Our family recently stayed at Hotel Belmar in Monteverde, Costa Rica and were excited to experience one of the area’s most upscale sustainable ecolodges. Monteverde is known for its cloud forest environment, and we wanted to find a hotel that would let us enjoy this unique ecosystem while prioritizing conservation. Here’s our honest take on the hotel and what you can expect during your stay.
This is an unbiased review based on our personal experience. We paid for our stay 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 Costa Rica.
Overview
Hotel Belmar is a boutique luxury ecolodge nestled in the cloud forest. One of the first hotels to open in Monteverde back in 1985, the Belmar has a distinctive Austrian-inspired architectural design. The alpine-chalet style feels upscale yet cozy. Warm woods are used throughout the property, creating an inviting atmosphere.
One of the things we love most about Hotel Belmar is its sustainability efforts. The hotel operates as carbon neutral, has a farm-to-table restaurant, and focuses on regenerative travel – all things that we look for personally in a sustainable hotel.
Hotel Belmar is located right off the main road to the popular Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve but set back on a hill so private. The large property has its own nature reserve. Its central location also makes it a great base for exploring other cloud forest reserves and activities in Monteverde.
The hotel has an on-site gourmet restaurant and sources its ingredients from its own organic farm and garden. While there’s no fitness center or pool (these aren’t common in Monteverde due to the cooler climate), the hotel has other activities on-site and offers some tours, including an authentic farm tour.
The hotel has 26 rooms and suites that are good for both couples and families. Many have outdoor porches to take advantage of the cloud forest views.
Location
Hotel Belmar is located in Monteverde, one of Costa Rica’s most popular ecotourism destinations.
Monteverde is known for its lush cloud forest environment where low-level clouds come and go with the shifting winds. It is these misty conditions that create the perfect habitat for the unique plants and wildlife that make Monteverde famous.
The hotel is about 2.5 hours from both San Jose Airport and Guanacaste Airport in Liberia.
To get there, people typically take a shuttle or rent a car and drive. If you decide to rent a car, be sure to check out our Rental Car Discount to save 10% and get free extras.
The hotel is about 1.2 miles (2 km) from the main area of Santa Elena, making it convenient for accessing town, restaurants, and attractions. Our Monteverde destination guide has more information about the town, things to do, and local dining options.
Customer Service
We found the customer service at Hotel Belmar to be excellent during our stay. The front desk staff were professional yet friendly. Check-in was smooth and informative, complete with a refreshing welcome drink and cool towel.
We enjoyed the turndown service each night. The locally made chocolates were delicious, and it was fun to get handmade soaps from a women’s cooperative.
Our stay was without problems except that we did have an issue with a nearby guest playing loud music at one point. We called the front desk, and they handled the situation quickly by personally asking the guest to turn it off.
The restaurant service was also wonderful throughout our stay. The servers were consistently friendly and welcoming, taking time to get to know our family during our three-night visit. They accommodated all our special requests without a problem.
Room Options at Hotel Belmar
Overview
Hotel Belmar has 26 rooms spread out among three buildings.
Main building: Where the restaurant and front desk are located.
Chalet: Just on the other side of the small access road (1-minute walk).
Nicoya building: Located separately high up on the hill, with a few Nicoya suites.
Rooms can hold 1-4 people (no room types can hold families of five).
If you have any mobility problems, the main building is the best option. The Chalet and Nicoya Suites require a walk up some stairs. Hotel Belmar does not have an elevator.
Main Building
Peninsula & Peninsula Superior – Peninsula rooms are one of the least expensive room types. 4 people max. 1 king or 2 queen beds. Peninsula rooms are on the lower floor. Peninsula Superiors are on the top floor.
Chalet Building
Forest & Forest Superior – Forest rooms are one of the least expensive room types. These have 1 king bed, but the hotel can add a queen-size daybed to the Forest Superior to accommodate up to 4 people. The Forest Superior has a Jacuzzi.
Canopy, Belmar, Sunrise, Sunset, and Cloud Forest Studios – Larger suites with 1 king bed and a tub. Can add a daybed to the Sunset, Canopy, and Cloud Forest Studio rooms to hold up to 4 people. These rooms vary, but all have separate sitting areas, a Jacuzzi or soaking tub (some inside, others outside), spacious bathrooms, and a terrace.
Nicoya Suites Building (Newest Building)
Nicoya Suite and Nicoya Penthouse Suite – Most luxurious room type. Very large suites with 1 king, 1 sofa bed, and a large sitting area. Spacious terrace with Jacuzzi and daybed porch swing. Since it’s so high on the property, you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean on clear days. Can hold up to 3 people.
Our Room
Our family stayed in a Cloud Forest Studio in the Chalet building and loved it.
