Rara
Avis is a remote virgin forest area of more than 2,471
acres at the eastern side of the Braulio Carillo National
Park and is protected by a private initiative. The biological
research station is an excellent example that the rainforest
can be made economically productive and so be saved
from destruction. In Rara Avis, more than 330 different
kinds of birds have been discovered, and besides innumerable
kinds of bromeliad, orchids and lianas you are most
likely to see monkeys, anteaters and coatimundis. Though
you may spot tracks of tapirs and jungle cats, these
animals are hardly to be seen, since the huge forest
area gives them enough space to withdraw from „invaders".
Rara
Avis Lodge
The Rara Avis Waterfall Lodge is located in a remote virgin forest area of more than 2,471 acres at the eastern side of the Braulio Carrillo National Park. Because of the difficult access by tractor, about 15km passing through dense rainforest (departs from Horquetas village in Sarapiqui), a minimum stay of two nights is recommended. Maximum luggage 12kg per person, departure in Horquetas de Sarapiqui is 09.00h (more flexible when taking horses). The lodge is located about 200 meters (600 ft) from our double waterfall. Facilities: Trails and natural walks (24km), guest are invited to swim in the large crystalline pools at the base of the waterfall, butterfly farm and small orchid garden. Watefall Lodge: A comfortable but rustic lodge with 8 rooms set in the jungle, each with a private bath and balcony. Each room is a corner room and has a double bed, a single, and one or two fold-down bunks or loft beds. Casitas: These are rustic two-room cabins with one bathroom and hot- water shower each, also with a single bed and a bunked or two bunk beds in each room, about five-minutes' walk from the dining room. They are in an own private clearing, a superb site for birding.
Hotels & Lodges Poas Volcano
The
Poás Volcano soars 2.708 meters above
sea level and is one of the most spectacular volcanoes
of Costa Rica with breathtaking scenery. It is a sub
conical volcano with several calderic depressions near
the summit. The main crater is a huge depression that
measures almost 2 kilometers in diameter and 300 meters
deep. There is a little lake at the bottom of the crater,
with a diameter of 350 meters and temperatures that
range from 65-95?C. The high sulfur and acid content
reduces the pH almost to zero, which makes it possibly
the most acid natural water body of the world. To the
southeast, there is another cone known as Botos, which
was the center of volcanic activity until approximately
7500 years ago. Today it contains a spectacular cold-water
lake that measures about 400 meters in diameter. The
eruptions of the Poas volcano have been recorded at
least since 1747. This long history of eruptions includes
almost 60 episodes. The most violent one took place
on January 25th 1910, when an immense cloud of ashes
rose 8,000 meters into the air. The most recent period
of eruptions lasted from 1952 to 1954. Poás is
known to have the largest geyser in the world.
La Paz Waterfall Gardens: This large private
reserve features the World's largest butterfly observatory,
hummingbird and orchid gardens, and nicely designed,
safe trails along the La Paz River with 5 large waterfalls.
One will find lush, verdant green rainforest, lots of
colorful birds, flowers and butterflies.
La Paz is located on the slope of Poás Volcano,
about 1 hour from San José. It's quite large,
so you should plan on spending 3-5 hours here. You start
at the Welcome Center, walk down to the World's largest
butterfly observatory and then follow the extensive
trails along the La Paz River past 5 magnificent waterfalls.
All trails are either concrete or steel with handrails,
and are extremely well designed for people of all ages
and abilities. If you keep walking all the way down
the river to the end of the trail, then a shuttle picks
you up and drives you back up the road to the Welcome
Center.
