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Ara Ambigua Lodge

3.0 star property

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your current months are December, 2024 and January, 2025.
December 2024
January 2025

Photo gallery for Ara Ambigua Lodge

2 outdoor pools
Superior Quadruple Room, 2 Double Beds | In-room safe, free WiFi
BBQ/picnic area
Interior detail
In-room safe, free WiFi

Reviews

8.2 out of 10

Very good

Popular amenities

  • Bar
  • Spa
  • Pool
  • Breakfast included
  • Pet friendly
  • Laundry

Explore the area

Map
400m North of the Church in La Guaria, Puerto Viejo, Heredia
  • San Agustin Church
    4 min drive
  • La Selva Biological Station
    7 min drive
  • Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto Maquenque
    9 min drive

Room options

Family Room

  • Sleeps 5
  • 1 Twin Bed and 2 Double Beds OR 3 Double Beds

View all photos for Classic Quadruple Room

Classic Quadruple Room | In-room safe, free WiFi

Classic Quadruple Room

  • Sleeps 4
  • 2 Queen Beds

Classic Room

  • Sleeps 2
  • 1 King Bed OR 1 Double Bed

Classic Room

  • Sleeps 3
  • 2 Double Beds

Similar properties

Pool

Selva Verde Lodge

Pool
Hot Tub
Breakfast included
Kids pool
4.4 out of 5, Excellent, (151)
The price is $123
per night
$139 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 9 - Dec 10
Selva Verde Lodge

About the neighborhood

Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui

Located in Puerto Viejo, Ara Ambigua Lodge is in a rural location, a 4-minute drive from San Agustin Church and 7 minutes from La Selva Biological Station. .This spa hotel is 3.7 mi (5.9 km) from Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto Maquenque and 3.7 mi (5.9 km) from Costa Rican Bird Route.

What's nearby

  • San Agustin Church - 4 min drive - 1.9 miles
  • La Selva Biological Station - 7 min drive - 2.3 miles
  • Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Mixto Maquenque - 9 min drive - 3.7 miles
  • Costa Rican Bird Route - 9 min drive - 3.7 miles
  • Tirimbina Rainforest Center - 13 min drive - 6.7 miles

Getting around

  • Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport (SJO) - 118 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Rusti Ticos - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Soda Lucrecia - ‬10 min walk
  • ‪Pizzaria La Terraza - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante Típico La Carreta - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Soda La Casita Típica - ‬2 min drive

About this property

Ara Ambigua Lodge

Hotel in Puerto Viejo with 2 outdoor pools and a full-service spa
Ara Ambigua Lodge offers 50 air-conditioned accommodations with safes and coffee/tea makers. This Puerto Viejo hotel provides complimentary wireless Internet access. Bathrooms include showers and hair dryers. Housekeeping is offered daily and hair dryers can be requested.
2 outdoor swimming pools are on site along with a children's pool. Other recreational amenities include a steam room.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Guests can pamper themselves with a trip to the onsite spa, which has 1 treatment room. Services include hot stone massages, sports massages, Swedish massages, and facials. The spa is equipped with a sauna. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including aromatherapy and reflexology. The spa is open daily.
Make yourself at home in one of the 50 air-conditioned guestrooms. Complimentary wireless internet access is available to keep you connected. Bathrooms have showers and hair dryers. Conveniences include safes and coffee/tea makers, and housekeeping is provided daily.
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, which include 2 outdoor swimming pools and a steam room. This hotel also features complimentary wireless internet access, gift shops/newsstands, and wedding services.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at La Casona serving guests of Ara Ambigua Lodge. Mingle with other guests at the complimentary reception, held daily. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily from 7 AM to 9:00 AM.
Featured amenities include laundry facilities, a safe deposit box at the front desk, and a water dispenser. Guests may use a roundtrip airport shuttle for a surcharge, and free self parking is available onsite.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served each morning between 7 AM and 9:00 AM. A complimentary manager's reception is offered each day.
La Casona - This restaurant specializes in Regional cuisine and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and light fare. A children's menu is available. Happy hour is offered.

