Savegre Lodge Natural Reserve & Spa

Savegre Lodge, in the cloud forest at San Gerardo de Dota

Savegre sits in the Savegre Valley at San Gerardo de Dota, about 2,200 m up in the Talamanca Mountains and right next to Los Quetzales National Park. The air is cool, the river runs below the gardens, and the cloud forest starts where the lawn ends.

It suits birders first, then anyone who wants a few quiet mountain nights between the volcano and the beach. Locals still know it as Cabinas Chacón, after the family that started it.

Why we choose it

• A real chance at the quetzal. The resplendent quetzal lives in these oak forests, and guests regularly see one on the trails or along the road through the valley.
• Its own forest reserve. The lodge protects a private reserve of more than 500 hectares, so the hiking starts at the door rather than after a drive.
• Warm rooms on cold nights. The Master Suites are separate cabins with a fireplace and a jacuzzi on a terrace over the forest, which makes a big difference at this altitude.

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Rooms and views

There are three kinds of room. Standard rooms are in a pavilion and look over the gardens to the mountains. Junior Suites are independent cabins with the same garden and mountain view, with one or two queen beds.

The Master Suites are the ones we book for couples: a king bed, a fireplace, and a jacuzzi on a terrace facing the forest. Mornings start with birdsong and mountain air, and evenings here are chilly enough that the warmth matters.

On the property

Meals are at Restaurant Las Bromelias, and Del Rio Spa is there for an afternoon after a long hike. Trails lead into the reserve, and the Siwo lookout gives you the whole valley from above. Trout fishing on the Savegre River and the walk down to the Savegre waterfall are both easy to arrange from the lodge. Families are welcome: there is no minimum age and cribs are available.

Location and getting there

Savegre is about 87 km from San José, the last stretch down a steep valley road, so we always send you with a private driver who knows it. It pairs well with a stay in the Southern Zone or Manuel Antonio afterwards. Read more about San Gerardo de Dota.

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