This is such a special spot. A hidden gem. The cafe is so fun and some of the best food we had during our stay. We ate there 3 times! Kelly is an awesome host and very responsive and accommodating. Highly recommended.
Book Studio One now!!! What a cool place. The studio itself is very cool but the view is SPECTACULAR! Best view we saw in three full days in the area. El Castillo is a small town away from the bustle of La Fortuna with everything you need within walking distance. Kelly and Alejandra are great people and their La Ventanita Cafe is awesome. Best burger and beer Iâve had in CR. Stay here without regrets!!
This studio was exactly as described and has an amazing view. We had plenty of space for the two of us. The location was great, we had privacy from the main tourist areas but could still easily get to all attractions we wanted to do. We loved our time here.
Exceptional place to stay. Very nicely furnished! The bed, in particular, was extremely comfortable with really nice, cozy bedding. It made for great sleeping with the window open allowing for the breezes to blow through. Between the breeze, the sound of the nearby river gurgling, the cozy bedding, and the rain on the roof, we slept like babies. And the views from the studio were breathtaking. I would 1000% stay here again. Kelly was a fabulous host and provided us coffee and a lovely breakfast basket. The location in CR is wonderful. El Castillo is a great little village close to all things rain forest and Arenal, and the local restaurants had wonderful food. I canât say enough great things about the entire experience. Top 5 places Iâve ever stayed.
Overall our stay was lovely, the area is gorgeous, the house was clean, we were provided ample breakfast food and the restaurant next door was affordable and delicious.Unfortunately the house is rather drafty, and we had ants come in more than once. There was also construction going on right outside the house which was a bit noisy and distracting. Although, to be fair, the owner did warn us of it, but we werenât aware of it until after we arrived.
Breathtaking view and comfortable stay! Huge tree with multiple varieties of birds including Toucans! Our hosts made our time very special. They provided breakfast items for our refrigerator and gave us great tips on area attractions. Their adjacent restaurant was a short walk away with delicious shakes and a variety of good food! With the volcano and lake right there we enjoyed Water activities as well as gorgeous hikes!
Studio Wow was amazing! The views were incomparable and being able to sleep with the windows and doors open to enjoy the cool breeze was delightful.
Thank you Kelly and Alejandra for the incredible experience, awesome food, and letting Mike borrow a hat :)
Dawn and Mike, Florida
The views were spectacular. La Ventanita restaurant next door was tasty for lunch & dinner and super convenient - same owners as Studio WOW. This made it easy to pick up keys when we arrived. Fresh fruit, eggs, and bread were available for us to make our own breakfast, though the kitchen is tiny.
This location is very near the Butterfly Conservatory, and not far from Arenal Observatory, Arenal Natonial Park, and Hanging Bridges.
Kelly, the owner, was extremely helpful, especially when I left luggage behind.
Stuido Wow is aptly named! We really enjoyed our stay here. The views were amazing, and it was great to be away from the more touristy locations in La Fortuna. The studio is beautiful and has everything you need. The host even included fresh eggs and fruit. I would highly recommend this spot. Kelly's restaurant below is also fantastic. Kelly had some great suggestions on things to do in the area as well.
Amazing property!! Absolutely loved staying here. The views are unbeatable, the room was very nice and clean, and the location was great. I will definitely stay here again!
Spent 5 days here, enjoying sweeping views of Arenal volcano and lake. Perfect for the solo traveler or couple, this is an open plan studio with lots of natural light and nearly wraparound windows. The feel is very private (plenty of curtains). Nice, quiet location in el Castillo.
Kelly and Alejandra were friendly and gracious hosts. Appreciated their proactive communication regarding check-in or any questions I had. Enjoyed the sweet cafe they operate right near the studio. Great place to have a quiet meal or sit and read.
Don't pass on the neighborhood hike right outside the front door (Thank you Kelly for the tip). Head left up the hill for even more gorgeous views up on the ridge.
As is the case with the greater la Fortuna area, it's good to have a car or an available driver. Ecotermales, Hanging bridges, Arenal Observatory, 1968 hike and the usual attractions are all nearby.
I'd definitely return to this location.
Pros - The view is spectacular from the studio. The bed is comfortable, the water pressure in the Shower and bathroom was great.
The food in the cafe below is very affordable and was very good, except the nachos (we did not care for this).
Kelly (owner) was quick to respond.
You will see amazing Condors fly right by the balconies every day.
The staff at the Cafe are wonderful especially Kenny & Blanquita.
The Terrazas at Arenal restaurant up the hill has an AMACING view. You MUST visit. We did not know about it, just ran across it walking up the hill.
Cons -
Front door had large gaps all around, we had all kinds of bugs in the studio and that was not good at all.
The studio is very small with a tub in the middle of the room (not practical at all).
There are no closets, so we had to live out of our suitcases for a week.
There is very little water pressure in the kitchen faucet. The micro dd not work.
We experienced a few power outages; one lasted an hour or so.
A car is a MUST. Only one bus out at 7 am and one in at 5 pm or so.. The taxis are expensive. We went into town one time and stayed in the rest of the time.
Although the photos are great, they simply donât do the place justice. Kelly has mindfully designed and built something spectacular with this place. He and his wife, Alejandra were so friendly and welcoming. They also own a restaurant on the property that we ate at and not only was it some of the best food we have eaten on our trip, the prices were incredible too. This is more than 5/5, we would say 10/10.
We cannot recommend this location highly enough. The pictures are accurate. Upon checking in the owners met with us and were very nice. It is located directly next to a restaurant the owners also own. Food was fantastic. If you want to be off the beaten path and you will not be disappointed. If and when return to the area, this is exactly where we would stay again. The owner Kelly is super cool. Lots of passion went into the property design and into his restaurant.
The host was extremely attentive and readily available. We were provided local recommendations for anything and everything, including dining and various adventures for all activity levels. The views were spectacular and the restaurant on the property was delicious, serving lunch and dinner!!! The property is the last driveway on the left, just prior to the butterfly conservatory (on the right). I used the butterfly conservatory address on Waze maps to have a solid destination. Rate this property, host, and overall experince extremely highly!
Great place with a fantastic view of the lake and volcano. The host also operates a wonderful restaurant on the property. We will definitely be looking to stay here again when visit Costa Rica for our next adventure.
There were 3 of us in our party and we were thrilled with every part of our stay.
We met at the restaurant after a long drive from the airport and sat down for lunch at the hosts highly rated cafe with stunning views of the volcano and lake.
The property itself is behind the cafe and offers privacy and amazing views. It was creatively designed and was delivered spotless. Oh! The very generous host also provided us with a welcome basket of food in the refrigerator specifically for us.
We were very close to town and honestly it was so busy in La Fortuna that we appreciated being just outside of the hustle and bustle.
Thank you to our host and his team for all of your suggestions and a wonderful stay. You have an absolutely gorgeous casita.