Last Updated: March 8, 2024
Monteverde may be a remote destination, but once you arrive, you’ll find a long list of things to do and places to stay. In this post, we’ll help you sort through the many hotels in Monteverde so that you can find your perfect place in the cloud forest. We’ve stayed in each of the hotels below or toured them with a focus on our reader’s needs (i.e., cleanliness, noise, view, comfy beds, good food, etc.). Each offers something a little different and we hope we’ve included one that is right for you.
General Information on Hotels in Monteverde
There are a few things to know when considering hotels in Monteverde.
First, most of the hotels are more rustic and lodge-style, even the high-end ones. This fits in nicely with the comfortable, pastoral feel of the area. If you’re looking for lavish, modern accommodations, save it for your time at the beach.
Second, most lodges do not have air conditioning because it really isn’t needed in Monteverde. Temperatures are usually comfortable, averaging 19°C (66°F).
Finally, how the area is set up may help you decide on a hotel. Although most people refer to the entire area around the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve as Monteverde, the main town is called Santa Elena.
Santa Elena has a small, but busy, downtown with many local businesses. It has mostly budget hotels and is a good option if you won’t have a rental car because there is a lot within walking distance. Keep in mind that this area can be noisy, though, with traffic.
From Santa Elena, there is one main road (Route 620) that eventually ends at the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Spread out along this road are lots more options for hotels and restaurants. Many of these are set in the cloud forest in quieter locations.
High-end Hotels in Monteverde and Santa Elena
Hotel Belmar
This is one of our favorite hotels in Monteverde.
Hotel Belmar is a boutique hotel with Austrian architectural design. The rooms have modern finishes and beautiful wood throughout. The hotel values sustainability, which can be seen in everything from the efficiency measures to the farm-to-table restaurant. For those into craft beer, there is a small brewery on-site. Hotel Belmar has obtained a certification for sustainability in Costa Rica.
Hotel Belmar is nicely located just outside downtown Santa Elena off the main road to Monteverde. $300-1,000/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Monteverde Lodge and Gardens
Monteverde Lodge and Gardens is one of the nicer hotels in Monteverde.
Featuring well-appointed, large rooms with cloud forest views, this small lodge would appeal to most travelers. Although Monteverde Lodge and Gardens is not far from the hustle and bustle of Santa Elena, the property is very secluded, with nicely landscaped grounds and elaborate gardens. There is even a butterfly garden in the lobby. $300-550/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Cloud Forest Lodge
A newer hotel that offers a high-end experience is the Cloud Forest Lodge.
They have simple, but nicely decorated, modern suites and rooms. Each has a spacious patio to take in the view. The staff is friendly and helpful. The lodge has its own restaurant. $240-400/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Senda Monteverde
Senda Monteverde is another high-end lodge with comfortable cabins set among beautiful gardens. The 24 rooms feature casual, local design with a luxurious feel and incorporate native wood throughout. Wildlife is abundant around the hotel, as the property borders a nature reserve. A very good breakfast is included in the nightly rate. $300-500/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Mid-range Hotels in Monteverde and Santa Elena
El Establo
El Establo is a decent mid-range option. This is a larger hotel with 155 rooms. The property sits on a steep hill and has outstanding views of the cloud forest. Rooms are spread out among different buildings. If you won’t have a car, they have a shuttle to take you to other parts of the property, including the on-site restaurant, spa, zip line, and pool. $200-400/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Los Pinos Cabins and Reserve
Los Pinos offers rustic, but clean and comfortable, wooden cabins.
The cabins are spread out along the nicely forested property, making them feel quite private. Wildlife often can be seen scurrying along the surrounding trails.
Cabins range from standard, which are good for couples, to much larger family cabins with separate bedrooms, living space, and kitchenettes.
Los Pinos has obtained a certification for sustainability in Costa Rica.
Located on the road leading to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. $100-250/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Valle Escondido Nature Reserve Hotel & Farm
Valle Escondido Nature Reserve Hotel & Farm is a great choice for nature lovers. Not only does it neighbor the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens, but it also has its own on-site trails through a private nature reserve. During our visit, we saw wildlife like a white-nosed coati (a raccoon-like animal) and lots of birds. The views from the property are also stunning, stretching all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
This hotel has has been newly renovated and has several room options, including standard, superior, family, and suites for couples (adults only). Valle Escondido has received a certification for sustainability in Costa Rica. $140-250/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Cala Lodge
Located on a quiet side road, about a five-minute drive to the downtown, Cala Lodge is a small, locally owned ecolodge. It has basic, but clean and comfortable, rooms. The property is surrounded by forest and many rooms have a nice view. Lots of wildlife and birds can be seen on the grounds. For families, they have a couple of larger rooms that are a great option. Cala Lodge has received a certification for sustainability in Costa Rica. $90-190/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Budget Hotels in Monteverde and Santa Elena
Mar Inn
The Mar Inn is a good budget option in Santa Elena. This small B&B is in a local neighborhood, just a short walk to restaurants and shops in the downtown. Rooms are rustic but clean and spacious. $70-130/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Freddy’s Place Bed and Breakfast
Not far from Mar Inn is Freddy’s Place. Also a small B&B, Freddy’s Place has only a handful of rooms and is a popular option in town. The hotel is locally owned, and the owner and staff go out of their way to ensure that you have a great stay. A made-to-order breakfast is included in the nightly rate. $70/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Cabinas Eddy B&B
Cabinas Eddy B&B has 18 rooms and is located on the other side of Santa Elena, very close to the downtown, on the main road out of town. The hotel has basic rooms with a shared bathroom for around $40 as well as larger double and family-size rooms with a private bath for around $50-80/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Historias Lodge
Historias Lodge is another good budget option. This small hotel is locally owned by a friendly Tico and feels very authentic. Rooms are all set up a little differently but each has comfortable beds and a private bath. Historias Lodge is not far from the main area of Santa Elena on a quieter side street. $90-150/night. Check Rates and Availability Here.
