one word....WOW! this place is really special. There are 3 types of rooms, Standard, Deluxe and Villas...we stayed in the Standard room. King-sized handmade log bed, orthopedic mattress. Large comfortable room, stone fireplace (gas) wood floors with Latin American throw rugs, balcony with hammock, 2 Sarchi leather rocking chairs, 2-person jacuzzi tub with stone waterfall and a view of Poas volcano and the surrounding cloud forest. Awesome. And the bathroom has stone floors, huge stone tub, stone enclosed walk-in shower with waterfall, nice bathroom. Trails through Hummingbird Garden and Butterfly Garden, then to the 5 Waterfalls, plus other trails along the river, very nice. Restaurant serving tipico Costa Rican food. Very nice helpful staff. We saw lots of birds right there in the trees while eating breakfast....this is a great place! and only one hour drive from San Jose airport...... for photos of our room go to: http://www.waterfallgardens.com/lapaz-peacelodge.htm

Thanks for the info!!! We have reservations for the deluxe in mid Feb. Can't wait. I am beginning to think I don't want to go anywhere else. SSSSSHHHH don't tell too many people. Might be hard to go back because it will be booked up . I am sure I will have a WOW for it too in my trip report.

Hi Susie 2,
I JUST booked a night there too(3rd week February) Couldn't get the 2 nites I wanted together. I'm ditching 2 days from my San Isidro del General week and checking in late.(LOL)

Any ideas on another hotel for the first night coming down from La Fortuna? How would the Selva Verde Lodge you recommended to me earlier fit, or maybe the Poas Volcano lodge?

After doing the "hours driving" math on our original plan to drive Arenal straight to San Isidro del General, I figured I did not want to be hitting "the ridge of death" in the foggy afternoon (haha)so we are staying 2 nites in between to start out early. I was so happy I just got an email confirmation from the Peace Lodge a few minutes ago!
Thanks in advance for more of your wonderful advice, if you do have a recommendation. ~paula

Hi! I know I want to include Peace Lodge in our stay, but I'm wondering how many nights 1, 2, or 3? Also, is it possible to drive there from the airport at night or should we get a room near the airport and drive to La Paz the next day?

Vista del Valle, Hotel Buena Vista (free airport pick up), Pura Vida Hotel (free airport pick up), Orquideas Inn, Xandari, all good places not too far from the airport so will be easy access to other places.
Paula
Don't know anything about the Poas Volcano Lodge. Selva Verde might be a little too far if you want to be within an hour or so of LaPaz. One of the places mentioned above would be nice and within an hour or so of the Peace Lodge although I believe Vista del Valle might be a bit further. Don't blame you for not wanting to drive later in the day on that ridge. We had a driver and it was still scary. It can get very foggy.
LA
Regarding driving at night. Not a good idea. Driving at night is pretty tough down there due to the lack of road signs and the less than perfect roads. You might want to consider one of the places with free pick up and then have your car delivered to the hotel the next morning or you pick it up. Keep in mind that there is an additional airport tax for the car rental if you get it at the airport. As far as how many nights...that is up to you. We are staying 2. I would personally stay longer if I could just to hang out in the room. There are optional tours you can take from there also.

A little bird told me there is talk of a couple more Peace Lodge type places in the planning in two other areas. One of them should be amazing if it really happens.

Thanks Susie2.....I ended up getting into Selva Verde (they had one river room left for 2/22) so we are going from Montana del Fuego (2/19,20,21) to Selva verde (2/22) then to Peace Lodge (2/23) and on to San Isidro del General (2/24 to 2/29) (days 2-7 are still unreserved but we are winging it in Quepos, I think)Any ideas on the best routes. I have a map but am looking for the best track from Selva Verde to La Paz.

One last question (I promise) I think you said 1.5 to 2 hrs from La fortuna to Selva Verde Lodge, any idea on the distance/driving time from Selva Verde to La paz Peace lodge? what time would you suggest we leave the Peace Lodge for the "ridge of death" drive?

Hope I'm not asking to many questions. if I remember you are trying to plan your own trip for Feb too. Thanks in advance Susie.

Plan on closer to 2 hrs to get to Sarapiqui. It is a little tricky. I am basing this on the amount of time I think it took when we did it last year. I tried to deduct some of the time that we spent stopping and looking at birds along the way. I don't know for sure but I should think that it would not take as long to get to La Paz. You would be backtracking through Chilimate and La Virgen but it is a pretty straight shot right down to the pass by Poas.
As far as when to leave Peace. I would probably want to leave at about 4am to miss some of the San Jose traffic. That city is nuts to get through. I talked to a man last year who, after several hours of driving around, finally hired a taxi to guide him out of the city and on his way. You may not have as much trouble if there are two of you and you have a good map LOL.
It seems like I am going to be just missing a lot of people on this board. I will be at Selva Verde myself in just a few days ( will be there Sat-had about 7inches of snow today and it is now sleeting-good time to leave). Maybe I should hide some notes in the Peace Lodge room as there are so many of us going there!

Thanks Susie, a wealth of information you are as usual. That's funny about the hiding of notes. A couple of friends of our were taking the same flight, same seat numbers on a BA flight to Italy( a week later) ......he hid notes, but must have been a different plane....maybe we'll be luckier at the Peace Lodge...haha