Hotel Cerro Lodge

You can spot wildlife just by wandering around, or even from the pool. We saw Scarlet Macaws, monkeys and an owl. The restaurant was very good too, and we had the best pizza ever. The cottages are lovely, with good beds, air conditioning and even an outside bathroom. From the natural sights and sounds, we felt relaxed as soon as we arrived. I can’t believe this place only has a 4.1 score right now. Great service and a fantastic nature experience overall.

The quiet lodge tucked into nature was a real plus, especially since we came mainly to photograph birds. We loved being so close to the macaws and other birds. My wife and I stayed two nights at the end of February, and the welcome was very warm. Our deluxe room was clean and very good. We went on trips to Carara National Park and took two boat rides on the Tarcoles River. Both were fantastic for birdwatching, especially at sunset. Another great outing was walking along the beach to the mouth of the Tarcoles River, where we saw lots of pelicans and different gulls. We had pizza and beef burgers for dinner and would recommend both. If you want a lodge surrounded by nature with plenty of birds to watch, this is an excellent choice.

The macaws are the main draw here, and they really deliver. This is a birding lodge, so it’s best suited to people who don’t need a lot of other things. The pool is nice when it’s hot, and the air conditioning is great and surprisingly quiet. Getting to the cabins and rooms involves some fairly steep access, though that shouldn’t be a problem for birders.

There are lots of walking trails across the large, quiet property in the middle of the forest. The rooms were okay, nothing special. Jessica at reception was very helpful, and the food was excellent. We had great pizza and a wonderful breakfast. Cerro Lodge is a magnet for birds and monkeys if you’re after good bird photos. Every morning, when they set up the feeders, there are so many of them around.