Views of Arenal from New Sunset Lake Cruise.

Despite its remote location 35 minutes away from La Fortuna, La Mansion Inn Arenal boutique hotel offers the best view of the Arenal Volcano in the region. While the hotel itself sits on the far edge of Lake Arenal with no direct view of the volcano, a new sunset cruise provides guests the most unique vantage point of flowing lava from the foot of the volcano.

When deciding to go against the pack and construct a hotel in La Union rather than the Arenal-viewing center of La Fortuna, La Mansion owner Godfried Ponteur knew he better have something great to offer guests. The sweeping views of the hilly countryside directly in front of Lake Arenal make for the perfect location for the 17 romantic cottages and villas, but some guests wanted more.

For those who did not want to drive to a viewing area 15 minutes away at night to catch a glimpse of the famous glowing lava, the hotel began offering chartered boat rides along the lake to view the mystical spectacle, departing from the hotel dock. Based on the enthusiasm of the guests, La Mansion Inn Arenal has since made the sunset cruise a regular offering by contracting a cozy pontoon boat to carry up to 12 guests at a time.

The cruise is a new concept in the region and available exclusively to guests of La Mansion. The three hour cruise departs at 3:30 in the afternoon to skim the shores of the lake so guests can view the marine and wildlife in this remote region. A guide is on board to point out some of the native animals including several monkey species and tropical and aquatic birds and share the interesting history of this man made lake that covers the original town of Arenal. Cheese, wine and refreshments are served, making for a comfortable, intimate atmosphere.

After an hour, the boat will arrive to the foot of the Arenal volcano, near the Rio Chiquito area, which is the ideal setting to view the streams of lava that are constantly erupting from the volcano’s crater, making it one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Beautiful views of the sunset from the lake crown the boat’s lazy ride back to La Mansion, where guests will be let off just in time to get ready for dinner.

After the cruise, many visitors choose to stay in to enjoy a gourmet meal provided by the hotel’s chef Xinia, who has been with them for 7 years. The international menu changes daily to ensure that only the freshest ingredients make it to the plate. Each menu gives you a choice between 3 salads, and 5 main dishes varying between chicken, pasta, meat and seafood.

Some meals that you might expect include sea bass fillet with a shrimp and white wine sauce, or Angus beef tenderloin served with a Gorgonzola sauce and rosemary potatoes. Both are great options to end the day before retiring to your personal European style cottage with thoughtful splashes of color throughout.

About the hotel

La Mansion Inn Arenal is a peaceful boutique resort located in La Union, about 25 minutes from the Arenal volcano and 35 minutes from La Fortuna. It offers 17 cottages, each with its own name and design, all set on the sloping shores of Lake Arenal. Amenities include an infinity pool, heated pool and Jacuzzi, spa, satellite TV, and on site restaurant serving international and tropical cuisine.

The price for the sunset cruise to the base of the volcano is $50 per person, (with a minimum of 4 people) and it is open to all guests, including children The tour is available on a daily basis, and may be canceled due to rain, which is not ideal for viewing the volcano.

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Filed under: Hotel & Restaurant Reviews on March 13th, 2008