As of 10 Mar 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga on 11 Mar 2026 start from AU$112, 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.

Is Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Self-parking is free at this property.

What time is check-in at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Check-in start time: 1:00 PM; check-in end time: 7:00 PM. After-hours check-in is not available.

What time is check-out at Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga?

Checkout is at 11 AM.

Does Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga provide a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, there's an airport shuttle.

Where is Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga located?

Situated in the mountains, this hostal is 0.2 mi (0.4 km) from Lake Arenal and 2.5 mi (4 km) from Costa Rica Sky Adventures. Arenal Volcano and Tabacon Hot Springs are also within 9 mi (15 km).

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Reviews

Essence Arenal Spa & Yoga Reviews

8.8

Excellent

9.2

Cleanliness

9.0

Location

9.4

Staff & service

8.6

Property conditions & facilities
Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 51 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 16 out of 51 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 6 out of 51 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 51 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 51 reviews

Reviews

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

10/10 Excellent

Brian

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/10 Excellent

Kimberley

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

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

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

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

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

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

10/10 Excellent

Jose Manuel

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

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

8/10 Good

Jeff, Prince George bc

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

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

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

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
I absolutly loved staying here. It was a great setting, a nice break out of town, with a wonderful view of the volcano. The staff were amazing and extreamly helpful. I loved the daily yoga classes out in nature with amazing teachers. There were lots of walking trails around the property and you could go walk around the farm where they grow a lot of the fruit used in the kitched for vegitarian meals. Also the massages were super relaxing. I will definitely be coming here again!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2019

6/10 Okay

Trotoux

Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Room comfort
Chambre très petite, même pas de place pour ouvrir les valises. Odeur d’egout dans la salle de bain. Chambre ne correspond pas du tout à la photo.
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Hôtel accueillant, personnel aux petits soins, nourriture excellente et végétarienne ! Ballades autour de l’hotel au top...
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2019