El Silencio Lodge & Spa

Style

Eco suites on stilts

Setting

Cloud forest canopy

A 500-acre tropical forest, a river winding through the grounds, three waterfalls cascading down the mountainside – if it’s back-to-nature you want, El Silencio Lodge & Spa hotel will give it to you in eco-friendly spades. Take in picture-perfect panoramas from an outdoor hot tub, greet the sunrise from the yoga deck, and feast on natural, organic food. It’s what nature intended, only better.

Facilities

Rooms

24, including 18 suites and six villas.

Checkout

11am, and check-in is at 3pm.

More Details

Included in the resort fee are daily breakfasts, a welcome drink, mountain bikes, daily yoga, archery, afternoon hot chocolate and access to nature trails. Over the festive season (20 December to 4 January) a two-night minimum stay is required.

Also

Sit back and let the wildlife come to you. The groundskeepers planted purple verbena flowers around each cabin’s viewing deck to lure hummingbirds. Keen eyes can also spot wild pheasants, sparrows, blue tanagers and, possibly, the iridescent, long-tailed quetzal.

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Spa

At the Hotel

Gardens, spa, private nature reserve, library of books, free WiFi in the restaurant and bar. In rooms: iPod dock, outdoor whirlpool tub, minibar, viewing deck with rocking chairs, and bath products by Costa Rican line Aromas para el Alma. Villas have LCD TVs too.

Our Favourite Rooms

All rooms have the same floor plan and feel very private, with dramatic views from the floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as from the hot tub on each deck. The Suites higher up the hill feel more like they are situated in a cloud forest. Opt for 11, which attracts hummingbirds to the plants around its porch.

Packing Tips

Pack light on bath products: El Silencio’s biodegradable potions are packed with natural goodies such as lavender and peppermint, (which handily double as all-natural bug repellents). Bring clothes for all temperatures (preferably in shades of green, naturally).

Also

Each Suite is assigned an Eco Concierge, who leads your courtesy hike, coordinates activities, can arrange tree-plantings and can point out flora and fauna.

Children

All ages are very welcome. They can sleep on day-beds (two children in suites, four in villas). Babysitting can be arranged for US$15, with 48 hours’ notice.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

The glass-walled dining makes it easy to watch the world go by from any table. If the weather is warm, take a table on the terrace, where the babbling river sets the soundtrack.

Dress Code

Jungle-casual rules the resort. Closed-toed shoes will keep you safe on impromptu after-dinner walks.

Hotel Restaurant

The hotel’s Los Ventanas restaurant focuses on hyper-local fare, using produce from the hotel’s own mini organic farm to create dishes that celebrate Costa Rica’s culinary clout. This means a wide array of just-plucked veggies and herbs, fresh eggs for breakfast, and you can try to catch your own dinner in the hotel's trout ponds. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame lush forest greenery, and after-dark a fireplace and candlelit tables create a romantic atmosphere.

Hotel Bar

Warm and inviting, El Silencio’s Toro Bohemio Bar is the perfect place to unwind after an adventurous day of exploring. Thirst-quenchers include locally-inspired and classic cocktails, an extensive wine list and ice-cold beer. We recommend a couple pints of the hotel’s own home brews: El Silencio and La Gritona.

Last Orders

Las Ventanas serves dinner from 7pm¬ to 9:30pm (breakfast is 7am–10am; lunch, noon–3pm). The bar’s open until 10pm.

Planes

San Jose’s Juan Santamaría International (SJO) is the closest airport at 70km away. The airport is served by United Airlines (www.united.com), British Airways (www.britishairways.com) and TACA (www.taca.com). Flights operate from New York, Madrid, Miami, Toronto and other international cities. There's a departure tax of about US$26.

Automobiles

Driving from San Jose takes about 90 minutes. The nearest city, Sarchi, is a 30-minute drive. Parking at El Silencio is free and easy.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Your personal Eco Concierge can arrange for a tree-planting in the cloud forest surrounding the hotel. Your seedling will be tagged with a commemorate card marking your efforts, and El Silencio will send you periodic updates on the your addition to the preserve.

The 2,000-acre Hacienda Pozo Azul (www.pozoazul.com) is an eco park and working ranch in the tropical rain forest. The park is packed with more natural adventures than any theme park could build. Try white-water rafting on the Sarapiqui River, sail over the trees and river on a canopy zipline, rappel down the canyon or try a free-fall from a platform built high on a tree trunk. The park also includes horse-riding tours on the Hacienda trails.

Arrange a day trip to hike the nearby Poas, an active volcano with two crater lakes and numerous geysers. Visit early in the day for the clearest views of the top.

Stock up on souvenirs from nearby Sarchí. The town is renowned for its arts and crafts, including colourful, decorative ox carts, which were once used to haul coffee from plantations to markets. Woodworkers in the town also produce decorative kitchenware, furniture and masks.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .