La Fortuna Hotels: My Stay at the Lost Iguana Resort and Spa

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Costa Rica is a destination that many dream of, and I want to share all the details from my stay at the Lost Iguana Resort and Spa, one of the best resorts in La Fortuna Costa Rica. I only had a few short days in Costa Rica, and La Fortuna was an easy choice of where to stay.

Set against the backdrop of Arenal Volcano, it’s easy to understand why so many tourists visit this mountain town each year. Wanting to be as close to Mistico Park as possible, I decided to stay at the nearby Lost Iguana Resort and Spa. Keep reading for my review of Lost Iguana Lodge Costa Rica!

Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?

The Insurance companies I recommend are Hey Mondo and Safety Wing

Hey Mondo is great if you are looking for a great value flexible policy. They offer single-trip cover, annual multi-trip cover, and long-term travel cover. Safety Wing is great value, with monthly coverage starting at $45.08. It’s super easy to use, and it just renews each month. I currently use them as they offer me free cover for my son as part of my policy.

Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies. 

Why Stay at La Fortuna Costa Rica Resorts?

If you’re a reader of my blog, you know you’re more likely to find me in a tent in the jungle than in a fancy resort—now and then, I love treating myself to something special. I’m slightly volcano-obsessed and love nothing more than a night in nature. The Lost Iguana Resort – Arenal Volcano Hotel in La Fortuna ticked all those boxes.

I had a killer view of the most beautiful volcano in Costa Rica and slept in the lush La Fortuna jungle. There are plenty of hotels La Fortuna Costa Rica is home to, but none offer views as impressive as this. And did I mention the hot tub? More on that later!

My Stay at the Lost Iguana Resort and Spa: Best Costa Rica Volcano Resort

Getting to the Lost Iguana from La Fortuna

As a professional travel blogger, I always take the hard way to get from Point A to Point B—it’s part of the job! However, I don’t recommend taking the public bus as I did for two reasons: it took three times as long, and I only saved about $10.

Instead, I suggest hiring a car or arranging a shuttle. Expect to pay around $30 for a private taxi from La Fortuna to the Lost Iguana Resort.

Arriving at the Lost Iguana Resort & Spa

My journey to Costa Rica was long as I was traveling from the UK and had a 17-hour layover in New York with three changes in total. It took me over 30 hours to get to the San Juan Airport and a further six hours to arrive at La Fortuna. To say I was tired when I finally arrived at the Lost Iguana Resort and Spa was an understatement.

Upon arriving at Lost Iguana Lodge Costa Rica in the evening, I was offered a complimentary drink, which was delicious and just what I needed. After check-in, I was given a map of the grounds and information about breakfast before being driven to my accommodation in a golf buggy. The relief I felt about not carrying my backpack or finding my room in the dark was immense!

Quick Tip: Book accommodation, tours, and transport ahead of time online to save money and stress. 
Best La Fortuna Tours: Click here to check out the top La Fortuna tours
Best La Fortuna Accommodation: Click here to check out the best accommodation in La Fortuna
Best La Fortuna Transport: Click here to book a bus, ferry, or train in La Fortuna

First Impressions of the Lost Iguana Resort Costa Rica

Before seeing my room, I knew Lost Iguana Resort & Spa was one of the most special La Fortuna resorts. I was welcomed with fresh juice and a warm smile before being whisked off in a golf cart to my room. If you read my guide on how to get to La Fortuna from San Jose, you know I had to spend six hours on a bus after three flights and a 17-hour layover. So this was much appreciated!

Once I entered the Luxury Suite I’d be staying in, I knew I was in for a treat. Keep reading for more details and thoughts on my Lost Iguana Resort and Spa room.

My Room at the Lost Iguana

My luxury room at Lost Iguana Resort had everything I could want or need. The bed was huge and comfortable—don’t get me started on the breathtaking view I woke up to!

The suite had a kitchen and bar area fully stocked with a minibar. My balcony had two adorable rocking chairs, and I couldn’t get enough of that view. The piece de resistance was the outdoor jacuzzi bath. Yes, that’s right—I had a bath on my balcony with a view of Arenal Volcano.

Quick Tip: View my full Central America Packing list here and my 1 month Central America itinerary here

Lost Iguana Resort – Arenal Volcano Hotel View

Once I stepped out onto the balcony, I realized there was a view of the volcano from my bed. This excited me, and I couldn’t wait to go to sleep and wake up to that incredible sight! This volcano view alone makes Lost Iguana one of the best La Fortuna hotels.

I could have stayed in bed all day staring at the beautiful Arenal Volcano, but breakfast was calling my name.

Lost Iguana Restaurant

I only ate breakfast in the Lost Iguana Resort restaurant, which was included in my stay. The menu is typical of La Fortuna Costa Rica resorts. I opted for a traditional Costa Rican breakfast one morning and a burrito the next. As a vegetarian, I was impressed the resort could fix me a special breakfast.

The coffee was excellent, as was the service, and meals were priced around $10-20. Lost Iguana Resort also offers room service, which I didn’t take advantage of, but it’s nice to have as an option.

