When the Arenal Volcano in La Fortuna in San Carlos erupted in 1968 and killed a lot of people in the area, Don Miguel- who was 25 years old- and his wife Doña Carmela were in the Cuerpo de Paz rescue team, helped a lot of people to start the reconstruction of the new Arenal town.

After this situation, especially in the 90’s the attractive of the Arenal Volcano, the hot springs, the cataratas and all La Fortuna area was exceptionally high for a lot of tourists, scientific and students.

At that time, La Fortuna in San Carlos had just two hotels in all the area, so don Miguel, decided to sell all his cows to start the construction of the cabins, because he knew that some day the Arenal Volcano will be one’s of the greatest in the world and La Fortuna in San Carlos will be a tourist niche.

It was the year of 1992; when don Miguel and his wife Carmela decided to start the build of their hotel known as Arenal Carmela Hotel.
So after that and competing with the few hotels and cabins of the area, Hotel Arenal Carmela was opened in October 16th with just had 4 rooms to rent for the people, who were looking hosting, and also, tours to all La Fortuna in San Carlos area.

The tours of the hot springs, the cataratas, the Arenal Volcano, Monteverde, Canopy Tour and Waterfall were arranged by his son Miguel Quirós Jr. when he was just 10! His son becomes one legend for all the tourists, because he was just a kid and knew the area so good, the Arenal Volcano, the cataratas, the hot springs, etc.

The hotel today!

1968 Arenal Volcano's first eruption



1969 Cuerpo de Paz




1969 Main street of La Fortuna

1970 La Fortuna San Carlos