El Silencio Lodge & Spa

A blissful retreat of elegant suites and a tranquil spa, steeped in its own cloudforest reserve: luxurious, silent and just over an hour north of San José

Along a winding road, deep in a cloudforest reserve, El Silencio is a very special place indeed. Step into your villa, poised high on jungled hillside, and find chic design and elegant comfort. Yet step out onto your wide balcony, or lie back in your private hot tub, and glorious nature is all around you: calling birds, lush forest, wide skies. The genius of El Silencio is in combining sophistication and wilderness, in harmony.

Everything has been carefully considered: from the fine organic food created by resident chef Marcela Chaves, to the warm, personalised attention from hand-picked charming and attentive staff - your expert eco-concierge will take you walking to waterfalls. The spa is one of Costa Rica’s finest, with its conical treatment room and beautiful yoga space open to the jungle - exemplifying El Silencio's attitude that nothing here should detract from the natural world. Sustainability is the guiding principle. Use El Silencio as a base for the nearby wonders of the Poás Volcano and Arenal volcanoes and Tabacón hot springs, then return to peace and pampering.

Highs

• Magnificent valley setting with dramatic views; lie in bed and look out onto cloud forest
• A serious alternative to visiting famous cloudforest site Monteverde - you'll have this forest to yourselves, and will still see many of the same species of birds and animals, plus it's only a 90-minute drive north of San Jose
• Suites are impeccably elegant and sophisticated, but the guiding design principle is contact with nature
• You're welcomed by locals, trained to the highest standards, combining natural Costa Rican warmth with professionalism
• Luxuries abound: suites have gorgeous beds, private hot tubs on the balconies and L’Occitane toiletries; highly trained masseuses offer top-notch treatments
• Imaginative cuisine created from home-grown organic ingredients

Lows

• Hard to think of any. Isolation might trouble some: if you’re looking for nightlife, El Silencio isn’t for you
• Price: there are cheaper ways to experience the cloudforest, but in all Costa Rica it’s rare to have such close contact with nature yet no crowds
• No TV in the rooms - though there’s a dedicated room with widescreen TV, cable and a good selection of DVDs for entertainment, should you need it
• Not a place for families with young children, due to the closeness of fast-moving water and the overall tranquil vibe