Facilities

Free breakfast
Front entrance ramp
Proposal/romance packages available
Area shuttle (surcharge)
Arcade/game room
Hot springs nearby
Comprehensive recycling policy
Books
Guest education on local ecosystems and culture
Farming classes
See all facilities

Review Highlights

Pros:
Friendly, attentive owner and staff (Giovanni and Luis)
Excellent wildlife viewing (birds, frogs, bats, sloths)
Peaceful, natural setting and relaxing pool area
Quiet and easily accessible, helpful staff (e.g., assisted with car)
Clean, comfortable rooms for most guests
Good value for money; highly recommended by many
Cons:
At least one report of a used/dirty room and problematic bathroom
Some photos/views felt misleading to one guest (expected mountains)
No in-room fridge/minibar requested by guests
Parking entry requires contacting staff / gate access inconvenient
Breakfast could be improved (lack of traditional options like gallo pinto)

Categories

Cleanliness
8.2
Generally reported as very clean and well maintained by several guests, but at least one guest reported a used/dirty room and a problematic bathroom, indicating mixed cleanliness experiences.
Service
9.8
Consistently praised: owner Giovanni and staff (including Luis) described as friendly, attentive, helpful and accommodating (helped with car, flexible with schedules, warm hospitality).
Location
9.4
Excellent natural setting with strong wildlife viewing (birds, frogs, bats, sloths) and a peaceful environment; one guest expected mountain views and felt the advertised view was misleading.
Room Quality
9
Rooms described as comfortable and adequate (some small but suitable for short stays); however one report noted a used/dirty room and bathroom issues, suggesting generally good but occasionally inconsistent room quality.
Amenities
9
Amenities like a beautiful pool and pleasant grounds are highlighted; limited in-room amenities noted (no minibar/fridge requested) and parking access required contacting staff, which can be inconvenient.
Value for Money
9.6
Multiple guests called it great value and recommended it as excellent value for the price, emphasizing the overall experience relative to cost.
Food and Beverage
9
Food described as delicious by several guests and staff sometimes provided meals; breakfasts could improve (one guest noted lack of traditional gallo pinto) indicating generally strong but improvable F&B.
Overall Experience
9.6
Overall overwhelmingly positive: many guests reported wonderful, peaceful stays and would return; one guest had a strongly negative experience, but the majority praise hospitality, nature and ambience.
* This sentiment is summarized by AI based on user reviews.
Updated at: 2026-05-31 17:17

Property Description

Luxurious Spa and Recreational Amenities - Indulge yourself with massages and body treatments, and enjoy the outdoor pool and bicycles for rent.

Dining and Entertainment Options - Experience delicious meals at Colibrí Restaurant, unwind with a drink at the bar/lounge, or enjoy a cocktail by the poolside bar.

Exquisite Rooms and Relaxation - Stay in uniquely decorated guestrooms with private pools, premium bedding, and balconies/patios, offering the perfect blend of comfort and luxury.

To book your stay at San Rafael Ecolodge and experience a perfect blend of luxury and nature by the riverwalk, click here.

Important information:

  • Pool access available from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
  • Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
  • The property has connecting/adjoining rooms, which are subject to availability and can be requested by contacting the property using the number on the booking confirmation.
  • Some facilities may have restricted access. Guests can contact the property for details using the contact information on the booking confirmation.
  • No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property.
  • Contactless check-in and contactless check-out are available.
  • This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).

Check-in and check-out hours:
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Airport code: SJO

Property Policies

  • Pets

    Pets not allowed

  • Children and extra beds

    No rollaway/extra beds available

  • Pets

    Service animals not allowed

  • Check-in & Check-out

    Contactless check-out is available

  • General

    Events/parties not allowed

See all policies

Location

Guest Reviews

9.2
Based on 20 reviews
Cleanliness: 8.2
Service: 9.8
Location: 9.4
Room Quality: 9
Amenities: 9
Value for Money: 9.6
Food and Beverage: 9
Overall Experience: 9.6
T
Therase • extended_group • au
10
A lush paradise 30 minutes from La Fortuna.
Pros:

We loved staying for 4 nights at this Ecolodge. This is a beautiful hotel which is in the midst of a lush garden, abundant with plants, birds and cicadas. Many colourful frogs come out at night.
We saw a sloth on our second day at this property. and we spotted and heard our first toucan here as well.
Anytime that we were not spotting the wildlife, we would play with Thor, the resident dog. Thor was always ready to play “fetch the stick” at any time of the day.
The hotel location was perfect because we were only 30 minutes’ drive from the busy centre of La Fortuna yet we were close to the main attractions like Místico Park, the Bogarin Trail, the Chocolate plantation, and other activities.
The best aspect of our stay were the hosts- Giovanni Cespedes, the owner, and the hotel manager, Luis. They were kind, generous, and always ready to assist with any of our requests.
The daily breakfasts and the restaurant meals
were consistently excellent. Meals were always freshly prepared. My daughters ordered their delicious chicken Nachos dish over 3 seperate meals!!
We highly recommend that you stay for more than 3 nights so that you can fully enjoy all that this hotel has to offer.

