Cloud Forest Lodge Review: Eco-luxury in Monteverde

Our family recently stayed at Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde and was excited to experience one of the area’s more upscale ecolodges. Monteverde is known for its incredible cloud forest environment, and we wanted to find a hotel that would let us enjoy this unique ecosystem while still having comfortable accommodations. Here’s our honest take on the lodge and what you can expect during your stay.

Note: This is an unbiased review based on our personal experience. We paid for our stay at Cloud Forest Lodge and received no compensation. We share our honest opinions to help you plan your trip. Read more of our hotel reviews for properties all around the country.

Overview

Cloud Forest Lodge is a small, upscale ecolodge nestled high on a hill in Monteverde, surrounded by pristine cloud forest. Despite feeling secluded and immersed in nature, the lodge is conveniently located. It’s about a 10-minute drive to downtown Santa Elena where you’ll find restaurants, shops, and other amenities.

The property sits on a 23-hectare (57-acre) private nature reserve with trails. This creates a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere that takes you away from the hustle and bustle of the busier main area of town. Whether you’re planning to visit the hanging bridges, go zip lining, or explore the various nature reserves in the area, Cloud Forest Lodge puts you right in the heart of it all.

The lodge has only 25 suites, which keeps things intimate and ensures it won’t feel crowded. The rooms themselves are simple but comfortable, and each has a large outdoor porch where you can relax and take in the cloud forest surroundings.

One of the highlights of our stay was the on-site farm-to-table restaurant and the great service that came with it. The food quality and dining experience was wonderful.

It’s worth noting that Cloud Forest Lodge doesn’t have some amenities you might find at other hotels. There’s no spa, fitness center, or pool. But this is typical for Monteverde, where the cooler cloud forest climate doesn’t call for pools, and the focus is on experiencing nature.

The lodge is owned by the Costa Rica hotel group Boena, which has other well-regarded properties like its sister property the Monteverde Lodge as well as Tortuga Lodge in Tortuguero, Lapa Rios Lodge on the Osa Peninsula, and Pacuare Lodge.

Cloud Forest Lodge Costa Rica: Location & Access

Cloud Forest Lodge is located in Monteverde, one of Costa Rica’s most popular and well-established ecotourism destinations.

The lodge is about 2.5 hours from both San Jose Airport and Guanacaste Airport in Liberia (LIR). Most visitors arrive by taking a shuttle or renting a car and driving themselves. If you’re planning to rent a car, be sure to check out our rental car discount to save 10% and get free extras.

The lodge is only about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from the main area of Santa Elena, so you’re in a convenient location for accessing town, restaurants, shops, and attractions. The short drive means you can easily head into town for dinner if you want to try some of the local restaurants, or stock up on any supplies you might need. Our Monteverde destination guide has detailed information about the town, all the things to do in the area, and restaurant recommendations.

Visiting Costa Rica for the first time? Be sure to check out our post First-Time Visit to Costa Rica: Why You Should Go and What to Expect for helpful information to jump-start your planning.

Customer Service

We found the customer service at Cloud Forest Lodge to be good, though there were some inconsistencies. The front desk staff could have been more friendly and welcoming, but they did a thorough job of explaining the hotel’s amenities and helping us get oriented. Upon arrival, we were offered a welcome drink of fresh tropical fruit juice.

Where the service shined was in the restaurant. The breakfast and dinner staff were the same people, and over the course of our stay, they got to know our family. They asked about our trip, took a genuine interest in learning more about us, and made us feel welcome. This personal attention from the restaurant team was one of the highlights of our stay.

Room Options at Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde

The rooms at Cloud Forest Lodge are spread across a few small buildings that are all near each other. The convenient layout means that the rooms, restaurant, and reception are in the same area and within less than a minute’s walk of each other.

The lodge offers three different room types. We found it a bit difficult to understand from their website which rooms would work best for families, so we ended up talking to the Reservations Department for clarification.