Poás
Volcano Lodge **
Located in Heredia’s mountains between the Barva and Poás Volcanoes, 16 Km from Poás Volcano the rustic-elegant Poás Volcano Lodge is surrounded by pretty gardens, trails and exuberant vegetation. The Poás Volcano Lodge is nestled into the rolling pastures and the cloudy rainforest at the foothills of the Poás Volcano, one of the world`s largest active craters. In 2010 the lodge was remodeled into a luxury mountain lodge. The impressive views from the lodge include not only the volcano, but also the western area of the spectacular Braulio Carrillo National Park as well as the Caribbean plains. The cozy lodge and dairy farm features a tasteful interior decoration: an English cottage design with Costa Rican accents; stone walls, wooden beamed ceilings and dramatic arches. After being hit by an earthquake in 2009, the Poás Volcano Lodge has been working on rebuilding the Lodge, more and more rooms will be opened up again. Facilities: Tour desk, internet, transfers, bar, laundry service, use of our 300 acre dairy farm, for recreation, walking trails through sub-tropical rainforest Rooms: All rooms offer wireless internet, a private bathroom and free coffee in the room. Garden Rooms: Equipped with 1 queen-size bed and 1 single bed, additional roll-away bed available for a maximum of 3-4 personas. Deluxe Lodge Rooms: Equipped with different constellations to accommodate between 2 and 5 guests. All are equipped with a private bathroom, hair dryer and safe deposit box. Parcial or complete view onto the Poas Volcano.
Tanager Room: 1 king-size bed, max. 2-3 guests
Hummingbird Room: 1 queen-size bed, max. 2 guests
Oriole Room: 1 king-size bed & 1 single bed, max. 3-4 guests
Toucanet Room: 1 king-size bed, max. 3-4 guests
Quetzal Room: 2 queen-size beds & 1 single bed, max. 3-5 guests
Jacamar Room: 1 king-size bed, max. 2 guests
Peace
Lodge ****
Peace Lodge was opened in 2003 and belongs to the area of La Paz Waterfall Gardens, located about 45 minutes by car away from San José and 15 minutes from the National Park Volcano Poás. The area of the La Paz Waterfall Gardens with natural trails, flower bird- and orchid garden is located right next to the Lodge. Rooms: The Lodge offers 2 Villas, 7 Deluxe and 7 standard rooms. All 11 rooms are furnished in an extraordinary and naturalistic style and feature a gas-fireplace, large private bathroom, Jacuzzi, satellite TV, Stereo, refrigerator, coffee maker and private balcony with hammock and view of the surrounding tropical cloud forests. Standard Rooms: Max 2 people, additional beds for kids upon request available.
This room type measures around 60m2 and is equipped with a honeymoon bed and an open gas-heated chimeny. The bathroom features a large stone hot-tub and a natural stone shower. Furthermore you find a cable TV, radio, refrigerator and a coffee maker. From a private whilpool on the balcony you enjoy the views over to the Poas Volcano and the La Paz River. Deluxe Rooms: a Max of 2 people, additional beds for kids upon request available.
The larger Deluxe rooms (74m2) are larger and welcome its guests with a larger bathroom with jungle ambiance , an interior garden with an overhead window that lets some light in. There is also a natural stone Jacuzzi, a separate shower in this inside-patio. A whirlpool and a hammock on the balcony make you feel at ease with views over to the Poas Volcano and the La Paz River. Villa Lago or Monarch Villa: 1 respectively 3 Schlafzimmer with loft, 2 bathrooms, a room type with a capacity for a maximum of 5 people.
The 110m2 Villa ist the largesst room type to offer, featuring 3 open chimnies, one located in the large main-bathroom. The bedroom offers a large honeymoon bed, furthermore there is a large living room and a kitchenette. From the dining room you reach a kind of loft area with a further king size bed and single bed. From there a further bathroom is accessible. Basic equipement: stereo equipement, living room area, master bedroom with satellite TV. There is also a whilpool on its balcony. With views over to the Poas Volcano and the La Paz River.
Hotels & Lodges Turrialba Volcano / Guayabo
Turrialba
Volcano, (3,349 m) the southeast most of Costa Rica's
Holocene volcanoes, is a large vegetation-covered strato-volcano
located to the northeast of Irazú volcano. Three
well-defined craters occur at the upper end of a broad
summit depression that is breached to the northeast.
Turrialba has been quiescent since a series of explosive
eruptions in the 19th century that were sometimes accompanied
by pyroclastic flows. Fumarolic activity continues at
the summit craters. It is possible to descend to the
crater bottom.
The town of Turrialba,
located at the bottom of the volcano is a good starting
point for White-Water Rafting on the Reventazón
and Pacuare Rivers. Tour Packages from/to San José
are available, please refer to our White-Water Rafting
section.
