Ara Ambigua Lodge

Location: 400m North of the Church in La Guaria, Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Puerto Viejo, CR

Star Rating: 3 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 02:00 PM - anytime

Check-out: 12:00 PM

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

Amenities & Facilities

• Free breakfast
• Meeting rooms
• Full-service spa
• Free WiFi
• Terrace
• Garden
• Continental breakfast
• Steam room
• Gift shops or newsstand
• Free breakfast
• Safe-deposit box at front desk
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Full-service spa
• Meeting rooms
• Smoke-free property
• Wedding services
• Tours/ticket assistance
• Wheelchair accessible parking
• Free reception
• Playground on site
• Free self parking
• Airport transportation - pickup (surcharge)
• Free continental breakfast
• Ziplining nearby
• Water dispenser
• Mosquito nets
• Ballroom
• Banquet hall
• Reception hall
• Wheelchair-accessible van parking

Rooms Available

• Classic Room

  1 King Bed OR 1 Double Bed

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and electric kettle

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Safe

  Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping

  Accessibility - Wheelchair accessible

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 2 (2 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Electric kettle
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

• Classic Room

  2 Double Beds

  Overlooking the garden

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and electric kettle

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Safe

  Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 3 (3 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Electric kettle
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

• Classic Quadruple Room

  2 Queen Beds

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and electric kettle

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Safe

  Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping

  Accessibility - Bathroom grab bars

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Electric kettle
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Free WiFi
  • Bathroom grab bars
  • Wheelchair-width doorways

• Family Room

  1 Twin Bed and 2 Double Beds OR 3 Double Beds

  Internet - Free WiFi

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker and electric kettle

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Safe

  Comfort - Air conditioning and daily housekeeping

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 5 (5 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Safety deposit box
  • Air conditioning
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Electric kettle
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Free WiFi

