Termales del Bosque & Hot Springs

Our bungalow was spacious and comfortable for four, with a full kitchen, including a fridge, microwave, and stove, plus a nice seating area. The reception and breakfast staff were friendly, though we needed Google Translate for basic requests like ordering an omelette. The hot springs are about a kilometer from the rooms. We drove there ourselves, though I believe transportation was available. A couple of problems: after our late check-in there was no hot water, and without a phone in the room we couldn’t call reception. Our friends also had trouble with lights that didn’t work. The rooms come with soap only, no shampoo or lotion.

We went elsewhere for dinner afterward, to Que Rico, where the Caribbean food was delicious, cheaper, served in bigger portions, and came with much friendlier service. At this restaurant, we felt we were treated worse because we had prepaid and weren’t hotel guests. We bought tickets that included dinner, but the food was inedible and the service was awful. Our steak was burnt through despite being ordered medium, and when we sent it back they refused to replace it and told us to order something else. When we asked for a refund, security escorted us off the property even though we had a day pass for the springs. The waitresses were rude, rolling their eyes and insisting the brown steak was cooked correctly. The shrimp tasted old, the white sauce was strange, and the only sides were rice or mashed potatoes with artificial red dye. Even the natural drink tasted weird. I’ve never had service this bad in Costa Rica.

The thermal pools were slippery and full of algae, and mold seemed to be everywhere. The pavement had potholes, and breakfast was over-salted and unappetizing. We booked four nights but left after two days. The photos on this site aren’t accurate. Overall, the facility felt overrated, overpriced, and poorly maintained.

We went to the hot springs while staying nearby, and the evening there was fantastic. From the parking area, a short trail leads down to the TV renal waters. It was beautiful relaxing in the pools among the forest. It seems like more locals come here, which makes it feel like a hidden gem. I wanted to fit in another visit, but our days were already full of activities.