El Sol

Arenal & Monteverde, Costa Rica
Book from GBP Book from £126 per night

Charming rustic cabins in a spectacular location near Monteverde's cloudforest

Charming rustic cabins in a spectacular location near Monteverde's cloudforest

Poised on top of steep rolling hills, with wide open views down over forested slopes and valleys from its six vibrant cabins, El Sol is a very special place indeed. From the moment host Javier warmly greets you, you feel at ease here. And you’ll remain held by El Sol’s magic long after your stay. Delightful rustic accommodation comprises cabins for couples, a family-sized log cabin and a couple of large villas; every inch of these has been lovingly considered, filled with vivid colour and fresh flowers. Dine in privacy in your cabin on delicious Costa Rican food; you're surrounded by tropical abundance and stunning long views.

You’ll find quetzals among the rich wildlife in the Monteverde cloudforest reserve, but plan to spend several lazy days in the beautiful setting of El Sol. Horse ride to the hot springs for a relaxing bath, or simply gaze at the view while hummingbirds buzz around you and toucans fly by. Swing in one of the many hammocks, take a sauna and swim in the perfectly situated infinity pool. Witness first hand conservation efforts including forest restoration. Allow four days at least. You won’t want to leave.

Highs

  • Good base for Monteverde and Santa Elena cloudforest reserves, among many other attractions. But El Sol’s landscape is an attraction in itself
  • Warm and cosy feel with welcoming interiors: every corner has been lovingly considered to make you feel at home. Javier is an attentive host, great at connecting people with each other
  • Incredibly good value
  • The food is fantastic, and the horse riding is often reported to be the highlight of guests’ entire trips
  • Fresh water comes from a certified well in the cloud forest so fill up your bottles rather than buy bottled water

Lows

  • You may want your own vehicle to get to El Sol and to the cloudforest reserves, both 25 minutes away, but most attractions offer free shuttles which El Sol can book for you or arrange cabs to Santa Elena if you prefer not to drive
  • No TV, but being immersed in nature is wonderful alternative entertainment
  • Paths to the cabins are only dimly lit at night to disturb the wildlife as little as possible; you're advised to close windows and doors at night to prevent insects joining you in the cabins (due to the high altitude mosquitos aren't really around)
  • Accommodation is rustic rather than luxurious

Best time to go

Beautiful all year round - and, being cloudforest, cloudy all year round. However, El Sol enjoys its own micro climate, and you’ll often find bright sunshine here when it’s raining in Monteverde. December to April are the best months for bird watching in the reserves, though this is high season and Monteverde gets very busy. The ‘green’ season, from May to September is a good time to visit - bear in mind, 'rainy season' in Costa Rica is very different from rainy season in Asia. During these months you'll usually experience sunny mornings, a downpour at midday, then beautiful plays of clouds and transparent mists in the valley during the afternoon, before a lovely sunset.

Our top tips

El Sol is definitely the place for total relaxation, so spend at least 4 nights here. With cloud forest activities including the hanging bridges, zip lining, sky trains and sky walks, night walks, coffee and chocolate tours, plus the sauna, healing massages, yoga and horse riding, you could easily come here for a week and not get bored.

Great for...

Cheap & Chic
Eco
Family
Great Outdoors
  • Jungle Lodge
  • 6 cabins
  • Breakfast (+ other meals on request)
  • All ages welcome
  • Open all year
  • Outdoor Pool
  • Sauna
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
  • Concierge Service
Room:

Rooms

Colourful accommodation is in three self-contained cabins for 2-5, two 2-bedroom villas for up to 6 and an apartment for 2. Everything has a creative rustic style of warmth and homeliness, with love and consideration in every detail including well-equipped kitchens and bathrooms with lots of towels, hot water, biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner.

Couples should opt for one of the cabins: Honey Sun if they want a private garden and a totally secluded feel; the ultra-romantic, treehouse-style Magic Sun with it’s private deck, Jacuzzi and platform hammock suspended in the canopy; or Sunny Garden, less rustic in style but sits immersed in a wonderful tropical garden.

Smaller families or couples seeking more space might like the largest log cabin, Chalet in the Sun, which has a queensize bed in a separate loft bedroom, twin single beds in the living area and sleeps up to 5 in total. The panoramic view over the plains of Guanacaste from the large balcony is jaw-dropping!

Families of up to six will want either Sunny Villa or Sun’s Casita, both sleeping 4-6 in a pair of colourful queensize bedrooms and 2 single sofabeds. They each have a fully equipped kitchen adjacent to the living area. Sun’s Casita has a light-filled sunroom with hammocks and a dining table, and direct access onto the lawn. Sunny Villa has an internal courtyard garden, and a large covered terrace with outside dining and hammocks surrounded by banana and coffee plants, fruit trees and palms. Sunny Villa is next door to Sunny Garden, so bigger groups could book both.

Features include:

  • WiFi

Eating

Meals are lovingly homemade by a local family, prepared to your liking and delivered to your cabin. Breakfast isn't included, but well worth the cost as the big portions are more like brunch and will last you all day. Choose from four different options - two veggie, one vegan, one meat; all come with fresh fruit and natural fruit juice. Traditional includes fried sweet apple plantains (grown on site), homemade local cheese, and gallo pinto with eggs. American and French toast differ only in pancakes or toast and both come with eggs. You'll also find complimentary tea, coffee, powdered full milk, cocoa powder and raw sugar waiting in your cabin or villa. There's also wine, local beer and craft beer available.