Cons:

Nothing …except that we wished we could have stayed longer than 4 nights!

2026-06-02 • via Nuitee
C
Carlos • couple • us
10
2026-04-15 • via Nuitee
A
ALAIN • solo_traveller • fr
9
Pros:

Bien placé, personnellement souriante, petit déjeuner sympa

Cons:

Verifier les portes et fenêtres qui be ferme pas bien et un petit frigidaire dans la chambre serait le bien venu

2026-04-12 • via Nuitee
P
Piotr • extended_group • pl
1
Pros:

Nothing!

Cons:

The room was used and dirty. The pictures on booking.com were done in such a way that they shows this hotel much better. We have booked the room with a view to mountains and it was not true. The view was on dark plants in the jungle.. the bathroom was terrible. We had to be carefull not to touchpad anything. Terrible place!

2026-04-06 • via Nuitee
J
Julian • couple • us
10
Great value and quiet and easily accessible. He even helped us by getting our car out of a tricky position which he didn
Pros:

Quiet and the owner Giovanni and staff were friendly and helpful and provided food and were flexible to our needs to leave early

Cons:

Nothing

2026-03-26 • via Nuitee
B
bettina • extended_group • de
8
2026-03-20 • via Nuitee
P
Peilstab • couple • de
10
2026-03-15 • via Nuitee
E
Elizabeth • couple • cr
10
Totally recommended
Pros:

We had a wonderful stay. The room was comfortable and very clean, and the entire property was well maintained. The food was delicious, the pool area was beautiful and relaxing, and the natural surroundings made the place feel peaceful and special.

The owner was incredibly kind and friendly, providing warm and attentive service that made us feel very welcome.

Excellent experience overall and great value for the price. We would happily come here again.

Cons:

Nothing. I couldn't complain of anything.

2026-03-14 • via Nuitee
G
Gonzalo Salinas ascencio • solo_traveller • cl
10
Pros:

Mi estadía en San Rafael Ecolodge fue realmente una experiencia muy especial y difícil de olvidar.

Desde el primer momento me sentí muy bien recibido gracias a Giovanni, el dueño, y a Luis, quienes fueron increíblemente atentos durante toda mi estadía. Siempre preocupados de cada detalle, de que todo estuviera cómodo y de que uno se sintiera a gusto. Pero más allá del buen servicio, lo que realmente quiero destacar es la calidad humana de ambos. Se nota que hacen su trabajo con mucho cariño y con una verdadera vocación por recibir personas.

El trato fue siempre cercano, amable y genuino. En un mundo donde muchas veces todo es más impersonal, aquí uno realmente siente que está en un lugar donde las personas importan. Giovanni y Luis no solo se preocupan de que todo funcione bien, sino también de que los huéspedes se sientan cómodos, bienvenidos y parte del lugar.

El entorno del ecolodge también es algo maravilloso. Dentro de las mismas instalaciones es posible observar fauna increíble, como osos perezosos, distintas especies de ranas y una gran variedad de aves, lo que hace que la experiencia sea aún más auténtica y conectada con la naturaleza. Despertar rodeado de ese ambiente natural es algo realmente único.

Más que un lugar para alojarse, San Rafael Ecolodge es un lugar para vivir una experiencia, para desconectarse, disfrutar de la naturaleza y encontrarse con personas muy buenas.

Me voy profundamente agradecido por la hospitalidad que recibí. Llegué como huésped, pero me voy con la sensación de haber conocido a dos grandes personas y haber hecho nuevos amigos. Sin duda, un lugar al que volvería con mucho gusto.

Cons:

Sin comentarios.

2026-03-12 • via Nuitee
C
Carlos Enrique • couple • cr
8
Muy buena opcion para relajarse en medio de la naturaleza
Pros:

El personal fue muy amable, la habitación pequeña pero justo lo que necesitabamos para una estancia corta, ubicada en medio de la naturaleza.

Cons:

Como puntos de mejora, la entrada y salida al parqueo para la habitación en la que estuvimos hospedados, era un poco incomoda ya que habia que contactar al hotel para que abrieran el porton. Ademas, el desayuno podria mejorar, tomando en cuenta que en la mayoria de hoteles normalmente se ofrece el tradicional gallo pinto, y en esta ocasión no se ofrecio, pero en general, buen servicio y buena opción de hospedaje.

2026-03-02 • via Nuitee
A
alex • couple • au
9
Pros:

Excellent bird frog bat and sloth watching

2026-03-01 • via Nuitee
N
Nick • extended_group • us
10
Truly incredible and one our family will never forget, a 10/10 without hesitation and I think everyone visiting this
Pros:

From the moment you arrive you are made to feel welcome and as though you are in your new home away from home. Giovanni is bursting with pride and gratitude and cannot wait to share all the property offers and to assist you with anything you may need, or to arrange offsite excursions for you. Within days the hosts felt like friends to our family of four and it was sad to say goodbye. The property is special, seeing a sloth and many interesting frogs, but also in being immersed within the rainforest culture, climate, and environ which is exactly what we were looking for. The fresh and tasty food was prepared by the hosts daily and a pleasant surprise, affordable, and delicious also served with much pride. The coffee is fantastic! Giovanni, Luis, and all staff were incredibly friendly, gracious, and excited to share the place they call home with us. It is not often the place you stay or the hosts there are as much of the experience as the things you do in the surrounding area, but in this case it truly became a beloved part of our Costa Rican family adventure.

