El Silencio Lodge & Spa Costa Rica

It’s definitely a 5 stars place. Food was amazing and tasty. Bedrooms are very comfortable and clean. It’s perfect for couples, the place is quiet and natural. Perfect to rest and connect with yourself We celebrate a birthday, There is always live music and the staff sang with the violin man. Unforgettable!

El Silencio was the highlight of our family vacation. I was traveling with my son, daughter in law, and 4 year old twins. The staff were ALL so wonderful, especially Julio who drove our cart to take us for dining and sight seeing. The landscaping was beautiful, the food beyond delicious, and the afternoon hot chocolate to die for. Liv, the girl twin, wanted Anyale, the dining room hostess, to come home with us!

We have been to many places around the world, and this place was by far or favorite stay. Rather than a complicated Costa Rica trip, we decided to start at El Solencio the whole 7 days. We were a bit worried we might be bored. That was never a problem, and we could have stayed far longer. Experience: after an extensive uphill drive to the tiny town of Bajos Del Toro, this place impressed from the minute we drive through the gate. In the afternoon, a light mist descends on the jungle (or "cloud forest"), serving as a stunning and dramatic backdrop for the beautiful architecture of the resort buildings. Every staff member is kind and amazingly friendly, and we have never experienced such attention to detail to help guests have a stay that isn't just great, but memorable. Food: there are 2-3 restaurants in the 300-person town, which is a short walk through a not-very-pedestrian friendly road. For the most part though, we ate at the resort restaurant. The chef was really great, with a cuisine that is influenced by his Peruvian background, the Costa Rican setting, and various other world dishes. The breakfast was free, and had every breakfast dish you could think of prepared flawlessly. If this restaurant was in NYC, it might have a Michelin star. The dinner prices aren't cheap but aren't expensive by American standards (entrees average $25-30 USD). The wait staff is patient and friendly, as with all the staff at this resort. The villa was flawless and beautiful. The Staff: The resort's Manager, Pedro, manages to find people that truly try to be the best at their job, taking every customer request as a mission. We try very hard to be easy and courteous guests, but one gets the impression that the staff here can handle anyone with grace. The restaurant supervisor Danny was very helpful and responsive. The front desk is run by the very talented and friendly Fernanda. The driver, Bryam, is very friendly and personable, and we enjoyed hanging out with him on our various rides. The one person that really made our stay though was Jeancarlo - if you can get him as a guide on resort events or excursions, we can't recommend him highly enough. After our week there, we consider him a friend, and we were very impressed by his knowledge of local wildlife. I hope the resort works hard to keep him on staff because he really transformed our stay to a singular experience. Tips: There is a bar! It's great! We didn't really notice it for our first few days but don't sleep on it. Even the mocktails are great. The Arenal volcano tour with hot springs was fun, but it is expensive. There is so much wildlife at the resort, they own a lot of land with hiking trails and waterfalls. But if you want a greater chance of seeing certain animals like toucans, monkeys, or sloths, consider a side tour to the lowlands where those animals are more common (such as La Fortuna area).

Very nice resort, great customer service with a good restaurant and bar. The hikes and zip line are well organized, I will say that $100 per person for the zip line is on the high side. The cabins are wonderful, very conformable with plenty of space, comfortable beds and plenty of hot water, the private hot tubs is a wonderful touch.

Luxury in the beautiful cloud forest. Everything about the Lodge is spectacular and an understated luxury. All the staff without exception are friendly and helpful. The rooms are individual cabins nestled in the forest with total privacy and they are superb. A deck with a rocking sofa for relaxation, an amazing hot tub and the most comfortable bed possible. Breakfast is included and has all the choices you can want plus the “Tico” breakfast. All prepared to order and excellent. Dinner was delicious, the mushroom tagliatelle and the lo temperature beef ribs outstanding. Again the service was impeccable. The complimentary activities added to our experience and the secluded 500 acres of rainforest and waterfalls made our stay relaxing and enjoyable. Our thanks to each and every one of the staff for an amazing time. No one could possibly regret staying here it’s wonderful and exceptional

Amazing experience, fantastic place to rest, meditate and get away from the stress. The food in the restaurant is very good, the hotel has high quality facilities, everything is surrounded by rivers and nature, and the personal is friendly and helpful. One of the best vacations I have ever had.