El Silencio Lodge & Spa

El Silencio Lodge & Spa, in the cloud forest of Bajos del Toro

El Silencio sits inside a 500-acre reserve in Bajos del Toro, a green, misty valley beside Poás Volcano, and it lives up to its name: forest, rivers and very little else. It is one of our team's favourites for couples and honeymooners who want a quiet, romantic stop, and the larger villas make it work for families too.

Why we choose it

• A hot tub on your own deck. Every suite and villa has a private outdoor hot tub, so the evening soak comes with the sound of the forest.
• Waterfalls on the property. The reserve has three waterfalls and over 2 km of trails, so the hiking starts at your door.
• Close to the airport, far from the city. The lodge is about 90 minutes by road from Juan Santamaría airport, an easy first or last night that still feels deep in the mountains.

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Rooms and views

The lodge was designed to blend into the forest around it, so what you see from the deck is mostly trees and mountain. The Deluxe Suites look out over the mountains or the forest.

For families or friends travelling together there are Two-Bedroom Suites, Two-Bedroom Villas and Three-Bedroom Villas, and the Two-Bedroom Riverside Villa has a deck that looks over the river. The lodge states an accessible route to its accessible rooms, so tell us if anyone in your group needs one and we will confirm the details.

On the property

Las Ventanas is the restaurant, and the Toro Bohemio bar is the place for a drink before dinner. Esencia Spa works with natural ingredients in its massages and body wraps, and the Samana Wellness Center is where the yoga happens. Guests can also try archery or take a bike out on the property. Rainy afternoons here are part of the charm: a hot tub, a book and the cloud coming down the valley.

Location and getting there

Bajos del Toro is 65 km northwest of Juan Santamaría airport, in the mountains next to Poás Volcano. It pairs well with a few nights at Arenal, or as a soft landing after a long flight, and we can set up the transfer and time for the valley's waterfalls. See more of Bajos del Toro.

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