Pensión Santa Elena

We had a private room by the backyard garden, which was lovely, and the beds were comfortable. It was mostly quiet, apart from the rooster, and the included breakfast was delicious. You could choose a typical Costa Rican breakfast or yogurt with granola and fruit, and both were excellent. The place is right in the middle of Santa Elena and handy for the Monteverde Cloudforest. A very competent hotel.

After several days of hiking and backpacking, this hotel felt like a relief. The front desk staff were helpful and took time to explain what was available at the hotel and nearby. They even gave me my room keys at 11 instead of 2, which is rare. There’s a bus stop right outside, and I used it at 4 a.m. to go to La Irma. The local shuttle stop, a large shopping mall, and lots of great places to eat are close by, too. They arrange tours through third parties, and there’s a typical breakfast, a kitchen, plus a small front sitting area with books and games. I was surprised to find shampoo and body wash in the toilet, and the hot shower was a treat. The room wasn’t soundproof, so you could hear and feel everything. My main issue was the lack of air circulation. Without a fan or AC, I wanted the option of opening a screened window, but when I opened it at 1 a.m. for just 10 minutes, the smoke smell outside was awful, so I shut it right away. I ended up leaving the screened toilet window open instead.

I slept like a baby in the clean, cozy room, and especially loved the cotton sheets and towels. They felt high quality, which is hard to find in Costa Rica, where synthetic fabrics seem to be used almost everywhere. The stone shower was lovely, with shampoo and shower gel, something I haven’t even had at some Costa Rican hotels. Breakfast was great, and the location is right in the heart of Santa Elena. Keep up the good work, I’d highly recommend this hostel!

The hammock outside was a lovely extra, and the hostel sits right in the heart of Santa Elena without being too noisy. My private room and bathroom were just right. Such a beautiful space, and a great base for exploring everything the area has to offer.