Conclusion
Those are our choices for hotels in Monteverde. We hope it helps you narrow your search for accommodations in the cloud forest.
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Last Updated: March 8, 2024
Have you stayed in one of these hotels or have others to recommend? Leave a comment below and let us know your experience.
Looking for more info to plan your trip to Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
Monteverde: A Forest in the Clouds – Check out our destination guide to learn about some of the best activities and restaurants in the area.
La Fortuna: What to Expect from Costa Rica’s Most Popular Destination – A lot of people visiting Monteverde also go to La Fortuna for its famous volcano and hot springs. Read our destination guide to this popular town, which includes activity and hotel recommendations.
Packing for Costa Rica: The Essentials – Tips on what to bring for your trip. Covers clothing, footwear, and some essentials that you might not think of.
Rental Car Discount – Save on a 4×4 for your trip to Monteverde with our discount.
The problem with Monteverde – which I love like nowhere in CR outside Osa – is that there are so many options. I have stayed in numerous hotels not on your list, and some are clearly better than others. Any good guidebook for CR will give you its list of preferred hotels, at various price levels. (Yours tend to be high end.) Same for activities, such as ziplines, butterfly or reptile gardens, etc.
Hi Paul, Monteverde does have a lot of options for hotels so we thought we would come out with this guide to help people. We have found that guidebooks are often out of date and don’t change their recommendations much from edition to edition so this gives people another resource. Thanks for reading.
We happened by chance to find Sibu and it was really nice. Good restaurant and comfy clean rooms with own entrances and air which wasnt needed at night!
Hi Andrea, Thanks for the tip on Sibu Lodge. It looks great! Good location near the center of town too.
We stayed in the 2 bedroom apartment at Mariposa B&B. Great for families. Full kitchen, 2 bedrooms with in suite baths, and a large wrap around balcony facing the trees. Breakfast was cooked to order and delicious. Close to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Highly recommended.
Love your posts! Keep ‘m comin!
Denise Badger
Jaco, CR
Hi Denise, Mariposa B&B looks like a great place and it is so close to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve and also Curi Cancha Reserve, which we really enjoyed on our last visit. We’ll have to check it out next time we’re in town. Thanks for reading and taking the time to share your experience.
Hi, Thank you for your helpful and informative posts!
We have just stayed in Santa Elena “centre” (Arco Iris) for 3 nights (5.4.-8.4.2018) and barely got any sleep. The lodge is extremely nice, clean, friendly and all, but there is loud music and partying going on in town almost all night long, echoing from the hill-sides, penetrating closed windows. No-one staying within up to a kilometre can escape it. Questioning with reception they say it is a very regular problem with a group of locals which was addressed to the police many times but they just smile and nothing happens. It can really spoil your time in the lovely Monteverde area even if you manage to negotiate a discount on your lodging rate. Our recommendation: avoid the beds in town and try to stay some distance away from Santa Elena.
Hi Lars, Sorry to hear that. We hadn’t heard about noise at this particular hotel but the main area of Santa Elena can be noisy. Thanks for sharing your experience and helping other people.
Hi there, a bit behind with booking hotels! Have you stayed at Monteverde Inn?
Hi Carol, Yes, Monteverde Inn is rustic but very nice. It has beautiful views.
Do you have any suggestions that are safe for a solo female traveler? I am but nervous that most these options are lodged or cabins and easily accessible for someone to break in.
Hi Sherry, Monteverde is a very peaceful town and we have never heard of anyone having problems with break ins there so try not to worry too much. Most of the lodging in this area is cabin-style, but maybe something like Cabinas Eddy would be better for you. This is a more traditional style hotel with 2 levels.
Has anyone heard of Senda Monteverde? I understand it is a new note, but that is all I know.
Hi Jo-Ann, That is a very new hotel, which we haven’t heard anything about yet. Maybe others can chime in.
Thank you.
We will give you are opinion after our visit
I want to know about Senda Monteverde too. I have a booking but quite unsure. any more information?