It had floor-to-ceiling windows with a view to the cloud forest. The room was large, nicely decorated, and had a practical layout. It was great to have a separate sitting area, and we enjoyed the tub, which looked out to the lush forest. The room had a small porch, but we didn’t use it that much because the weather was cooler when we visited (September).
Beds were very comfortable with nice linens. Our whole family enjoyed the organic aromatherapy bath products.
The hotel has done some renovations in recent years. The rooms now have a more contemporary feel than when we first toured the hotel several years ago.
All rooms come equipped with a desk, traditional Costa Rican coffee maker, tea service, complimentary Wi-Fi, cotton slippers and bathrobes, safe, and minibar with local beverages (complimentary).
It’s important to know that none of the rooms at the Belmar have a TV or A/C. You don’t really need A/C in Monteverde since it’s cooler, but if you’re sensitive to the heat or humidity, you may want it.
The room was very clean when we arrived and cleaned daily during our stay.
Cost
Hotel Belmar is one of the more expensive hotels in Monteverde, with prices varying seasonally. The rainy season (May through November) offers the best rates.
In general, you can expect to pay $270-1,200 per night plus tax, with breakfast included. Check rates and availability at Hotel Belmar.
Peak season (Christmas/New Year’s and Easter Week) has the highest prices.
Restaurants
The hotel has one main restaurant and a small brewpub located on the lower end of the property.
Main Restaurant (Restaurante Celajes)
The hotel restaurant is upscale but not quite fine dining because the environment is more casual and comfortable and the food isn’t overly fussy, which we enjoyed. We’ve eaten at the restaurant a few times over the last several years, and the food has been consistently good.
Restaurante Celajes focuses on creating a satisfying, sustainable dining experience. Ingredients are sourced locally or freshly picked from their organic farm and garden.
They operate with zero waste and use ingredients that are often overlooked, which we can attest to. Our son’s fish fingers weren’t made from the standard mahi-mahi served at most restaurants in Costa Rica but from catfish.
The lunch and dinner menu is well-rounded with various chicken, beef, and fish dishes as well as several good vegetarian choices. We enjoyed the beef tenderloin and tarragon chicken. The Madre Tierra cheese plate is also amazing and showcases their farm’s signature cheeses.
They have a kids’ menu with basics like chicken and fish fingers, pasta, and burgers.
The restaurant has signature cocktails with house-made mixers. We loved the Tico Tonic made with herbs from their garden.
Prices are higher, especially for Costa Rica, but the quality of the food was very good.
Restaurant Pricing:
- Lunch entrees: $16-30 (salads, ceviche, casados, burgers, sandwiches)
- Dinner entrees: $22-35
Main Restaurant Hours:
- Lunch: 12:00-3:00 p.m.
- Dinner: 5:30-10:00 p.m.
- Tico Time (Happy Hour): 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Room service is available.
Cerveceria Belmar (Brewpub)
The Belmar’s brewpub is a great casual dining alternative.
The brewpub overlooks a pond and has a small but well-curated menu with sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and snacks.
Being a brewpub, you can of course try some of their delicious craft beer. We have enjoyed the tropical stout, IPA, and pale ale. They also offer mead, kombucha, wine, and cocktails.
Main dishes range from $7-17.
Brewpub Hours:
- Friday – Saturday: 12:00-9:00 p.m.
- Sunday – Thursday: 11:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Breakfast
The included breakfast is from a large a la carte menu. You start with fresh tropical fruit and can choose from things like traditional gallo pinto, Turkish eggs, breakfast sandwich with hollandaise sauce, avocado toast, homemade fruit pancakes, and French toast.
Everything incorporates house-made bread and tortillas plus local cheeses from their farm. The food was delicious all three mornings of our stay.
The menu said that all items could be adapted for vegetarians or vegans.
Breakfast is served in the main restaurant, inside or outside on the porch with nice forest views.
Hours: 6:30-10:00 a.m.
Juice Bar and Tea Room
Located in the Chalet building, this spot serves fresh tropical fruit and vegetable smoothies and juices made with organic ingredients. They also have simple foods like sandwiches, quiche, and bakery items.
Wellness Center
The Wellness Center, also in the Chalet, has daily yoga classes ($20) and massage. One complimentary yoga class is included for guests.
The wellness space has windows that open right out to the cloud forest.
Massages are available by appointment, with prices starting at $80 for a 50-minute session.
Hotel Activities
Onsite Activities
Hotel Belmar offers a few complimentary activities on a rotating schedule, including coffee tasting (Monday), tropical mocktail class (Wednesday), and beer tasting (Friday). They also offer a cocktail class ($60).
Farm Experience
Our family did the organic farm experience and loved it. Our young son (age 6) especially enjoyed his first horseback ride.
The tour gave us a real look at how they farm sustainably and had hands-on activities that our whole family enjoyed. We visited the vegetable gardens, sampled cheese, milked a cow, ground sugar cane into juice, saw coffee growing, and visited a chicken coop.
