Too Many Hotels in Monteverde? I Spent Hours Reading Reviews So You Don’t Have To
Planning a stop in the Monteverde region of Costa Rica? Then you’re probably wondering where to stay in Monteverde. From eco-lodges and hotels to glamping tents and treehouse stays, Monteverde offers plenty of unique and memorable places to stay.
I sifted through 1000+ options to give you my 12 best recommendations of where to stay in Monteverde. All of these options are in the towns of Monteverde and nearby Santa Elena.
Let’s find you the best places to stay in Monteverde. Use the Table of Contents to jump to the budget category you want to look at and the Map to find the properties listed in this post.
If you find a property you like, please book through the links in the red buttons provided. The tiny bit of commission I earn is what allows me to keep providing you with great Costa Rica information for free.
The Map
High End & Luxury Places to Stay ($500+/night)
These places typically fall into the price range of over $500 USD/night.
#1 – Senda Monteverde
The highly rated Senda Monteverde is described as Your Cozy Mountain Lodge in the Rainforest. This high-end luxury property offers the ultimate in comfort after a day of exploring the Santa Elena & Monteverde area of central Costa Rica.
A Member of the Cayuga Collection, Senda Monteverde offers room service, concierge services, spa services and many other amenities to its guests. The El Sapo Restaurant & Bar offers a full range of locally sourced foods and beverages.
#2 – Chira Glamping Monteverde
Chira Glamping Monteverde offers a high end unique experience of glamping (also known as “glorious camping”) in luxurious tents with lots of amenities on the property. All units include ensuite bathrooms and amazing views of the scenery.
Some units also include hot tubs, outdoor showers, yoga spaces. There is a gym onsite and breakfast is provided.
#3 – Koora Monteverde
The Koora Monteverde is a boutique Eco-lodge in the middle of the Cloud Forest Reserve. A Sandglass property, it promises high end amenities such as a restaurant and bar onsite.
With a variety of suite, room and bungalow options, each unit offers fantastic views of the cloud forest and wildlife. Some suites offer a private plunge pool.
Several guests said they could see all the way to the Gulf of Nicoya and many raved about the wildlife sightings and the attentiveness of the staff.
Mid-Range Places to Stay – $200-500/night
These places typically fall into the price range of $200-$500 USD/night, but still deliver an amazing experience in the Rainforest. Three of the four in this category offer a unique glamping opportunity, allowing you to connect directly with nature!
#4 – Cabanas Refugio Verde Monteverde
The Cabanas Refugio Verde Monteverde offers a variety of beautiful suites, apartments and even a large private three-bedroom, three-bath home for larger groups.
Each unit has a private bath, a kitchen or kitchenette for food prep and beautiful gardens for relaxation.
Away from all the hustle and bustle of the town and tourist traffic, you can settle in to relax after a busy day of exploring.
If you’re lucky, you may even spot sloths, birds and snakes in the trees of the property.
#5 – Ananta Forest
The two bedroom Ananta Forest Glamping Dome features an amazing deck with a hot tub for scenic views and sunsets. Featuring a fully stocked kitchen and several hammock gardens for relaxing, you will be close to all the action if you can tear yourself away from the property.
This is also one of the few accommodations that offers air conditioning (although we never needed it when we were there).
#6 – FéLIZA Rainforest Domes
The FéLIZA Rainforest Dome luxury tents offer fantastic mountain views, an open air bathroom, air conditioning and free WiFi. The property also offers available yoga classes, beautiful gardens AND a bottle of wine upon arrival. This is glamping in style!
#7 – Way To Heaven Glamping
The Way to Heaven Glamping is a moderate priced property offering a choice of four different accommodations, each featuring a dome tent with tons of windows so you can really feel connected to the natural environment and wildlife outside your window.
Each unit features an ensuite bathroom, plus kitchenette for preparing snacks.
Budget-Friendly Places to Stay (Under $200/night)
These properties typically cost from $75-$200/night. The good news is there is a ton of properties in this category!
#8 – TucanTico Lodge
This is where Bill and I stayed for 2 full weeks while exploring Monteverde. Three different one-bedroom apartments, in the Cerro Plano neighborhood, with a shared yard and free parking behind a fence. It was compact and cozy, but comfortable.
Close enough to town, we were able to cook in the small kitchen or walk to one of the many restaurants in the neighborhood.
And it was super affordable too. We paid less than $100/night (which is always my goal as a frugal traveler!)
#9 – Tityra Lodge
Right on the main road just outside Santa Elena, yet tucked away into the quiet countryside, Tityra Lodge offers a variety of bungalow accommodations with amazing mountain views. A buffet breakfast is included. Note you will need a car to go into town for lunches & dinners.
The property also offers, gardens, trails and wildlife just outside your door, including keel-billed toucans and the aracari.
Next time we come to Monteverde, I’d love to stay here if space is available!
#10 – Cala Lodge
The Cala Lodge has multiple room options nestled on a peaceful property, offering wildlife viewing and trails to the surrounding area.