Languages

English, Spanish

Property amenities

Internet

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

Parking and transportation

  • Roundtrip airport shuttle (surcharge)
  • Free self parking on site
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Free continental breakfast available daily 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM
  • A bar/lounge
  • A restaurant
  • Free daily manager's reception

Restaurants on site

  • La Casona

Things to do

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Full-service spa
  • Playground
  • Steam room

Family friendly

  • 2 outdoor pools
  • Children's pool
  • Laundry facilities
  • Playground

Conveniences

  • Gift shop/newsstand
  • Laundry facilities
  • Limited-hour front desk
  • Safe at front desk
  • Water dispenser

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)
  • Tour and ticket assistance
  • Wedding services

Business services

  • Meeting rooms

Outdoors

  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Terrace

Full-service spa

  • Aromatherapy
  • Body scrubs
  • Body wraps
  • Couples treatment rooms
  • Facials
  • Hot stone massages
  • Prenatal massages
  • Reflexology
  • Sauna
  • Spa open daily
  • Sports massages
  • Swedish massages
  • Treatment room

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • No elevator
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking

More

  • Ballroom
  • Banquet hall
  • Mosquito nets
  • Reception hall
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bathroom

  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Electric kettle

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Safe

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 2:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 18

Check-out

Check-out before noon
Contactless check-out available

Special check-in instructions

The front desk is open daily from 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Front desk staffed during limited hours

Access methods

Front desk (limited hours)

Pets

Pets stay free
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees
Welcoming dogs only
1 total (up to 22 lbs per pet)
Restrictions apply; for more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Property payment types

Important information

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 and cash
Cashless transactions are available

We should mention

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

Property is also known as

Ara Ambigua Lodge Sarapiqui
Ara Ambigua Lodge
Ara Ambigua Sarapiqui
Ara Ambigua
Ara Ambigua Lodge Costa Rica/Sarapiqui
Ara Ambigua Lodge Hotel
Ara Ambigua Lodge Puerto Viejo
Ara Ambigua Lodge Hotel Puerto Viejo
Ara Ambigua Lodge Hotel
Ara Ambigua Lodge Puerto Viejo
Ara Ambigua Lodge Hotel Puerto Viejo

Ara Ambigua Lodge Reviews

Reviews

8.2

Very Good

Rating 10 - Excellent. 23 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 28 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 60 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 60 reviews" "

8.6/10

Cleanliness

8.8/10

Staff & service

8.4/10

Amenities

7.8/10

Property conditions & facilities

9.0/10

Eco-friendliness

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Becky, Murray

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Loved this place. Clean, comfy and friendly

6/10 Okay

Adely

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
This property is a little bit out dated but is equipped with all basic amenities. The lodges are surrounded by nature. This hotel has international cable TV, which is not available everywhere in Costa Rica. The hotel has a gift shop and a restaurant with good food. The restaurant also serves fresh pizza and room service is available. This hotel also offers you different tours. The night walk tour on the property was worth it for only $20 p.p.
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Amazing wildlife - but lacking some comforts
It was very hot and humid when we arrived. The rooms are quite small with cramped bathrooms but quite clean. Unfortunately our AC was barely adequate. It was on but not cooling well - they had 2 people check it, but it made basically no difference - by nighttime it was tolerable (running at max capacity for several hours) but not great.The staff seemed mildly annoyed that we wanted it cooler and there was no fridge in the room (although they did allow us to keep items in the restaurant fridge), so it was hard to keep comfortable. That said, there is wildlife everywhere and amazing trails (although also a lot of mosquitoes!). We saw howler monkeys, green macaws, sloths, white collared manakins, trogons, red eyed tree frogs, Jesus Christ lizards and more. The pools were good for wildlife viewing but not very clean. Great place for birding. Breakfast was nice, good selection of hot and cold items. Overall the restaurant has perfectly decent food, nothing great, ok prices. I would come back for the trails, but not sure if I would stay the night again.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jan

