Another favorite lodge, for both birds & hiking on their property and their excellent guides to help you find birds in the 3 main reserves of Monteverde. And believe me that it is worth the cost to have a guide take you through each of the 3 national park reserves, especially if you want to photograph birds.
Monteverde is in the mountains like San Gerardo de Dota, but a totally different feel or atmosphere, being very “touristy” and much more crowded than San Gerardo de Dota with a whole lot more public and commercial venues to visit, thus some may prefer this while I prefer the quieter, less crowded, more “away-from-it-all” San Gerardo de Dota which is also the better place to see and photograph the Resplendent Quetzal, though you may see one or two in Monteverde. Read more about this lodge and Monteverde on their website, Monteverde Lodge & Gardens, which by the way, is affiliated with the Tortuga Lodge & Gardens in Tortuguero, my new favorite there. And yes, both are on the more expensive side of both areas, but worth it in my opinion. 🙂
Would you return there?
Yes! In fact I had a reservation for Christmas week 2024 and had to cancel because of a required medical appointment.
Likes
- Some of the best birding guides I’ve had. And you see more birds (and photograph more) with a good guide into each of the three main national reserves there. I returned with photos of 43 species! They are getting close to my bird counts at Maquenque & Arenal Observatory! 🙂
- A quiet, relaxing lodge in the midst of a very hectic tourist town with lots of commercialism.
- The staff helps you to have a good experience in Monteverde.
Dislikes
- None that I can remember.
BIRDS Slideshow from Monteverde . . .
Nature & Other Activities
- I used the hotel guides for the three national park Reserves named: Curi-Cancha, Santa Elena and Monteverde.
- On my own I visited the smaller Bajo del Tigre Reserve with not as many species but my best photo of a Three-wattled Bellbird and only shot of an Armadillo.
- Also on my own I visited the expensive Selvatura Adventure Park mainly for their excellent “Treetops Bridges,” their hummingbird garden and butterfly house, though the butterfly garden at hotel was better! 🙂 Of course they have ziplines & a lot of other activities beyond my nature. 🙂
- The lodge’s Activities Page lists many more activities including Selvatura’s competitor park called Sky Adventure Monteverde, Coffee & Chocolate & Sugar Cane Farm tours (2), Orchid Garden, and Night Hike which is very good!
Other NATURE Slideshow . . .
Rooms & Food
- Very nice rooms & Suites of all sizes available and my small room looked out over their gardens which was nice with a little outside private patio.
- The restaurant is first class with excellent food!
Getting There
- The drive from Atenas is 115 km or 2 1/2 hours.
- Public Buses from Atenas to Monteverde (Santa Elena) go through Orotina & Esparza to Monteverde twice a day for about a 5 hour ride on 2 buses. See schedules on https://thebusschedule.com/cr/
- Of course Walter or any other tour company can take you there. Sansa does not fly to Monteverde because it is too windy up there on the mountain. 🙂
My Photo Gallery
- Click the gallery image below to go there or go to this web address: https://charliedoggett.smugmug.com/TRIPS/2019-April-7-13-Monteverde-Lodge-Gardens
My Photo Book
- It includes a few shots from an earlier visit with the Birding Club when we stayed in cheap cabins and my extra time there then in different cheap cabins. No review of those cabins but there are several there in Monteverde. CLICK the book cover to see a FREE PREVIEW in my bookstore or go directly to this web address: https://www.blurb.com/b/9427058-monteverde
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¡Pura Vida!
