By the Best Mountain Hotels editorial team ·
El Silencio Lodge & Spa is a cloud forest hideaway in the central highlands of Costa Rica, about an hour and a half from San José airport, yet a world away. Set in a 500-acre private reserve of misty forest, rivers and waterfalls, it has 23 suites and villas, each with its own heated outdoor whirlpool, and guests have access to three private waterfalls that no one else can reach. It is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
El Silencio Lodge & Spa is a cloud forest hideaway in the central highlands of Costa Rica, about an hour and a half from San José airport, yet a world away. Set in a 500-acre private reserve of misty forest, rivers and waterfalls, it has 23 suites and villas, each with its own heated outdoor whirlpool, and guests have access to three private waterfalls that no one else can reach. It is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
Location: Bajos del Toro, Costa Rica
Bajos del Toro is a small village in the mountains north of San José, in the Central Volcanic Range, surrounded by cloud forest, where the trees are draped in moss and orchids and the clouds drift through the canopy. It is one of the least-visited corners of Costa Rica, with some of its most spectacular waterfalls, including Catarata del Toro.
El Silencio is about 1.5 hours by road from San José's international airport, making it an easy first or last stop on a Costa Rica trip, combined with the Arenal volcano, the Pacific coast or the Caribbean.
Suites and villas at El Silencio
There are 23 suites and villas, spread through the forest along the river, with large windows, warm wood and private terraces looking into the trees. Every suite has its own heated outdoor whirlpool, and the two- and three-bedroom villas, ideal for families and groups, have them too. The mood is quiet, natural and deeply relaxing.
Facilities at El Silencio
Three private waterfalls, La Melodía, El Silencio and La Promesa, are reached by around three miles of trails along the Gorrión River, exclusively for guests. The Esencia Spa offers treatments inspired by the forest, and there is a yoga deck in the trees.
Las Ventanas restaurant serves Costa Rican and international dishes, with regional fish, free-range poultry and produce from the lodge's organic farm, where guests can pick their own salad. Activities include guided hikes, horseback riding, river rafting and zip-lining, and the famous Bajos del Toro waterfall is nearby.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is a morning hike to La Promesa, the lodge's hidden waterfall, through dripping cloud forest full of birdsong, with no one there but you.
Afterwards, soak in your outdoor whirlpool as the clouds roll through the trees and the forest falls silent.
Why El Silencio is one of the best mountain hotels
El Silencio earns its place for its cloud forest setting, its private waterfalls and its sense of seclusion, so close to the capital. It is one of the most restorative places to stay in Central America.
For more of Costa Rica's mountains, see Hotel Belmar in Monteverde, Nayara Tented Camp beneath the Arenal volcano and Origins Luxury Lodge in the north.
When to go to El Silencio
Costa Rica's dry season, from around December to April, brings the most sunshine, though the cloud forest is often misty all year, which is part of its magic. The green season, from around May to November, brings afternoon rain, lush forest and fuller waterfalls, and fewer visitors. Nights in the highlands are cool, so pack a warm layer.
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Questions, answered
- Where is El Silencio Lodge & Spa?
- El Silencio is in Bajos del Toro, in the cloud forest of Costa Rica's Central Volcanic Range, about 1.5 hours by road from San José international airport.
- Do the suites at El Silencio have hot tubs?
- Yes. Every suite and villa has its own heated outdoor whirlpool.
- Does El Silencio have private waterfalls?
- Yes. Guests can hike to three private waterfalls, La Melodía, El Silencio and La Promesa, in the lodge's 500-acre reserve.
- Does El Silencio have a spa?
- Yes. The Esencia Spa offers treatments, and there is a yoga deck in the forest.
- When is the best time to visit El Silencio?
- December to April is the driest season; May to November is greener, with fuller waterfalls.
