Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
ALL RESERVATIONS AT RANCHO MARGOT INCLUDE DAILY BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER FROM OUR CHEMICAL-FREE GARDENS. ADDITIONALLY, 2-HOUR GUIDED RANCH TOUR AND TWICE DAILY YOGA CLASSES ARE INCLUDED WITH EVERY OVERNIGHT STAY.On the hills of Rancho Margot, you will find our 17 deluxe bungalows. The Caño Negro river whisper will guide you to the most peaceful rest possible, only to wake up the next day with the loud call of the howler monkeys. Hidden in our botanical gardens are bungalows, equipped to house couples or families of up to 4 people. Each bungalow has its own terrace on which you may enjoy the incredible view while relaxing on your hammock with a great book. Bungalows feature Orthopedic mattresses and are available with two queen beds or one queen bed and two singles. Additional amenities include mosquito netting, rocking chair, table & chairs, and handmade soaps. Each bungalow is equipped with a private bathroom with shower.Our vision is to protect our sustainable rainforest facility but also to make it an educational playground for adults and children alike, where we can inspire a new generation of global citizens to continue ‘closing the circle.’Rancho Margot is a family enterprise where everyone is welcome. We’re living our dream, and we invite you to join us.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Mountain View
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, German
Location
El Castillo, Arenal Volcano National Park 21007 Costa Rica
Self-sufficient educational farm. Very interesting guided tour. Great if you're passing through Arenal! We are explained how the farm is managed, the means used to sustainably produce and manage the animals and all the waste. Plus the meal is one of the best we've eaten and for 10 dollars!! The Piña juices are fresh (the pineapple was cut for us!!!)
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Date of stay: August 2023Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Parking gratuit. On vous conseille d’y manger c’est trop bon et pas cher.
Chaussure fermée !
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
My experience at Rancho Margot was incredible and I recommend it to anyone visiting Costa Rica.
From the first moment of check-in with Francisco to the night tour with Cris, you can tell that the staff here are passionate about their jobs and excited to share their love of this thoughtfully designed ranch. The kitchen (Dixson & MaryAngel) did an amazing job with the vegetables from the garden, fresh baked breads and accommodating to the dietary restrictions of the guests. Housekeeping cleaned and aired out EVERY room each day to help combat the moisture from the rain forest. I loved the fresh white sheets and having the ability to make coffee in my room each morning while I enjoying the wildlife from my hammock. Two yoga classes each day with international instructors, horseback rides, hikes on the property and baby farm animals are some of the other bonuses.
Juan, Liz and Jonathan have done a wonderful job putting together a passionate and friendly team who are knowledgeable, hardworking and leave a lasting impression of Costa Rican hospitality.
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Date of stay: November 2022
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rancho Margot, General Manager at Rancho Margot
Responded 4 Dec 2022
We are so glad you found us and look forward to your return. Thank you for sharing your experience with others. Pura vida and hasta pronto :)
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We booked Rancho Margot for a week long stay in the Arenal Volcano area of Costa Rica. The property is an emerging forest that has been rehabilitated from it's previous history as pasture land. Coming from Colorado, I was amazed to see how beautiful and mature the grounds looked in less than 20 years of rehabilitation. The area around the dining area and bungalows is a mature botanical garden full of colorful and interesting plants and wildlife. We stayed in bungalow 2 which was one of the furthest from the main dining area but I found it to be private and tranquil with gorgeous views of the gardens and maturing rain forest. During our stay, we got to know the staff very well. Francisco and Maho at the front desk were always willing to help set up tours or give us information about the area. Marie Angel in the kitchen got to know our food preferences and the food was delicious! Our bodies felt cleansed and vibrant after a week of eating eggs and organic veggies from the farm. Jerson and Juxon were very knowledgeable tour guides and all of the information they gave us about how the ranch runs was so interesting. Juan and Liz, the owners, spent a ton of time talking with us and we appreciated hearing about how the ranch came to be and what their future plans are for the place. Not only have they created an off grid, sustainable ranch that is repairing the local ecosystem, but they have created a community of people that run it and welcome others to come experience it. I will not hesitate to come back again and again!
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Date of stay: October 2022
Value
Rooms
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rancho Margot, General Manager at Rancho Margot
Responded 4 Dec 2022
SO wonderful to read of your experience and we all share your appreciation for this special place. Looking forward to your return :)
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rancho Margot is located in a beautiful area, and the landscape is stunning.
However, for the price, the accommodations ans hospitality are lacking. We felt less like guests and rather treated as lucky to be there.
The food is okay, given that most items are produced on site.
Getting there can be disastrous. Make sure you take the north of the lake route, rather than the south route. There is no FAQ on their website to confirm the best route to get there. One route is fine, the other has you driving through 4 rivers and up steep unpaved roads. We missed one of our nights as we had to back track and drive the other way. The hotel front desk was completely unhelpful in providing any directions whatsoever.
The farm tour was interesting and the yoga was good.
