El Sol

Had an amazing time at this really stunning lodge. The host could not do enough for us from when we arrived to when we left. The food was spot on, especially as we arrived late (past 9pm). The pool and grounds are well worth the mountain drive. Lots to do in and around the lodge but you will definitely need a car. Highly recommend this lodge as a place to stay. Big up

El Sol just became one of our favorite hotels we’ve ever stayed at, although it’s more like hotel meets home meets bed and breakfast in paradise. We were looking for a quiet and relaxing place to stay in the Monteverde area and I’m not sure we could’ve found a more perfect spot to relax and unplug. Javier is a phenomenal owner who made sure all of our needs were taken care of every step of the way. He and Siân helped us plan our activities around Monteverde and were available at a moment’s notice via WhatsApp, even making last minute changes to our itinerary as our requests changed. We did not rent a car but Javier and Siân arranged for rides and Javier even drove us into town one afternoon. While the hotel is about a ten minute drive into town, the peaceful setting was a well needed escape to tranquility. The cabins are charming and are surrounded by jungle-like gardens that make you feel like you’re in a treehouse. The staff brought us breakfast to our cabin both mornings and we also ordered dinner one night to the cabin., which has every amenity you need, making it feel like home. We ate on the porch, had a morning visit from a Magpie-Jay, chilled on a hammock and also scheduled a massage after a day of hiking. The infinity pool and sun deck were peaceful and the views stunning. This was our first trip to Costa Rica, and we have many other places we want to visit, but El Sol will be on our itinerary again next time because of the memorable time we spent.

El Sol is a magical place! We stayed two nights and wish we could have stayed several more. The grounds are lovely, with mountain views for miles. The casitas are arranged so that each is completely private. The infinity pool is especially gorgeous and there's a sun deck overlooking it that is a great place to start your day with a yoga practice. At night you can see and hear frogs by the ponds and watch the stars. The breakfasts are delicious and bountiful, delivered to your room. We also ordered dinner one night and it was one of the best meals we had in Costa Rica. Sian was very helpful over email before we checked in. Two caveats: you do need a car here and if you are mobility challenged, it's probably not for you. Our shower was charming, but rather challenging to climb in and out of.

An incredible experience, with a natural and exclusive atmosphere. Javier and Sian were very friendly & ever helpful. The food was amazing - delivered to the Chalet. The views were amazing. Such a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Thank you

Just a beautiful, truly magical place. I went with my sister and 18-month-old daughter in May, and we all fell completely in love with everything about El Sol. For starters, the incredible people who curate and care for the hotel, the grounds, and the guests are beyond special. From the moment Javier picked us up in Tamarindo, we were learning tons from him and seeing new dimensions of Costa Rica everywhere we looked, though we'd already been in-country for a while. Things only got better once we actually arrived at El Sol. We were in the "Sunny Villa," which is ideal for families and so charming. There was something to love in every corner, from the sun-soaked indoor garden and peaceful back patio down to all the live edge furniture and vibrant quilts. And Susannah helped us plan an unforgettable stay -- birdwatching in the cloud forest, horseback riding to nearby hot springs, in-room massage, a private yoga session, and dinner in the village. Hard to believe we were only there for 2.5 days! But it all felt worthwhile and rejuvenating — Susannah's guide/provider recommendations in particular were stellar, and she's an excellent yoga teacher. And folks everywhere went above and beyond to make things toddler-friendly and fun, including the riding and hiking. (We even saw quetzals on our cloud forest bridge walk, something I'm always going to cherish sharing with my daughter and sister.) Everything exceeded our expectations by leaps and bounds — it's only taken me this long to write a review because I hardly knew where to begin. When I asked my sister to weigh in, she had this to say: "Of course the surrounding nature was gorgeous, but the design details of the lodge are stunning. Bright, beautiful colors, airy open architecture in our suite, and overall, a cheery yet tasteful aesthetic — as the owners were trained in design, too! Susannah also makes bold, inspired art that's in many of the spaces, making them feel both lived-in and welcoming. We loved her original paintings so much we bought some to take home. Simply cannot wait to visit our friends at El Sol again." More than anything, though, El Sol just had this grounded, serene, welcoming energy we didn't even realize we needed till we were immersed in it. If you're looking for a bustling scene, heated pool, or standard resort vibe — or you'd like to be near nature but not actually in it — this is not the spot for you. (You'll definitely get a tropical bug or two flying around your room if you leave the patio door open past dusk!) But for us, it was perfect. We could've spent our entire stay on the grounds, or even in our villa, and probably had the same amazing time, just lounging in the indoor garden, taking in the breathtaking scenery from the pool, or having a fantastic home-made lunch on the patio. (Our villa had a kitchen, but we mostly took advantage of the "room service" menu — fresh, delicious local cuisine prepared and delivered by some exceedingly nice ladies next door.) And bec

El Sol is of the most special places I have ever stayed. The site is beautiful, up in the hills above Santa Elena with a cute swimming pool, stream and swing. I don’t think the photos on the website can begin to do it justice. Our cabin was stunning - really well equipped, thoughtfully laid out, comfy bed, spacious living area and huge balcony with hammock looking west, so perfect for watching the sunset. The mother of the current owner was an artist, and this is evident throughout the whole property - even the hangars in the closet were hand-painted! The breakfasts were first rate too, beautifully presented and tasted fantastic. And I can’t speak highly enough of the brilliant Javier, one of the most friendly and helpful hosts ever. He helped us arrange tours, transport and even picked up takeout for us! Staying at El Sol really is a first rate experience from beginning to end. Don’t hesitate; just book!