Rainforest, Mountain Scenery and National Parks

Buena Vista Hotel

San Jose - First Hotel

Buena Vista hotel is a Spanish colonial style resort located just outside San Jose, at the top of a mountain offering panoramic views of three volcanoes in the Central Valley - Poas, Barva and Irazu. It is a super place to stay when you arrive in Costa Rica.

The hotel has 30 air-conditioned and comfortable rooms. Deluxe standard rooms have private bathroom, TV and mini-bar.

Public facilities include the Quetzal Grille restaurant, of international and typical cuisine, a bar, an outdoor pool, gift shop, masseuse, free WiFi, and lush gardens ideal for walks.

Grano de Oro

San Jose - First Hotel

Situated on a shady street just off Paseo Colon, San Jose's main street, the Hotel Grano de Oro is a welcome retreat in the heart of this bustling city. Converted from a tropical Victorian mansion, the hotel preserves the warmth and comfort of a private home, with its atrium terrace and corridors of sparkling fountains and lush tropical plants.

There is a rooftop deck ideal for sunbathing and also featuring a Jacuzzi. The hotel's restaurant is one of the best in San Jose and offers continental cuisine in an intimate and cordial atmosphere.

Hotel Presidente

San Jose - First Hotel

The Presidente Hotel is located in the heart of San José in the pedestrian zone of Central Avenue, 2 blocks from the National Theatre and the Cultural Square. The hotel has over 100 comfortable and spacious rooms, which all include cable TV, air conditioning, safety box and en-suite bathroom. The hotel offers amenities such as a restaurant-bar, a casino, and a spa with beauty treatments.

Tortuga Lodge

Tortuguero Forest & Canals - Deluxe Lodge

Overview and location

Tortuga Lodge and Gardens was the first upscale lodge built in Tortuguero National Park on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast and remains the most comfortable place to stay in the area. Facing the Tortuguero River in its own 146 acre estate, the lodge offers a quiet, eco-friendly experience with solar powered energy, locally sourced ingredients and attractive and wooden buildings with a laid-back, tropical, yet classic design. The lodge has 20 hectares of attractively landscaped gardens with ornamental tropical trees, palms, shrubs, orchids, and other flowers that attract birds, lizards and butterflies.

Why stay here?

In a remote place like this, running a quality eco lodge with comfortable accommodation and a high standard of service is not easy, but Tortuga Lodge has got it right. Rustic elegance in the jungle.

Rooms

The 2 storey room blocks are set among the tropical gardens, with 11 downstairs terrace rooms, 12 upstairs balcony rooms, 1 large Penthouse suite and 2 family junior suites - all facing the river. The spacious rooms have quality beds, large en suite bathrooms with shower, ceiling fans and rocking chairs and hammocks in the outside terrace. There is a no smoking policy, no air conditioning or television - you will appreciate the sounds of the tropical rain forest - including a wake up call from a local howler monkey!

Food and drink

The reception, bar and superb restaurant are located in the main building built on the riverside, with veranda dining next to the water. The chef delights the guests with local and international dishes served in creative ways. All meals are served at your table. Veloso Tours recommends the full meal plan. An a la carte menu is available for all meals.

Facilities and activities

The lodge offers free Wi-Fi throughout. The stunning infinity pool features an environmentally-friendly purification system so the water does not irritate the eyes - a perfect place to relax after adventures in the jungle and the lodge's gardens. Expert-led excursions by boat exploring Tortuguero National Park are available from the lodge. These can be arranged in advance with your Veloso Tours UK travel advisor.

From July to October, the highlight in Tortuguero is standing a few feet from a 300-pound Green Sea Turtle while she lays 80-100 eggs, covers up her nest, perhaps digs a false nest to throw off predators, and finally, after more than an hour, returns to the sea.

Prices

Veloso Tours prices include room, local taxes and all meals. Packages including flight transfers from San Jose and excursions are also available. The National Park entrance fee is not included (USD $15.00 per person).

Families

Families with teenagers will appreciate the hotel's partnership with a local school where they can help teach local children with their English. Must be pre-arranged with our travel advisor. Families stay in a junior family suite with 2 beds (1 king) sleeping up to 4. Younger families benefit from up to 2 children aged 10 or younger staying FREE if sharing a room with 2 adults. The lodge offers a special 3 night family expedition package including transfers, room, meals and full excursion programme.

                                                                                           Please call us for a quote - 0208 762 0616

Manatus hotel

Tortuguero Forest & Canals - Luxury Hotel

The Manatus Hotel is located 2.5km from Tortuguero town centre, very close to the airstrip that you fly into thus avoiding a long transfer by road. It is also one of the few properties that sit directly on a strip of land separating the Caribbean Sea from several canals. With only 12 bungalows with 2 Queen beds each, it really is a unique place to stay surrounded by stunning scenery. Each air-conditioned luxury bungalow has a private patio with an outdoor shower - plus TV, bathroom, FREE Wi-Fi and mini-bar.

Public areas include a bar, excellent restaurant with a la carte international menu combined with the exquisite traditional Costa Rican cuisine, a spa, gym and swimming pool. There is also a small, on-site gallery of local art.

Manatus Hotel also features some private trails to enjoy the natural surroundings and the possibilities to observe the wildlife, as well as a dock where you can enjoy the views of the calm waters of the lagoon. Kayaks can be rented to cruise the canals.

One of the biggest attractions of the region are the nesting of the sea turtles. As well as our included adventures by boat, you can also take optional guided hikes into the jungle.

Mawamba River Lodge

Tortuguero Forest & Canals - Tourist Lodge

Nestled in the lush rainforest, the lodge is the ideal hideaway for nature lovers and the perfect place to discover the wonders of the Tortuguero National Park. All the spacious and comfortable rooms are built in wood to blend in with the exuberant jungle vegetation and all feature a private bathroom with hot water and ceiling fans and offer tranquil garden views. There is a family style restaurant where you eat 3 meals a day, a pool area, games room and palapas with hammocks tucked away in the gardens - perfect for relaxing!

Every evening, there are lectures on the Tortuguero area in the conference room and you are always free to investigate the 15-acres of private nature trails, featuring an open sky butterfly farm.

The Lodge provides transfers by bus and boat, all meals, regular tours and taxes; the entrance fee to the National Park is not included.

Arenal Volcano Inn

Arenal Volcano Park - Tourist Hotel

Arenal Volcano Inn is a cozy hotel located in front of the Arenal Volcano, just minutes away from the main attractions in Arenal National Park.

The hotel has just 25 rooms, from standard to deluxe. Each is air-conditioned with FREE Wi-Fi, private bathroom with shower, cable TV, mini bar, safe and telephone. Choose from a garden or volcano view.

Public areas include beautiful gardens with exotic plants, colourful birds and other animals. There is also  the Que Rico Arenal Restaurant offering excellent Italian, International, and Costa Rican cuisine. The restaurant offers a spectacular view of the volcano. The wood fired pizza is a must try for those who visit Que Rico Arenal.

The hotel can arrange a wide variety of activities, including zip wire adventures, treks, boat trips, horse riding and coffee plantation tours.

Arenal Manoa Hotel

Arenal Volcano Park - First Hotel

Located a short drive from Arenal Volcano in a very natural and private environment, surrounded by the La Palma River, the Arenal Manoa Hotel is an ideal refuge for the great diversity of birds, mammals, lizards, and a large variety of plants. Surrounded by gardens, pastures and animals, the rooms have been designed so that each one offers you a panoramic view of the volcano.

Each of their 80 rooms is equipped with two queen sized beds, air conditioning, satellite television, private bath with hot water and a hair dryer, telephone, terrace with a view of the volcano, refrigerator, safe-deposit box and coffee maker.

You can enjoy the spacious gardens as well as see the daily operations of a typical Costa Rican farm - a farming tour is included. The hotel has an international restaurant, two swimming pools, Jacuzzi, wet bar, souvenir shop, Free Wi-Fi at the reception.

