I will admit - I didn't like Tamarindo. Out of control development and windy beach, but Richard and his team at Arco Iris will leave you with such good memories of your stay in Tamarindo.

We stayed in one the brand new deluxe rooms, and I mean brand new. While the outside looks like a treehouse cabin, inside the style, finishes and amenities are those of a five star hotel. The beds are extremely comfortable and the bathroom very chic (even if the shower pressure is humourously low). Me and boyfriend spent hours reading by the pool and swimming. The pool is wonderful!

Thank you Richard for a lovely stay.

What a relaxing place to stay in the heart of Tamarindo. Steps from the beach and the center of town..... A quiet and inviting pool is perfect for post-surf. Richard, the owner is friendly and will go out of his way to make your stay comfortable. The food is the best in all of Tamarindo, seriously. All for a very reasonable rate. Oh, and the bathrooms were just remodeled and the water pressure is great. I will stay here if I return to Tamarindo. no doubt.

As others have mentioned this hotel has a very nice owner and a bit of a B&B feeling - good in the sense that Richard (the owner) is very kind and friendly but if you expect hotel service with a reception and restaurant open all day it is not for you. I think the receptionist had just left her job, so that might have added to the B&B feeling during our visit, but never the less it was how we felt.
However - the rooms are nice and kept very clean. The breakfast is OK, but we were actually expecting some kind of small buffet which is not the case. You will get a toast, some cereals with milk, fresh fruit, juice and coffee...all what you really need - but not more :-)
The pool is nice and clean and you can borrow beach towels.
The hotel is a short walk from the town center (5 min) and 10 min from the beach. There is a gym quit close (2-3 min) which is only 5 dollars pr day.
We had dinner once at the restaurant which is owned and operated by another guy. It was OK, but what we got was nothing special which were a bit surprising as it has gotten rave reviews - maybe we were unlucky.
All in all we would recommend this place and had a great time - helped by the very friendly and helpful owner

I loved loved loved Hotel Arco Iris. I heard about it on Tripadvisor.com and it was everything I was hoping for and more. Richard the owner was awesome, he hooked us up with Junior the cab driver to take us to Playa Avellanas one day. We had the cutest room, the pool is small but relaxing and a perfect size for the hotel. The breakfast was delicious every morning and dinner at Seasons is phenomenal. I would recommend this hotel to ANYONE and I can't wait to go back. Stayed in December 2010, but just remembered to write reviews.