We had previously visited La Fortuna and decided we wanted to see the volcano and lake from the opposite side of Arenal Volcano. The 30 minute dusty and bumpy ride was well worth it. El Castillo is a quaint village with the perfect setting - volcano view, lake view and surrounded by rainforest - and tranquillo!

There are only two rooms at this B&B. Our room had a nice view of the lake and volcano right from the bed. A nice soak in the hot tub while watching lava roll out of the volcano was an experience of a lifetime. Ellen was very friendly and helpful.

First off, I have to say that El Castillo is not for everyone, It is a small typical Tico village with only a few formal "Tourist Attractions" and it is very rural. Getting to the village is an adventure in and of itself. A 4x4 vehicle is strongly recommended. You can get there via taxi from La Fortuna but it is an expensive venture (about $50 R/T) and once you arrive in the village, remember you will be walking, rain or shine . The village has some good, but rather expensive restaurants and several B&B's and hotels, as it is a good stopping point for the night between La Fortuna and the Beaches. There is a lovely butterfly garden, an informative snake zoo and a small market. but without a car or on a limited budget, you are almost captive.
Now with that being said, El Castillo is a wonderful place to hangout and get close to nature. It has great views, on a clear day, of the Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal. It is generally tranquil and exudes a certain magic that settles upon the visitor like fog upon the hills. You will either fall in love with it or you will hate it, there is no middle ground.
We choose to stay at The Hummingbirds Nest B&B and were warmly greeted by the owner Ellen. Although she does not coddle you, she goes above and beyond to help her guests settle in and is a great source for information and booking tours. There are only 2 rooms on the property but they are clean and quaint and a relaxing soak in the hot tub is welcoming, after a hard days hike. This B & B is Lonely Planet recommended and earns its reputation as a warm and magical place to stay in the area. Getting up to the house is a bit of a hike through some beautiful gardens, but well worth the hospitality and the views.

I went down to Costa Rica recently and decided to stay at Hummingbird nest B and B because a friend told me it was amazing. I have to say it was my favorite place to stay not only because Ellen is the most gracious and kind hostess, but because the rooms were clean, the beds were comfortable, the views were spectacular and I slept better than I have slept in years. There is a jacuzzi where you can sit and soak and watch the different colored hummingbirds too. I highly recommend this place and will be back as soon as I can! Thanks so much Ellen!!!!

When we arrived there was noone in sight to help us. When we did find someone they didnt speak a lick of english and had no clue what was going on. We were told by the owner Ellen that we didnt need a car to stay there but that was a lie and a cab to town was 30 bucks there and 30 back! The owner was so rude and moody it didnt feel like a vacation at all it felt like being in NewYork City. We kept receiving rude notes on our door that upset my wife. The breakfast was only only served early in the morning at a certain time and it was old cold food not even worth getting up early for. When we would see the owner she would ignore us, I wouldnt recommend this B and B to my worst enemy. The owner is only in business to pay her mortgage and not at all into hospitality. There is a nicer place right beside it Cabinas El Castillo.