volcanogirl

Okay, I think we're going to go ahead and book Savegre - seems to get a universal thumbs up! Any tips on cabins? Seems like it would be fun to have a fireplace if it's chilly. Do any of the rooms have patios or balconies? Do most people eat all their meals at the hotel? Thanks again for all the help!

mlgb

Get the fireplace cabins, definitely. Practice up on the firemaking skills. They do have little patios. But I spent more time in the bar, because they had a firepit, and it was warm there, and I didn't need to burn up all my firewood! I was glad I had brought a stainless steel thermos and actually used that as a bed warmer. It was cold!

I signed up for the meal plan at the hotel, I thought the food was pretty good (especially if you like trout). Lots of salads and good desserts as I recall.

They had a pair of Swarovski binoculars that I was able to rent (because I stupidly left mine at home). Now I'm ruined for life. Like flying first class and then having to go back to economy.

volcanogirl

Okay, thanks, m! Was it really that cold?! Wow! I remember being cold in Monteverde when we got stuck in the rain on our night hike. Our hotel had a fireplace, and it was nice to warm up there. Do they give you matches or do I have to rub two sticks together?

I love trout. You probably can't get much fresher than what they serve there. I think we'll get the meal plan since it doesn't seem like there's a lot of outside choices in that area. Was it a buffet?

I've noticed our guides always have Swarovski scopes - they're amazing.

RAC

Cerro de Muerte area is significantly higher than Monteverde, so a little cooler. But the drive is so much easier.

colibri

Definitely sign up for the Savegre meal plan. You really don't have a lot of other choices around there, especially since I don't think you usually rent a car, but have transfers, right? There aren't any other places that I can remember where you can walk to eat meals.

Our room had an electric heater and we used it every morning. I remember our bathroom had a huge bathtub surrounded by small stones and candles. I was there in November 2009 and at that time they were building a spa. We had cold nights, but pleasant days, sunny, no rain.

We took lightweight fleece, long sleeve shirts, but by afternoon it had warmed up enough for short sleeves.

mlgb

They left matches and small amount of firestarter block. Let's just say I managed to clear out my accumulation of paper scraps. I did better the second night.

I was told that when there were enough people they did buffet. I think I had one meal that wasn't, then a birding group showed up and it was buffet. It was so funny as the tour was based from a Wild Birds store, about 10 miles from where I live!

I would look at Tripadvisor, to see if the buffet situation has changed.

mlgb

The spa had just opened when I was there.

I think the older rooms have heaters. Mine didnt. And I had a shower stall. Which I used around midnight to warm up! I was also there in November.

xyz99

Bookmarking this for a future trip to CR. We were "this close" for a return trip next year, but decided to try Honduras instead.
colibri, are you going to write a Honduras trip report? With pics, please

volcanogirl

Thanks, everyone for all the great info. I'm sure I'll come back with more questions, but this has been a big help!

colibri

Will try at some point, xyz! Have been busy editing pics - incredible how many hummingbird pics one can shoot - lol!

xyz99

colibri,
Where in Honduras did you go? We'll be there in February (Copan, Lodge at Pico Bonito, Roatan), and I'm praying/hoping for lots of hummingbirds and other beautiful birds.

RAC

For hummingbirds, Rio Santiago is the place.

But I don't know if I could tear myself away from the Lodge at Pico Bonito during prime Lovely Cotinga season.

colibri

XYZ - we went to Copan for 3 nights (Yat B'alam hotel), had a 2 BR cottage at Rio Santiago for 2 nights and the Lodge at Pico Bonito for 5 nights. No Lovely Cotingas, darn it. Hundreds of hummingbirds at Rio Santiago and almost as many the first few days at PB.

volcanogirl

colibri, the bathtub and candles sound wonderful, especially for when it's chilly. I wouldn't expect something like that there.

BG_CC

Hey there! Hope it's not too late -- I would definitely recommend Ylang Ylang Beach Resort, just outside Montezuma. The resort is nice (two words: jungle bungalows) and there's is a ton of really interesting wildlife hanging around, including parrots & other neat birds.

Check out their wildlife page: http://www.ylangylangbeachresort.com/resort-wildlife/

volcanogirl

I thought I would do a follow up post now that we're back from our trip. We ended up staying at Savegre Hotel and loved it. We saw about 50 kinds of birds. I'll post our list here in case anyone is interested in what they might see there. Thanks again for pointing us in the right direction. Savegre was perfect for us. Looking forward to trying some of your other suggestions for future trips.

Here's the list of what we saw in San Gerardo de Dota:

Resplendent quetzals of course!, black guan, black vulture, red-tailed hawk, band-tailed pigeon, barred parakeet, mottled owl, pygmy owl, emerald toucanet, acorn woodpecker, golden-olive woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, loads of hummingbirds - magnificent, green-crowned brilliant, green violet-ear, stripe-tailed, white-tailed emerald, white-throated mountain gem, scintillated, and volcano, ruddy treerunner, mountain robin, spot-crowned woodcreeper, tufted flycatcher, blue and white swallows, ochraceous wren, black-billed nightingale thrush, ruddy-capped nightingale thrush, sooty-capped bush tanager, black-cheeked warbler, slaty flowerpiercer, long-tailed silky flycatcher, silver-throated tanager, collared redstart, common bush tanager, flame-colored tanager, flame-throated warbler, common bush tanager, collared redstart, large-footed finch, white-naped brush finch, yellow-thighed finch, rufous-collared sparrow, yellow-bellied sisken, elegant euphonia, and golden browed chlorophonia.

We also stopped at Paraiso Quetzal and saw the fiery throated hummingbirds there. Very cool!

hopefulist

Wonderful!

RAC

Great list. I'll bet you had a very impressive list from the Arenal Observatory Lodge as well.

volcanogirl

Yes, we loved it there too. Saw toucans regularly and had great curassows right in front of our room on several occasions. Those were a new one for us. Thanks for all the great recommendations.