All the rooms are named after local bird species that can be found in Monteverde.

Manakin Suites are the least expensive room type and can hold up to 4 people. They come with either 1 king bed or 2 double beds and are 66 square meters (710 sq ft).

Euphonia Suites are the mid-level option with 2 queen beds and the option to add 1 twin bed. These rooms are 72 square meters (775 sq ft) and can hold up to 5 people.

Tityara Suites are the most expensive room type, with 1 king bed, 1 day bed, and the option to add an extra twin. At 80 square meters (861 sq ft), they can hold up to 5 people.

Our family stayed in a Euphonia Suite and were amazed by how huge it was! Even with an added twin bed for our kids, there was still plenty of space to move around. The bathroom was also enormous. It seemed like they could have used the space more efficiently, but since this property was purchased and renovated rather than built from scratch, that explains the layout. As a family of four, we appreciated having all that extra room to spread out.

The decor was minimalist and understated. While there wasn’t a lot of decoration, the bed frame was colorful and had a tropical feel that fit well in Costa Rica.

The beds were comfortable with nice linens and thick duvets, plus extra blankets for Monteverde’s cooler nights. Each room comes equipped with a desk, coffee maker, safe, ceiling fan, and space heater – the heater is important for those cool cloud forest nights!

One thing we missed was a mini fridge, which wasn’t available in the rooms. Rooms also do not have a TV.

The toiletries provided in the shower were from a nice local brand called Aromas that we actually use at home. They use natural ingredients and essential oils, and smell great.

We all loved spending time on the large outdoor porch that overlooked some trees. During our stay, we saw some beautiful motmots (birds) one day and even spotted a family of coatis (raccoon-like animals) passing right in front of our porch.

The rooms were clean and quiet throughout our stay.

Check out this short video of the coatis we saw

Cost

Cloud Forest Lodge is one of the more expensive hotel options in Monteverde. As with most hotels in Costa Rica, prices vary seasonally, with the rainy season (May through mid-November) offering the best rates.

In general, you can expect to pay $270-600 per night plus tax, depending on the season and room type. These rates include breakfast, which is a nice value-add. Check Rates and Availability at Cloud Forest Lodge.

Peak season pricing applies during Christmas/New Year’s and Easter Week when rates are the highest.

Endemica Restaurant

The hotel has just one restaurant, but it’s gorgeous. The space features beautiful local wood and has an inviting fireplace at the entry that creates a cozy atmosphere. It’s a perfect spot to grab a drink and relax after a day of exploring.

The restaurant has beautiful forest views that enhance the dining experience.

The restaurant focuses on local fusion cuisine – hence the name Endemica, meaning “endemic.” They source most of their fruits and vegetables from local farms in the Monteverde area and use sustainable meats and seafood whenever possible.

The menu offers a lot of variety with entrees ranging from risotto with smoked pork belly and local mushrooms to homemade shrimp and goat cheese tortellini, sea bass with local pejibaye curry, and ossobuco.

There are many options for vegetarians and vegans. They even have a dedicated plant-based menu. We tried the chickpea gnocchi with local mushrooms and corn polenta with vegan sausage from the plant-based menu, and both dishes were excellent.

The overall dining experience was outstanding, including complimentary bread for the table and both a complimentary appetizer and dessert.

One thing that stood out was their large wine cellar, one of the biggest we’ve seen in Costa Rica.

The prices are on the higher side, especially for Costa Rica, but the food and dining experience was really good.

For lunch, entrees range from 10,500-16,000 colones ($21-32), while pizzas, sandwiches, and burgers are 9,000-11,000 colones ($18-22).

Dinner entrees range from 11,000-20,000 colones ($22-40).

They also have a large children’s menu with familiar options like Bolognese pasta, pesto pasta, chicken and fish fingers, and burgers.

The restaurant is open for three meals a day from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every day. Room service is also available, and they have a small snacks menu for lighter options between meals.