Guayabo National
Monument: Is one of the most important archeological
areas and the bigger in size that has been discover
in the country. Protect archeological structures like
mounds, bridges, aqueduct etc. Also protect drums of
high forest, typical of the rain forest. Costa Rica
because of its location and geographic structure plays
an importance place like a meeting area for different
pre-Columbian cultures. The archeologists have demonstrated
that Costa Rica received influences from the north like
from South America. The Guayabo National Monument covers
a big area, from the province of Alajuela in Costa Rica
all the way to Colombia.
Hotel
Casa Turire ****
Casa Turire is a charming boutique hotel in the verdant, agricultural region of Turrialba. Being one of Costa Rica’s ‘small distinctive hotels’ the Casa Turire has a strategic location, enabling tourists to reach easily various attractions and areas nearby e.g. Braulio Carrillo National Park, Irazú Volcano, the Caribbean coast from exotic Limón to the mystical, submerged Tortuguero Rainforest. The lake behind the hotel provides numerous activities for the guests. A hydroelectric dam powered by the Reventazón River forms the artificial lake, which is an astounding thirty-seven meters deep behind the hotel. Casa Turire has built a boat dock and offers non-motorized aquatic activities like kayaking and canoeing for its guests. Facilities: Restaurant, English style bar, Wi-Fi, outdoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, game room / library with big screen TV, gardens, tour desk, trails, Nordic walking, suitable area for helicopter landing, spa, laundry service, complete concierge service, Angostura lake at the doorstep, kayaks and canoes. Rooms: Casa Turire offers standard rooms and suites. Standard rooms: All rooms have direct-dial telephones, safe deposit boxes, and private bathrooms with hot water, hair dryers, satellite TV, ceiling fans, coffee maker and private balconies. Suites: All rooms have king sized beds, extra sofa beds, expansive living areas, mini fridge, coffee maker, Satellite TV, 42” Plasma TV sets, ceiling fan, AC and balconies. The private bathrooms have hot water, hydro massage shower, Jacuzzi and hair dryer. Master Suite: Downstairs the Master Suite has a living room, with opening to a huge private balcony. A staircase leads to upstairs bedrooms with king size bed, central air, Jacuzzi in the bath room, private balcony; flat screen TV & DVD, wireless internet connection.
Guayabo
Lodge ***
Situated about 30 minutes away from the town Turrialba with view of the Turrialba Volcano and the village of Orosi a bit further located. the Guayabo Lodge offers 22 newly built tastefully furnished rooms. Facilities: The hotel includes 2 lounges with fireplace, a restaurant that offers international cuisine, a bar and laundry service. Luggage storage, wireless internet, laundry service and wake-up calls are available. In the tropical garden there is a wooden deck with a BBQ area. Rooms: In total, the lodge offers 26 cozy furnished rooms, each of them individually decorated and furnished. All rooms feature wooden floor, private bathroom/hot water and balcony or terrace. The water is heated with solar energy and a safe, hairdryer and ecological shampoos are provided. The rooms on the first and second floor offer a balcony or a terrace view of the Cordillera de Talamanca and the Turrialba Valley. Standard Room: Equipped with twin beds, 1 king-size or 1 queen-size bed. Most of them offer a balcony with a panoramic view. Mountain Suite: Equipped with 1 king-size or 1 queen-size bed. These suites offer a balcony with a panoramic view, TV, kitchen with coffee maker, microwave and fridge.
