This is another of my favorite lodges and the best for waterfalls! BUT it is expensive and thus I can’t afford to go much nor stay long when there. Every cabin has it’s own private outdoor Jacuzzi which is wonderful. The gourmet food is wonderful! 3 of the tallest, most beautiful waterfalls in the country are on their lodge property! And birding there ranks in my top 5 or 6! 🙂
El Silencio Lodge WEBSITE linked. And don’t be confused by several other hotels that use “El Silencio” in their name or promotion with El Silencio Hotel in La Fortuna the most obvious copycat. But this is the real thing in Bajos del Toro! 🙂
6 Waterfalls I photographed there
Would I Consider Returning?
Yes!
Likes
- The best Hummingbird Garden in Costa Rica (with butterflies too!)
- Good birding in general and a few other animals. Good birding from your cabin porch!
- Three of the best waterfalls anywhere I’ve been on lodge property
- Private Jacuzzi in each cabin
- Excellent gourmet food
- In their town of Bajos del Toro there are 31 waterfalls, more than in any other place in Costa Rica.
- Excellent guides!
Dislikes
- Price. It is just too expensive for me. So . . . GO IN THE RAINY SEASON WHEN PRICES ARE CUT IN HALF (or less)! 🙂
Nature
- Excellent in many ways, from front porch nature photography to lots of trails & birds to the best Hummingbird Garden and of course waterfalls!
Activities
- Guided Tours on property from morning birdwalk, day nature walk, waterfall walk, and night walk, all of which are very good!
- Waterfall rappelling which is not my thing, but popular with the young.
- Spa and free Yoga
- Free Bicycles
- Archery
- Farm Tour
- Tree Planting
- Guided Tour to any of waterfalls in Bajos del Toro.
Rooms
- All are in individual, private cabins from 1 bedroom to 3 or more for families and groups
- All have private Jacuzzi
- All have porch or deck for nature-watching and photography plus living rooms in addition to bedroom and outdoor jacuzzi
Food
- One of the best gourmet restaurants I’ve visited
Getting There
- A 1:30 mountainous drive which from Atenas is about 56 km via Zarcero rather than through Sarchi (16 km shorter) for a better road according to Walter.
- If you are not driving, Walter or any tour company can take you there.
- There is no bus to Bajos del Toro. One website suggested a bus to Grecia and then taxi from there, but you can get a bus From Alajuela direct to Sarchi, assuming a taxi in Sarchi will take you to the lodge or Bajos del Toro. Good luck! 🙂
Trip Galleries
- 2023 August 22-24 — El Silencio Lodge
- 2021 February 15-20–El Silencio Lodge
- 2020 September 14-19 — El Silencio Lodge & Reserve
¡Pura Vida!
Return to Alajuela Province or North-Central Costa Rica page.
Return to Hotels & Lodges Reviews page.