Altura Hotel

Our forest dome was such a fun experience, and my little kid had a blast with all the toys, outdoor play space, and little magical corners. We loved wandering around to see the art, decorations, flowers, different places to stay, and all the viewpoints over the Central Valley and San Jose. The place has a lovely, creative feel, and the views make it easy to forget everything else for a while. There are animals too, including their donkey. Ramirez at reception was so friendly and helpful with everything. I wish we'd stayed longer. Such a beautiful place.

The room felt huge, with separate areas and a big soaking tub overlooking San Jose. It gets cold at night, but the Altura team had heaters in the room, which we definitely needed. The property is peaceful, with a large sitting area if your room doesn't have a view. We could see a great view from ours whenever the clouds and fog cleared. There are different spots to wander around, and my daughter loved the donkey while my wife was all about the dogs. Altura has a really unusual, rustic cabin feel on the side of Poas volcano, though it has more amenities than a typical cabin. A young man checked us in and helped order pizza after a long day when we didn't want to head out again. It was our first hotel in Costa Rica, and our first traditional breakfast. I liked it, and the ladies in the breakfast area kindly brought my daughter a banana when she was having trouble with the meal. Don't worry, I finished it for her. We'd stay again for the peace and quiet alone.

The view is fantastic, and the staff are friendly and kind enough to send directions to the property. It's quiet, rustic, and kid friendly, with a fun EWOK feel. If you want a hotel chain kind of place, this probably isn't for you. Our Yurt's one heater kept us warm enough, though the sheets had holes and the space heaters could use a dusting. The plumbing valve was installed upside down, so the hot and cold directions are reversed. The water gets scalding hot for filling the deep tub, but finding a comfortable temperature takes tiny, precise turns. Still, we had a really wonderful stay and highly recommend it.

The grounds are gorgeous, and our little house had stunning artwork. Breakfast was incredible, too. We had such a great time that I wish we'd stayed for more nights.