Guest Reviews

• Fco Javier (8/5): Lugar idílico - Atención personal, zonas comunes estupendas, habitaciones muy buenas.
• Marije (8/5): Mooie locatie en goede uitvalsbasis - De locatie in de prachtige tuin en centraal gelegen. Veel mooie dieren gezien, waaronder verschillende toekans en een luiaard in een boom naast onze kamer. Vriendelijk en behulpzaam personeel. De kamers zijn gedateerd, maar dat was bekend.
• Kevin (10/5): -
• Ernst Roemers (9/5): -
• Marieke (7/5): Kan beter - Een lekker bed en heel stil leuke apen en toekans op locatie. Kregen na klagen een nieuwe kamer en helaas ziek geworden (niet daar gegeten) en toen mochten we blijven tot ik weer kon reizen Rommelig bussen met tieners bij het grote zwembad kakkerlak en vies op de kamer. Kregen wel een nieuwe kamer
• Antonio (7/5): Étape dans la découverte du Costa Rica. - Chambre spacieuse et lit très grand. Le cadre naturel entourant les dépendances. Piscine pour se prélasser. Douche de mauvaise qualité. Prix trop élevé du restaurant. Chantier de construction durant la journée, juste à côté.
• Marcus (8/5): Very nice place in the middle of garden full of frogs - Hotel is situated in a tropical garden with lots of tiny frogs and a collection of birds Lots of semi-professional nature photographers with special lights are at work when it gets dark - in order to catch pictures of the frogs Open air restaurant is a nice place to watch the birds Nice walking in the garden WIFI was not working due to a general breakdown in the neighbourhood
• Nicolas (10/5): Incontournable - Le cadre idyllique! Le restaurant est délicieux et donne directement sur une jungle intérieure ou l’on peut observer une très grande diversité d’oiseaux. Le soir, les grenouilles red eye sont visibles depuis la terrasse.
• Patricia (8/5): - El lugar es bastante tranquilo, el personal muy atento y amable. El menú del restaurante es limitado pero al menos lo que ordenamos para el almuerzo, estubo muy bueno y la atención del señor que nos atendió fue excepcional. El desayuno tiene muy poca variedad y más que viajamos con niños.
• Marilyn (10/5): -
• Michaela (7/5): Nettes Personal, super Anlage, aber hellhörige Zimmer - Das Personal ist sehr nett und die gesamte Anlage ist sehr schön. Wir haben bei der Nachtwanderung viele Tiere beobachten können. Die Zimmer sind sehr hellhörig und die Matratzen teilweise schon etwas durchgelegen
• Jason (10/5): Exelente. - Me encanta el lugar super tranquilo ,exelente para descansar. El internet fallo todo el tiempo.
• Martin (8/5): -
• Duran (10/5): -
• France (9/5): -
• Alexis (9/5): - 2 piscines accessibles 24h/24. On peut se promener dans la propriété et croiser des animaux. Petit déjeuner super. Restaurant un peu cher.
• Hernández Gómez (10/5): -
• Peter (9/5): Schöner Aufenthalt inmitten von Regenwald - Das Hotel Ara Ambique besitz ein weitläufiges Areal, welches zum grossen Teil Regenwaldähnlich angelegt ist. Die Zimmer sind um das Rezeptions- und Restauranthaus herum sehr grosszügig angeordnet, so dass man überhaupt nicht zum Eindruck kommt, in einem recht grossen Hotel zu wohnen. Das Restaurant ist ausgezeichnet, der Frühstück wir als eine Buffet-Frühstück angeboten (wir haben das erste mal seit sechs Wochen einen Buffet, statt frisch hergestelltem Frühstück). die Zimmer sind grosszügig (wir wohnten im neueren Teil des Hotels) und mit üblichem Comfort ausgestattet. Man kann beide Bäder, eins im oberen Teil (eher klein) und einen im unteren Teil (Grösser)benutzen, zudem steht den Kunden eine Sauna auf Bestellung bereit, auch SPA-Angebote können gebucht werden. Die gesamte Anlage macht einen gepflegten Eindruck. Als Spezialität ist zu erwähnen, dass man neben dem Restaurant einen Froschgarten hat, in dem man die bekannten Costa Rica Laubfröschen mit roten Augen abends beobachten kann. Wir sind durch die ganze Bande von sehr freundlichem Personal bedient worden, Alle konnten fliessend Englisch, was nicht unbedingt in allen Hotels der Fall gewesen ist. Kein Grund zum etwas zu beanstanden!
• michele (6/5): Hôtel avec deco désuet dans les chambres - Restaurant Lampe de chevet de fonctionnait pas
• Jean-Pierre (9/5): Séjour agréable - Le cadre, l’amabilité du personnel Pas de notice indiquant le fonctionnement du jacuzzi de notre suite. Chemin non éclairé la nuit pour rejoindre la suite à pied en rentrant du restaurant.
• guy (7/5): - L'emplacement. La piscine. Grande chambre. La salle à manger avec mangeoire pour oiseaux De ne pas avoir d'eau chaude avant 18h et pas chaude du tout ,avec un faible débit .
