Accommodations

Ecoverde Lodge los Olivos (c/o tel. 506/248-2538, fax 506/248-1659, cooprena [at] racsa [dot] co [dot] cr, $35/40 high season), in the hamlet of Monte los Olivos, near Las Nubes, seven kilometers northwest of Santa Elena, is run by the local community. The rustic yet enchanting lodge, which sits on stilts above a lake and is surrounded by forest, boasts four cabins with private baths and hot water plus five rooms in the biological station with shared bath and hot water. There’s a restaurant with panoramic views, and trails lead into the forest; guided hikes and horseback trips are offered.

A similar option is Vista Verde Lodge (tel. 506/380-1517, vistaverde [at] racsa [dot] co [dot] cr, $55 s, $65 d), four kilometers north of the Sky Walk, in the community of San Gerardo, on a steep and eroded dirt road that leads off the road to the Santa Elena Reserve. Fabulous views of Arenal Volcano and Lake Arenal are enjoyed through picture windows in the 10 spacious all-wood rooms with private bathrooms and hot water. It has a restaurant, and hikes and horseback rides are offered.

One kilometer further, and also offering fantastic views towards Arenal Volcano, is the more rustic Mirador Lodge San Gerardo (tel. 506/645-5087, fax 506/645-5354, $20 pp in dorms; $52 s, $66 d cabins), a no-frills lodge with seven rooms with wood-burning stoves, and basic but clean bathrooms with hot water. Two rooms are bunk-style with shared baths. Home-cooked meals are provided, as are horseback rides.

© Christopher P. Baker from Moon Costa Rica, 6th Edition