Villa Florencia ***
The hotel Villa Florencia is located in the small town Turrialba, just 10 minutes away from the city center, surrounded by sugar plantations and beautiful vegetation. Facilities: Restaurant, private parking place, big green area for activities, laundry service, free WIFI, money exchange, catering service, conference rooms, possibility for national and international calls Rooms: The hotel offers 20 spacious rooms in 4 categories. All rooms include hair dryers, flat irons and ironing boards, TV, mini bar, coffee makers. Standard room: 2 queen-size beds, private bathroom with hot water Family room: Two floors, 2 queen-size beds in the first floor, 1 queen-size bed and 1 single bed in the second floor Superior: 2 queen-size beds, plasma TV, balcony Suite: 1 king-size bed, Jacuzzi
Hotels & Lodges Pacuare
Pacuare Lodge ***
Tucked away deep in the heart of Costa Rica’s most pristine rainforest environment, the lodge is nestled within a 25,000-acre protected area known as Pacuare, which begins near the town of Siquirres and descends down the Talamancan mountain range. Surrounded by nature in its purest and most primitive state guests are able to savor the spirit of this natural but luxury place maintained with a minimum of electricity. Minimum age: 12 years is required due to its location and arrival in a rafting boat. A maximum weight of 12kg o luggage is allowed per person. Overweight luggage will be stored in Siquirres. Facilities: Hot water, swimming pool, hammocks, SPA with 14 different treatments, mini bar, balcony, bar, open-air restaurant, or on a private platform, hiking trails and tour to the neighboring village Bajos del Tigre, internet access, safe deposit box, mini refrigerator, jungle view, kayaks Rooms: The Pacuare Lodge features 17 accommodations, with private terrace and an inside- and outdoor bathroom. Jungle View: 1 bungalow with 2 bedrooms, 1 kingsize bed or 2 double beds, private terrace, safe (only room type with a little electricity. Perfekt for families with older kids. Garden View Bungalow (informative): Since 2013 remoddeled into River View Suite. River View Suite: 12 in total with 1 King-Size bed, 2 showers, private terrace, hammock and private deck. Linda Vista Suite: 3 in total with luxury amenities, 1 king-size bed, living room area, outdoor shower, terrace with hammock, private deck, small private natural spring-water pool. 1 Linda Vista Honeymoon Suite: 1 king-size bed, sofas, outdoor shower, safe, bath robes, Telefone, private terrace, small private natural spring-water pool. Canopy Honeymoon Suite: 1 king-size bed, large window front and large bathroom, small pool with sundeck, private platform in midst of the giant trees!
Hotels & Lodges Orosi Valley
Orosi
Valley is located one hour east of the capital San José.
There are two thermal volcanic springs right next to
the Lodge and several refreshing cold pools in the area.
You may explore the wild life of the Tapanti National
Park, go fishing trout’s in Purisil or just sit
on the porch of one of the small typical 'Soda' restaurants,
sip a fresh tropical fruit drink and watch the village
life. The oldest church in Costa Rica, built in 1743
by the Spaniards, with the adjoining museum of religious
artifacts, statues and vestments from colonial times
is located in downtown.
Orosi
Lodge **
The charming Orosi Lodge is located in the center of Orosi Village, in "El Valle de Orosi" near Cartago in the Central Highlands and right next to the thermal pools Orosi. The hotel is under German management. It is built in a nice, comfortable style. A gallery, which is integrated in a colorful cafeteria and where local artists present their works of art, accomplishes the comfortable and individual atmosphere. Facilities: Cafeteria, tour desk, gallery, WIFI service Rooms: All rooms have a balcony or terrace with a stunning view of the volcanoes Irazú and Turrialba. Standard rooms: The lodge offers six tastefully furnished rooms which all feature a kitchenette, mini bar, private bath with hot water, ceiling fan and queen size bed with orthopedic mattresses.
The standard rooms on the upper level have a shared balcony with view of the Volcano Irazú and the ground floor rooms have a shared terrace with garden view. Coffee service is complimentary. Chalet: In 2008, a chalet was added: the “Casa Volcán” is rented with a minimum of two nights and appropriate for families or groups of friends. The chalet features kitchen, living room, bathroom, rooftop terrace. Maximum are 5 persons.
Rio Perlas Spa & Resort ****
Extraordinarily beautiful national parks and several other interesting sightseeing areas surround the Hotel Rancho Rio Perlas, situated in the beautiful and legendary Orosi Valley in the province of Cartago, Costa Rica. One hour from San José and surrounded by lovely mountains and Costa Rican valleys, the hotel is located very near special interest areas, such as the Orosi Valley and a bit further: Turrialba. Facilities: With a full range of spa facilities and services, it is the ideal place to relax in a natural setting, through an all-inclusive package offered by the hotel. There is an a la carte restaurant, a buffet restaurant specializing in regional cuisine, a snack bar, one hot- and another cold-water swimming pool and several hot-water Jacuzzis. The spa service includes therapeutic massages, bubble baths, and thermal spring water baths. Rooms: All of the 49 rooms of the hotel have a terrace or balcony, fully equipped bathroom with hairdryer, mini-bar, coffee maker, satellite TV, telephone and safe.
Hotel rates upon request.
If the hotel of your choice is not listed, please do not hesitate
to contact us!