Monteverde Lodge & Gardens
Although within walking distance to downtown Santa Elena, Monteverde Lodge & Gardens feels far away, surrounded by the quiet jungle. Just 28 rooms dot the grounds, next door to the property's private cloud forest reserve. The lodge focuses on connecting guests to Costa Rica's incredible nature so you can enjoy the paradise vibe with pools, gardens, walking trails, and sustainability efforts. The hotel is part of the Böëna Wilderness Lodges Group, a set of the country's best eco-lodges, and strives to preserve the land and environment the properties inhabit.
Bright and airy rooms and suites feature garden or forest views, all with private terraces or balconies, plus wooden floors, ceiling fans, and plush bedding. Like a few other properties on this list, it's not uncommon to spot wildlife from your balcony! You'll eat well at the lodge, as its El Jardín Restaurant uses local ingredients to elevate traditional Costa Rican cuisine, so you get a bit of fine dining right in the jungle. As a bonus, the restaurant has a plant-based version of its menu for vegans and vegetarians. There's indoor and outdoor seating, so you can enjoy the fresh air and sounds of wildlife or stay cozy next to the fire.
Read kimkim's review of Monteverde Lodge & Gardens
Hotel Belmar
Farther away from the downtown area, Hotel Belmar offers a bit of luxury in a truly idyllic setting in the forest. Three wooden lodges with multiple rooms sit atop the region's hills, looking out over the cloud forest, which guests can enjoy from private balconies. More than half the property's 9 acres (4 ha) encompass protected rainforest, plus a stream and waterfall. Enjoy walking along a private trail to experience the grounds or relax on the sun deck at the property's pond.
Other highlights of Hotel Belmar include yoga classes, massage services, and several eateries. Enjoy meals at the farm-to-table Restaurante Celajes, which sources its ingredients from the property's organic garden or the Belmar Family Farm. The restaurant can arrange private dining and picnic meals upon request and has an entire section of its menu devoted to vegan dishes. Sip drinks at the lounge bar, which features a daily happy hour with tapas, or hang out in the taproom and beer garden, juice bar, or tea room.
As for the rooms, you can choose from standard units or upgrade to chalet rooms and suites for a bit more space. All come with locally handmade furniture and decor, including warm wood paneling, plus private balconies with hammocks and garden or forest views. Upgraded rooms add seating areas, soaking tubs, private Jacuzzis, large windows, and/or wraparound verandas.
Read kimkim's review of Hotel Belmar
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Hotel Koora
Sleep among the cloud forest at Hotel Koora, as each bungalow sits on a hill surrounded by trees with vistas out to the coast. Many of the rooms and common areas of the hotel offer outstanding views of the Gulf of Nicoya—meaning amazing daily sunsets. You can also enjoy time spotting wildlife from the grounds or complimentary access to the nearby Aguti Reserve, filled with 200-year-old trees, birds, butterflies, and other critters, such as agoutis and coatis.
Hotel Koora appeals to all travelers, though it's pretty popular with families, thanks to its cabin-like rooms with ceiling fans, minifridges, and balconies, all set high in the cloud forest. Larger rooms have small kitchens, seating areas, and multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. Currently, there are just eight rooms, but the property has plans to expand with new designs featuring outdoor showers and private plunge pools.
As an especially noteworthy highlight, the on-site Restaurant Kiré serves fantastic meals with all food grown on the property and prepared with care by a local chef. The outdoor dining space sits above the cloud forest and wraps around the restaurant to provide all the views.
Read kimkim's review of Hotel Koora
Los Pinos—Cabañas & Jardines
A Monteverde staple, Los Pinos is a mid-range property that features nearly 20 acres (8 hectares) of a private forest reserve, so it's not uncommon to spot wildlife right out your window or along one of the many private nature trails. Since wildlife viewing is one of the best things to do in Monteverde, it's a perk to have it right at your hotel! You'll also have free access to the enormous on-site organic garden, where you can source the ingredients for all the meals you prepare in your private kitchen. Cozy cabins range from standard studios and one-bedroom suites to three-bedroom family cabins with private terraces.
The property's grounds and cabin concept are the appeals, but keep in mind that the rooms and furnishings are a little outdated. Not much may have changed since the 1980s. But not updating decor aligns well with the lodge's focus on sustainability. And because each cabin has its own kitchen, there's no on-site restaurant, but you'll be within walking distance of several eateries, including restaurants, coffee shops, and bakeries.
Read kimkim's review of Los Pinos
El Establo Mountain Hotel
For a unique option that feels like you're on top of the cloud forest, go for El Establo Mountain Hotel. This mid-range hotel is a bit larger than other boutique options in Monteverde, but the expansive hillside grounds keep it feeling tranquil. Guests can walk on the private forest trails, where you might be able to spot local wildlife, and the spa features open-air treatments using products sourced from the forest.
Rooms come in four categories: standard units, junior suites, family suites, and honeymoon suites. All have private terraces or balconies with mountain and forest views but feel dated, especially the bathrooms. Still, you'll get spacious and very clean accommodations and truly incredible views from your room.
Other ways to enjoy the property include relaxing at the outdoor covered pool area or dining at the two on-site restaurants. Las Riendas offers a buffet and a la carte meals in a large dining area with vaulted ceilings. If you prefer fine dining, check out Restaurant Laggus, a two-story eatery with open-air balcony seating overlooking the property's pond. This restaurant also includes a bar, lounge, and extensive wine menu.
Read kimkim's review of El Establo Mountain Hotel
Jaguarundi Lodge
It doesn't get more Costa Rican than being enveloped by a beautiful, dense, chatty forest. You'll be right in the thick of it without any views, but you might be too busy watching the monkeys in the trees, anyway! Still, Jaguarundi Lodge is a standard choice almost in downtown Santa Elena and on a relatively flat dirt road, so you can easily walk to nearby restaurants, cafés, and attractions. You can also explore the grounds via a half-mile (1 km) walking trail. Enjoy a traditional breakfast in the morning and relax at the lobby bar in the afternoon.
Rooms are straightforward, with a rustic cabin-like feel. Some have upgraded to tile floors, but you'll still get that rural vibe with wood ceilings and paneling, plus balconies or terraces that look out into the jungle. The layout is slightly different, with shelving and clothes racks in the bathrooms rather than the room itself. The modern and clean bathrooms are in the process of upgrading to tile, and you'll have your own minifridge.
Read kimkim's review of Jaguarundi Lodge
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