Hotel in San Carlos, Costa Rica
The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal
150Pearl PointsVolcano views, hot springs, no compromises.
About The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal
The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal is the strongest all-in-one option for first-time Arenal visitors who want volcano views built into the resort itself. On-site thermal hot springs, hillside design, and a large pool system make it easy to justify without leaving the property. Book 4–8 weeks out for the dry season.
Verdict
If you're visiting Arenal for the first time and want a resort that puts the volcano front and centre, The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal is the most complete package in the immediate area. The design does the heavy lifting here: rooms, pools, and dining terraces are oriented to frame Arenal Volcano directly, so the landscape is a constant presence rather than a backdrop you have to seek out. Book it if the visual experience of the resort itself matters as much as the adventure activities outside it.
The Resort
The Springs is built into a hillside above La Fortuna, and that elevation is the key to understanding why it works. Rather than a flat all-inclusive spread, the property cascades across the terrain, meaning sightlines to the volcano open from almost every vantage point. For a first-time visitor to the Arenal region, that spatial drama is genuinely arresting — you feel the scale of the volcano in a way that lower-elevation properties don't deliver. The thermal hot springs on-site are fed by the same volcanic geology that makes this corner of Costa Rica worth visiting in the first place, creating a sensory connection between the setting and the amenity that feels cohesive rather than contrived. The surrounding gardens carry the earthy, humid scent of the rainforest, which filters through open-air corridors and poolside areas throughout the day.
The resort's size means it can feel busy during peak season (December through April), when the dry weather draws the largest crowds to the Arenal region. If crowd management matters to you, plan to use the pools and thermal springs early morning or late evening. Booking well in advance for the dry season is advisable; the La Fortuna area sees consistent demand from both international visitors and domestic Costa Rican travellers during school holidays.
For context within the region, Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa is the closest direct competitor, also offering volcanic hot springs near La Fortuna. The Springs tends to have a larger and more varied pool system, while Tabacón leans into naturalistic river-fed thermal channels. Your preference between the two comes down to whether you want a more resort-structured experience or a wilder, garden-immersed thermal setting.
See our full San Carlos hotels guide for how The Springs sits within the broader area accommodation options, and our San Carlos experiences guide for what to plan around your stay.
Practical Details
Reservations: Easy to book directly; advance booking of 4–8 weeks recommended for dry season (Dec–Apr), 2–3 weeks sufficient for green season. Location: 9 km west and 4 km north of central La Fortuna, Alajuela — a short drive from town, not walkable. Leading for: Couples and families visiting Arenal for the first time who want a self-contained resort with on-site thermal pools and volcano views. Consider elsewhere if: You want a more intimate, lodge-style experience, El Silencio Lodge & Spa or Pacuare Lodge offer a smaller-scale alternative with different ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal compare to nearby hotels?
For volcano-facing rooms and on-site hot springs, The Springs sits ahead of Nayara Gardens in sheer scale and amenity variety, though Nayara wins on romance and intimacy for couples. El Silencio Lodge targets a different buyer entirely — rainforest immersion over volcano spectacle. If your trip is built around Arenal, The Springs gives you the most direct access to the view and the thermal pools without having to leave the property.
When is the best time to book The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal?
Book 4–8 weeks out for dry season (December through April) when the volcano is most reliably visible and demand peaks. Green season (May–November) only requires 2–3 weeks lead time, and you'll get lower rates with the trade-off of more rain and occasional cloud cover over the volcano. If seeing Arenal clearly matters to you, dry season is the better bet.
How is the dining at The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal?
The resort is situated 9 km west and 4 km north of La Fortuna's centre, which makes on-property dining the practical default for most meals rather than a deliberate choice. That context matters: resort dining at hillside properties in this region tends to carry a premium over La Fortuna town options. No specific menu or chef details are confirmed in available data, so verify current restaurant options directly with the resort before booking if dining quality is a deciding factor.
Is The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal good for business travel?
No. The Springs is positioned as a nature and wellness destination outside La Fortuna, and the hillside location adds transit time if you need town access for meetings. For business travel in Costa Rica, properties closer to San José or the Peninsula Papagayo corridor — like Andaz Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo — make more logistical sense. The Springs is a strong fit for incentive travel or executive retreats where the environment itself is the programme.
What is check-in like at The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal?
The resort is accessible via a specific route from La Fortuna — 9 km west then 4 km north — so confirm directions before arrival, particularly if driving at night. Hillside resort check-ins in Costa Rica commonly involve a transfer or golf cart leg once on-property given the terrain. No direct booking contact is confirmed in available data, so use the official website or your booking platform to coordinate arrival logistics in advance.
Which room category is best at The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal?
The core case for staying here is the volcano view, so prioritise room categories that face Arenal directly rather than defaulting to the lowest available rate. At a hillside property built around that sightline, a partial-view or garden-facing room undercuts the main reason to choose this resort over a cheaper option in La Fortuna town. Confirm the exact view orientation with the property at booking — specific room category names and pricing are not confirmed in available data.
Location
9 Km Oeste y km 4 Norte del centro de la Fortuna, La Fortuna, 21007, Costa Rica
San Carlos, Costa Rica
Compare The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal
| Venue | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|
| The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal | Easy |
| Four Seasons Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica | Unknown |
| Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection | Unknown |
| Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo | Unknown |
| El Silencio Lodge & Spa | Unknown |
| Nayara Gardens | Unknown |
A quick look at how The Springs Resort & Spa at Arenal measures up.
Also Consider
- Four Seasons Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica, Notable alternative
- Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection, Notable alternative
- Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, Notable alternative
- El Silencio Lodge & Spa, Notable alternative
- Nayara Gardens, Notable alternative
How It Compares
Against the big-name Costa Rica resort options, The Springs sits in a different category by geography alone. Four Seasons Resort at Peninsula Papagayo and the Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo both sit on the Pacific coast in Guanacaste, beach-focused, sunnier, and considerably more polished in service infrastructure. If your priority is beach access and service consistency, those properties win. If you're coming specifically for the volcano and thermal springs, The Springs has no meaningful coastal competitor, the setting is simply different enough that it's not a direct trade-off.
Within the Arenal region, Nayara Gardens is the most direct luxury alternative, with a more intimate, adults-only atmosphere and stronger design details in individual villas. Nayara is the better pick for a couples' retreat where privacy and quiet matter most. The Springs is the better pick for families or groups who want more pooling options, more social space, and a slightly easier booking experience at a likely lower nightly rate. For a comparable rainforest lodge experience in a different part of the country, El Silencio Lodge & Spa in Bajos del Toro trades the volcano drama for cloud forest immersion and a far smaller guest count.
Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection is the splurge option for travellers who want the most considered service and design in Costa Rica outside of the Papagayo peninsula, but it's in the southern highlands, not Arenal, so it only competes if you're flexible on region. For the Arenal area specifically, The Springs represents a reliable, experience-rich base that suits a wider range of travellers than the more niche boutique alternatives nearby.
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