Location: Monteverde
Amenities: Glass-enclosed showers, hot water, an in-room safe, coffee maker, alarm clock, ceiling fan, reading lamps, hair dryer and laundry bagBook at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens on Booking.com
After the beautiful, long, and bumpy ride to the top of the mountain, it’s all worth it when you arrive at the centrally located Monteverde Lodge and Gardens, in central Santa Elena.
The first thing you’ll notice at this elegant-yet-rustic mountain lodge is that it’s surrounded by beautiful meandering gardens, with lush forest views and replete with exotic blooms, including anthuriums and orchids, imperial bromeliads and agapanthus. The grounds include a pond surrounded by benches to sit back, relax, and watch nature unfold around you. And speaking of the great outdoors, you’ll enjoy spending time at the lovely heated outdoor pool and bar area, where you can enjoy lunch and your favorite beverage. We also love that the lodge offers some easy hiking trails, for exploring the forests that surround you.
Inside the lodge, you’ll find the community lounge, bar, and restaurant, where you can relax by the fire, play games with the family, and enjoy a gourmet meal at El Jardin Restaurant, which offers both traditional Costa Rican and international dishes. Here you’ll also find a beautiful, all-glass butterfly solarium; walk in and find yourself amongst numerous butterfly species. If you’re lucky you may even have one land on you!
Rooms offer views of the forest and gardens. There are two basic room types – forest and garden view – with slight differences between each (ex. upstairs rooms have balconies). There are no televisions, but the sounds and cool air from the cloud forest make for a lovely and immersive nature experience. Listen well, and you may even hear the hoots of howler monkeys or the tinkling call of a three-wattled bellbird!
The lodge can arrange off-grounds activities, including nature hikes, horseback riding and birdwatching. The property also has experienced on-site guides who can organize day and night excursions into the wilderness and cloud forest.
Bottom Line: This award-winning gem does not disappoint, and continues to be our favorite choice in Monteverde.
Book at Monteverde Lodge & Gardens on Booking.com
