Location: Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
Top Hotels in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
Top Restaurants in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
Top 7 hotels in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Costa Rica
Discover the best hotels in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui, Sarapiqui, Province of Heredia including Posada Andrea Cristina, Gran Gavilan del Sarapiqui Lodge, Heliconia Island, La Selva Biological Station, Mirador Prendas, Selva Verde Lodge, Hotel El Bambu.
Restaurants in Puerto Viejo de Sarapiqui
1. Posada Andrea Cristina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 192 reviews
Amazing host! Not as good sleep..,
Reviewed By cbalbertaAlexander was an amazing host. So friendly and thoughtful, and for that I give all the credit in the world! It was fantastic to stay right in the jungle and his place is cute and full of charm with animals and little jungle pathways and birds to watch. Breakfast was very good with both buffet and made to order items. Although the set up for the cabana is very suited to a family, I regretfully could not give more then 3 stars because the quality of sleep is poor. The sheets, pillows and mattresses don't measure up to the standard, including several other properties in Costa Rica. I didn't sleep well and was very bothered because of it. Because Alexander was so wonderful, he offered me better pillows when I expressed my discomfort. Maybe it's more like 3.5 stars.
2. Gran Gavilan del Sarapiqui Lodge
Overall Ratings
5 based on 11 reviews
3. Heliconia Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 168 reviews
Heliconia Island a perfect place for nature lovers. The most beautiful botanical garden of Costa Rica. Feel like you are at home in a private atmosphere. Enjoy the birds, the river and walk around in the garden where you find a huge collection of heliconias.We have two rooms with air conditioning and two rooms with a fan. Also there is a family apartment. All the rooms have hot water and a good mattress, The furniture is made of bamboo. On the balcony you have a nice view over the garden. In the restaurant we serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.Sarapiqui is a green area in the lowlands in the north of Costa Rica. There are 3 national parks, Braulio Carillio, La Selva and Tirimbina. Many activities can be done like rafting, canopy tour, horseback ride and boat trips. You can visit a pinapple, bananas or coffee plantation. For birdwatchers it is a real paradise.There is a busstop only 500 mts from the hotel.Discover Heliconia island, a small bed and breakfast in a magical garden. Cross the bridge into a unique world of natural harmony surrounded by the sounds of birds, frogs, monkeys and the flowing river. Relax and enjoy: Pura Vida!
A magical place
Reviewed By carlbenkHeliconia Island changed hands over the last couple of years. You can no longer get a guided tour of the gardens but they are still beautifully maintained and you can wander through them at your leisure. This place is magical and so who really cares if the accommodations are a bit on the rustic side with squishy mattresses and a cranky electrical system. Breakfast was delicious and accompanied by a wonderful show of tropical birds attracted to the papaya and banana that owner Pier put out for them. We also enjoyed canoeing on the Sarapiqui, but be prepared for a bit of effort to get the canoe down and later up the steep and muddy set of stairs leading to the river.
4. La Selva Biological Station
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
Overprice but great birding
Reviewed By Juan Diego VNo doubt is one of the best birding places in all the country although their popularity make them rise their fees way too much for what they offer. Staying there has advantages and disadvantages. The main disadvantage is the extremely basic accommodation and food. The place is thought for young researchers. If you care sleeping and eating good better go out and stay at the better hotels around and do the 10min drive to get there. Now if you want to visit for the day get ready for their super high entrance fees and awkward schedules designed to make you pay more if you want to do a full morning of birding.
5. Mirador Prendas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Mirador Prendas is a rural tourism project 100% Costa Rican located in Horquetas of Sarapiqui. We have multiple services and activities available for the whole family we have a unique architecture. We operate canopy, rappelling, river safari, paintball, guided walks and more. We also offer shared, private and The Tree House Room.
Magical and stunningly beautiful
Reviewed By WhizzywomanWhat an extraordinary creation this is. Costa Rica’s biggest wooden dwelling, this is an idiosyncratic, beautiful place in a rainforest setting. Every room is different, every one of them charming and individually designed. We stayed four days. The family who run the place are so friendly and helpful, and we enjoyed both an intrepid night walk and a walk through the forest to a waterfall. I wouldn’t miss this place for anything! The road does need 4WD, but we went by public transport and they will help you organise transport up to the Mirador. Don Prendas, the creator, was very interesting to talk with (in Spanish) - and plied us with his home made liqueur too. In short, we loved it. Do visit- I’ve never been anywhere like it!
6. Selva Verde Lodge
Overall Ratings
4 based on 920 reviews
Selva Verde is more than a lodge and more than a rainforest reserve. It is your gateway into a magical world of towering Almendro trees, Mantled Howler Monkeys, and Keel Billed Toucans. Immerse yourself in tropical nature as you hike through deep green forest or reflect quietly in a comfortable hammock. Discover something new as you encounter Selva Verde's amazing wildlife and vibrant people. Rekindle your sense of wonder and experience the out-of-the-ordinary. Experience Selva Verde! Located just 2 hours from San Jose, Selva Verde provides easy access to the wonders of the rainforest. For over 30 years, we have been a haven for nature enthusiasts from around the world. Our abundant biodiversity, comfortable rainforest lodge, and exciting activities are ideal for adventure seekers, bird and wildlife watchers, students, and families. Come explore Selva Verde's 500 acres of vibrant tropical nature in the heart of Costa Rica's Sarapiqui Canton.