Anyone know about Trapp Family Hotel?
Hi – thanks for this blog. I’m wondering how the areas north of San Jose – Monteverde, Arenal,differ. I looked at two rec’d hotels – Finca Luna Nueva and Villa Blanca – Neither are super close to Monte Verde. Will these still be naturey with hiking accessible, or will these be surrounded by farms and cleared off mountains? We are visiting for the first time for a week with our 2 year old. We’re hoping for 2-3 nights in a “naturey” area that is super beautiful and has hiking/waterfalls, etc, and then 3-4 nights at laid back beach (haven’t picked coast yet).
Are those two hotels too far from the actual nature parks?
Thanks!
Hi Jenny, We haven’t been to Villa Blanca but it looks to be in a remote area without much around. Finca Luna Nueva is about a half hour from La Fortuna. With a 2 year old, I think I’d pick a hotel closer to La Fortuna (there are still good options closer to amenities but set in the rainforest). That way, you will be near hikes and waterfalls and won’t have to spend a ton of time in the car. Check out our La Fortuna Hotel Guide for some recommendations.
Hi, Jenn and Matt. Do any of these accommodations have bath tubs? We have small kiddos and bathtubs are just SO much easier for bath time. It seems like they’re really hard to find in CR. Thanks!
Hi Melissa, Yes, tubs can be hard to find. You can find them at higher end hotels usually. Otherwise, you could just buy a tub at Walmart in San Jose when you arrive or you can get one of those big round plastic tubs just about anywhere.
Hi Jenn & Matt,
We are visiting Monteverde on our way to Manuel Antonio, and are trying to decide between staying at Hotel Fonda Vela or Camino Verde B&B. We are a family of 4 with 2 adults & 2 children (15 & 11). Thanks for your help!
Hi Deepthi, Fonda Vela is way out by the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve so farther from town to get to restaurants, etc. Camino Verde is right outside Santa Elena and is a good option. I think I’d go with that with kids for the convenience.
We are staying at Tilajari Hotel. We plan on taking a day trip to a hot spring. What are your thoughts on Tabacon or Paradise. There is a significant cost difference, what do you think?
Hi Dan, Just so others are not confused, we are talking about a hotel near La Fortuna/Arenal and the hot springs in that area, not in Monteverde.
Tabacaon and Paradise both have a nice hot springs experience. The main difference is that Tabacon is higher end, with lush, well-manicured gardens. It has a nicely done buffet. It also has more hot spring pools. Paradise is a lot less expensive and you still get the hot springs experience. It’s not but it doesn’t feel as luxe. So it depends on what you’re looking for.
Hello and thank you for your great information. I’m currently trying to decide between Hotel Belmar and Monteverde Lodge and Gardens. This is for July 2021. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Hi Rebecca, Both are nice but we would go with the Belmar. It’s very classy, has nice views, and the on-site restaurant is excellent.
Thanks! This is incredibly helpful!
Hi ,we are staying in Manuel Antonio and we have booking for hot springs but inbetween that we are planning to stay in Monteverde what do you recommed?What some wow experience and some different kind of place than regular hotel.Thanks
Hi Ravee, We really like Hotel Belmar, which we have in this article. It has beautiful architecture and a small feel. Many rooms have nice cloud forest views. There’s also Hidden Canopy Treehouses, which people like because it’s a unique experience.
Are the roads to Hotel Belmar drivable with a regular sedan? We are thinking of breaking up our drive between Manuel Antonio and Tamarindo with a night in Monteverde…. would get there afternoon, do a night time tour in the jungle… maybe do the cloud forest bridges the next morning then head out…. but we are renting a regular sedan for the trip…. thanks!
Yes, you can do the drive to Monteverde via Highway 1 (Route 606) with a regular sedan now since they paved the road. We don’t usually recommend just an overnight in Monteverde, though, since that doesn’t give you much time there. It is possible, however, to do it like you said with a night tour first night and hike second morning. Just keep in mind that it will be a little rushed.
Hello and thank for the wealth of information that you have shared here. We have our trip for early June 2022 – 3 nights each in La Fortuna and Monteverde areas (going with Hotel Belmar based on your recommendation) and 6 nights in Manuel Antonia. We are a family of 4 with 2 kids ages 4 and 8. Do we need to book a 4×4 for our trip since we are visiting during the rainy season?
Hi Ishtiaq, That sounds like a good itinerary for 12 days. Yes, we would do a 4×4 vehicle. Part of the road between La Fortuna and Monteverde is rough dirt and mountainous in places, so it’s good to have a 4×4, especially in rainy season when it can be slicker. Here’s a link to our Driving to Monteverde post with more details.
Hey we will be trying the Amalu Monteverde Tiny house next month.
What about Hotel Koora? No mention here. Koora or Valle Escondido?
Hi Sandeep, Yes, Koora is another nice option for a high end stay. For Valle Escondido, we do recommend that hotel and already included it in our list.