We ended up leaving a night early, thereby only staying 2/4 nights booked, because it didn’t stop raining.
While the location is nice, I’m not sure the very remote drive is worth it.
Also, Due to the rain the bedding and towels are constantly damp and smell bad.
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rancho Margot, General Manager at Rancho Margot
Responded 17 Apr 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We appreciate your honesty and apologize for any shortcomings you experienced during your stay at Rancho Margot. We want to address your concerns regarding accommodations and hospitality. We strive to provide our guests with a welcoming and comfortable experience, and we're disappointed to hear that we fell short in this regard. Rest assured, we take your comments seriously and will work diligently to improve in these areas. Regarding transportation, we do have a page of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on our website that includes information on the best routes to reach us. Additionally, we have extended resources available to assist guests in finding the most suitable transportation options. We apologize if this information was not easily accessible during your planning process and will take steps to make it more readily available. Available here https://www.ranchomargot.com/how-to-get-here Your comfort and safety are of utmost importance to us, and we are saddened to hear that you encountered difficulties in reaching us due to unclear directions. We understand how frustrating it can be to face obstacles on the way, and we are committed to improving in this aspect to ensure a smoother and more enjoyable experience for our guests. We're glad to hear that you found the food satisfactory, as many of our ingredients are sourced directly from our farm. Your feedback about the challenges you faced due to the rain is valuable, and we will explore ways to address this issue to ensure a more comfortable stay for our guests. We're pleased that you enjoyed the farm tour and yoga sessions during your time with us. However, we're sorry to hear that the weather caused you to cut your stay short. We understand that unpredictable weather can impact the overall experience, and we appreciate your flexibility. Your feedback is invaluable to us as we continuously strive to enhance our operations and provide the best possible experience for our guests. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and provide you with a more positive and memorable stay. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts with us.
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Run away, it's a scam. An exorbitant price justified by their “self-sufficiency”. If you choose the first price (a few hundred euros), your room will be literally 10m2. Cleaning not included in the price obviously. Following a few problems we encountered during the night, only the boss was able to give us a refund. He was having breakfast and didn't bother to come.
Pathetic management, like the place.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Very cool experience. The staff are great and were very helpful coordinating a pickup for us from the nearest shuttle drop off in town. The location is beautiful and lush with a very cool indoor pool and yoga studio elevated in the trees. We had a great time taking the afternoon yoga class, kayaking the lake with one of the guides who also gave us a tour of the farm. He was very knowledgeable about the local plants and animals and history of Costa Rica. We enjoyed having the food included which made eating really simple. It was a buffet at each meal time and as a vegetarian had no problem with non meat options. The bungalow was large with two beds that we used one for sleeping and one as a day bed for relaxing. The shower was great with hot water and good pressure. There was soap included but no hair products. The room was screened in with a cool porch out front. There are a lot of bugs so would recommend bringing bug spray to help with that. Hike to the viewpoint is definitely worth it.
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Date of stay: November 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Bring bug spray and make sure to go to the lookout for a great view of the volcano.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rancho Margot, General Manager at Rancho Margot
Responded 18 Apr 2024
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time during your stay at Rancho Margot. It's wonderful to know that our staff was able to assist you with coordinating transportation and that you enjoyed the beauty of our lush location. We're glad you had the opportunity to experience our indoor pool and elevated yoga studio nestled in the trees. It sounds like you made the most of your time here by participating in the afternoon yoga class, kayaking on the lake, and exploring our farm with our knowledgeable guide. We're delighted to hear that you found the food options satisfactory, especially as a vegetarian. Providing a variety of options for our guests is important to us, and we're glad you enjoyed the buffet meals. Thank you for your feedback regarding the amenities in your bungalow. We're pleased to hear that you found the shower to be great with hot water and good pressure. We'll take note of your suggestion regarding hair products for future improvements. We appreciate your recommendation about bringing bug spray, as our location in the midst of nature does attract various insects. And we agree, the hike to the viewpoint is indeed worth it for the stunning vistas. Thank you again for choosing Rancho Margot for your getaway, and we hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience in the future!
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While we certainly enjoyed our stay, there are a few things that could be improved.
Pros: really nice place, very friendly staff, good food
Cons: 1. after a long day of traveling, we had to carry our luggage a pretty long way up a steep hill. We were told that normally the luggage would be handled by the staff, but the day we arrived the cart was broken (reading some reviews, we were not the only guests who had the bad luck of a broken cart....) 2. there was no hot water in the bungalow; after bringing it up with the reception, we were told to open the warm water faucet "just a little bit" to get warm water - well, it didn't work. This place is not exactly cheap, so you would expect to have at least warm water during a 4 day stay. Had we known this before, we would not have booked there. 3. Being charged $5.00 for a domestic beer and $8.00 for a small glass of wine left a very sour taste...... this is several times more what local restaurants charge.