Upscale lodge with plenty to see and do
Reviewed By Michelle BReview Selve Verde This lodge is right next to a very busy road. All night long, we were subjected to traffic noise, that being composed almost solely of big trucks using their compression brakes (aka "jake" brakes). I could see no reason for their use other than the truckers were driving far too fast for the road. Or perhaps it was to annoy the wealthy visitors, because Selve Verde is not a cheap place to stay. But otherwise, Selve Verde was a very upscale lodge. I must say it's not conducive to photography. The walkways are covered, as it rains-often, and did every afternoon. This made for a dry walk to the dining area and meeting spots, but cut off the jungle overhead. The room smelled a bit antiseptic, one could almost say musty, but otherwise, it was very good. It was quite spacious, with a couch, a bench at the end of each of the two queen sized beds. A large rack gave us plenty of room for our smaller carry on bags. A safe was provided, with the key on the same ring as one's room key. We did not use it. A table with a decent reading lamp allowed my husband to work on his laptop. There were plenty of electrical outlets. Two overhead fans, with lights, provided plenty of moving air, and each bed had a decent reading lamp. The beds were comfortable and had pillows that were NOT lumpy. A coffee maker was on the table with a complementary pair of coffee capsules. We learned later that the would be the only time we got free coffee. If you wanted more, you went to the bar to buy more, at $2 US a capsule. The room and the bathroom were both spotlessly clean. I never saw an insect in either. We had to wear a blue plastic strap on our wrists to show we were fully paid up customers. It proved annoying, but apparently that's how it works in Costa Rica. Outside the room was a good sized bench to sit on and nearby was a hammock. The lights outside the room could be turned off, which made the room nice and dark at night. The bathroom had plenty of towels and amenities. It was clean. The toilet paper was dispensed in a large, two rolls dispenser. There was only a third of a single roll in the dispenser when we got into our room. We were both in the throes of the the Zumes (aka traveler's diahrrea) and I knew we'd never make it with just one almost depleted roll, so I went down to reception and asked for more TP, please? I was told it would be taken care of and by the time I got back to my room, a housekeeper arrived with more TP. The layout of the walks to the dining hall et al was confusing, I found myself asking directions from the room to the dining hall. The signage to 'reception' and the dining hall, et al, could be improved, but I did, eventually, learn my way around. Maps were provided at check in. The covered walkways are lined with lovely shrubs, flowers, a buttress rooted fig tree. It's quite lovely and amazingly, considering the proximity of humans, traffic on the roads, etc, we saw plenty of birds, as well as a pair of metallic green and black poison dart frogs hopped into view. They're so tiny, so lovely! And alas, so endangered. Service at the dining area was outstanding. The food was buffet style, something I truly appreciate, due to some dietary restrictions I have. On offer was not only 'typical food', the term for Costa Rican fare, but also offerings more created for an American's palate. There was always plenty of fresh fruit available, hot coffee, etc. During our meals, a woman would come by with dessert-it was usually something I'd never had before and was always terrific. Service for breakfast started at 0700. One morning we wanted a very early start to go birding/photographing, and we got what they dubbed a "cold breakfast" at 0530. It was, really, even better than the regular eggs, etc. Cereal was available, but I had yogurt, toast, a nice big slice of papaya and fresh juice. The paths through the 'preserve' provided us with views of howler monkeys, and dozens of new bird species. There is a bridge spanning the Sarapiqui river that rocked and rolled like something out of an Indiana Jones movie. But it was well built and quite safe, just lively. The river was beautiful. We were unable to enter the jungle preserve on the other side of the river, it was gated off for some reason. Wifi at Selve Verde was robust and free. We did not utilize the bar. There is a fairly substantial gift shop with very decent prices and the sales conducted by a lovely young lady who speaks excellent English. They have laundry service, 24 hours after I turned in a large bag of clothing, it returned neatly folded, every button on every shirt buttoned and socks all precisely matched. We got back to our room that second day to discover that, while our room had been serviced, the trash had not been taken out. And in Costa Rica, one does not flush toilet paper down the toilet, one deposits it in a trash basket next to the toilet. Upon my complaint it was rectified rapidly, but, still, it spoke of a rather slapdash housekeeper. That, combined with the failure to mention that coffee was not free, and the lack of two rolls of toilet paper when we first got into the room, was the only fault I could find with Selve Verde. I would definitely stay at Selve Verde again, and I recommend it if you ever make your way to that part of Costa Rica.
7. Hotel El Bambu
Overall Ratings
4 based on 203 reviews
Enjoy the tropic rainforest in a small and welcoming hotel operated by a Costa Rican family just 82 km from San José. At the same time learn about our natural sustainable project, taste our delightful variety of plates in our menu restaurant, rest in superior rooms with queen size beds, air conditioning and terrace. Also take advantage of our safari tour on the Sarapiquí River or enjoy our adventure tours in the area.
RESTAURANT REVIEW: Good Food Close to Bus Terminal
Reviewed By JoeS-ResponsibleTravAfter our bus arrives from Orono we decided to get lunch close to the bus terminal. Check to TripAdvisor and hotel El Bambu restaurant looked fine. Food was good. Girlfriend had nice fish Casado. I did not like my eggplant lasagna.. way too cheesy for me
