Lucky Bug Bed & Breakfast
Five-room B&B in a converted barn near Nuevo Arenal, with the Caballo Negro restaurant and an artisan gallery
About this stay
The art gallery on site is an unusual pairing with a jungle trail, and both are named directly in this property's own description, giving Lucky Bug a distinct identity among the more conventional hotels on this list. The trail runs through jungle grounds rather than a manicured garden, and kitchens in some rooms support self-catering for a longer, quieter stay. Restaurante Caballo Negro is one minute's walk away for dinner, and Lago Cote is a nine-minute taxi ride for a change of scenery from Lake Arenal. Free breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking round out a budget-friendly stay built around nature and art rather than resort amenities like a pool or spa.
- Five themed rooms in a converted barn
- Caballo Negro restaurant on site
- Lucky Bug Gallery of local artisan pieces
- Jungle trail on the property
- Kitchen in some rooms; free breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking
- 9.6 guest score from 181 reviews
Our take
Lucky Bug Bed & Breakfast has just five rooms, the Butterfly, Flower, Turtle and Frog rooms and the Sun Suite, set in a converted barn in the rainforest at Nuevo Arenal, near Lake Arenal. The draw is what sits around them: the Caballo Negro restaurant, a gallery of one-off pieces by local artisans, and a jungle trail on the property. Some rooms have a kitchen. I would book it for couples and small families driving between La Fortuna, Monteverde and Río Celeste who want a quiet night and a good dinner, and skip it if you need a pool or a spa. Guests rate it 9.6 across 181 reviews.
- ✓Book dinner at Caballo Negro for the evening you arrive: it is on the property, so you eat where you sleep instead of driving back in the dark.
- ✓Ask for a room with a kitchen if you stay several nights, since only some rooms have one.
- ✓Browse the Lucky Bug Gallery before you leave: it sells one-off pieces by local artisans rather than mass-produced souvenirs.
- ✓Lago Cote is about nine minutes away by taxi if you want a second lake on the same day.
Why we love it
- On-site art gallery
- Jungle trail on the grounds
- Kitchens in some rooms
- One minute to dinner
Why guests love itLucky Bug suits families who want a small, personal base between Arenal, Monteverde and Río Celeste rather than a resort with a programme. Five themed rooms in a converted barn keep the place quiet, some rooms have a kitchen for simple meals, and the jungle trail on the property gives children a first walk in the rainforest without getting back in the car. Breakfast is included, Wi-Fi and parking are free, and the Caballo Negro restaurant on site solves dinner. There is no pool, and La Fortuna and Monteverde are each a long drive away, so this works best as a one- or two-night stop on a road trip. Guests rate it 9.6 from 181 reviews.