Despite this, we enjoyed our stay there, but would not come back
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Date of stay: December 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rancho Margot, General Manager at Rancho Margot
Responded 18 Apr 2024
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with your feedback. While we're pleased to hear that you enjoyed certain aspects of your stay, such as our beautiful location, friendly staff, and good food, we regret that there were areas where we fell short of your expectations. We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the broken luggage cart upon your arrival. Please know that this is not a common occurrence, and we are actively working to prevent such issues in the future. Regarding the hot water issue in your bungalow, we apologize for any discomfort this may have caused. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that all amenities meet our guests' expectations, and we will address this matter promptly. We understand your concerns about the pricing of beverages, and we appreciate your feedback on this matter. We strive to offer fair and competitive pricing, and we will take your comments into consideration as we review our pricing policies. Your feedback is invaluable to us as we continuously strive to improve our services. We hope that despite the challenges you encountered, you were able to enjoy your overall stay with us. We would love the opportunity to welcome you back in the future and provide you with a more enjoyable experience.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
I don't even know where to begin with this review. Staying at Rancho Margot is both an educational experience and an immersion within a glorious environment. The accommodations are lovely. Everything we needed was there and the porch was perfect for watching the rain and listening to the birds.
The morning tour with Jerson was eye-opening and downright fun. Everything on the property is so thoughtfully designed and maintained. I have never met such happy barnyard animals. The meals were prepared with such fresh ingredients; the salads were so beautiful!
We enjoyed a day lounging by the beautiful heated pool, sheltered from the rain, and admiring the architecture. We took advantage of yoga with Liz and enjoyed chatting with her before and after, so much!
It was also a great privilege to meet and speak with Don Juan, the Rancho Margot mastermind. Overall, it was a great stay and we do hope to return in the future.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rancho Margot, General Manager at Rancho Margot
Responded 4 Dec 2022
We loved having you here! Thank you for sharing your experience with future travelers. Until next time!
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In late January / early February 2023, my high school class embarked on a trip to Rancho Margot and had one of the best experiences of our lives. From the moment we arrived at the ranch, we were all embraced and immersed in this incredibly unique environment that has been created by Juan and the entire staff at Rancho Margot. This place is 100% the real deal and does not just put on a show for the tourists, they are actively participating in creating the world that ought to be, adapting to the world as it is, and helping people rediscover the joy of learning. Every workshop that our group participated in was met by a gracious and smiling host that was always excited to work with us and to answer as many questions as we could come up with. The staff was all patient with our group and explained to us everything about their job and showed us how to help them. The staff is incredibly knowledgable and love to share that with everyone. The pools were an absolute highlight for our group and were frequently used. The warm pool is exactly as advertised online and the cold pool is a great way to shock your system back awake. The yoga that was provided was well instructed and helped the group to refocus and put everything into perspective. There are multiple dogs that our group fell in love with during our stay that frequent the grounds of Rancho Margot and love to participate in everything. The food was delicious and carefully crafted and prepared by a team of dedicated chefs. Most of the food is from the ranch itself, which is not something that is usual (or easy) for other places. There truly were no secrets at Rancho Margot because there is nothing to hide.
This is a truly remarkable place that is open and accessible to all ages and groups. Our school is so grateful for this amazing experience at Rancho Margot and highly recommend it to everyone that is already passionate about sustainability, wants to learn more about sustainability, or that wants to just relax and rejuvenate in this beautiful place.
Once again, we cannot thank Rancho Margot Francisco, Jackson, Harrison, Santos, Santos (again), Tito, Chef, Robin, Grace, and the rest of the incredible and amazing staff at Rancho Margot enough for everything that they did for us throughout our stay and we cannot wait to go back!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What an experience! Forget about the outside world for a while. No need to read the news or check social media. Rancho Margot is an oasis, a tiny slice of paradise in the jungles of Costa Rica. The place has everything you need to pass the day. Most everything is made on site or locally sourced, from the soap in the cabana to the food we ate in the delicious buffets. We took time to swim, to tour the grounds, to play board games with our kids, to ride horses, and so much more. We also learned quite a bit from Juan and his crew about sustainability, invaluable info that we can take home with us to share. I hope my family can return one day.
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Date of stay: December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rancho Margot, General Manager at Rancho Margot
Responded 4 Dec 2022
We love reading this, Thank you for sharing your experience with future guests of the Ranch!
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La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica32 contributions
Hello! We recommend Alamo as we have great relationships locally and yes they are available in La Fortuna. Depending on your wish to have more independence to explore the neighboring areas once you arrive at the Ranch, you may rent or our reservations team will gladly arrange your transport by private shuttle to and from the Ranch, as well as to and from any off-site destination you may decide to explore. Please call us or Skype and we can provide with rates and we look forward to speaking with you! Phone: +506-8302-7318 or SKYPE at ranchmargot
There are more places to choose from in the El Castillo area.
PRICE RANGE
₹27,657 - ₹30,779 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
rancho margot hotel arenal volcano national park
LOCATION
Costa RicaProvince of AlajuelaArenal Volcano National ParkEl Castillo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
39
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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