• Charles (10/5): - Great food and atmosphere. Staff was friendly and helpful. Great experience. Will stay here again
• Hayau (8/5): -
• Anders (9/5): -
• Anne (10/5): I never knew I could find such peace and tranquility - thank you so much! - The atmosphere, the quiet (even with howler monkeys), the lush landscape and food, but most importantly - your staff! What a great escape! Finding it in the dark was a bit of a problem, but local people were a huge help!
• Holger (8/5): alles problemlos - sehr idyllisch. Frühstück verbesserungsfähig.
• Guiselle (9/5): - Todo estuvo muy bien
• Gael (10/5): Très bien - La situation de la suite Le jaccuzi qui perdait son eau
• Paul (10/5): beautiful property worth staying at - beautiful property, rooms are good a little dated for amenities but otherwise good. people are friendly , great atmosphere mattress’s are thin and hard pillows same way. be nice if they supplied shampoo and conditioner in the showers
• Denise (9/5): A very clean, comfortable hotel at a reasonable price. Good location for birding and rafting. - Great location for seeing and hearing birds and good value for money. Nice buffet breakfast and friendly staff. Comfy bed and a good shower. A 'nightly frog hike' was advertised by the hotel but when I enquired on arrival, the Receptionist didn't know anything about it. During dinner in the hotel restaurant another guest spotted some frogs around an empty pond area of the grounds, and pointed them out to us which was nice, so we were able to take our torch and look for ourselves but it wasn't organised by the hotel as I'd expected.
• Sam (8/5): Beautiful location, close to other nature reserves. - Great suit, hot tub a bonus. Seeing wild life from a viewing platform in the restaurant was special. The main dining area was pretty dark, and some of the veggie meals were pretty average.
• Jan (7/5): - The garden Very basic rooms
• David (8/5): -
• Nazareth (10/5): Excelente lugar! - Este lugar es fenomenal! Súper lindo para estar en familia, la gente es súper agradable y el espacio es lindo para recorrer. El restaurante muy rico!
• Harald (9/5): -
• Vrignon (8/5): -
• PATRICIA (10/5): Birds galore and fabulous $3 lattes. - Everything was great really. Friendly, helpful staff, clean room, tasty food at the restaurant with reasonable prices.Saw 25 different colorful birds at feeder and around property. Montezuma oropendulas. Collared Aracari, Black- Headed Woodpecker variety of tanagers and more. Also Howler Monkeys in the trees. The red-eyed tree frog was spotted twice, and also a blob of their developing eggs on two leaves by the pond. Ask for the coffee pods at reception as none are in the room. No creamer or sugar available in the room.
• Stephen (9/5): A lovely 3 night stay. Good food, lovely gardens with plenty of wildlife - Stayed in the Sloth Suite. Very good.
• Marleen (7/5): One night stop - Frog pool in front of the restaurant. Nice balcony in our hotel room, view of the bushes with birds. Renovations are ongoing,
• DAVID (8/5): -
• Lilian (5/5): Teleurstellend! - De tuin bij het restaurant met veel vogels en kikkers en de obers die voor ons kikkers gingen zoeken, top! De douche gaf veel en heerlijk warm water. Het hotel en de kamers zijn dringend aan een update toe. Bedden als planken en geen frisse geur op de kamers. 1 zwembad was gesloten, van de ligbedden bij het kleine zwembad dat wel open was, zijn er maar 2 die nog verstelbaar waren, de overige waren allemaal afgebroken. We hadden een verstopte afvoer in ons blok en bij het inchecken loopt niemand mee om je de kamer te wijzen (je moet je bagage dus zelf de heuvel op sjouwen) en het ingewikkelde digitale deurslot uitlegde. Het restaurant serveert matige gerechten, het ontbijt vonden we redelijk. Eenvoudig maar oké. Wij zijn na 1 nacht vertrokken terwijl we er 2 geboekt hadden en dat is in alle jaren rondreizen over de wereld nog nooit gebeurd!
• Rodrigo (10/5): Hotel rodeado denaturales y muy buen servicio - Excelente ubicación, tranquilo y rodeado de naturaleza El precio podría ser un poco menor
• Christiam (9/5): -
• Coralie (9/5): - Petit coin de paradis, fleurie avec de nombreux animaux. La piscine est vraiment bien. La recherche des grenouilles le soir vraiment bien et il y en a bcp. La literie un peu dur
• Jorge (7/5): -
• XUMIN (9/5): -
• Léonie (9/5): -
• Paul (7/5): -
• Thomas (10/5): -
• Brad (8/5): - Was there for work so all I did was sleep, but beds were fine and ac worked ok.
• William (8/5): - No shampoo or conditioner. There is a coffee maker in the room not no coffee to make. There is no refrigerator or microwave.. beds are very hard.
