El Silencio Lodge & Spa Costa Rica

What a magical place, it is definitely worth to stay there for at least 2 days to take advantage of the options they offer. The walk to the waterfalls is very good, don't miss it. The guys in the front desk help me out getting diesel for my vehicle because I felt I was going to need a little extra to make it to the gas station, they really go the extra mile if there is anything you need. He also help us find a spot for breakfast since we didn't have enough time to book due to our late arrival.

A must stay resort! My family (myself, husband, and 21 year old son) stayed at El Silencio for 4 nights. We booked a two bedroom suite, suite 19. Both rooms were very clean, beds were comfortable and the views were beautiful. We traveled in December. The weather is unpredictable even in December. We had rainy days and beautiful sunny days. If you are renting a car, the climb to the resort is extremely steep and some of the roads are very narrow. We are from Florida so we don't have tons of experience mountain driving but we took our time and we made it. Most of the drivers are kind and patient. It was worth the drive; the beauty of being in the clouds and the resort were breathtaking. Once we arrived to the resort, we were greeted by Jimmy and he couldn't have been nicer. Everyone was so friendly and helpful from the time we arrived until the time we left. All of the staff at the restaurants and activity center were always friendly and went above and beyond to greet us or help with any questions we had. The staff are there for several days at a time so you will see them throughout most of your stay. Mike was our waiter most of the nights and he was wonderful with food and wine suggestions and a joy to talk to, especially about fishing. We did a coffee tasting with Estephanie and she was extremely knowledgeable about the history of coffee and brewing techniques and so friendly. Brian handled all of our activities and was very flexible and accommodating when we had to make changes due to the rainy weather. We packed a lot of activities into the 4 days. The horseback riding and zip lining are definitely worth doing! The staff including; Jose, Juan Carlo, and the other young man that helped on the zip lines were all so nice and seemed to truly care that we had a good time. There is as little or as much to do as you want. The resort is very serene and calm, perfect for relaxing but also has some nice trails for exploring. You can walk into the little town about 15 minutes from the resort. There is a great restaurant and a couple of local shops. We do not speak Spanish but it was not a problem. Everyone we encountered was more than patient and willing to figure out what we were asking. Google Translator also helped. Basically, don't hesitate to stay at El Silencio! Yes, it is a little pricy but worth the money because of the experience, staff and the beauty of the resort.

We recently stayed here for 6 days and could not have been happier with the overall experience. This is this our second visit to CR and we definitely will be coming back for more. The property is located in the mountains northwest of San Jose airport and the ride takes a good hour or so, depending on the traffic. It is located in a secluded part next to nature preserve. The property is small (only 24 villas) and the grounds are very well maintained. The rooms are very comfortable and twice-daily housekeeping is impeccable. The closets are a bit on a small side, so do not overpack. Villas are well-spaced out throughout the property to ensure privacy. The most amazing part of this resort is not the beautiful surroundings but rather the outstanding quality of service that its staff provide day-in and day-out. Not once during our extended stay did we encounter poor or average service. Each and every employee goes out of their way to ensure that each and every guest is treated like the most important person of the moment. Such level of consistency is really amazing and very commendable. The restaurant provides a high quality menu with the focus on locally sourced and freshest ingredients, and the dishes are not only beautifully presented but also very tasty. The executive chef is of Italian-Peruvian descent and such heritage is clearly evident in the menu. The restaurant has a fairly good wine list, though I wish there was a slightly bigger selection of light reds. The resort offers a good selection of daily activities, both on- and off-site. We participated in a number of those, and truly enjoyed all of them, from zip-lining to bird watching to a trip to Arenal Volcano & Hot Springs. My only suggestion would be a more detailed prep information to the guests as to what to expect and to bring to those longer trips. Spa services were equally outstanding and we certainly indulged in those. Massages and body treatments were of high quality and we had nothing but praise for the therapists. Again, all therapists were equally good and equally consistent each and every time we used spa services. In summary, I would highly recommend this property for anyone who is looking for a relaxing stay in the cloud / rain-forest of Costa Rica (don’t forget to check the forecast, as it is slightly cooler than most of us envision Costa Rica to be and brief rainfall is common). The grounds are beautiful, nature is pristine, villas are comfortable, the staff is amazing and the management goes out of the way to ensure that each and every guest has an enjoyable visit.