Breakfast

We enjoyed the complimentary breakfasts each morning. To start, we were given a fresh fruit plate and homemade toast with marmalade for the table. Then we could order whatever we wanted from an a la carte menu.

The menu had things like homemade yogurt and granola, traditional Costa Rican gallo pinto, omelets, French toast, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, and breakfast burritos. Everything was made with homemade bread and tortillas, plus local cheese.

We appreciated that dietary restriction information was noted on the menu, and the servers asked right away if we had any special dietary needs. They accommodated our requests without any issues.

Fresh orange juice, hot chocolate for the kids, and French press coffee were all included. They also offered specialty coffee drinks for an additional charge.

One of the fun parts of breakfast was watching hummingbirds and other birds come to the feeders while we ate. It was like having our own nature show!

Breakfast is served at the main restaurant from 6:30-9:30 a.m.

Outdoor Porch

There’s a large outdoor porch above the restaurant that overlooks the cloud forest. It’s a nice place to hang out and relax. It had a fire pit, but they didn’t have it going on our visit. The porch is oriented towards the west, so if the weather is nice, you can enjoy nice sunsets as well.

Nature Reserve and Trails at Cloud Forest Lodge

The lodge sits on a vast 23-hectare (57-acre) private reserve that backs right up to the accommodations. The property is part of an important biological corridor called the Bellbird Biological Corridor, which helps migratory animals like big cats move between different areas.

There are three trails on the property for a total of 4 kilometers (2.5 miles).

We hiked the Pizote and Aguacate Trails, which took us about two hours. The trails are well-maintained dirt paths that wind through the cloud forest, showcasing the ecosystem where plants grow on top of other plants. The amount of moss and lichen throughout this moisture-rich environment is amazing, and we saw many grand, ancient trees.

We didn’t spot much wildlife during our hike, but we’re sure there’s plenty to see if you’re patient and keep your eyes open.

The trails are open daily from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Activities On-site

Right on the property is a zip-line tour called the Original Canopy Tour. You can see people zipping by right from the restaurant, which is fun. The lodge also offers guided night tours and bird-watching tours for guests.

Monteverde Area Activities

The Monteverde area has tons of activities within 10-25 minutes of the hotel. Here are some of the most popular things to do:

• Hiking in the many nature reserves like the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Curi-Cancha Reserve, and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve
• Walking hanging bridges and zip lining at Selvatura Park and Treetopia Park
• Taking coffee, chocolate, and sugar cane farm tours
• Going on night tours to spot nocturnal wildlife
• Visiting the Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery
• Exploring the Monteverde Butterfly Gardens

For information about all the area activities, read our Monteverde destination guide, or check out the tours we can help you book in Monteverde.

Activities for Kids

The lodge doesn’t have a lot of kid-specific things to do, but there is a small lounge area in the restaurant with some games. The trails on the property are also good for taking kids on nature walks. They’ll love spotting the birds from the restaurant and their room porches too.

Traveling with kids? Be sure to check out our Costa Rica with kids page for family-friendly things to do and helpful tips.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi signal was strong in our room and throughout the property. The internet is complimentary for guests.

Parking

Parking at the Cloud Forest Lodge is free. They have a gravel parking lot that is monitored by security cameras.

Sustainability

The Boena hotel group and Cloud Forest Lodge are committed to sustainability. They focus on conservation of land, reforestation, and use solar electricity. The construction methods are designed to be low-impact, they source biodegradable products locally when possible, and make a point to employ local community as staff. They also do community outreach in local schools.

All guests pay a small conservation fee as part of their stay, which goes directly towards their sustainability efforts.

The lodge has an electric vehicle charging station for guests.

