Talamanca Nature Reserve

I stayed here after almost three weeks travelling around Costa Rica with an organised tour. I have stayed in some great places but they saved the best until last. This place was amazing. The staff take customer service to a whole new level. The rooms are huge and completely spotless. The food is fantastic and very reasonably priced. The scenery is to die for. A really wonderful place. If you ever visit Costa Rica this has to be top of your list of places to stay.

We visited just the restaurant for lunch, and it was superby. It was very quiet (we were the only ones there at the time). We sat outside in the lovely gardens, watched the birds, and had a great meal which was served quickly. It is a bit of a drive to get there, but the peacefulness of the surroundings is worth the effort. I recommend the chocolate pie for desert.

Our experience during our visit to Talamanca was over the top. We had Valentine’s Day dinner, which was the red tuna, and for dessert a passion, fruit cheesecake the whole meal was to die, for.we also hiked reserve very peaceful. The gardens in front of the restaurant are great for bird!!

We loved Talamanca Nature Reserve! The property is fantastic and well cared for. The trails well maintained and the signs make it easy to find your way to the river, to the various waterfalls, to the gazebo, to the ancient forest and more. The riverside cabins were very clean and comfortable and we woke up to bird song every morning. The food is delicious and healthy. Plenty of great drinks, from margaritas and wine and beer to smoothies and lemonade. We hired Carlos to take us bird watching and saw many bird species right along the trails of the property. The best of our experience was the staff! Kenneth, Moises, Matteo, Nazareth, Anna, and all who work there are warm, knowledgeable, professional, accommodating, helpful, welcoming. We will return. My husband and friends and I highly recommend staying at this nature reserve and experiencing the cloud forest of Costa Rica! Plus the cute little town is walking distance and there is the Secret Garden you could also walk to. See all 10 photos below, all taken from the Talamanca Nature Reserve!

Some of the reviews talk about this as a magical place. I tend to be skeptical about comments like that but it's a fair characterization in this case. It really is quite special - beautiful property, a huge reserve with many different environments from garden to riparian to wet montane, well-maintained and well marked trail system, comfortable cabins with pleasant landscaping, a small restaurant with surprisingly excellent food, and attentive but low key service. For hiking, this is a great alternative to parque nacional chirripo - the same variety of environments in a more accessible package for the individual looking to hike for a few days without the preparation required for the park. This isn't for the traveler looking for luxury. But for those looking for comfort in a low key outdoorsy environment -forward setting, this will be a match. The cabins are simple but complete and more than comfortable. Fast and reliable WiFi, good beds, great shower and hot water. Restaurant is simple and not cheap, but not really expensive either and well worth the price. We spent one morning with the guide David. He was great - a native of the area who started birdwatching as a kid, he's knowledgeable, observant, enthusiastic and patient. And supportive of our wish to do as much of the hike in Spanish as possible. Gracias David! Finally, Moises and his staff are kind, friendly, and earnest in their desire to provide service. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this experience to anyone looking for a place to comfortably enjoy the cordillera.

This was one of the best hotels I have ever stopped in. The wildlife around it and the beautiful setting were outstanding. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff who were friendly, courteous and extremely efficient. If you are looking for ultímate luxury, this may not be the hotel for you but if you are looking to stay in comfort in a uniquely magical environmentally, do not miss this experience. The food was all freshly prepared on site and the excellent meals were all sourced locally.