Trogon Lodge

"Great food, views and staff. 100% recommend. Comfortable room with double beds."

Monbellis

Savegre Hotel Natural Reserve & Spa

"Superb hotel ideally located in the middle of the San Gerardo de Dota Valley and still managed by the descendants of the pioneers who "discovered" the valley in the 1950s. We chose this hotel for its proximity to Los Quetzales National Park. Finally, we stayed in the superb San Gerardo de Dota Valley which is home to quetzals all year round thanks to the presence of Guatemalan avocado trees - whose fruits they feed on. The hotel grounds include a garden designed for the many hummingbirds, various hiking trails, some of which are particularly popular with ornithologists, as well as a viewpoint offering a superb panorama of the valley. We went on a quetzal observation outing (among others) with Raul Fernandez Chacon (Whatsapp +***********), grandson of the pioneers who settled in the valley; to be booked directly or through the hotel. Spa equipped with jacuzzis and an impeccable sauna and restaurant."

Dantica Cloud Forest Lodge

"The room was clean, the breakfast was good and the service was good. The hotel's own protection area is very large, and the forest trail is very good. There are many gardens and nearby road birds near the hotel reception desk, and the environment is good. The only downside is that the room is far from the hotel reception desk and the restaurant, and it is not convenient for bad legs."

Paraíso Quetzal Lodge

"We scouted for a halfway spot to overnight between Costa Rica’s south Pacific beaches and San Jose, during a recent CR road trip, and it soon became clear that Paraíso Quetzal Lodge was the ideal stop. We didn’t pick this birders paradise because we’re actually bird-nerds, but because of the wonderful accommodations, lodge and grounds. Each looked invitingly comfy, cozy and delightful and its mid-way location was ideal. We were provided one of the ‘new’ cabins close to the lodge, due to our excessive luggage. It was so nice of them to accommodate us! The rooms themselves were comfortable and inviting, with plenty of blankets and a small table-top heater to keep you warm, during the cold mountain nights. The views were standout – jaw-dropping even from the room, but the vista from our balcony of the valley below and mountains beyond, were unparalleled. With the verdant surrounds absolutely everywhere, the tropical bird spotting was at a frenetic pace. Our only beef was the shower temps could have been warmer. The space was lovely, clean and modern, it’s just that this am ritual was akin to bathing in lukewarm water, in a walk-in fridge (@max heat). The lodge itself was the star of the show. There was a very reasonably priced restaurant with delicious food (from breakfast, through dinner) and similar awesome views. The cute little shop supplied some unique souvenir finds and the precious wee bar served up great drinks to ensure we thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The centerpiece was a roaring fireplace with comfy armchairs around it to relax in, as if to solidify the experience as perfect. We popped out with the more avid bird watchers on the hummingbird deck and were incredibly impressed with the volume and variety that we saw. Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to catch sight of the Quetzal itself, but we would have had more opportunity if we had a longer stay and took a morning tour. That in no way stops us from whole-heartedly endorsing this San Gerardo de Dota lodge for your next Costa Rican stay. If a rustic, cozy accommodations vibe is your thing, this is the place for you! The amazing tropical bird watching can simply serve as a novel bonus."

Hotel de Montaña Suria

"We returned with friends after visiting Suria Hotel two years ago and vowing we would go back. We were less impressed this time. The gardens were beautiful, but the area where the little hummingbirds were are now closed off and the hotel now charges an extra 10 dollars per person per stay to enter, which was a real shame. We visited another garden close by and we thrilled by what we saw there. Rooms were clean and comfortable but unfortunately there was no WiFi in our rooms, only in the main building area. It’s very cold at night and there are little electric potable heaters in the rooms. The breakfast was well prepared but quite economical- a choice of three items, traditional Costa Rican (with rice and beans) or “Continental” ( a piece of very well cooked bacon, two eggs, a small piece of toast, a spoonful of jam and three slices each of watermelon,papaya and pineapple) or pancakes (two American style pancakes with a spoonful of watery syrup, afew slices of banana and a strawberry) The pancakes were very dry to eat. There was no other items such as juice, toast, cereal, pastries or fruit juice. As we checked out after our stay, we were not warned about the only road being closed for two hours just after we left, which meant a two hour hold up for us in the hot sun."

Toucanet Lodge

"A really cute, friendly lodge with cabins. The manager (Michael) and cook (Jonathan) are exceptional. The food is delicious and artistically presented, and breakfast was included with our room. The dining room and cabins have great views. We were there for bird watching and saw quite a few species from our balcony. We also took a quetzal tour with Oscar and saw six quetzals about a 5 minute drive from the lodge. There is a hiking trail that goes up onto the ridge behind the lodge - a steep climb if you go all the way to the top, with views of the surrounding coffee, avocado, and apple fields. You can also do coffee or winery tours in the area. In early March it went down to about 6C at night, so take warm clothes. Lots of blankets are provided, but the cabins aren't heated. NOTE: currently there are two websites that come up if you search Google for "Toucanet Lodge"- the CORRECT one is "eltoucanetCR". The WRONG one is "toucanetlodge" (this is actually the website for a different lodge that for some reason has appropriated the el Toucanet domain name, causing a lot of confusion for customers of both establishments!)."

Cedrela Eco-Lodge & Restaurante

"All the reviews of this lodge are accurate. It is a special place with special views. We were here for one night during the rainy season. There was a fire laid in the chimney which would have been welcome at night when it was cool but the hotel was unable to provide matches! There was an empty box by the fireplace… A few quibbles: Be aware the access road is in terrible condition and the alternative route is only practicable in a 4x4 There is limited hot water. What there is in the shower is serviced by a mini electric heater with exposed wiring that would not pass muster in the US or EU. There were no bedside or reading lights in our cabin The tin roofs resound with falling rain drops. All i can say is i could not sleep because it sounded as if someone was tapping the roof all night The lodge is a shade more expensive than most. The restaurant is trily outstanding indeed we had trout in an orange sauce which was Michelin* quality but the price of a meal without wine was £60 or $75 per head which is London prices or more."

Cabinas El Quetzal