Fodor's Expert Review Monteverde Lodge and Gardens

Reminiscent of a ski lodge, this longtime favorite has extremely comfortable rooms with vaulted ceilings and great views with rates often packaged with a long list of nature activities. The bar is positioned around a huge but cozy lobby fireplace, and the outdoor heated pool is a perfect place to unwind after a day of tromping through the reserves. The exceptional El Jardín Restaurant, with its menu of Garden, Ocean, and Land options, uses locally grown vegetables and dairy from the Monteverde milk factory. Rooms are situated along a long corridor, which tends to carry hallway noise; Nos. 201 and 207 have the most privacy. Guests are advised to keep their balcony doors closed, because monkeys have been known to ransack suites.