El Sol

Rooms

Colourful accommodation is in three self-contained cabins for 2-5, two 2-bedroom villas for up to 6 and an apartment for 2. Everything has a creative rustic style of warmth and homeliness, with love and consideration in every detail including well-equipped kitchens and bathrooms with lots of towels, hot water, biodegradable soap, shampoo and conditioner.

Couples should opt for one of the cabins. We stayed in Honey Sun which had a super-cosy bed, a private garden and totally secluded feel. The ultra-romantic, treehouse-style Magic Sun has a private deck, Jacuzzi and platform hammock suspended in the canopy. Sunny Garden is less rustic in style but sits immersed in a wonderful tropical garden.

Smaller families or couples seeking more space might like the largest log cabin, Chalet in the Sun, which has a queensize bed in a separate loft bedroom, twin single beds in the living area and sleeps up to 5 in total. The panoramic view over the plains of Guanacaste from the large balcony is jaw-dropping!

Families of up to six will want either Sunny Villa or Sun’s Casita, both sleeping 4-6 in a pair of colourful queensize bedrooms and 2 single sofabeds. They each have a fully equipped kitchen adjacent to the living area. Sun’s Casita has a light-filled sunroom with hammocks and a dining table, and direct access onto the lawn. Sunny Villa has an internal courtyard garden, and a large covered terrace with outside dining and hammocks surrounded by banana and coffee plants, fruit trees and palms. Sunny Villa is next door to Sunny Garden, so bigger groups could book both.

Features include:

• Terrace/balcony
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

Meals are lovingly homemade by Javier, prepared to your liking and delivered to your cabin. Breakfast isn't included, but well worth the cost as the big portions are more like brunch and will last you all day. Choose from four different options - two veggie, one vegan, one meat; all come with fresh fruit and natural fruit juice. Traditional includes fried sweet plantains (grown on site), homemade local cheese, and gallo pinto with eggs. American and French differ only in pancakes or toast and both come with eggs. You'll also find complimentary tea, coffee, powdered full milk, cocoa powder and raw sugar waiting in your cabin or villa. There's also wine, local beer and craft beer available.

Lunch or dinner is served for those who aren't out and about (let the team know in advance). We had a ribeye steak and salmon fillet, both served with creamy sweet potato mash, sautéed vegetables and fresh garden salad. It sounds simple, but this was the best meal of our whole trip - the food is outstanding. There's always a veggie and vegan option, perhaps “roots of flavour” or “chili beans symphony”, and a couple of choices for kids who may be of the pickier persuasion.

If you have a car and do want to make the journey into Santa Elena, there are of course many restaurants vying for your custom. Javier will happily give his insider recommendations.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Dinner by arrangement
• Kids' meals
• Lunch by arrangement
• Room service
• Vegetarian options

Activities

Javier and his team invite you to talk through everything you want to do so that they are able to make it a reality for you.

• One of the most outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the neotropics, Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve protects around 60,000 hectares of primary forest, which – at an altitude of 1,400m – is almost constantly draped in cloud. It's open from 7am to 4pm daily
  
• This is an ideal habitat for over 400 species of birds, among them the Resplendent Quetzal, and more than 500 species of orchid. Just wandering the 13km of paths in the reserve is a magical experience, but go with a guide to see these extraordinary bird species which otherwise you can only hear. Scheduled guided walks leave at 7.30am, 12 noon, and 1.30pm. For a more in-depth experience, ask for a private guide
  
• Less visited but just as interesting, Santa Elena Cloudforest Reserve has 12km of trails to walk, as well as an observation tower, with guides for tours if you want them
  
• The Sky Adventures hanging bridges are well worth a visit. Around 2.5km of trails and suspension bridges at the level of the tree canopy, they allow you to see far more birdlife than from the ground. Our guide was excellent; passionate about finding and explaining interesting species of plants and animals
  
• For adrenaline-fuelled fun, try the Selvature Adventure Park where you’ll glide through the lush cloud forest canopy along 13 zip lines, including one that's 1km long!
  
• For more entertainment of a natural kind, visit El Ranario ('the frog pond'), or the Monteverde Butterfly Garden
  
• The local Quaker community makes cheese famous throughout Costa Rica, and you can visit the factory
  
• Visit a coffee plantation with bilingual and knowledgeable guides. See the whole process, gain an insight into the coffee industry, enjoy a tasting, and you get a free sample to take home
  
• Nearby, there are horse rides of 1-3 hours over different trails through beautiful landscapes; hot springs, a cloud forest river, handmade pools, native trees and wildlife – a highlight for many!

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Plantlife / flora
• Private guided tours
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Trekking
• Wildlife

Kids

Children are very welcome – they will love El Sol and won’t want to go home. The cabins themselves are an adventure, tucked away along little paths with tremendous views. They’re perfectly safe for kids. The swimming pool is a delight, and children will love the horse riding.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

Book the Chalet in the Sun (sleeps up to 5), the Sun's Casita (sleeps 4-6) or the Sunny Villa for up to 6 (+ the adjoining Sunny Apartment if you are a larger family party) – each can accommodate additional children if required.

Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Distances:

• Airport: 3 hours
• Private clinic: 8 minutes
• Shops: 8 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

El Sol is 8 minutes' drive from downtown Santa Elena (where the nearest shops and restaurants are), 10 minutes from Monteverde and 20 minutes from both cloudforest reserve entrances. It's about 3 hours from San José International Airport, Liberia airport and La Fortuna/Arenal.

By Air:
San José Juan Santamaría International (162km away) and Liberia Daniel Oduber International (156km away) are Costa Rica's main international airports. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving them.

From the Airport
The drive from either airport takes around 3 hours. El Sol can arrange a transfer with a friendly bilingual driver, who can also take guests to other destinations in Costa Rica after their stay at El Sol.

By Car:
You might want the freedom of a hire car, note that 4x4s are recommended. See our car rental recommendations.

There’s no way around it: the road up to Monteverde is challenging in places. The journey from La Fortuna takes 3 hours. El Sol is 8 minutes’ drive beyond Santa Elena. Driving from El Sol to Route 606 takes 20 minutes (11.5km), after which it's 40 minutes to the Panamerican highway. From there, the rest of Costa Rica is easily reached on good tarmacked roads. Beware also that the GPS system in Costa Rica is a little inaccurate, Waze works best, and it's recommended to double-check with El Sol's written directions.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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