Hotel Los Héroes

We had a pleasant stay, and Silena was wonderful. We were stranded by landslides and she found us accommodation in an emergency. The apartments have great scenery, and you can hike up the hill to a lookout for a view of Arenal Volcano while the kids enjoy farm life. Thanks so much, Silena!

We just walked around the complex and bought a beer. The lake views were pretty impressive. If you want to take the homemade train up to the rotating restaurant, you'll need a reservation, and it only runs twice a day. Still, a pretty neat place to wander around.

We spent our first night in La Fortuna at Los Heroes, on a friend's recommendation, and it was everything we'd hoped for and more. We arrived late, but host Silena had sent detailed check-in instructions and our room keys. In the morning, we stepped out on a hillside into a lovely farm, with Swiss style chalets scattered across green slopes and cows grazing in the early light. Lake Arenal and the Monteverde cloud forests stretched out beyond it. We walked around and spotted a private railway crossing the property. Silena's late husband had been an architect who came from Switzerland several decades ago. He designed and built the farm and hotel himself, then added a restaurant at the top of the large property and a train station and private railway to connect it to the farm. The couple were pioneers in eco farming and tourism, and hosted President Jimmy Carter and his wife in 2000. They truly earned the Los Heroes name.

It's a very nice place with a Swiss feel. The food is good and well priced, and customer service is very good. I'd highly recommend taking the little train to the unique rotating restaurant in Costa Rica.