Close enough to town to reach the activities you want to do, but far enough away to feel relaxed and remote.
#11 – Jungle Living Tree Houses
Imagine sleeping in a tree house with the rainforest jungle surrounding you. Imagine waking up to Monkeys playing on your deck platform in the morning, or the wild Coatis paying you a visit? We met a couple staying at the Jungle Living Tree Houses who said they experienced exactly that, and they were thrilled!
These cozy tree-house cabins let you experience life, right in the thick of it!
#12 – Rainbow Valley Lodge
The Rainbow Valley Lodge is a 15-20 minute walk from downtown Santa Elena, offering a variety of affordable room options to fit every traveler’s needs. Stunning mountain and garden views for relaxing at the end of the day.
This Adults Only property also offers a tour desk to help you book activities across the region. Two night minimum per stay, but with so much to do in the area, that’s no problem!
Kari’s Travel Tip: If you find a property you like, BOOK IT! The best properties go fast, especially during the dry season of February to April.
There are also over 1000 Airbnb listings in the area in a wide variety of price ranges. They are not part of my affiliate referral program, but I wanted to show you other options in case none of the ones above are available.
Monteverde FAQs
When is the Best Time of Year to Visit Monteverde?
The Dry Season occurs from February to April and is a very popular time to visit Monteverde. You can expect more people and higher prices for lodging.
The Rainy Season is usually from May to November, followed by the Windy-Misty season from mid-November to January. These are great times to visit because there are way less people and lodging prices are lower.
But with increasing climate change, the rain has been more intense and longer-lasting than past years. When we were there mid-January, it would rain hard for 60 minutes, then be sunny for 3 hours, then sprinkle for 20 minutes and then the sun would come back out again.
All I can say is: bring your rain gear EVERYWHERE!
How Many Days Should I Spend in Monteverde?
We were fortunate enough to spend 2 full weeks in Monteverde, but we know not everyone has as much time to explore as we do.
A minimum of 2-3 days will let you hit all the activities that interest you most. And if you can manage 5-7 days, you’ll have more relaxed exploration without being so go-go-go every day. COMING SOON: See my 7 and 14 day itineraries for Nature Lovers.
Do I need a car in Monteverde?
We chose to have a rental car for our time in Costa Rica – it gave us the flexibility to explore on our own and to go pick up groceries as needed.
But if you’re not planning to rent a car, most tours can pick you up at your hotel or lodging. However, pay attention to how far you will have to walk to restaurants and other attractions.
Anything I need to know about paying for my lodging?
In Costa Rica, many properties have a “pay in cash upon arrival” policy, even if you booked on a platform such as Booking.com. So you need to plan for that by having cash available when you arrive.
I hope this info helps you figure out where to stay in Monteverde!
As I said, there are literally a thousand options of places to stay in Monteverde and Santa Elena area. I hope my work to identify some of the best options in each price range saves you many hours of research time!
Thank you also for booking through the links in the red boxes provided. That is what allows me to keep providing you with great information, at no cost. 😊
More Info on Costa Rica
Here are some more posts about Costa Rica, including some that I’m still working on. If you’d like to receive emails when I’ve posted new content to the site, please complete the short form above.
- Amazing Costa Rica 7 Day Itinerary for Nature Lovers
- Ultimate 2 Week Costa Rica Travel Itinerary for Nature Lovers
- What to Pack for Costa Rica: A Nature Lover’s Packing List
- Costa Rica Facts & Travel Tips – For First Timers
- Colorful Birds of Costa Rica – A Photo Album
- Sodas in Costa Rica – An Affordable & Delicious Experience
- How to Make the Most of Your Day at La Paz Waterfall Gardens
- Buy Costa Rica National Park tickets without pulling your hair out
- Everything You Need to Know about Driving in Costa Rica
- Costa Rica on a Budget: Lodging, Food & Fun For Less
Monteverde / Santa Elena Rainforest Area
- Where to stay in Monteverde / Santa Elena – Luxury to Budget to Unique
- 25 Epic Things to do in Monteverde / Santa Elena
- Where are the Best Places to Find Birds in Monteverde?
- 14 Awesome Cheap and Free Things to Do in Monteverde
Manuel Antonio / Quepos Area
- Manuel Antonio National Park: How to Have an Amazing Day
- Beyond the Park: 25 Great Things to Do in Manuel Antonio
- The 12 Best Hotels in Manuel Antonio & Quepos for Every Budget
- Carara National Park: Macaws, Monkeys & the Crocodile Bridge
- Whale Watching in Costa Rica at Marino Ballena National Park
- 12 Best Free and Cheap Things to Do in Manuel Antonio / Quepos
La Fortuna / Arenal Volcano Area
- 10 Best Places to Stay in La Fortuna Costa Rica
- Don’t Miss These 24 Unique Things to Do in La Fortuna
- Our Costa Rica Cooking Class – Did it Live up to the Hype?
- 10 Best Free and Cheap Things to Do in La Fortuna / Arenal