Nearby Attractions

The Monteverde area is packed with attractions, most within a 15-minute drive of Cloud Forest Lodge:

• Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve – 15 minutes away, the most famous reserve in the area
• Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve – 20 minutes, often less crowded than Monteverde
• Curi-Cancha Reserve – 10 minutes, excellent for birdwatching
• Selvatura Park – 20 minutes, popular for hanging bridges and zip lining
• Treetopia Park – 20 minutes, popular for hanging bridges and zip lining
• Coffee Farm tours – Multiple options within 15-20 minutes
• Monteverde Butterfly Garden – 8 minutes
• Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery – 15 minutes

Value for Money

Considering Cloud Forest Lodge’s upscale accommodations, prime location, and great restaurant, we found it to be a good value within the high-end ecolodge category in Monteverde. The fact that breakfast was included was key.

The property’s 23-hectare private reserve with trails adds value as well. Having direct access to the cloud forest is a major benefit.

That said, this is definitely a splurge accommodation. Many other options are available in the area for budget travelers. See our Monteverde Hotel Guide for recommendations.

The hotel’s restaurant prices are high even for this category. If you want to keep expenses down, just visit one of the many restaurants in Monteverde for much more affordable local dining.

Pros and Cons of Cloud Forest Lodge in Monteverde

Pros:

• Stunning location surrounded by pristine cloud forest
• Comfortable and spacious rooms with large outdoor porches
• Outstanding restaurant with local fusion cuisine and great service
• Large private nature reserve with well-maintained trails
• Peaceful, intimate setting with only 25 suites
• Convenient location just 10 minutes from Santa Elena
• Includes breakfast
• Commitment to sustainability and conservation

Cons:

• High prices
• Front desk service could be more welcoming and friendly
• Limited on-site amenities (no pool, spa, or fitness center)
• No mini fridge or TV in rooms
• Main parking area requires a 3-5-minute walk to Reception
• Only one restaurant option on property

Getting to Cloud Forest Lodge

You can fly into either Guanacaste Airport in Liberia or San Jose Airport. Both are about the same distance from Monteverde at around 2.5 hours.

Driving

The drive to Monteverde from either airport is along mostly well-maintained, paved roads. The last part of the drive (about one hour) is on a curvy mountain road. It’s in fairly good condition but does have some potholes and uneven terrain.

If you’re coming from La Fortuna/Arenal instead, parts of the drive are along rough dirt roads.

We recommend a 4×4 vehicle when visiting Monteverde or at least a 4×2 SUV for the clearance. Read our post on Driving to Monteverde for specific information.

Be sure to check out our rental car discount to save 10% on your rental and get free extras through one of Costa Rica’s most reliable companies.

Taking a Shuttle

If you prefer not to drive, private shuttles are a great option. These are comfortable, air-conditioned vans with professional drivers who are familiar with the mountain roads.

The cost starts around $215 from either San Jose Airport or Guanacaste Airport in Liberia.

If you need help with the arrangements, we work with reliable local shuttle companies and can help coordinate your transfer. Use the booking links below or contact us through our Private Shuttle Booking page.

Best Times to Visit

Monteverde is located in the higher elevation mountains (around 4,500 feet/1,400 meters), which has a unique microclimate compared to other parts of the country.

The dry season runs from mid-December through April and is considered the best time to visit for drier weather. Since it’s the cloud forest, rain is possible at any time, but these months have the least rain in general. Temperatures in Monteverde are cooler than at the beach. Expect temps in the 70s-80s°F (20-25°C), with cooler nights that drop down to the 60s°F (16-20°C).

Rainy season in Monteverde goes from May through November. Earlier in the rainy season (May through August) can be a great time to visit. The rain usually doesn’t intensify until September and October.

Learn more about what to expect with our post Weather in Costa Rica.

Conclusion

Cloud Forest Lodge offers a high-end ecolodge experience in one of Costa Rica’s most unique environments. During our stay, we were impressed by the stunning natural setting, large suites, and excellent restaurant. It was also wonderful to be able to step out of our room and immediately be on hiking trails through the cloud forest.