Lost Iguana Pool

There are two pools at Lost Iguana Resort Costa Rica, one heated and one cold. The pools have swim-up bars, so you don’t have to get out of the water to quench your thirst. Towels are available from the bar, and there are plenty of sun loungers for you to relax and sunbathe.

Lost Iguana Spa

Sadly, I didn’t have time to visit Lost Iguana’s Golden Gekko Spa, so I can’t offer a review. However, the spa treatments look luxurious, and there are plenty of special offers and packages to choose from. One bonus of staying at resorts in La Fortuna Costa Rica is the on-site spa services.

Lost Iguana Walking Path

I got really excited when I realized there was a trail around the Lost Iguana grounds. Walking and exploring is one of my favorite things to do in La Fortuna, apart from Mistico Park!

I love the location of the Lost Iguana and how expansive the grounds are. This is one of the top resorts in La Fortuna Costa Rica, because of its location in the national park. The resort’s trail runs along the resort’s perimeter and takes you through some jungle areas where you‘ll find everything from waterfalls to mazes.

The path was easy, with several uphill parts and plenty of rest stops. Bring plenty of water and wear closed-toe shoes or hiking sandals.

Visiting Mistico Park

The real reason for my stay at Lost Iguana Resort was how close it was to Mistico Park. Lost Iguana is the nearest accommodation to Mistico Park, a destination I can’t recommend enough.

While Mistico Park is within walking distance of the Lost Iguana, a driver picked me up and dropped me off at the resort. It was raining, so I was grateful for the service! Take a read of my blog post about Mistico Park here.

Things to Do While Staying at La Fortuna Resorts

There’s a neverending list of things to do in La Fortuna. Lost Iguana offers tour-planning services to take the stress out of your vacation. Some of the hotel’s top tours are:

• White Water Rafting
• La Fortuna Waterfall
• Tabacon Hot Mineral Pools
• Skytram Canopy Tours

Visiting Costa Rica During the Rainy Season

If you‘re considering visiting Costa Rica in the rainy season, my advice is to go! Typically, it won’t rain all day, so plan your activities intentionally, and you should be okay. Even if it was raining nonstop, there’s nowhere I would have rather been than in my Lost Iguana room overlooking Arenal Volcano. I wrote a post about traveling to Central America in the rainy season that you can read here. The rain didn’t affect my Costa Rica visit—don’t forget your umbrella.

La Fortuna Travel Guide Planning

🚗 Where can I book bus or private transportation while I’m in La Fortuna?

I strongly recommend using Gottogo. You can book almost all transport in the major tourist destinations through them online. They don’t just cover buses they also cover shuttles, ferries, and private drivers.

🎫 Where can I buy tickets for museums, attractions, and tours in La Fortuna?

I recommend either Viator or GetYour Guide. They have a lot of options!

👩‍⚕️ What is the best insurance to have while traveling?

I recommend using Heymondo for a great value policy. The app also offers you 24/7 Dr Chat. For Digital Nomads check out SafetyWing digital nomad insurance.

I have also written a blog post covering all my recommended travel insurance here

✈️ Any flight recommendations?

WayAWay offers you cheap flights with cashback. You can use this code CLAIRE22 to get 10% off. Otherwise Skyscanner or Expedia are my go-to flight searching platforms.

📱What do you use for internet connection while traveling?

I’m a big fan of personal WiFi devices and they have saved my ass so many times when traveling. I wrote a full review of the top travel WiFi devices you can read here. I personally use GlocalMe as I can either pop in a physical sim card or use their local carrier.

With regards to my phone connection, I use e-sims while traveling, so rather than having to swap out my regular sim card I can download the app and buy a virtual sim card. I recommend using eitherAirhub or Alosim. Both have great coverage of multiple countries and are very easy to use.

🛏️ What is the best platform to use for booking accommodation?

The 3 best platforms that I normally use are Booking.com, Hotels.com, and Expedia They offer great deals and multiple options. I always check all three to be sure of the best deals.

🛅 Do you have any luggage recommendations for traveling?

I do have a complete list of the best packing and luggage products that I recommend, you can check the list here. I’m currently traveling with this suitcase and this backpack. 

Final Thoughts On My Stay at the Lost Iguana Resort and Spa

Lost Iguana Resort and Spa is officially one of my favorite La Fortuna Costa Rica resorts! La Fortuna is idyllic, and I can’t recommend a stay at Lost Iguana enough. If you visit this Costa Rica volcano resort, plan a full day of activities in Mistico Park.

The only negative to my stay at the Lost Iguana was the limited dining options. Since you can’t walk to nearby restaurants, I recommend renting a car for your Costa Rica stay. This is the most convenient and cheapest way to explore Costa Rica. Taxis and shuttles are expensive, so having a rental car will save you money and give you more flexibility for your vacation.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review, and I would love to hear from you if you plan a trip to Lost Iguana. Feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions!

Take a read of my top articles:

Things to Do in La Fortuna Costa Rica | Mistico Park
What to Pack for Central America
What to Pack for the Rainy Season in Central America
10 Reasons to Travel Central America During Rainy Season

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