The wood on the door frame was not properly sealed so at night the cold air would come through. It would be better to have metal frames or rubber sealing.

The breakfast and dinner are fantastic. The quality and freshness of the food is second to none in the area. Very comfortable and spacious rooms. Huge bathroom.The location is perfect as its right in front of the river. Great service by the staff.

Stayed in March 2024

Great location, super friendly stuff, amazing food. Full recommendation!

Stayed in April 2024

Cold in the morning but there’s lots of blankets so you can sleep warmly. Some road noise early in the morning.

Beautiful location across from the river. Birders paradise. Very friendly and helpful staff. Comfortable beds. Very clean.

Stayed in March 2024

Coming from the coast the room was pretty cold in the morning, but the ample bedding and blankets made for a very comfortable night's sleep. A small heater might have been nice just to take the chill off when getting up.

This was a perfect stay in this remote valley. The room was comfortable and the staff was very friendly. In addition the restaurant was excellent and not expected in such a remote location. Short distance to hiking trails and the lodge private garden were nice additions.

Stayed in March 2024

This is not a criticism of the lodge, but the road to and from all of the lodges in the valley is steep, windy, and narrow. Take care, especially if you drive the route at night, when it is usually foggy and misty.

My wife and I had a delightful time during our three-day stay in February 2024. This family-developed and run property is perfect for birders or nature lovers who want to view the Resplendent Quetzel and other neotropical mountain birds. The Rio Savegre runs through the valley and the lodges and homesteads all have gardens that attract hummingbirds, tanagers, and North American migrants such as the Tennessee Warbler. Be sure to book at least a morning with Marcos, the resident guide. You cannot believe how quickly he spots the birds, including the Quetzal. The Lauraceas Lodge also has its own garden with trout pond down the road for guests, or fee-paying visitors. Lovely and a fantastic place to photograph birds, including at their fruit feeding station. The cabins provide an understated home base with a focus on the area's natural beauty. The bedroom, sitting area, and bathrooms are roomy, clean, and comfortable. You sleep peacefully to the murmur of the river across the street. The restaurant is excellent we took all of our breakfasts and dinners there. The nearby Sevegre Hotel offers an excellent lunch too after your walk in their nature reserve (entrance fee). Ask for an outdoor balcony table.

Stayed in February 2024

Nothing really though the restaurant evening meal wasnt the greatest.

Lovely room with a very comfortable bed and the best shower. Very Spacious. Restaurant next door. Marco the quetzal guide was excellent and highly recommended. Breakfast very good

Stayed in February 2024

Super friendly and helpful staff. The food was incredible and the rooms are wonderful. You can tell it was all thoughtfully designed. The trails around the property are incredible. Will be back!

Stayed in February 2024

nothing

This family run lodge is beautiful and pristine. The rooms and restaurant look brand new and have great views of the river valley. The curtain separating the front sitting area from the bedroom allows for darkness in the morning, and lets the sunshine come flooding in when opened. There are hummingbirds always flitting and feeding on the flowering shrubs. The restaurant serves a wonderful breakfast and the trout on the dinner menu is raised in their own pond in the fantastic botanical garden on the property. Finally, Marco is an expert birdwatching guide who spotted a quetzal for us and took amazing photos and videos through his scope. This place is truly a Shangri La !!

Stayed in January 2024

Slightly hairy drive down very steep paths!

The views from the bedroom were incredible and so many birds everywhere Lovely food in the restaurant

Stayed in February 2024

We stayed here for 2 nights in January and I really loved the food (thank you for having veg and vegan options!), especially the patacones plate. The rooms were very spacious and comfortable. Firm but comfortable beds. It was lovely having the river right across from our room. They also have their own gardens a short walk away and they are really beautiful and uncrowded. A great place to sit and birdwatch. We hired a guide through them to see the quetzales and we scored! We were also able to hire the same guide for other birding after breakfast. I would definitely stay here again. I also loved the area, the weather is much more my cup of tea. Much cooler than San Jose and Turrialba. San Gerardo de Dota is a little paradise. There are flowers everywhere and the river runs right through the town. I would have loved to have stayed in the area longer.

Stayed in January 2024

Nothing it was all superb.

Everything Amazing meals, great choices & beautifully presented. Great staff Great location Great guide

Stayed in February 2024

It would have been better if we could have stayed for longer! I have nothing negative to say about this stay.

