El Sabanero Eco Lodge

We stayed here in 2013 and it had a completely different vibe. This time we weren't greeted upon arrival, we weren't explained about the food and dining, the state of the property had suffered over 5 years and the road that went by the property had changed from a dirt road with little traffic to a paved road with traffic and traffic noise up considerably. That said, the people who stayed there for the yoga appeared to enjoy their stay although they may not have previously stayed there.

Great little cabins. A quiet getaway from busy Tamarindo. Close enough to taxi to the beaches and the action, but quaint and lovely to enjoy Costa Rica at its finest. The owners are lovely and the food and property are amazing too. We had a wonderful time there and even made some good friends too. Highly recommend if you want something a little bit different.

Wonderful! So relaxing!

The staff was extremely accommodating and friendly, and couldn't be better. Whether there as a family, on a surf trip/ and/or for an adventurer or romance, the lodge is remote but at the fingertips of it all, .... And the chef is the best (best price also) with his special dishes for you! Don't pass it up.

Pros: Cozy 10 cabin lodge, loved waking up to the sound of bird song. Friendly fellow travelers with whom to share breakfast conversations in the common area. It was hot, so the pool is welcome.

Cons: The lodge is isolated, it's 15 driving minutes from the nearest town and beach.
I almost didn't book it because it has a hidden charge. Just as you're near the end of booking a room at the stated price, it says that El Sabanero will charge your credit card with an additional amount which added on about $25 extra dollars per night to the price of our room. I really dislike this trick and wouldn't have booked it except they're almost everything else was already booked.

Awesome stay at this lodge/hotel. Staff were very friendly and helpful. Kids loved the pool and lodge area for hanging out. The food was awesome, above anything we have ever experienced. Very relaxed atmosphere.

We really enjoyed our stay at El Sabanero. The rooms are actually beautiful and private little cabins set in the foothills of Canafistula. It is just a 10 minute drive to Tamarindo! The manager Harold and all of the staff were wonderful and It felt like home. We look forward to returning to this very special and unique Oasis in beautiful Guanacaste, Costa Rica!

Really nice staff and owners! Beautiful place

Great owner, cool place, clean, everything you need. A bit hard to find and overpriced.

We stayed here for four nights at the end of a three week trip with our four and seven year old boys. The cabinas are rustic, tasteful and spacious and the grounds are beautiful. The infinity pool offers sweeping views of the valley and has a generous shallow end, which our boys enjoyed. Harold, the proprietor, was welcoming and helpful. We heard Howler Monkeys at night. This place is a gem.

El Sabanero is a gorgeous place surrounded by nature. Harold is fantastic and very accommodating and the staffs too. The place is so peaceful and relaxing and that's what we needed. I would recommend 100% to stay on this place. There are no enough words can describe El Sabanero and to Harold. We will be definitely be back.

RESORT: Excellent! Based on previous Trip Advisor reviews we were not disappointed. The manager, Harold, went above and beyond to meet our expectations. His staff was equally as courteous and friendly. The grounds are immaculate and the rooms are well maintained. We felt safe and secure. This location is laid back, perfect for romantic couples and mature adults. If you are looking for a relaxing tranquil environment this location offers that type of ambiance. Families with young children may also find this location suitable because it’s subdued. The pool is just enough to wear them out and give parents plenty of quiet time at the end of the night. The rooms do not have micro waves. If you find yourself craving to heat up a left over snack or meal, the resort will allow you to utilize the micro wave in the main kitchen. However, you will have to do so before the resort kitchen closes which is usually around 8pm.
FOOD: The food was excellent and prepared fresh each day. Typically, we ate breakfast at the resort with no complaints. Definitely plan on simplifying a few meal decisions and enjoy a few meals at the resort. It’s economical and tastes better than some of the places we ate at outside of the resort.

This hotel/eco lodge is about 10 minutes. from Tamarindo. Tamarindo is a beautiful beach town but kind of loud and touristy. If you want to visit the beach but not experience the artificial surroundings, the El-Sabanero Eco-lodge is a GREAT choice.

This lodge is completely in the country side. Each unit is a separately detached cabin with porch. In the evenings you can sit outside of your cabin and be serenaded by the sounds of dozens of different animals (including howler monkeys). What an experience!!!

The whole complex (cabins, main buildings, pool) seem to all be build to a very high standard (a lot of stone used in construction). The surrounding land is also extremely well landscaped.

My 4 day stay here was the highlight of my 2 week Costican adventure!!!

We had a great time! The lodge is located very close to Santa Cruz and Playa Tamarindo.

We stayed here at the end of August for 4 nights and had a great time. Harold looked after us. He booked us excursions and suggested day trips when we were unsure of what to do. We were so delighted with our stay! We ate at the hotel restaurant one night and we were both so happy with our meals. The continental breakfast that is included with your room was also amazing.

Unique experience in the mountains. Private cabin. Bus stop right down the hill, close to tamarindo. About 40 minutes from liberia airport. Supermarket 10 minutes away

We enjoyed our stay here. The staff was great. Unfortunately I became a tad ill and we had to end our stay here a bit early, but we loved the location that was just outside of busy Tamarindo, yet close enough to the beach whenever you wanted it :)

A perfect place to chill, a hilltop tropical setting with sparse guest population, pleasant staff and home cooked Costa Rican dishes. Lovely

This is not a Beach Hotel but a well located inland option, very convenient if you want to visit any or all of the many options around the area covered from Playa Grande and Tamarindo, down to Playa Negra and Junquillal. This off course, without having to pay for more expensive, less comfortable places at any of the beaches. Best is the deck with the pool. Worst is clearly, they have not placed much money in maintaining or renewing the facilities. Overall is good for the price, run on a clearly tight budget and owners need to think on investing.

We loved the cabins that had rocking chairs on the porches. The rooms had large bathrooms with lots of shelf space and large showerheads. The beds were firm but not uncomfortable. The rooms came with desks, but no wifi. The wifi was located only in the lobby area. The breakfast was unsubstantial, as it was only fruit and toast. You had to pay extra for an omelette, which cost $5. There was a freezer filled with drinks, which you could take on the honour system and sign it on a sheet at the lobby. There was also a fridge in each room. We liked the pool as it was relaxing and clean. The location was far out of town, and we had to pay $20 each way both into and out of the town of Tamarindo in order to get something to eat. There was no food on the premises aside from the breakfast I have just mentioned. The jungle sounds were great around our cabin and really livened things up, especially when we had something thump onto our roof in the middle of the night. The birds were really loud and sounded like car alarms or something like it. There were horses down below our cabin also because a ranch was there. The dirt road leading to the hotel was really dusty and unpleasant. Apparently this is a government road which is slowly being paved, but may be years in the making. Overall, we enjoyed this hotel for the ambiance.