El Silencio Lodge & Spa

Name: El Silencio Lodge & Spa
Rating: 5.0

Ultra-luxe cloud forest lodge

Introduction
Rooms
Facilities
Reviews

A Relais & Château-run retreat in a 500-acre reserve in Costa Rica’s Central Highlands.

Atmospheric mists cloak this cloud forest lodge, a luxe retreat that’s built for out-of-the-way, back-to-nature retreats. There are hundreds of acres of breathtaking (and protected) Central Highlands landscapes that are yours to explore, be it on two feet or two wheels. Wander past waterfalls, listen to the sounds of the forest, spot flitting hummingbirds and catching a glimpse of the resplendent quetzals with their trademark iridescent plumage (May to June). Then return each day to make the most of one of the best eco-lodges in Costa Rica where the service is impeccable, the farm-to-table food worth writing home about and the setting spectacular.

Why we love El Silencio Lodge & Spa

It’s a cloud forest retreat operated by Relais & Chateaux, a name synonymous with high-end luxury and fine dining
Get back-to-nature vibes as you explore the lodge’s 500-acre private cloud forest reserve
There are just 18 suites and six standalone villas, each with jaw-dropping mountain views
You can fill your days with unforgettable jungle experiences and soul-soothing spa treatments

Based on {{tripAdvisor.tripAdvisorSummary.num_reviews}} reviews

Our rating 4 stars

Location San José & the Central Valley

Avg Flight time 11 hours

Setting A 600-acre private cloud forest reserve in Bajos del Toro – a rural community in the Central Highlands

Transfers Approx. 1 hour’s transfer from San José airport

Interests Boutique, Villas

View gallery

Rooms

The 24 spacious suites and villas are tucked away in the forest or set by the river and each one is assigned an eco-concierge to guide you on a waterfall hike, help to identify the flora and fauna, and book any excursions or activities. The glass sliding doors maximise the views and blur the lines between inside and outside so you feel even closer to nature and personal touches, such as afternoon hot chocolate and freshly-baked cookies brought to your room and a hot water bottle in your bed, really make you feel at home. On your private viewing deck you can relax in a rocking chair or soak in the outdoor heated whirlpool post-hike and listen to the soothing sounds of the forest while gazing out over the misty mountains or rushing river.

More images

Suite

Terraced along the hillside and surrounded by the tropical cloud forest. They have a private deck with rocking chairs and a heated Jacuzzi that’s partly covered and wonderfully private.

air-conditioning/electric heater
minibar*
coffee maker
private deck with rocking chairs
outdoor heated Jacuzzi

View image

Two Bedroom Villa

The two-bedroom Villas are ideal for families or groups and feature a kitchen and lounge area. The master bedroom has a king-size bed while the second bedroom has two double beds. They feature an outdoor hot tub and a spacious terrace with mountain views.

air-conditioning/electric heater
minibar*
coffee maker
private deck with rocking chairs
outdoor heated Jacuzzi

* Denotes local charge

Facilities

Restaurants & bars
Board
Spas & wellness
Sustainability
Good to Know

View images

Relais & Chateau are celebrated for their extraordinary culinary offerings that are influenced by a sense of place and seasonality. This is certainly the case at El Silencio where there’s a focus on harvest-to-table cuisine. The vegetables, herbs and spices used to create mouthwatering dishes is sourced from the lodge’s own organic farm, while your morning eggs have seriously low food miles: the free-range chickens see to that.

Las Ventanas Restaurant
With floor-to-ceiling windows bringing the beauty of the outside in (and inspiring its name), Las Ventanas is a stunning spot to savour your trio of daily meals. The day begins with fresh fruit, pastries and local breakfast specialities; at lunch, the focus stays on Costa Rican favourites while for dinner, the culinary net is cast a little wider, with plenty of international-inspired dishes on the menu.

Toro Bohemio Bar
The place to raise a creatively crafted cocktail, home-brewed beer or glass of chilled white wine to the day’s adventures is the cosy Toro Bohemio Bar.

Racho Orquideas Private Dining
Private dinners para dos or la familia are a treat that we all deserve from time to time and at El Silencio they come with a stunning Gorrión River-side setting.

What's included

Breakfast at Las Ventanas Restaurant.

View images

Natural healing and a spectacular setting combine at El Silencio’s sanctuary of wellness, the Esencia Spa. There are a cluster of open-air treatment rooms where you can have treatments with the sounds of the jungle and the river as your soundtrack.

View images

El Silencio’s view is that luxury lodgings should not come at an expense to the environment and cultural heritage, especially in an ecosystem as sensitive as the cloud forest. The extensive eco practices have led to the lodge being awarded elite certification from the government-sponsored Certification of Sustainable Tourism (CST). Over 95% of the lodge’s staff are employed from local communities, much of the produce used at El Silencio is produced on site or using local farmers and there is a real focus on fundraising for local community programmes.

Children aged 8 and over are welcome.

Guest reviews

Average Rating

Based on {{tripAdvisor.tripAdvisorSummary.num_reviews}} reviews

Location
Cleanliness
Servies
Value

Excellent		{{tripAdvisor.tripAdvisorSummary.num_reviews_5}}
Very good		{{tripAdvisor.tripAdvisorSummary.num_reviews_4}}
Average		{{tripAdvisor.tripAdvisorSummary.num_reviews_3}}
Poor		{{tripAdvisor.tripAdvisorSummary.num_reviews_2}}
Terrible		{{tripAdvisor.tripAdvisorSummary.num_reviews_1}}

by {{review.username}}
{{review.user_location}} {{review.date}}

These reviews are the subjective opinions of individual travellers and not of TripAdvisor LLC nor of its partners.

All Hotels in San José & the Central Valley

Hotel

San José & the Central Valley
4 Star

Xandari Resort & Spa

An eclectically designed, vibrant all-villa resort set in the hills overlooking the Central Valley and San Jose.

From £1,667 p/p

Hotel

San José & the Central Valley
4 Star

Grano de Oro

Set on the quieter side of San José, this Victorian mansion is just a 15-minute drive to the city’s sights.

From £1,530 p/p

Sorry, your hotel is no longer available

Please check alternatives

Where do you want to go?

When

Choose dates

{{store.searchDuration}} nights, {{formattedDate}}

Who

From

Class

Occasion

{{item.title}} {{item.body}}
{{item.title}} {{item.body}}

Choose a departure date

Duration

{{store.searchDuration}} nights

Enter rooms & guests

Adults Aged 18 or above

Children Aged 0-17 years

Select child age{{store.passengers[0].childAges.length > 1 ? "s" : ""}}:

Child {{i+1}} Age Age on date of return

+ Add another room

{{airport.text}}

{{flightClass.text}}

{{occasion.text}}

Checking prices & availability

{{term}}, {{formattedDate}} for {{searchDuration}} nights

All ({{destinations.length + products.length + offers.length + inspiration.length}})
Destinations ({{destinations.length}})
Holidays ({{products.length}})
Offers ({{offers.length}})
Inspiration ({{inspiration.length}})