Built on nature & history
Where Costa Rican nature meets the inspiration of one of the world's oldest civilizations.
PHOTO: story-columns-1.jpgA living ecosystem, not a traditional hotel
Lake Arenal Hotel, Brewery & Farm is a place where nature, wellness, sustainable production, craft gastronomy and authentic experiences come together. Here guests do not simply stay. They live, learn and connect with a more conscious way of living.
The property was built in 1992, inspired by the palace of Knossos, one of the most advanced architectural complexes of the Minoan civilization.
From a Minoan-inspired hotel to a living ecosystem
1992
Hotel Tilawa is built in Tilarán, founded by Jean Paul Cadessus, a lover of sports, architecture and beer. Its columns and ochre tones evoke the palace of Knossos.
2011
Jean Paul installs his own German brewing equipment and brews the first Paradise Pale Ale and Jungle Dunkel. Lake Arenal Hotel & Brewery is born.
2023
Tilarán entrepreneur Verónica Herrera joins as co-owner with an ecotourism vision. Pickleball courts, self-guided trails, a gym, a jacuzzi, gardens and a farm are added, and the hotel is refreshed.
To offer a unique stay that brings together the comfort and service of a resort with the pure, serene beauty of nature.
To become a leading destination for ecotourism and hospitality in Costa Rica, known for excellence, sustainability and innovation, and a meeting point for people who love nature and community.
A sanctuary for lovers of nature and craft food, where rest, sustainability and authentic experiences are at the core of every stay. We are dedicated to preserving the Lake Arenal biological corridor, promoting biodiversity and supporting our local community.
A living labyrinth
The palace of Knossos was a center where daily life, culture and social encounters came together. We carry its ideas into a modern stay:
- Complex, flowing architecture
- Iconic red and black columns
- Ochre-toned murals inspired by mythology and daily life
- Open spaces connected to nature
Every space offers a different layer of discovery. Our rooms carry the names of figures from the myth: Gaia, Helios, Ariadna, Minos and Creta.
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PHOTO: story-murals.jpgStay. Taste. Explore. Sustain.
Stay
Nature-connected rooms for tranquility and real disconnection.
Taste
Farm-to-table cooking, and craft beer made with natural spring water.
Explore
Trails, the farm and guided experiences, close to nature.
Sustain
A whole system that works in harmony with nature.
You don't just rest. You learn how to live in harmony with nature.
This place was born to last
We grow our own food, care for the land and run the hotel with respect for the people and the nature around us.
- Solar energy: a photovoltaic system that covers all the hotel's energy, plus solar water heaters.
- Natural water: a spring-fed pool and jacuzzi, without chemicals.
- Closing the loop: composting, a biodigester, and spent brewery grain that feeds our animals.
- Water treatment on the property.
- Healthy soil: organic soils on a farm that has grown for decades.
- Blue Flag ecological certification.
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PHOTO: story-farm.jpgWhat grows here
Crops: hydroponic lettuce, beets, tomatoes, cilantro and peppers.
Fruits: papaya, banana, plantain and fruit trees.
The farm is part of the stay: you can walk it, see it and taste it at La Vista Orgánica.
Visit the farm