Stayed 1 night in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Paul

Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Carol

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
We were really surprised when we arrived to this Lodge. There are lovely walking trails around the property and lots of wildlife all around. Our room was large and clean. Staff was very friendly and helpful. We look forward to going back in the future.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2023

10/10 Excellent

Todd

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
This hotel was an unexpected joy. Absolutely stunning landscaping that invites many different types of birds to hang out near the restaurant. I could have watched for hours. Staff went above and beyond in every aspect of our visit. If I could give it better than 10/10 I would. Should we visit Costa Rica again, we will come back to this hotel.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

L

Traveled with family
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Good for birding!

10/10 Excellent

Edwin

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

8/10 Good

Daniele, Riverside

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Friendly place
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

8/10 Good

John

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Very peaceful, beautiful location in the rain forest. Rows of cabins nestled in the thick vegetation. Sounds of midnight rain and falling almond fruit clanking on the tin roof added to the atmosphere. Rooms are a little tired but super clean. There is no wi-fi internet in the cabins but cell phone reception is good. Wi-fi is free in main building. Open air restaurant with tables on the edge of the forest. Friendly staff and first-rate food especially buffet breakfast that’s included with room price. There’s a magical self-guided frog walk in the dark on a paved trail around the small pond below the restaurant. Amazing red-eyed frogs with blue, green and yellow markings. In the morning, staff put out fruit on a tree in front of the restaurant and guests are treated to a large variety of very colourful tropical birds feeding just metres away. We’ll be back.
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2022

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Lovely grounds, nice rooms.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2021

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice place. Quiet. Nice dinner. Service good. The area good
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Traveled with group
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nice services. Good food. Nice birding. Nice people.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2019

4/10 Poor

Arthur

Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Not clean enough but good breakfast and friendly s
Do not check in to room10, it is horrible. We were given that room, which isn't what we requested on hotelscom. We were moved due to problems (bees by the front door and hot water went off) . The butterfly and frog area needed attention, as well as the trails. The staff were very friendly and helpful. The breakfast was good too.

8/10 Good

Sebastien, Montreal

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Great resort-style hotel
Ara Ambigua is more of a resort than a hotel. There's a VERY good (but expensive) restaurant on site, 2 pools, frog pond, butterfly enclosure, trails with howler monkeys and caymans... You could spend a whole there without having to leave. The room was comfortable and large with a nice balcony, everything was clean. About the only minus point is that you only get wifi close to the reception/restaurant area, but they set up plenty of sitting room there and wifi was fast enough for most uses so no big deal.

10/10 Excellent

carla, canada

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Excellent accoms for $80/night including breakfast
exceeded expectations. Property and grounds are lovely. very clean, very quiet. Complimentary night tour - saw numerous reptiles including red eyed tree frogs. Full breakfast. Very pleased and will stay again

10/10 Excellent

stephen, tacoma

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
was very nice, nice trails, lot of birds ,would stay again

4/10 Poor

Verified traveler

Disliked: Property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Old hotel need to Be renovated
Disappointed because I had to pay extra fee for my teen-ager while my reservation was for 2 adults,1 teenager and 1 child

8/10 Good

Luz Adriana, Guadalajara, Mexico

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Clean room, helpful staff.
We stayed two nights, and the staff was nice and helpful. Clean Room. Good food.

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, room comfort
No Brach near
Nery nice nature place and very quite. Food is deliciosa.

2/10 Terrible

Sonja

Traveled with partner
Disliked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Nicht sein Geld wert.
Stayed 1 night in Feb 2024

2/10 Terrible

CATHERINE

Stayed 1 night in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 1 night in Jan 2023

8/10 Good

sylvain

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Beau séjour
Hôtel au milieu de la végétation, très bel endroit avec deux piscines. Très propre. Il manque juste le wifi dans les chambres et une salle de bain un peu plus confortable sinon c'était parfait!
Piscine d'en haut
Vue de la terrasse de la chambre
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2022