El Silencio Lodge & Spa Costa Rica

We have been to many places around the world, and this place was by far or favorite stay. Rather than a complicated Costa Rica trip, we decided to start at El Solencio the whole 7 days. We were a bit worried we might be bored. That was never a problem, and we could have stayed far longer. Experience: after an extensive uphill drive to the tiny town of Bajos Del Toro, this place impressed from the minute we drive through the gate. In the afternoon, a light mist descends on the jungle (or "cloud forest"), serving as a stunning and dramatic backdrop for the beautiful architecture of the resort buildings. Every staff member is kind and amazingly friendly, and we have never experienced such attention to detail to help guests have a stay that isn't just great, but memorable. Food: there are 2-3 restaurants in the 300-person town, which is a short walk through a not-very-pedestrian friendly road. For the most part though, we ate at the resort restaurant. The chef was really great, with a cuisine that is influenced by his Peruvian background, the Costa Rican setting, and various other world dishes. The breakfast was free, and had every breakfast dish you could think of prepared flawlessly. If this restaurant was in NYC, it might have a Michelin star. The dinner prices aren't cheap but aren't expensive by American standards (entrees average $25-30 USD). The wait staff is patient and friendly, as with all the staff at this resort. The villa was flawless and beautiful. The Staff: The resort's Manager, Pedro, manages to find people that truly try to be the best at their job, taking every customer request as a mission. We try very hard to be easy and courteous guests, but one gets the impression that the staff here can handle anyone with grace. The restaurant supervisor Danny was very helpful and responsive. The front desk is run by the very talented and friendly Fernanda. The driver, Bryam, is very friendly and personable, and we enjoyed hanging out with him on our various rides. The one person that really made our stay though was Jeancarlo - if you can get him as a guide on resort events or excursions, we can't recommend him highly enough. After our week there, we consider him a friend, and we were very impressed by his knowledge of local wildlife. I hope the resort works hard to keep him on staff because he really transformed our stay to a singular experience. Tips: There is a bar! It's great! We didn't really notice it for our first few days but don't sleep on it. Even the mocktails are great. The Arenal volcano tour with hot springs was fun, but it is expensive. There is so much wildlife at the resort, they own a lot of land with hiking trails and waterfalls. But if you want a greater chance of seeing certain animals like toucans, monkeys, or sloths, consider a side tour to the lowlands where those animals are more common (such as La Fortuna area).

Driving into the resort was an experience in itself. We were given a welcome drink on arrival. Our room was not ready but gave us opportunity to look around. Everywhere was so clean. Our villa was amazing. Double bedroom with jacuzzi overlooking the stream. We did the complementary hike around the property with a very knowledgeable guide. I did find the vegetarian/vegan dinner options a little limited, but that said I did find something that I could eat. Breakfast which was included in our package was lovely. It was just a shame that we was only there for two nights

I highly recommend El Silencio. Everything about our five-night experience there was top-notch. The staff, the surroundings, the amenities and the food. Our deluxe cabin was just perfect. We enjoyed many afternoons bird-watching from our amazing deck. The hiking trails are lovely and we recommend the morning birding tour. We also took the mountain bikes off property which we thoroughly enjoyed. The grounds are beautiful and there is plenty to do whether you enjoy nature or prefer to relax at the Spa. The Bar is gorgeous and the service equal. I can't say enough about the food but rated that separately. You can't go wrong by staying at El Silencio! Keep in mind it is a rain forest so it can be cooler than the rest of Costa Rica (we actually liked that!)