Senda Monteverde is a cozy mountain retreat located just a stone’s throw from the famous Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and adjacent to a smaller private reserve with miles of hiking trails accessible to guests. Reflecting the warmth & outdoor spirit of mountain living, Senda offers an upscale casual yet contemporary lodging experience in harmony with its lush surroundings. All 24 rooms and suites are situated within spacious stand-alone cabins and feature open-air porches overlooking either verdant gardens or the Gulf of Nicoya in the distance. Room configurations cater to couples, groups and families and the main lodge is a warm gathering space for guests to swap stories around the bonfire, catch a naturalist talk on birds or sample a flight of local craft beers.
While Senda Monteverde newly opened in December of 2018, travel industry veterans who have sold Costa Rica for many years will recognize it as the former El Sapo Dorado Hotel. Sustainable tourism pioneer John Aspinall acquired the hotel and partnered with the Cayuga Collection to bring it back to life, albeit as a sleeker and far more comfortable lodge catering to the modern traveler. On-property highlights include private nature trails with a hanging bridge, happy hour bonfire gatherings accompanied by Monteverde’s artisanal cheeses or s’mores and yoga classes. Fast forward to now, they have an Explora Center where guests can visit with the in-house guides to decide on what tours fit their desires best. Beyond that, Senda Monteverde has begun a full renovation where all Superior Suites have been newly renovated and all Junior Suites will be completely renovated by the end of 2024. Safe to say that Senda holds dear its reputation as one of Costa Rica’s top-rated adventure lodges and is operating better than ever thanks to its amazing team of local staff members.
PROPERTY FACTS
Number of Rooms: 24
Room Categories: Senda Suites (2), Premium Suites (8), Junior Suites (8), Superior Rooms (6)
Booking Options: Bed & Breakfast, Half Board, Full Board via add-on meal plan options
Internet: Yes, Throughout and Complimentary
Dates of Operation: Open Year Round
Membership Consortia: N/A
Wellness Services: Yoga Classes & Spa Services For An Additional Cost
Amenities: El Sapo Restaurant & Lounge, Bonfire Nights, walking sticks, hiking boots & binoculars,
Complimentary access to Agouti Wildlife Preserve, included in-room mini bar
RATES
Starting from $360 per room/per night
Starting from $429 per room/per night
Starting from $609 per room/per night
*Rates are based on double occupancy. Rates include government taxes (13%).
Green Season
High Season
Holiday Season
LOCATION: MONTEVERDE, coSTA RICA
Closet Domestic Airport:
San Jose International Airport (2.5 hours by car) and Liberia International Airport (2 hours by car) are the closest airports to Monteverde. There is no domestic flight access.
Costa Rica has two international airports. Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) is located in the capital of San Jose and Daniel Oduber Quiros Airport (LIR) in Liberia is located in the northern Guanacaste region.
Guests combining Monteverde with Arenal can opt to travel on a scenic horseback ride across the Continental Divide or take a private boat across Lake Arenal
Closest International Airport:
Unique Arrival & Departure Options:
WHEN TO VISIT
Monteverde sits at an elevation of 4,662 feet (1,440 m) asl, close to the Continental Divide and within the Cloud Forest. Guests should anticipate cooler & breezy mountain weather and the chance of precipitation and mist year round. Daytime temperatures from December through April are typically just below 80 F with warm, sunny days and cooler nights. May through November sees cooler temperatures and daily rain showers that come and go quickly.
FOR FAMILIES
Senda Monteverde is an excellent choice for families with children of all ages, especially when combined with sister property Arenas Del Mar in Manuel Antonio, a trip that requires no in-country flights and highlights the best of Costa Rica’s Cloud Forest, Rainforest and tropical beaches. Walking through swirling mists across hanging bridges above the canopy offers an other-worldly experience in nature. Horseback riding, canyoning, tree climbing, coffee tours & zip lining are all available a short distance from the property and younger nature enthusiasts will particularly enjoy the Selvanatura Butterfly Park & Insect Museum and the Bat Jungle.
Children under 12 stay free of charge when sharing accommodations with an adult. Senda Monteverde staff regularly host complementary experiences catering to younger guests, including evening bonfires with hot cocoa & marshmallows, cheese-making & cooking classes. The restaurant offers a children’s menu and the main lodge is well-stocked with puzzles and games. Santa Elena town is just a 15 minute walk from the property for easy explorations of local shops and restaurants.
RECOMMENDED LENGTH OF STAY
Most guests stay 2 or 3 nights. Birding enthusiasts will want to stay longer.
UNIQUE SELLING POINTS
Monteverde ( Green Mountain ) is a green oasis amidst the dry plains of Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific with a climate influenced by both the winds from the Pacific as well as the humidity that comes from the Caribbean side. These influences create a unique environment which is home to extraordinary biodiversity. It is a must-visit for wildlife enthusiasts, particularly birders, who hope to spot the rare Resplendant Quetzal and the Three-Waddled Bell Bird + the nearly 30 species of hummingbird found in the area.
The grounds surrounding Senda Monteverde have been replanted with over 4,000 endemic specimens, attracting a wide variety of birds and animals right to your front door.
Just a 15 minute walk to the shops and restaurants of Santa Elena, Senda Monteverde’s location slightly above town ensures quiet mornings & evenings, fantastic views and spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Nicoya.
The protected Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve, Children's Eternal Rainforest and Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve are all a short drive from the property.
Senda Monteverde is connected to the Agouti Private Wildlife Reserve via a short hiking path. Guests have complimentary access to nearly 3 miles of cloud forest hiking trails with many of these designed to accommodate travelers with mobility challenges.
The Sapo Dorado Restaurant & Lodge have a fun, community club house vibe. Residents of Santa Elena often come to the hotel for dinner and participate in our bonfires and happy hour events.
Sustainable practices include local employment & partnerships with farmers, artisans, brewers and coffee growers, solar powered hot-water heaters, no single use plastics and use of low-impact, sustainably sourced or recycled materials in construction and furnishings.
Senda Monteverde connects really well with Silvestre in Nosara. It is a great alternative to Papagayo + Arenal because this combination offers a more authentic, local Costa Rica experience and is less of a drive. Either 4 hours from Nosara by car, or 2 hours by car from Liberia after a short flight from Nosara to Liberia.
BEST COMBINED WITH
Senda Monteverde is a two hour drive max from the Liberia airport and just over two hours from San Jose, with paved highway driving until the last 20ish km to town. It’s easy to pair with Arenas Del Mar in Manuel Antonio for a seamless, one week trip, or can be combined with Arenal. Check out our Picturesque Pacific Costa Rica sample itinerary in the links above.
The beach enclaves of Nosara in the Nicoya Peninsula, with our partners Silvestre are a great combination because Silvestre has 2-bedroom villas that can combine super well with the 2-bedroom Senda Suites. It’s a 4-hour drive from Nosara to Monteverde, or guests can fly from Nosara to San Jose (2.5 hour drive to Senda) or Liberia (2 hour drive to Senda). Also, one thing to note is that leaving the humid beach after several days to spend a few extra cooling off in the cloud forest of Monteverde is quite the relief. This route is not to be overlooked!
While it involves a little more effort to pull off, the ultimate nature-lovers trifecta in Costa Rica would include Cloud Forest (Senda Monteverde), the Osa Peninsula (Lapa Rios) and the Caribbean (combining Tortuguero National Park + Hotel Aguas Claras.)
ROOM CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS
