Hotel Rincon de la Vieja Lodge

The staff were incredibly kind, and the scenery made this feel almost like a dream. We came across the place on our way back from Rio Negro hot springs, and I’ve rarely been so pleasantly surprised. The meal was high quality, with generous portions at very reasonable prices. Even if you’re not staying at the resort, the restaurant is worth a stop if you’re in the area. It’s a visit I’ll remember for years.

The restaurant food was delicious, and the hotel is very close to a national park. From Liberia, the route is mostly paved and safe, so there’s no need to expect difficult off-road driving. Adrian, the other staff, and management helped make our stay great. Our newly renovated room was cozy, carefully maintained, and exceptionally clean. Many problems mentioned in older reviews have been fixed, and for the price this felt like very good value.

There’s no air conditioning, but nights are cool and breezy this close to the volcano. Wi-Fi is available in the common areas, though the signal doesn’t reach every cabin. This is a peaceful lodge right beside el Rincon national park, and the restaurant serves very good food at affordable prices.

We took a walk through the woods, about 3 km there and back, stopping short of the hot springs. I also swam in a pool. We picked up quite a few ticks, which bothered us over the next few days, but luckily we had a tick remover. Ticks live outdoors, have eight legs, and can cling on tightly. Some reviews about bed bugs might possibly be describing ticks instead, since bed bugs have six legs and presumably live indoors. We’d noted the location and showed up without a booking. The staff were helpful, but the place was full and could offer us only one night. A camping spot was available too, but it was too hot for us. We got a splendid cabin, which may have been an upgrade, and the breakfast was splendid as well.