Hotel de Montaña El Pelicano

Excellent way to end our birding trip to Costa Rica.

Pros: This was our favourite Costa Rica hotel. Our cabin had beautiful views and was ideal for bird watching which is what we came for. We eat breakfast and evening meals at the hotel. The breakfasts were excellent, evening meals good and plenty of choice. If you stick to local options you cannot go wrong. The bed was comfortable and I really appreciated the firm pillows. The blanket were very welcome. Staff and in particular David were friendly and well trained. David gave us the recommendation of going to Talamanca Reserve and it did not disappoint. The best part was sitting out in the morning on the balcony soaking up the atmosphere.

Cons: The restaurant closed early in the evenings so they ended up being quiet as driving in the dark in the area is challenging. The evening weather was not condusive for walking out. Cold in the mornings and evenings, the stove was tricky.

Perfect base for hiking Cerro Chirripó

Pros: We stayed at this hotel the night before climbing Cerro Chirripó, and it was an excellent choice. The staff were very knowledgeable and extremely helpful, offering valuable tips and advice for the hike. Their experience and familiarity with the climb really made a difference. The hotel is located about 2.5 km from the trailhead. They offer a shuttle service, or you can choose to drive yourself and park at the entrance of the national park for a fee. After the hike, we stayed for an additional night and thoroughly enjoyed relaxing by the pool and the peaceful natural surroundings. It’s the perfect place both to prepare for the climb and to unwind afterward. Highly recommended for anyone planning to hike Cerro Chirripó.

Chirripó Base Camp

Pros: Near to Chirripó registration offices for the park and for Crestones, this is a comfortable hotel tucked up on the mountain side with a delicious restaurant and pleasant grounds to walk on. The reception helped us get a ride to the trailhead for our climb, too.

Highly recommended

Pros: We stayed at the hotel for 5 nights and really enjoyed our stay. Amazing views all around, a lovely, well-kept garden. A sense of peace and tranquility. The hotel was within walking distance of restaurants and one supermarket. Our cabin was clean, spacious and tastefully furnished. We were also provided with coffee and sugar for the room. The bed was very comfortable. The hotel staff was kind and helped us with every request. Breakfast on the balcony with the birds chirping around was delicious. We recommend the stay and we would be happy to return.

amazing location and views.fantastic stay

Pros: What an amazing location and the views and property were just stunning. The staff were amazingly helpful and the food in the restaurant was gorgeous. It was also very reasonably priced. We wish we’d booked to stay longer

Pros: The hotel was ideally located to explore Chirripo. It is a family run business and the welcome and attention we received was first class. We booked a standard double room and a junior suite, which were the same price. The standard room was extremely basic and in real need of upgrading. There was no ceiling fan which made the room hot and stuffy and there was insufficient storage space and hangers for clothes. Overall, the hotel facilities were good with a nice pool and lovely grounds. The whole place had a very relaxed feel about it. We really enjoyed our stay and I would recommend it to others. Would have scored this hotel a 10 had the standard room been better.

Gorgeous riverside bungalow - like your own private retreat!

Pros: We stayed in the deluxe waterfront bungalow, which is at a separate location from the rest of the hotel. Their restaurant was closed during our stay so we didn't have dinner, and didn't want breakfast so we spent very little time on the hotel grounds. My review is thus for the bungalow only. That review is...wow!! This building and property was absolutely stunning. It's a beautiful and rustic log cabin, and it's RIGHT next to the river so you have a view you'll never tire of, and hear the rushing sound of water everywhere. And the entry to the property is gated so there's simply no one else around you. They even provided wood to build a fire in the built-in fire pit on the deck. It's like your own private riverside paradise!

Cons: The entries to both the hotel and the riverside bungalow are very steep. Not much they can do about this of course, but it can be a challenge for vehicles without 4x4 or at least newer tires, particularly if it's raining...walking could also be a challenge for anyone with limited mobility.

Nice lodge in good location.

Pros: Location near to national park and private reserves. Good local restaurants with some international options. Good pool, friendly staff.

Cons: Beds hard, plastic mattress covers. Pillows hard.

Amazing place in a beautiful location!

Pros: Very comfortable, amazing gardens with numerous birds around, good value for money, nice restaurant.

Beautiful spot with great birdlife

Pros: What a gorgeous setting and the staff and food at the Pelicano hotel were fabulous. The pool there was also great. The grounds at the place we stayed were really gorgeous with lots of birdlife. This area just gives and gives though. Great places to eat, lovely views, great walks. We loved being really near Kapi Kapi.

Cons: The place we stayed was separate from the hotel and a drive away, just near Kapi Kapi. If you were thinking to step out into the pool that isn't a thing. You are right onto the river though. The driveway was very steep and the gate is temperamental. We had a couple of hairy moments having to reverse back down in the dark. The cabin is pretty with a lovely fire pit but pretty basic. Not enough low lights, not enough comfortable chairs/hammocks (this is pretty classic in CR). It wasn't clear from the listing that the kitchen was in the bedroom as it said there were two bedrooms. The only table was outside. If you had young children it would be unsafe as there is direct access to the river. The two bedrooms in the \