The horseback riding took us along the ridge for some amazing valley views and even a rainbow! It was one of those unique tours that both the kids and adults really enjoyed. To learn more, visit our Farm Experience booking page.
Savia Private Nature Reserve
Hotel Belmar also offers several tours at their unique private reserve called Savia. Savia has a mix of trails, gardens, platforms, suspension bridges, and vertical rope climbing to explore the cloud forest’s many layers.
Unlike typical hanging bridges found elsewhere in Costa Rica, Savia maintains their sustainability focus through low-impact organic design.
Available experiences include morning tours, night tours, bird-watching, ficus tree climbing, and rappelling. Most combine nature walks with treetop experiences, with some tours adding food elements like breakfast in the canopy.
We didn’t make it to Savia on our last visit but have heard great things about it. Tours are around $110-270 per person.
Area Activities
Monteverde offers many activities within 5-25 minutes of the hotel, with options for different budgets. Here are some of our favorites:
- Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve – a 10-minute drive away, the most famous cloud forest reserve in the area
- Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve – a 25-minute drive away, often less crowded than Monteverde Reserve
- Curi-Cancha Reserve – a 5-minute drive away, a great all-around reserve with birdwatching and wildlife viewing
- Selvatura Park – a 20-minute drive away, popular for hanging bridges and zip lining
- Treetopia Park – a 15-minute drive away, hanging bridges and high-adrenalin zip-lining adventures
- Monteverde Butterfly Gardens – a 5-minute drive away, perfect for families and insect lovers
- Monteverde Hummingbird Gallery – a 10-minute drive away, free stop to see hummingbirds flying all around you
- Coffee farm tours – Several options within 10-20 minutes, including Don Juan (coffee-chocolate-sugar cane combo) and Cafe Monteverde (sustainability focus).
Read our Monteverde destination guide for more information or view the tours we book in Monteverde.
Wi-Fi
We had good Wi-Fi in our room and throughout the property.
Sustainability
Unlike some other hotels, Hotel Belmar genuinely focuses on sustainability and regenerative travel. It’s not just marketing.
The hotel is carbon neutral with circular agriculture, water conservation, solar hot water heating, a plastics-free bar, natural pesticides, biodigester, and natural products for cleaning and personal care.
The hotel has the Certification for Sustainable Tourism in Costa Rica.
Value for Money
Considering Hotel Belmar’s luxury accommodations with updated decor and finishes, sustainability practices, and cloud forest location, we found it to offer good value within the high-end ecolodge category in Monteverde. The included breakfast added significant value.
A major benefit of this hotel is that they have their own nature reserve (Savia) and on-site activities.
Living in Costa Rica, we understand the extra costs that come with organic products and sustainable practices. We really appreciated their genuine commitment to sustainability. For travelers who prioritize conservation without compromising comfort, the Belmar is a great option.
That said, it is definitely a splurge. Budget-conscious travelers will find more affordable options in the Monteverde area. See our Monteverde Hotel Guide for recommendations.
Pros and Cons of Hotel Belmar
Pros:
- Good location with nice cloud forest views and reasonable distance to town
- Commitment to sustainability and carbon-neutral operations
- Outstanding farm-to-table restaurant
- Spacious, well-designed rooms with large outdoor porches
- Excellent customer service
- Unique Savia private nature reserve
- Includes high-quality breakfast
- Peaceful, intimate atmosphere
Cons:
- Expensive
- Room capacity maxes out at 4 people (no options for families of 5+)
- Savia reserve tours are quite expensive at $110-270 per person
Getting to Hotel Belmar
You can fly into either Guanacaste Airport in Liberia or San Jose Airport, as they are about the same distance from Monteverde (around 2.5 hours).
Driving
Driving to Monteverde from either SJO or LIR takes about 2.5 hours. The route is mostly paved, main roads, except for the last hour or so. Once you get off the highway, you’ll take a curvy road through the mountains. It is paved but does have some potholes and rough spots. Check our post on Driving to Monteverde for more information.
If you’re coming from La Fortuna/Arenal, more of the drive is along rough, dirt roads.
We recommend a 4×4 or at least a higher-clearance SUV for the mountainous terrain.
Be sure to use our Rental Car Discount to save 10% and get free extras with one of Costa Rica’s most trusted rental companies.
Taking a Shuttle
If you don’t want to drive, private shuttles are a comfortable, stress-free option for getting to Hotel Belmar. These are air-conditioned vans with a professional driver. They include time to stop along the way as well. A private shuttle from San Jose or Liberia to Monteverde costs around $215.
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.