• Harald (8/5): Geht gut zum abschalten in der Natur und hat alles was man braucht, einige Dinge sind aber etwas in die Jahre gekommen -
• Renee (9/5): Was just perfect for what we needed, would definitely return and stay again for longer - Lovely property, friendly staff, tasty food, clean & comfortable room with excellent A/C Hot water didn’t last quite long enough
• Marie France (9/5): - Nous avons été surclassés dans la suite. Toute neuve, seuls au monde, jacuzzi et douche extérieure Le resto et petit déj moyen
• Jeroen (7/5): Beautiful garden but a little faded - The staff were extremely friendly! Always helpful and looking for solutions. Furthermore the garden was really beautiful with a lovely frog pond and beautiful trees with wildlife. The facilities were quite faded and require some investments. Mostly the rooms could use a face-lift and the airco units are very old. Furthermore we found the automatic lock to be a pain.. just not suitable for a hotel with that delay and a second lock that you should NOT use.
• Castro Figueres (9/5): - El restaurante
• Maarten (10/5): -
• Irma (8/5): - Prima
• Wendy (8/5): Leuk! - Hele mooie jungle omgeving. Fantastisch veel vogels, kikkers en andere dieren gezien. Het is een accomodatie die gebruikt wordt voor groepsreizen. Daardoor af en toe erg druk, vooral bij het zwembad waar dan ook te weinig ligbedden zijn.
• Hans (9/5): -
• Kirsten (8/5): - Mitten in der Natur, leckeres Essen und Happy hour. Freundliches Personal.
• Juan Carlos (10/5): - It was in middle of jungle, did night and bird watching around lodge and we saw many animals. Very happy we found this gem. Rooms are basic and breakfast wss great.
• Stephen (7/5): Good -
• Alina (8/5): Very good - Beautiful installations, very clean room.
• Paul (8/5): property and staff was great. whenever i am in the area for work this will most likely be my go to place. - beautiful property. staff was great. walk ways were well lit and covered for for bad weather. food was good and decent priced rooms did not have enough places to put 2 people luggage. lack of shelving and counter space in the bathroom and shower for toiletries. small drink selection in the bar and drink prices were high. adult pool was dirty
• Don (9/5): Had a wonderful time and staff was helpful - Property and wildlife amazing. Staff was excellent and friendly My room was good distance from restaurant but very nice.
• Paul (8/5): Very good -
• Greg (8/5): - All good except some rooms are a long walk uphill when carrying a bunch of luggage. Staff is great. Bed and shower great. Cool birds and frogs around Would stsy again
• Cat (8/5): Very good - Pool and birds in the grounds Rooms and showers a bit dated
• Cat (8/5): Very good -
• Neil (10/5): Exceptional -
• Adrian (9/5): Superb - Loved the frog pond. Staff were warm and friendly. Pools were great in humid weather. Lovely green gardens. Nothing!
• Gray (9/5): Ara Ambigua Lodge - The overall design of the establishment was excellent. Designed to maximise guests proximity to a huge array of wildlife. The rooms were spacious and located throughout the grounds. They would benefit from a little modernisation. The bar and dining room overlook ponds and trees with bird tables, attracting a wide variety of birds. We saw more birds here, close up, than on two safaris. I would highly recommend this location. NOTHING
• John (10/5): Exceptional -
• Craig (6/5): Enjoyable stay despite some basic services lacking. This hotel has/had potential due to setting but feels as though - Grounds have a lot of potential (former grandeur) Wildlife in the grounds Cocktail bar excellent Very tour group dominated Hotel description incorrect (only 2 swimming pools but they say 3) coffee machines in rooms but capsules not provided/available. No umbrellas/shade/towels/bar service by the swimming pools
• A.s (9/5): Superb - Very good, excellent service and great place! n/a
• Eduardo (9/5): Superb - Is in the rain forest The rooms are in a hill
• Astrid (7/5): Good -
• Suzanne (6/5): Très très vieillot! - Très très vieillot, cet hôtel aurait besoin d une rénovation complète et de plus d éclairage dans les chambres comme à l extérieur! Les prises sont toutes branlantes et une sur 2 fonctionnent… bonne idée la machine à café, mais sans dosettes! Le restaurant n est vraiment pas terrible! La salle de bain rudimentaire, rue pour poser vos affaires, la seule chose positive c est la pression dans la douche… J allais oublié devant la terrasse du restaurant, la nuit vous pourrez voir de nombreuses rainettes aux yeux rouges! Par contre, tout une partie de l hôtel est complètement désaffecté, ça fait peur! Nous avons testé les massages qui sont très bien, mais ont vous fait descendre dans une pièce qui sent l humidité, c est vraiment dommage!