Cons:

Although not negative, things to be aware of as compared to some other typical lodging offerings, at least in the unit we had so not sure if true for all, there was no small fridge in the room. No room safe (although the property felt very safe and secure, so it was not something we felt we needed). We mostly lived out of our suitcases as there was not much storage for clothing aside from a few shelves in one of the bedrooms. And if you are a light sleeper, the rain most every night on the metal roof can be quite loud. It is so steady that it becomes a white noise you get used to but it was an adjustment at first. But again, it’s a rain forest, so part of the experience and adventure!

2026-02-26 • via Nuitee
F
fsanchezlay • solo_traveller • cl
9
Excelente atención y mucha tranquilidad
Pros:

Es algo lejos de las principales atracciones de la zona pero resulta ser una ventaja, es un lugar muy tranquilo y el hotel está inserto en la naturaleza, al lado de un curso de agua con una porción de bosque; incluso apareció un perezoso. La atención es excelente y aunque no tuve tiempo de disfrutar la piscina, las instalaciones en general estaban muy bien. En el restaurant sirven un excelente desayuno y tomé dos veces servicio de cena (se paga aparte) también muy bueno. El baño era muy espacioso.

Cons:

La habitación era muy modesta en comparación con el resto del hotel. Se beneficiaría de un par de muebles auxiliares, bastaría con estantes simples. El baño era grande pero también sin muebles de apoyo. La habitación no estaba bien sellada (revisar sobre todo el mosquitero en las ventanas del baño) y si bien se entiende que está inserto en la naturaleza, había arañas e insectos pequeños, y me visitaron una cucaracha grande (descanse en paz) y una lagartija que se fue por el espacio donde sale el ducto del aire acondicionado (que debería estar sellado).

2026-02-23 • via Nuitee
M
Mireille • family_with_children • fr
10
Un séjour en pleine nature, calme, confortable, dépayasnt ...
Pros:

Hotel San Rafael Ecolodge

Nous avons séjourné 4 nuits à l’hôtel San Rafael Ecolodge.
Le directeur de l’hôtel nous a accueillis très chaleureusement. Grâce à lui, dès notre arrivée, nous avons découvert un paresseux au sommet d’un grand arbre, moment d’émotion.
Les chambres de l’hôtel sont exceptionnelles, elles sont implantées discrètement dans de petits bâtiments disséminés dans le parc, leurs grands baies vitrées vous mettent en contact direct avec une végétation luxuriante, vous assurent un réveil mémorable, concert des oiseaux, petite musique des cours d’eau qui traversent le jardin de l’hôtel.
Nos chambres se situaient sur une grande plate-forme en bois, nous permettant de nous reposer sur de grandes terrasses confortablement équipés.
Nous avons pris nos repas du soir à l’hôtel, la cuisine est excellente, le service très attentionné.
Il faut vraiment souligner la disponibilité, la gentillesse du directeur. Il a eu à coeur de nous faire partager sa connaissance du Costa Rica, avec enthousiasme et humour.
Merci à lui et à son équipe !
Nous recommandons sans hésiter l’hôtel San Rafael Ecolodge qui fait partie des souvenirs mémorables que nous garderons de notre voyage.

2026-02-14 • via Nuitee
S
Scott • couple • cr
9
VIP treatment
Pros:

I loved our stay. It is locally owned, staff went out of their way to ensure our experience was excellent. We got the VIP treatment by Giovanni and Luis. Now this lodge is surrounded by nature. You will see sloths, hummingbirds, frogs, macaws to name a few. They are proud of their country and are eager to share its beauty with their guests. Breakfasts were delicious and we also had dinner, equally good. I will definitely return.

2026-01-23 • via Nuitee
W
Werner • couple • de
9
Pros:

Anlage schön angelegt, schöner Pool.Faultiere im Garten. Wäscheservice

Cons:

Kalter Pool, freilaufender Hund

2026-01-21 • via Nuitee
L
Laura • couple • cr
10
Estancia armoniosa
Pros:

Excelente atención al cliente, habitaciones preciosas y bien amuebladas y nuevas, comida deliciosa.

2026-01-15 • via Nuitee
A
Andrés • extended_group • cr
10
Pros:

Loved the dog Thor, the hospitality and the nature around the location

2026-01-04 • via Nuitee
• solo_traveller • gt
1
Pesima
Pros:

Nada me gustó

Cons:

Nada me gusto

2025-12-28 • via Nuitee
V
Vikram • extended_group • us
9
Great hosts operating modern rooms in a beautiful setting with an occasional sloth appearance
Pros:

Convenient location. Amazing friendly hosts. What’s delight to see a sloth on a tree right in the lodge

Cons:

Minor quibbles. One room was next to pool/dining and not insulated from noises. Great ecolodge overall.

2025-12-28 • via Nuitee