Cerro Chato Ecolodge

Maria was lovely. She made breakfast with a smile and, although she doesn't speak English, always tried to communicate and made us feel welcome. The owner was helpful with questions, too. The lodge has small rooms with their own bathrooms and showers, plus a little pool at the back. WiFi was available but slow. I stayed three nights and only had one hot shower. At night the hot water lasted about a minute, though it might last longer in the morning. My room also smelled a little moldy after the first rain. I may just have been unlucky, since my friends in other rooms didn't have that issue. It wasn't too bad, just noticeable.

The pool was a lovely way to cool down after hiking, and the grounds are spacious and peaceful, away from La Fortuna's bustle. The lodge is close to La Fortuna waterfalls, though the way there is uphill the whole time. I didn't mind the 3 km walk into town. There are sidewalks for most of it, which is unusual in Costa Rica, and you can check out the menus at the steakhouses along the route. Breakfast was great, and the two Miguels gave excellent service with perfect English. Gracias Miguel y Miguel!

I'm ten weeks into a ten-month trip through Central and South America, and this is one of the nicest places I've stayed so far. I found it on Hostelworld and was surprised by how nice it was. It may be listed as a hostel, but to me it's more like an affordable lodge with lovely private rooms and cabins. From the bench outside my room, I watched toucans and other birds in the trees between tours. The volcano is right across the street, and the owners were completely helpful with advice and booking tours. It's just outside town, with lots of restaurants nearby and only a short drive to the center. I also loved sitting outside listening to nature, and there's hot water, too.

A good breakfast is served at this small, pleasant lodge. For dinner you'll need to head into La Fortuna. Cerro Chato volcano is nearby, with a hike that costs $10 to enter. The trail is steep and muddy.