Lunch or dinner is served for those who aren't out and about (let the team know in advance). This could be beans with hash, meat of your choice with rice and steamed veg, vegetables with green salad and homemade cheese, or Caribbean chicken. If you do not have particular dietary requirements you can opt for the “SOLprise” and let the cooks whip you up a feast of their choice! Nothing will be too spicy so not to worry, any jalapeños will be served on the side.

If you have a car and do want to make the journey into Santa Elena, there are of course many restaurants vying for your custom. Javier will happily give his insider recommendations.

Features include:

  • Breakfast
  • Dinner by arrangement
  • Kids' meals
  • Lunch by arrangement
  • Room service
  • Vegetarian options
Eating:
Activity:

Activities

Javier and his team invite you to talk through everything you want to do so that they are able to make it a reality for you.

  • One of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the neotropics, Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve protects around 60,000 hectares of primary forest, which – at an altitude of 1,400m – is almost constantly draped in cloud. It's open from 7am to 4pm daily
  • This is an ideal habitat for over 400 species of birds, among them the Resplendent Quetzal, and more than 500 species of orchid. Just wandering the 13km of paths in the reserve is a magical experience, but go with a guide to see these extraordinary bird species which otherwise you can only hear. Scheduled guided walks leave at 7.30am, 12 noon, and 1.30pm. For a more in-depth experience, ask for a private guide
  • Less visited but just as interesting, Santa Elena Cloudforest Reserve has 12km of trails to walk, as well as an observation tower, with guides for tours if you want them
  • The Skywalk hanging bridges are well worth a visit. Around 2.5km of trails and suspension bridges at the level of the tree canopy, they allow you to see far more birdlife than from the ground. Our guide was excellent; passionate about finding and explaining interesting species of plants and animals
  • For adrenaline-fuelled fun, try the Sky Adventures, and zip along 11 cables suspended above the forest from secure platforms, with stunning views. The best of all such adventures we found in Costa Rica, it's extremely safe and well-run, with well-designed pulleys and proper brakes
  • For more entertainment of a natural kind, visit El Ranario ('the frog pond'), or the Monteverde Butterfly Garden
  • The local Quaker community makes cheese famous throughout Costa Rica, and you can visit the factory
  • Visit a coffee plantation with bilingual and knowledgeable guides. See the whole process, gain an insight into the coffee industry, enjoy a tasting, and you get a free sample to take home
  • There are horse rides of 1-3 hours over different trails, through beautiful landscapes & run exclusively for El Sol guests. The horse ride will take you to a beautiful and secluded hot spring nearby. The tour includes a little picnic snack and will take you off the beaten track, past the flow of a cloud forest river to a handmade pool, which is sheltered by native trees and wildlife – a highlight for many!

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Birdwatching
  • Hiking
  • Horse riding
  • Plantlife / flora
  • Private guided tours
  • Swimming
  • Traditional cultures
  • Trekking
  • Wildlife

Kids

Children are very welcome – they will love El Sol and won’t want to go home. The cabins themselves are an adventure, tucked away along little paths with tremendous views. They’re perfectly safe for kids. The swimming pool is a delight, and children will love the horse riding.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Book the Chalet in the Sun (sleeps up to 5), the Sun's Casita (sleeps 4-6) or the Sunny Villa for up to 6 (+ the adjoining Sunny Apartment if you are a larger family party) – each can accommodate additional children if required.

Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Children's meals:

  • Kids menu - fish or chicken fingers with fries
  • Each cabin has its own kitchen or kitchenette

Kids Activities on site:

  • Pool with a shallow end and a beach-style entrance
  • Swing next to the pool
  • Huge gardens to roam around
  • Coloured pens, pencils and chalk and paper provided in each cabin

Kids Activities nearby:

  • Zip lining
  • Hanging bridges
  • Sky Train
  • Butterfly garden
  • Reptile exhibition

Families Should Know:

Kids love it here for the freedom to run around in a safe environment

Distances:

  • Airport: 3 hours
  • Private clinic: 8 minutes
  • Shops: 8 minutes
Kid Friendly:

Location

El Sol is 8 minutes' drive from downtown Santa Elena (where the nearest shops and restaurants are), 10 minutes from Monteverde and 20 minutes from both cloudforest reserve entrances. It's about 3 hours from San José International Airport, Liberia airport and La Fortuna/Arenal.

By Air:
San José Juan Santamaría International (162km away) and Liberia Daniel Oduber International (156km away) are Costa Rica's main international airports. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.

From the Airport
The drive from either airport takes around 3 hours. El Sol can arrange a transfer with a friendly bilingual driver, who can also take guests to other destinations in Costa Rica after their stay at El Sol.

By Car:
You might want the freedom of a hire car, note that 4x4s are recommended. See our car rental recommendations.

There’s no way around it: the road up to Monteverde is challenging in places. The journey from La Fortuna takes 3 hours. El Sol is 8 minutes’ drive beyond Santa Elena. Driving from El Sol to Route 606 takes 20 minutes (11.5km), after which it's 40 minutes to the Panamerican highway. From there, the rest of Costa Rica is easily reached on good tarmacked roads. Beware also that the GPS system in Costa Rica is a little inaccurate, Waze works best, and it's recommended to double-check with El Sol's written directions.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Costa Rica and getting around

Airports:

  • Liberia Daniel Oduber International 156.0 km LIR
  • San Jose Juan Santamaría International 162.0 km SJO

Other:

  • Beach 60.0 km
  • Shops 4.6 km
  • Restaurant 4.6 km

Our guests' ratings...

Based on 9 independent reviews from i-escape guests

10/10
Room
10/10
Food
10/10
Service
10/10
Value
10/10
Overall

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Rates for El Sol

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