Senda Monteverde Hotel, Monteverde

Pros

• The hotel offers a rotating schedule of free on-site activities for all ages, including a bonfire (complete with marshmallows), yoga classes, movie nights, and a sustainability tour. 
• Your first round of mini bar and in-room snacks are complimentary—you're only charged if you want a restock.
• The property features two short hiking trails, plenty of resident wildlife to spot, and complimentary access to the nearby Aguti Reserve.
• If you need laundry done on your trip, the Premium and Senda suites include laundry service in the room rate.
• An on-site greenhouse supplies the hotel's restaurant and the complimentary a la carte breakfast, so you know you're eating fresh and as local as it gets.

Cons

• The restaurant, lobby, and yoga studio are close to a neighboring community and a busy road, so it may not be as quiet as expected.
• There are no additional amenities like a pool, spa, or gym on-site, but this is more than made up for with the rotating schedule of activities on offer.
• There's no air-conditioning in any of the rooms, though the mountain climate is relatively cool and ceiling fans keep the air moving. 

Authenticity

Upon arrival, Senda Monteverde greets guests with a welcome cocktail (chocolate for kids), which sets the tone for your stay at this intimate, boutique-style property. Local sustainability is a theme here, with a restaurant serving produce grown in the gardens and greenhouse, a staff full of residents who were raised within walking distance, and decor sourced from regional women's cooperatives and small businesses. The hotel also embraces its surroundings by providing two hiking trails that stretch about a mile in total, with one path connecting to the nearby Aguti Reserve (to which guests have complimentary access).

Location

You'll need to drive down a gravel road to get to the hotel, giving the illusion of a super private location. But in reality, you'll be pretty close to a busy road and local neighborhood, so it's not as quiet as some other hotels in Monteverde. Luckily, the rooms are farther back than the common areas. You'll probably want a car or transfer to explore the area, but nothing is too far away. Downtown Santa Elena is just four minutes by car, and Sky Adventures Park and Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve are both just a 15-minute drive. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

Senda Monteverde's lodgings come in the form of spacious bungalows dotted throughout the property. Each is split into two self-contained, open-plan studios or suites, furnished in an airy, mid-century style and complete with ceiling fans, seating areas, complimentary minibars, twice-daily housekeeping, free WiFi, and private terraces. All the little details are covered, too, such as flashlights, umbrellas, extra blankets, and heaters. For the best views and a little more privacy, opt for the multi-bedroom Senda Suite, which occupies its own full bungalow; it's a good choice for families and sleeps up to six.

Amenities

The property has limited amenities as it's more oriented toward active experiences. There's no gym, pool, or spa available on-site, but travelers do have access to massages and mini-facials offered in their own rooms. The El Sapo restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with dishes featuring locally sourced products and produce grown on-site, and there's a chic bar area to sip craft cocktails. For entertainment, check the weekly calendar of activities, some of which are complimentary. Bird-watching, night hikes, yoga classes, and movie nights are all potential experiences to enjoy. 

Family-Friendliness

If your kids love time in the pool, you may want to look elsewhere (as the hotel doesn't have one), but outside of that, Senda Monteverde has just about anything a family could need. Cribs, extra beds, and a children's menu at the restaurant are all available; you'll even find kid-sized rubber boots and walking sticks on hand for aspiring explorers. A huge array of activities are available on a rotating schedule, with most being very family-friendly. Bonfires with roasted marshmallows and fishing for kids in the pond (with the restaurant cooking your catch of the day) have been favorites of previous travelers. 

Wildlife

Directly adjacent to the Aguti Reserve, the hotel grounds see plenty of wildlife spilling over from the wildlife reserve, including coatimundis, agoutis, armadillos, and many different birds. As a hotel guest, you'll also have free access to the Aguti Reserve if you're looking for additional opportunities to spot wildlife. However, simply lounging on your bungalow's terrace will provide plenty of wildlife action. 

Sustainability

The hotel's commitment to sustainability is all-encompassing; staff are exclusively Costa Rican, with many members hailing from the local community, and wages are higher than the national average. The property is zero single-use plastic, the primary energy source is solar, and the restaurant sources food locally wherever possible. The bathroom toiletries are made in the region, and even the art found in the rooms comes from a local women's cooperative. A significant portion of Senda Monteverde's property provides habitat for local wildlife, and the hotel has planted over 5,500 native species on site.