La Fortuna Waterfall // Catarata Rio Fortuna, 1 km south and 1.6 km west from La Fortuna Church., La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica | (618) 248-8274
Right on the road leading directly to La Fortuna waterfall and the trails up Cerro Chato volcano
Small pool and hot tub with lush surroundings
Private rainforest trail
Spa with massage room open to the rainforest
Free breakfast buffet with an omelet bar
Clean, adobe-style rooms with mini-fridges, AC, and cable TVs
Two-for-one happy hour daily
Free business center and free Wi-Fi
First-floor rooms' views of the volcano are blocked by vegetation
Restaurant prices are rather expensive
No hot springs
This 36-room gated property on a side road a 10-minute drive south of La Fortuna is an adequate mid-range option featuring a swimming pool with a swim-up bar and its own private rainforest trail. Clean, adobe-style rooms have air-conditioning and TVs (not a given for the area) in two-story buildings that are screened off from everything else by towering vegetation (and for the first floor, that includes views of the volcano; only second-floor rooms have guaranteed volcano views). There are few options immediately nearby, and hotel neighbors (like Hotel Rancho Cerro Azul) tend to be more modest. Activities on the property are a bit limited and many guests feel the restaurant is overpriced; those who want more features might consider the similarly priced Hotel El Silencio del Campo, which has on-site hot springs and a working farm.
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Scene
Located on a side road off the main road into La Fortuna, Casa Luna offers the feeling of a small, serene gated community.
Far enough away from La Fortuna to avoid its touristy hustle and bustle, but still close enough to be only a few minutes' ride into town, Casa Luna is a tiny gated community that feels away from it all. According to staff, the guests are largely Americans, Germans, and Canadians from ages 30 to 60, who take advantage of the hotel bar's two-for-one daily happy hour rather than taking the jaunt into town for their carousing. The property is compact relative to others in the region, with not a whole lot to do aside from lounging at the pool or drinking at the bar, but the grounds are well-manicured and wildlife-rich. This is a perfectly adequate home base for those planning to spend their days on excursions around the region who want to come home to clean accommodations on lush grounds. Those looking for a property where they can stay entertained without going anywhere should probably look elsewhere.
Location
Casa Luna is near enough to town to benefit from its shops, restaurants, and adventure outfitters, but far enough away to avoid the backpackers and (relatively few) touts.
On a well-maintained side road off the main road into La Fortuna, Casa Luna is about 10 minutes' ride south of town. Guests have easy access to adventure outfits and more restaurant options (important as some guests find the on-site eatery overpriced), but the hotel maintains its distance from the backpackers and touts. Those who don't have rides arranged, their own cars, or impressive walking stamina in the tropical heat and rain may find it far enough away from everything to be somewhat inconvenient, but it's closer than the gantlet of similar-looking hotels that inhabit the road to the north of town, giving Casa Luna both the benefit of proximity and -- because there are few hotel neighbors in the immediate area -- a greater sense of seclusion.
Rooms
Clean, adobe-style rooms with attractive local influences, though first-floor guests may miss out on volcano views
The hotel aptly describes its rooms as "rustic-colonial," and they deliver on that promise, with rustic details such as wood ceilings and sturdy wood furniture, and Spanish colonial influences such as terra-cotta tile floors, white adobe wall texturing, and wrought iron accents. All rooms have two queen-size beds, though rates change depending on the number of guests (up to four are allowed). Amenities include AC, mini-fridges (partially stocked with water, soda, beer, and a candy bar), minibar items (such as cookies, chips, and liquor), safes, coffeemakers, flat-screen cable TVs, and free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms have walk-in showers and vessel sinks, though some guests have noted that the hot water can run out later in the day. While second-floor rooms have views of the volcano, first-floor guests may miss out because of the tall vegetation in front that blocks off the paths, pool, and parking lot.
Features
There's a daily happy hour at the bar, and a private trail into the rainforest behind the spa, which has a massage room open to the sounds, sights, and smells of the jungle.
The hotel does what it can to keep guests from having to go to town, though activities are more limited here than at some similarly priced properties, and hot springs are noticeably absent. There are a pool and hut tub surrounded by lush vegetation, however. Many find the restaurant overpriced, though the quality is good, and the daily two-for-one happy hour at least provides value. There's also a private rainforest path, and the spa has a massage room that's open to the jungle, making for a unique therapeutic experience.