• Guy (10/5): A very pleasant surprise - Ara Ambigua handles a lot of coaches pausing for a day or two en route to other parts of CR, so lots of tourists around even in low/shoulder season. However, quite a lot of Costa Ricans there as well, which speaks well. After 10 days on the road, staying in EcoLodges of varying quality, I expected more of the same but was delighted by the high standard of Ara Ambigua. They clearly prioritise keeping the jungle at bay, and the staff were well-trained and helpful. I came back late one night to find the front gates locked, and managed to sneak in by another route. The night watchman and his large dog almost gave me a heart attack as they came on me out of the dark; but were very kind once they knew I was a guest, and helped me through the dark to my room! Front desk and other staff were also very helpful and kind. Swimming pools clean, well-maintained, respecable wine list (they store their wines in a climate-controlled room). Room was clean, a good size, well air-conditioned and with a good shower. Very little - but be aware many of the rooms are on the hill behind the main lodge, so you may well be walking up and down.
• David (10/5): Exceptional - Staff very friendly and always helpful. Beautiful grounds. A paradise. Restaurant was quite good and breakfast buffet was excellent. A wonderful experience. N/A
• Andrew (9/5): Superb -
• laurent (10/5): Super sejour - Super sejour Personnels agréables, peuvent faire les réservations de visites pour vous . Restaurant de lhotel tres bon
• Evie (8/5): Great stay and great value for money - Really enjoyed our stay here, wish we could have stayed longer! Saw so many tropical frogs too.
• Sandra (8/5): Very good -
• Keith (10/5): Good value lodge in forest with good restaurant and service. - Beautiful lodge with birds all around, trails, big room and great buffet breakfast. They arranged a bird guide for us which was very good. Steep walk up and down from our room.
• Mayela (7/5): Good - The ambient The rain
• Hans (7/5): Good -
• Maxine (10/5): We really liked the beautiful grounds. - This is a beautifully landscaped property. Birds abound, lots of flowers, the food was good (a little expensive) , the bed was comfortable and the water was hot. We really liked it.
• Alison (8/5): Very good -
• Deryn (9/5): Amazing plants and bird life at a welcoming hotel - Large rambling hotel with individual or joined garden rooms in beautiful gardens full of wildlife including 2 secluded swimming pools and walks. Lovely staff and good food. The almost-cinematic view of foliage and incredible variety of birds (and frogs at night) from the dining area is really special. Decor in the bedrooms and public areas could be kindly called ‘retro’ aka rather dated. But all clean.
• Douglas (9/5): It’s a birding paradise. - Ara Ambigua has a wonderful trail system through the jungle that is a birder’s paradise. I spent hours wandering the property getting close views of keel billed toucans, gulllemots, oropendolas, chacalacas, black vultures, roadside hawks clay colored thrushes, and howler monkeys. Some of the best birds were seen right from the open air dining room. It’s slightly dated, but pleasant anyway
• Adam (4/5): Simple but too dirty - Near the selva research station which is convenient. The room was dirty, and smelt terrible. There was also a lot of noise in the hotel until 10pm from other parties.
• Chris (10/5): Was very pleasantly surprised to find the walking trails, the frog ponds, and the small lakes there - Excellent breakfast. The grounds were spectacular Nothing really
• James (10/5): Exceptional -
• Juliette (4/5): Disappointing - Thé massage was the best treatment either of us have ever had . the practitioner was very qualified , dedicated , caring and put 100 per cent I to the experience - properly outstanding Grim breakfast and dining
• Sonja (2/5): - Nicht sein Geld wert.
• Esteat (8/5): Very good - The food is great
• Martha (9/5): This place is a hidden gem! The staff was amazing helpful and kind ready to assist in any way! - The property is beautiful, lush, with tropical flowers and trees. The wildlife was wonderful birds, frogs, and the Costa Rican tree frogs
• Ott (9/5): Superb -

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