Savegre Lodge Natural Reserve & Spa
On its own 400-hectare cloud forest reserve at 2,200 metres, where over 170 bird species are seen, the quetzal among them, with heated rooms and a spa with sauna, steam room and jacuzzis.
3-starView hotel
San Gerardo de Dota
A quiet cloud forest valley at 2,200 metres in the Talamanca Mountains, and one of the best places in Costa Rica to see the resplendent quetzal. Most of our clients spend 2 nights here.
- Fly into
- SJO
- San José about 2.5 hours
- Stay
- 2 nights
- What most of our clients choose
- Quetzal season
- Apr to May
- Breeding season, easiest to see
- Altitude
- 2,200 m
- Cool days, cold nights
- Pairs with
- Drake Bay
- Private transfer to Sierpe, then a boat
Why go
The valley where the quetzal lives all year
San Gerardo de Dota is a tiny town at 2,200 metres in the Talamanca Mountains, in the valley of the Savegre River. The air is cool and clean, the crowds stay away, and more than 170 bird species have been identified in the valley, the resplendent quetzal among them, along with trogons, hummingbirds and woodpeckers. Los Quetzales National Park is right here, with three kinds of forest and 14 ecosystems, and the river is known for its trout.
QuetzalsHere all year, easiest to see April and May
BirdingMore than 170 species in the valley
Trout fishingFly fishing on the Savegre, May and June
The map
Every hotel we book in San Gerardo de Dota
7 hotels, our favourites numbered.
Hotels we know personally
3-star and above only, chosen by our team in Costa Rica.
Trogon Lodge
Wooden cabins on a family farm with a clear river running through it, gas heaters for cold mountain nights, home-cooked meals, a spa and a honeymoon cabin with a whirlpool tub.
3-starView hotel
What our clients book most in San Gerardo de Dota
Ranked from the trips we planned in the last 12 months.
- 01Guided birdwatching in the valleyPrivate or shared, 4 hours
- 02Quetzal tourPrivate or shared, 2 hours
- 03A full day with a specialist birding guidePrivate
- 04Páramo hike from 3,300 metresShared, 3 hours
When to go
Quetzals breed in April and May
The quetzals are here year round, and in their breeding season they are easiest to see. San Gerardo sits high in the mountains, so in any month bring layers and a warm sweater for the evenings.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Quetzal breeding seasonQuetzals and birding all yearSemana Santa, 21 to 28 March 2027: plan early
South from San José on the Pan-American Highway
From San José (SJO)about 2.5 hoursPrivate transfer south on the Pan-American Highway, over the Cerro de la Muerte
From Manuel Antonioabout 3 hoursPrivate transfer up from the coast
From Drake Bayabout 5 hoursBoat to Sierpe, then a private transfer of about 3.5 hours
Where to go next
Where our clients go after San Gerardo de Dota
Good to know
San Gerardo de Dota questions we answer every week
When is the best time to see a quetzal?
Quetzals live in the valley all year. April and May are their breeding season, when they are easiest to see, and a guided quetzal tour gives you the best chance.
How many nights do I need in San Gerardo de Dota?
2 nights is what most of our clients choose: a morning for the quetzal tour, time for a birding walk or the páramo hike, and a quiet evening in the mountains.
How cold does it get?
San Gerardo is at 2,200 metres, so the evenings are cold. Pack layers, a warm sweater and rain gear. Both lodges we recommend here heat their rooms.
How far is San Gerardo de Dota from San José?
About 2.5 hours by private transfer, south on the Pan-American Highway over the Cerro de la Muerte.
Your Costa Rica, planned by people who live here
Tell us what you love. A Costa Rica Specialist builds a custom itinerary around it, with private transfers, hotels we know and our team on call 24/7 while you travel.
Since 2004 in Costa RicaOver 25,000 clients1,200+ five-star reviewsICT licensed, Declaratoria Turística