We had high hopes for our stay in San Gerardo de Dota, and Lauraceas Lodge more than met them. The lodge has four spacious cabin/treehouse style rooms, so it's a small hotel compared to others in the valley. Although they overlook the road, being relatively close to the bottom of the valley meant the road was quiet and at no point did we feel like this was a negative - the bubbling noise of the Savegre River (just across the road) was an everpresent and relaxing sound. The room was comfortable, with two very comfy beds. No air conditioning means that in the afternoon with the windows closed it was a little stuffy - but easily solved by opening the windows for a while. The quantity of duvets provided for the beds are more than sufficient for cold mornings (we stayed in January), and the provided coffee helped too. The food in the restaurant manages to be simultaneously delicious, moderately priced and of large serving sizes. For an indulgent treat, the happy hour at the bar with a slice of cake is a fun way to spend an hour in the afternoon. The restaurant and bar were generally quiet, and never crowded or noisy - perfect. It wouldn't be possible to write a review without mentioning the birding. Lauraceas helped us book Quetzal Tours on two mornings, which were relatively affordable compared to equivalent tours offered elsewhere in the valley (and for the same overall experience). The guides were friendly and knowledgeable and we had a great time. The standout highlight though was returning from the 0515 start for the Quetzal tour for breakfast at the restaurant, only to see another pair of Quetzals in the trees above the river - easily our best view. Watching the entire restaurant empty onto the street - staff and guests alike - was a unexpected but genuinely pleasant moment in our trip. Away from Quetzals, the Lauraceas Gardens (100-200m down the road) are beautiful, and attract a number of birds including some mountain specialities. 100% recommend.

Stayed in January 2024

This place is amazing. The flowers, the gardens, the birds and the river! The families here work hard and love to share their community. The trout is amazing! Lots to do and see, yet sit back and relax!

Stayed in February 2024

Couldn't really sit out on the balcony-was too small and faced the side rather than the river. Was a bit cold at night. Need to supply slippers and robe! A mini fridge would have been good.

Stylish room with modern facilities and large bathroom. Food and staff lovely.

Stayed in February 2024

We booked a cabin a here on short notice and couldn’t have been happier with our choice. The setting is beautiful, and their botanical garden is filled with fabulous flowers and plants. To top it off, the food in the restaurant is excellent. So glad we stayed at Lauraceas rather than something larger up the valley!

Stayed in January 2024

Nothing about the property, however rude Northern European Birders need to watch their manners especially when staying at the property of such well mannered people.

The cabin was beautiful, all timber which smelled amazing and was fitting for the location. Beautiful big windows looking out towards the river and the absolute best shower we had in a 13 day trip. Alicia who's grandfather was one the pioneers of the valley was absolutely delightful and provided us with outstanding service, and it was fantastic to learn her families history. We genuinely hope to come back and visit again.

Stayed in December 2023

Beautiful place, nice people. Excellent service!!!

Stayed in January 2024

Fantastic place to experience a quieter area of Cloud Forest, watch the birds, enjoy the gardens and go for explorative walks nearby. Comfy beds and great shower. Super tasty breakfast, we felt spoilt here.

Stayed in December 2023

Nothing

Beautiful location, with lovely gardens to enjoy and great walks along the riverside. Lots of hummingbirds for birders. The staff were super friendly and hard working, made our stay all the more enjoyable. Would definitely recommend. We stayed as a family of 4 with two children 9&11, and the space worked really well for us. You could close off the curtains in the evening for privacy if needed.

Stayed in December 2023

Perfect place among cloud forest to see the fauna. Expectionally preserved cloudforest that every nature lover should see.. Little bit curvy and demanding roads to get there. Still worth the effort. You can see that the owners put their heart to running this place

Stayed in November 2023

Room did not seem to have central heating; I think an electrical heater can be requested. I was fine with a down jacket during a rainy afternoon.

Spacious room with sofa and large beds, fantastic shower, good breakfast. Nice view of the river (next to the road). The gardens further down the road are beautiful.

Stayed in November 2023

Nothing

We loved our stay here. The room was so comfortable and cute. The food was excellent. The surrounding area is gorgeous. I was concerned I was going to be cold, but I didn’t find it to be very cold at all. Highly recommend!

Stayed in November 2023

Room damp without requesed fan heaters Difficult to dry outdoor clothes

Location Great Beautiful botanical garden and riverside setting Great food too

Stayed in November 2023

It gets quite cold here at night; we would have liked to have had a heater in the room on our first night. The staff did offer a portable one upon check in, but we didn't think we'd need it so didn't request one until our second night. Our sleep quality improved significantly!

The staff were kind and attentive. They helped us coordinate a quetzal watching tour (a must!), and they offer a good discount at a great nearby spa. The room was spacious and we loved having views of the trees and the river from our bed. The food was so good we had dinner here twice, despite having other great choices in town!

Stayed in September 2023