Arenal Springs

Arenal Volcano Park - First Resort

Arenal Springs Resort is the ideal combination of modern comfort and exuberant tropical surrounding. The rooms are all in semi-detached bungalows spread over a wide area directly facing Arenal Volcano. Each room has a patio with seating, as well as air conditioning. The hotel also has its own hot springs, which feed into a number of hot tubs and pool of different temperatures, all of which guests can enjoy at their leisure. There is also a spa, a yoga studio, and two restaurants.

Fonda Vela

Monteverde Cloud Forest - First Hotel

The Fonda Vela Hotel is located in beautiful Monteverde, featuring six buildings within a 35 acre property and just a 15 minutes walk away from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. The views of the Gulf of Nicoya from the hotel's 1400 meters elevation are spectacular. All rooms have large windows with views of the forest, private bathroom and telephone. All 20 junior suites have a small refrigerator, table, king and queen-size beds, a comfortable sofa and 14 also have a TV. There are two restaurants, La Chimenea perfect for a relaxing evening meal.

Senda Monteverde Hotel

Monteverde Cloud Forest - First Hotel

Perfectly located in Monteverde National Park, the Senda Monteverde Hotel is an ideal base to enjoy the cloud forest, mountain air and many activities.

The is a sustainable luxury hotel with an elegant and contemporary design, adorned with local artwork and little nooks to relax in a peaceful atmosphere.

The 24 guest rooms and suites with porches overlook the gardens or the Pacific Ocean in the distance. Each spacious room has fans, coffee station, mini bar, living space, covered terrace, and Wi-Fi. There are four room categories, with the upgraded rooms with a greater living area and some 2 bedroom casitas (ideal for families).

The Sapo Restaurant offers local and international cuisine plus there is a bar and lounge

In the loft you can to practice yoga, read or participate on different talks.

Hotel Belmar

Monteverde Cloud Forest - First Hotel

Nestled in the mountains adjacent to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the Hotel Belmar, offers 22 rooms with spectacular views. With personalized service in a comfortable rustic atmosphere, the hotel has a distinctly Alpine style with its wooden panelling, and is still managed by the family of the original owners. The spacious rooms have all private balconies with seating, and large windows overlooking the valley: On a clear day you can also see the Pacific Ocean.

The restaurant/ bar is decorated with wooden sculptures with balconies for al fresco dining and serves modern Costa Rican food, as well as homemade artisan cocktails. The hotel takes great pride in its environmentally friendly credentials: all of the food that they serve comes either from local farms or their own organic garden. There is a small spa for treatments, and a glass gazebo with a Jacuzzi in the garden.

Finca Rosa Blanca

San Jose - First Resort

Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn is situated above the beautiful Central Valley of Costa Rica, offering amazing views of volcanoes, cloud forests and coffee plantations and nestled amongst 10 acres amid hundreds of fruit trees and tropical flora. It offers luxurious rooms including mini bar, Jacuzzi bath and private verandas overlooking the Valley. Each room has its own decoration allowing its unique atmosphere.

The hotel provides lots of amenities such as games room, large swimming pool, TV and reading area and 2 large dinner tables for group dining. The restaurant offers a spectacular view of the coffee plantation and serves delicious local cuisine with fresh products.

Xandari Resort

San Jose - First Boutique

Xandari Resort and Spa is perfectly located for excursions to Poas Volcano, La Paz waterfall gardens, and Doka coffee plantation, and is only 30 minutes’ drive from San Jose International airport. Over 3km of scenic trails through coffee and fruit orchards lead into a lush natural tropical setting with a year-round river and five beautiful waterfalls.

The hotel consists of 24 comfortable and spacious villas, decorated in bright colours and adorned with original works of art. Set on top of a hill on a 40 acre coffee and fruit plantation, all the rooms are overlooking the Costa Rica's Central Valley, featuring private terrace. Each room has a bar kitchen and a private bathroom with toiletries. The resort has 3 swimming pools, with one overlooking the valley, as well as a spa offering a variety of treatments.