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Guanacaste Airport (LIR) to Monteverde – Private Shuttle Van Service
Price: From: $211.00 +VAT Select options -
La Fortuna (Arenal) to Monteverde – Shared Shuttle-Boat-Shuttle Service
Price: From: $35.00 +VAT Select options -
La Fortuna to Monteverde – Private Shuttle Van Service
Price: From: $229.00 +VAT Select options -
La Fortuna to Monteverde – Private Shuttle-Boat-Shuttle Service
Price: $316.00 +VAT Select options -
San Jose Airport (SJO) to Monteverde – Private Shuttle Van Service
Price: From: $214.00 +VAT Select options
Best Times to Visit
Although still tropical feeling, Monteverde has a mild climate year-round due to its elevation, making it a great destination almost any time. Temperatures are in the 70s-80s°F (20-25°C), with cooler nights that drop down to the 60s°F (16-20°C). This cooler climate makes it a great contrast to Costa Rica’s hot beach towns.
The dry season (December through April) offers the best weather with less rain and clearer skies, though this is also high season when it’s busier.
The rainy season (May through November) has more rain, usually in the afternoons, but also fewer crowds and better hotel rates. September and October typically see the heaviest rainfall, though we have visited Monteverde in September and the weather was fairly good with most rain at night. Our post Rainy Season in Costa Rica: How Wet Is It? has more information.
Conclusion
Hotel Belmar is a luxury hotel in the cloud forest that sets itself apart with its sustainability. This was so nice for us to see, especially in Monteverde, a region already known for ecotourism. The service, cuisine, and unique tour experiences also make it stand out among Monteverde’s hotels. If you value sustainability without compromising comfort, Hotel Belmar is a great choice for exploring Costa Rica’s cloud forest.
Our Review Policy
This review is based on our family’s personal experience at Hotel Belmar. We paid for our own accommodations and received no compensation or special treatment in exchange for this review. Our goal is to provide honest, unbiased information to help travelers make informed decisions about their Costa Rica accommodations.
Please note that if you book a stay at Hotel Belmar using our link to booking.com above, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read our Privacy Policy for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can rent a car (2.5 hours from San Jose or Liberia airports). See our Rental Car Discount page to save 10%. Or take a shared or private shuttle. Private shuttles for only your group are around $215 from either airport. Visit our Private Shuttle Booking page for help arranging transfers.
Like most of the nicer hotels in Monteverde, Hotel Belmar is outside downtown Santa Elena where many restaurants are located. Since it’s not walking distance to many amenities, a rental car is nice to have.
If you don’t want to rent a car, though, you can easily get around since town is only about 5-10 minutes away. Taxis are available and the front desk can help you arrange one. For activities off the hotel property, most tour companies include transportation or offer it for a reasonable fee.
Pack a raincoat year-round since rain is common in the cloud forest, lightweight pants for hiking and cooler evenings, layering tops (T-shirts work for daytime but it can cool with shifting clouds), and hiking boots or sneakers. Don’t forget binoculars for bird-watching. Read our post on packing for Costa Rica for more information.
Main Restaurant: Lunch 12:00-3:00 p.m., Dinner 5:30-10:00 p.m., Happy Hour 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Brewpub: Friday-Saturday, 12:00-9:00 p.m., Sunday-Thursday 11:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.
Breakfast: 6:30-10:00 a.m.
Yes, the water at the hotel and throughout Monteverde is safe to drink. Learn more about drinking water safety in Costa Rica.
Yes, it’s definitely possible! Monteverde is a great destination for wildlife viewing. It’s possible to see monkeys, agoutis, coatis, snakes, and various birds, including toucans, hummingbirds, mot-mots, parrots, and even the famous Resplendent Quetzal.
For the best wildlife viewing opportunities, we’d recommend doing a guided tour at Savia or another reserve in Monteverde. Naturalist guides are especially important in Monteverde since wildlife is often hidden or high in the canopy.
Yes. The main building and Chalet building have their own complimentary parking areas. The Nicoya Suites don’t have a separate lot but the staff can help with bags.
Check-in: 3:00 p.m. Check-out: 12:00 p.m.
Have a question about Hotel Belmar or have you been? Leave a comment below.
Looking for more information about Costa Rica? Check out these posts:
Cloud Forest Lodge: Eco-luxury in Monteverde – Our review of another high-end hotel in town.
Sustainable Hotels in Costa Rica – Our article on Costa Rica’s sustainable tourism program and other sustainable hotels all around the country.
Hotel Guides and Reviews: Read our other hotel guides for popular destinations like Manuel Antonio and La Fortuna/Arenal.
Best Hotels for Families in Costa Rica: If you’re traveling with kids, these are our top recommendations for all budgets. Includes ecolodges, treehouses, five-star resorts, and everything in between.
Parador Resort and Spa Review: Detailed guide for this large upscale resort near Manuel Antonio Beach.
Practical Travel: Get more travel basics, including currency, exchange rate, safety, and tips on staying in vacation rentals.