Guayabo Lodge - Retired in Costa Rica

I had not done much “historical travel” before this visit here other than seeing the oldest church in Orosi Valley and of course the museums in San Jose. So I first chose this lodge for the nearby Guayabo National Monument, knowing that everywhere has birds & butterflies! 🙂 But I quickly discovered that in addition to the oldest pre-Columbian city in Costa Rica and the twin volcanoes of Irazu-Turrialba, it is also a great place for birding and butterflies and the lodge has one of the best gardens I’ve visited anywhere with a huge variety of flowers. The Lodge website is at Guayabo Lodge. It is located between the city of Turrialba and the Turrialba Volcano in the village of Santa Cruz.

Would I Return or Stay There Again?

Absolutely yes! I had a wonderful time with lots of photos (see the link at bottom of review for my photo gallery). 🙂

Likes

I loved their gardens and farm which was enough for me without going anywhere. Lots of flowers, birds & butterflies along with farm animals!
The room was very nice & the food good and a reasonable price.
I had an excellent guide who was a “summer employee” from Holland and I now follow some of his travels.
Guayabo National Monument is simple compared to the Mayan ruins, but a very important part of Central American history!
We went inside Irazu Volcano but just skirted the outside slopes of Turrialba Volcano because it was erupting at the time. 🙂
CATIE Botanical Gardens & Research Center in Turrialba for some totally different birds from those at the lodge.

Me with my excellent guide, Stijn Brevé, in Guayabo Monument.

Dislikes

None really. My first room was upstairs and I slipped and fell down the metal stairs in the rain, injuring my head. The manager moved me downstairs that night. So, if you are clumsy like me, ask for a downstairs room! 🙂

Nature & Other Activities

Hiking or walking around the beautiful gardens and large farm would have been enough for me and where I got my most photos.
Guayabo National Monument nearby was really good plus I got several birds & butterflies there!
Irazu Volcano was the only one my guide and I could go inside because Turrialba was erupting and closed to the public.
CATIE Botanical Gardens & Research Center in Turrialba town.

Golden Scarab Beetle
Red Vein Indian Mallow Flower
Purple Wreath – Petrea volubilis
Blushing Phantom Clearwing Butterfly
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Poor Man’s Umbrella – Gunnera manicata
Mexican Silverspot
Mexican Silverspot on Red Vein Indian Mallow

Rooms & Food

Both are excellent but not real expensive. Maybe not 5-star but good!

Getting There

If driving, just use your favorite GPS for the best route. From Atenas you will have to go through the outer edge of San Jose and through the middle of Cartago but you bypass the town of Turrialba. It is 90 km or about 2 hours and 18 min according to Google Maps.
By public bus you change buses in San Jose and in Cartago with the destination of Turrialba the town. Take a taxi from the bus terminal in Turrialba to lodge in Santa Cruz (maybe 1 or 2 buses a day passing through Santa Cruz. Ask the hotel.) Use the Costa Rica Bus Schedule site to plan your connections.
There are many shuttles and private drivers you can use. I use Walter’s Taxi & Tours in Atenas.